On April 14, members of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine will gather in Washington, D.C., to participate in AASM Hill Day, an annual advocacy event that gives members the opportunity to engage directly with lawmakers and their staff on federal policies affecting sleep medicine and patient care.
Hill Day brings together members from across the country to advocate for legislation and policies that align with the AASM’s advocacy priorities while reinforcing the role of sleep medicine clinicians and researchers as trusted experts on sleep and circadian health.
About AASM Hill Day
AASM Hill Day helps members build relationships with members of Congress and congressional staff while advancing key policy priorities important to the sleep field. During this year’s event, approximately 25 AASM members representing several committees will participate in meetings on Capitol Hill.
Participants include members of the Advocacy Committee, PAC Advisory Committee, Public Safety Committee, Early Career Assembly, and the Coding and Reimbursement Advisory Committee. Together, they will meet with lawmakers and staff to discuss selected advocacy priorities and to position AASM and its members as resources on sleep-related issues.
2026 Advocacy Priorities
During Hill Day, AASM members will focus on several federal policy issues that affect patient care, public health, and the practice of sleep medicine.
One key priority is permanent standard time. AASM members will advocate for the implementation of permanent standard time at the federal level, with the goal of securing a sponsor for permanent standard time legislation and building support against proposals to enact permanent daylight saving time. Members of the Coalition for Permanent Standard Time will also meet with lawmakers to build support for federal legislation establishing permanent standard time nationwide.
Another major focus is physician payment reform. Members will urge lawmakers to address continued reductions to Medicare physician reimbursement and to support or sponsor the Efficiency Adjustment Delay Act (H.R. 7520), which aims to prevent further payment cuts.
Additional issues that may be addressed during Hill Day meetings include prior authorization reform through the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act (H.R. 3514), expansion of rural residency funding through the Rural Residency Planning and Development Act (H.R. 6468), sleep research funding, and the SOAR Act (H.R. 2902).
Advancing the Voice of Sleep Medicine
Through Hill Day, AASM aims to strengthen relationships with policymakers while elevating awareness of sleep health and the expertise of sleep medicine professionals. By engaging directly with lawmakers, members help advance policies that support patients, clinicians, and the broader sleep field.
Visit the Advocacy page to get more information on the AASM’s legislative and policy priorities and to participate in our current campaigns. AASM members can submit questions about these issues to policy@aasm.org.
