As growing health care consolidation reduces employment options, emergency physicians are increasingly forced into restrictive contracts that limit where they can work. Despite having no “book of business” of ongoing patient relationships that could follow them between jobs, emergency physicians often have no choice but to accept a non-compete agreement in order to practice where they live, work, and most importantly, are needed. Many physicians must turn down better job opportunities or relocate their families just to keep practicing medicine. 

55% of ACEP members report being bound by a non-compete in the past five years, and 45% of ACEP members without a non-compete say that they would have refused their job if one was required. Fortunately, there are efforts at the federal level to help address this growing concern for the emergency medicine workforce.

The bipartisan, ACEP-supported Workforce Mobility Act (S. 2031), led by Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Sen. Todd Young (R-IN), would ban non-compete clauses in most employment contracts, ensuring emergency physicians can practice where they’re needed most. Especially with emergency departments around the country already struggling with overcrowding and insufficient resources, it’s critical that emergency physicians can provide lifesaving care to their patients without unfair labor restrictions.

We need your help building on ACEP members’ conversations with legislators and staff on Capitol Hill about the Workforce Mobility Act during the 2026 Leadership & Advocacy Conference. Contact your United States Senators today to ask them cosponsor this bipartisan legislation to protect your clinical autonomy.  

Please use the editable draft email provided to send messages to your U.S. Senators.