Dr. Oz Headlines HFA Advocacy Summit in Washington
Krissy Vann | Host, All Things Fitness and Wellness
More than 130 health and fitness industry leaders gathered in Washington, D.C., earlier this month as the Health & Fitness Association continued its push to strengthen the industry's presence in federal policy discussions.
The organization's 2026 Fly-In and Advocacy Summit brought together operators, suppliers, healthcare leaders and policy experts for three days of meetings, educational sessions and direct engagement with lawmakers. According to HFA, participants conducted 92 meetings with Congressional offices and federal policymakers during the event.
The summit's theme, "From Credibility to Influence," reflected an industry increasingly focused on translating decades of research supporting physical activity into policy action. Discussions centered on prevention-focused healthcare, affordability and access to exercise, military readiness, and the role of fitness facilities as community-based health infrastructure.
The event featured presentations from Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and Admiral Brian Christine, MD, assistant secretary for health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and head of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.
Oz's keynote focused on the role of physical activity in healthy aging and disease prevention, while also exploring opportunities for collaboration between the fitness industry, healthcare providers and policymakers. Christine's presentation addressed prevention, readiness and long-term wellness, emphasizing the importance of measurable health outcomes.
On June 10, attendees met with members of Congress and congressional staff to discuss policies aimed at expanding access to physical activity and reducing long-term healthcare costs. Conversations also focused on strengthening connections between the fitness industry and federal healthcare initiatives, including Medicare and CMS programs.
"This year's Fly-In reflected a major shift in how the industry is engaging in Washington," said Mike Goscinski, HFA chief of staff. "The conversation is no longer about whether physical activity matters. Policymakers increasingly understand that. The focus now is on implementation, scalability, affordability, and how the fitness industry can help solve some of the country's biggest healthcare and readiness challenges."
Members of Congress who participated in meetings during the event included Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA), Reps. Josh Harder (D-CA), Judy Chu (D-CA), Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Maxine Dexter (D-OR), Dan Newhouse (R-WA) and several others involved in health, education and workforce-related policy discussions.
One of the event's major announcements was the launch of HFA's Service Ready initiative, a program designed to support military readiness through community-based fitness facilities. Participating clubs will provide no-cost access and support services for eligible recruits preparing for basic training.
The initiative reflects a growing effort by industry leaders to position fitness facilities as part of broader public health and readiness solutions rather than solely consumer-focused businesses.
In addition to advocacy meetings, the summit included discussions on policymaker perceptions of the industry, physical activity in the era of GLP-1 medications, federal prevention policy and strategies for communicating the industry's impact more effectively to elected officials.
Panel sessions featured representatives from government, healthcare, technology and fitness organizations, including Congressman Jake Auchincloss (D-MA-4), Healthworks President Mark Harrington Jr., Harris Poll Managing Director Erika Parker, Alta Technology Group Founder and CEO Al Noshirvani and ABC Fitness General Counsel Brian Vidrik.
The event also marked the introduction of HFA's inaugural Heavy Lifter Awards, recognizing lawmakers advancing policies related to physical activity and prevention. This year's recipients were Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO-8), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, and Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19), who has been involved in efforts to expand the use of health savings accounts and flexible spending accounts for physical activity expenses.
Representatives from a broad cross-section of the industry participated in the summit, including executives from Life Time, Planet Fitness, Bay Club Company, EoS Fitness, Genesis Health Clubs, Discover Strength, East Bank Club, Healthworks and Solidcore, among others.
As healthcare costs continue to rise and policymakers place greater emphasis on prevention, events like the HFA Fly-In demonstrate how the fitness industry is working to establish a larger role in conversations surrounding public health, healthcare spending and long-term wellness outcomes.
