Contact: Stephanie Abraham, sabraham@acc.org, 202-375-6296

“The ACC strongly supports efforts to align financial incentives to inspire greater focus on providing care that is patient-centered, improves quality and reduces national health expenses, but we believe that IPAB would be unsuccessful in this endeavor,” ACC CEO Jack Lewin, MD, said in a statement. “The College remains committed to setting a new standard for health care delivery in a way that is focused on increasing patient value and that is evidence-based. IPAB was a good idea in theory, but the structure does not yield to the goal of the program. The ACC urges Congress to work in a bipartisan manner to improve the purpose of IPAB by applying to all health sectors at the same time, placing an emphasis on payment reforms that improve quality and lower costs while maintaining its ultimate accountability for the sustainability and stability of the Medicare program.”

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About the American College of Cardiology
The American College of Cardiology is transforming cardiovascular care and improving heart health through continuous quality improvement, patient-centered care, payment innovation and professionalism. The College is a 40,000-member nonprofit medical society comprised of physicians, surgeons, nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists and practice managers, and bestows credentials upon cardiovascular specialists who meet its stringent qualifications. The College is a leader in the formulation of health policy, standards and guidelines, and is a staunch supporter of cardiovascular research. The ACC provides professional education and operates national registries for the measurement and improvement of quality care. More information about the association is available online at www.cardiosource.org/ACC.

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