The ACC’s CardioAdvocacy Network
(ACC│CAN) lets you stay up to date on critical issues
facing the cardiovascular community and provides you with
the tools you need to help shape health care policy at the
federal, state and local levels.
ACTION
ALERTS:
CMS Proposes 11% Percent Payment Cut for Cardiology
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
today released its proposed 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule,
which includes policy proposals that would significantly reduce
payments for cardiovascular-related services. CMS projects
that the proposed changes would reduce total Medicare payments
to cardiology by 11 percent. The projected payment cut would
result from changes to the following areas: practice expense
calculation; equipment utilization rates; malpractice rate
calculation; and payment for consultations. In addition, CMS
proposes a 21.5 percent reduction in the Medicare conversion
factor due to the flawed sustainable growth rate.
In short, there could be as high as a 30 percent cut in Medicare
payments for cardiology. Taken together with the payment cuts
cardiology has already experienced, CMS’ proposed rule
represents a grave threat to cardiology practices and the
patients they serve. The ACC and our partners are prepared
to wage an aggressive campaign to prevent implementation of
these damaging policies. The ACC urges its members to contact
their lawmakers and ask them to prevent these payment
policies that will result in devastating cuts. You can reach
your members using the ACC’s toll-free grassroots hotline
(800-210-7193) or by using the grassroots
e-mail system. Detailed
information is available, and more information will be
provided over the coming weeks. For questions, please contact
advocacydiv@acc.org.
ACT NOW: Health Reform Legislation Moving In Congress
The House and Senate are both moving forward
with health care proposals, with the goal of passing their
respective health reform bills by the August recess. Now is
the time for lawmakers to hear from YOU
about the need for fundamental payment reform. They need to
hear how the current payment environment has affected your
ability to run a practice and provide your patients access
to the care they need and deserve. Using the ACC's toll-free
grassroots hotline (800-210-7193) or grassroots
email system, contact your members of Congress and tell
them to:
- Stop the 21.5 percent Medicare physician payment
cut slated to take effect on January 1, 2010.
- Permanently repeal the flawed Sustainable Growth
Rate (SGR) formula and work with the physician
community to transition to a new system that provides stable,
positive updates and covers increasing costs of care.
- Test alternative payment models that
improve quality and outcomes and reduce overall Medicare
costs.
- Oppose the use of imaging prior authorization
in Medicare or imaging payment cuts.
In addition, please urge Congress to reform the medical liability
system as part of its health reform efforts. Physicians and
care providers that provide imaging services or are part of
specialty hospitals should also make sure to tell Congress
not to place limitations on physician ownership in facilities,
equipment or services that benefit patients through the delivery
of appropriate, high quality care. The health reform landscape
is changing rapidly. Now is the time to make your voice heard
and to utilize any connections you may have with lawmakers
and/or their staff. ACT
NOW!
For more information, contact Molly Nichelson (mnichels@acc.org).
Act
Now You can also call the ACC’s toll-free
grassroots hotline at 800-210-7193
ACC|CAN ACTION ALERT
CENTER is for the use of ACC Members only. You must
use your ACC member number and ID to log on to the secure
website. If you need assistance, email grassroots@acc.org
or call (202) 375-6470, Monday-Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
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