American College of Cardiology

ACC Supports AED Legislation
The ACC has sent a letter to Rep. Betty Sutton (D-OH) thanking her for introducing the “Josh Miller Helping Everyone Access Responsive Treatment in Schools Act” (Josh Miller HEARTS Act) of 2007.  The Josh Miller HEARTS Act takes a significant step in realizing ACC’s goal to increase the availability of AEDs in public settings by establishing a grant program to ensure that every elementary and secondary school in the country can obtain one of these life-saving devices.

E-Prescribing Expected to be Hot Issue in 2008
E-prescribing is expected to be one of the most debated health information technology  (HIT) issues this year, according to an article in Healthcare IT News. While some believe Americans are ready for e-prescribing, others are concerned about patient privacy issues. Congress could very well consider e-prescribing measures when it returns from recess. The ACC is following the issue closely.

States Earn Failing Grade on Anti-Smoking Progress
The American Lung Association has released a report rating state progress around tobacco prevention and cessation programs.  Eighteen states received a failing grade. The failing states were: Alabama, Alaska, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. The ACC is working with state chapters to promote legislation to curb tobacco use in their states.

UnitedHealthcare Extends Imaging Accreditation Deadline
UnitedHealthcare has extended the deadline for requiring accreditation of specific cardiac imaging services to the third quarter of 2008. The initial deadline was March 1. The ACC played a key role in getting the extension. UnitedHealthcare will notify providers a minimum of 30 days before accreditation becomes effective in their area, or as otherwise required by regulation. Additional information about the imaging accreditation initiative is available online at: http://www.UnitedHealthcareOnline.com.

Increased CT Scans Leading to Higher Radiation Exposure
The number of Americans undergoing CT scans has increased dramatically in recent years, driving a significant increase in the amount of radiation that many people are being exposed to from medical procedures, according to an article this week in the Washington Post. This trend is raising concerns about increases in cancer rates in coming years and reinvigorating the debate about the overuse of these tests. The ACC’s appropriateness criteria are one way to address this issue, as they provide guidance on when and how often these tests should be performed. To date, the ACC has published appropriateness criteria on SPECT MPI, CCT and CMR and TEE/TTE. Appropriateness Criteria for Stress Echocardiography is slated for late February/early March.