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Amanda Jekowsky , American College of
Cardiology, 202-375-6645, ajekowsk@acc.org
February
26, 2009
ACC CEO Dr. Jack Lewin’s Statement
on President’s FY 10 Budget
Washington, DC – The American College
of Cardiology’s (ACC) CEO, Jack Lewin, M.D. today released
the following statement addressing the President’s proposed
FY 10 budget:
“There is no doubt that the dramatic rise in health
care costs continues to have a tremendously detrimental effect
on the overall well-being of our nation. Despite its stunning
achievements, aspects of our health care system are sick and
efforts to reduce waste and improve the system have been shoved
aside for far too long.
“As such, the American College of Cardiology strongly
supports President Obama’s ten year commitment to reforming
and bettering our nation’s health care system. President
Obama’s proposed budget is an aggressive and much-needed
step in that direction and the nation cannot let Congress
get sidetracked and bogged down in grandstanding and political
maneuvering.
“President Obama's proposed budget is comprehensive
and looks at prevention; reduced hospital readmissions; improved
patient safety, quality of care and program integrity; and
looks at private sector ideas to ensure appropriate use of
technologies including imaging. The proposed budget also encourages
implementation and use of health information technology which
is crucial to substantive reform. By making healthy patients
the goal of any reform efforts, we create less of a financial
burden on our health care system that is already 17-percent
of the nation’s GDP.
“Despite what some claim, new investments should not
be a barrier to reform. Medicare needs to be the driver to
create a more efficient health care system that focuses on
quality outcomes for patients. Congress must focus on the
outcomes for patients. Quality care leads directly to healthier
patients and fewer hospital visits. Fewer hospital visits
means lower health care costs. A system that encourages inefficiency
and makes it more profitable for physicians to treat patients
again and again rather than reward effective care that focuses
on patients’ best interests is a broken system.
“Health care reform has long been a political football
in this country. Judging from the reaction to Tuesday night’s
speech, it is clear that the political will exists on both
sides of the aisle to make this a top priority. The ACC is
ready to do our part. It’s time that we take the ball
and run with it."
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The American College of Cardiology is leading the way to optimal
cardiovascular care and disease prevention. The College is
a 36,000-member nonprofit medical society and bestows the
credential Fellow of the American College of Cardiology upon
physicians 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.acc.org .
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) provides these news
reports of clinical studies published in the Journal of
the American College of Cardiology as a service to physicians,
the media, the public and other interested parties. However,
statements or opinions expressed in these reports reflect
the view of the author(s) and do not represent official policy
of the ACC unless stated so.
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