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Amy Murphy amurphy@acc.org,
(202) 375-6476,
Ana Fullmer afullmer@acc.org,
(202) 375-6229
January
29, 2010
ACC Statement on Health Care Reform
Washington, DC – The American College
of Cardiology’s (ACC) President, Alfred A. Bove, M.D.,
today made the following statement on health care reform:
“No matter what path the President and Congress choose
to move legislation forward, health care reform is critically
needed to increase patient access, improve quality outcomes,
and reduce unnecessary health spending, much of which is administrative
waste.
“By working with physicians, nurses, and professional
societies like the American College of Cardiology, Congress
and the Administration can get this done in a cost-effective
manner. Cardiologists support many of the important provisions
in both bills, but we have major concerns about other provisions
that should be addressed in the proposed health care reform
legislation.
“To achieve true health care reform, we believe that
any legislation should do the following:
- Eliminate the sustainable growth rate (SGR) and replace
with a formula that protects practice viability, promotes
quality and improves outcomes
- Eliminate the polarizing Independent Payment Advisory
Board (IPAB) and seek cost-containment strategies that focus
on the entire delivery system and protect the patient-physician
relationship
- Eliminate the divisive public option
- Include resources for payment and delivery system reform
experimentation and pilots
- Eliminate the ban on specialty hospitals
- Include reasonable tort reform measures to reduce defensive
medicine
“We believe that by eliminating the SGR, we can take
the political gamesmanship out of health care and ensure that
patients once and for all don’t need to rely on Congress
every other year to make sure they have access to their doctor.
Meaningful tort reform means physicians can practice medicine
based on what’s best for the patients rather than out
of fear of litigation. And, by eliminating the IPAB, decisions
about physician services and patient care will rightfully
remain under the oversight of Congress rather than an unaccountable
group of political appointees.
“Lastly, when it comes to sustaining the viability
of thousands of cardiology practices nationwide, we can reverse
the flawed physician-fee schedule that took effect on January
1st of this year that cuts Medicare reimbursements for cardiology
services by up to 40 percent. Cardiologists are adapting by
closing their private practices to become employees of hospitals,
but patients will now pay three to four time higher co-pays
and costs of hospital-based services for the same tests and
care. This is a health care disaster.
“Nonetheless, ACC will continue to pursue every available
regulatory and legislative arena available to the College
to address this inappropriate public policy. Congress can
start by passing and the President can sign, H.R. 4731, a
bill that restores Medicare reimbursements for cardiology
related services back to the 2009 levels.
“We remain committed to coming to the table with interested
parties so that we can continue to protect patient access,
promote the quality of care, reduce unnecessary costs, and
ensure that the thousands of cardiology practices around the
country remain viable.”
“This is still a time of opportunity for real health
reform. Let's get beyond partisan rancor and back-door insider
deals and pursue real health reform that covers all Americans,
puts patients and quality first, cuts waste, and protects
the patient physician relationship. This is our ethical challenge,
and our economic imperative.
Interview requests for Alfred Bove can be made by contacting
Amy Murphy at (202) 375-6476 or Ana Fullmer at (202) 375-6229.
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About the ACC:
The American College of Cardiology is leading the way to optimal
cardiovascular care and disease prevention. The College is
a 37,000-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 . |
