Contact: Amy Murphy, amurphy@acc.org, 202-375-6476

Washington, D.C. - The American College of Cardiology’s (ACC) CEO, Jack Lewin, MD, today made the following statement following the release of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Accountable Care Organization (ACO) rule:
 
“With the release of the long awaited ACO rule, I am hopeful that with the flexibility of new payment models we will be successful in bringing together physicians, hospitals, and health plans to provide high quality care to patients.
 
“There is a need for a change to the current system of payment in the US, and I hope that with ACOs we can develop collaborative payment models which will allow us to streamline health care, improve patient health status and outcomes, reduce variation in care, and lower costs.
 
“We are committed to helping the CMS achieve their goal of better care for individuals, better health for populations, and slower growth in costs through improvements in care, and I am optimistic that specialty physician groups such as the ACC can help lead the way as the ACC already has several innovative tools and initiatives in place for enhanced quality management.
 
"We look forward to sharing our ideas with CMS to help the US health care system become patient-centered and quality focused.”

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Interview requests for Dr. Jack Lewin can be made by contacting Amy Murphy or Shannon Cline.

 

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 39,000-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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