Contact: Katie Glenn, kglenn@acc.org, 202-375-6472

WASHINGTON (Oct 14, 2016) -

A statement from American College of Cardiology President Richard A. Chazal, M.D., FACC, on today's release by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) of the Quality Payment Program (QPP) final rule:

"This final rule demonstrates the complexity of moving to a value-based payment system under Medicare; however, we are encouraged to see that CMS has made several changes in the final rule based on comments by the clinician community. The College urges CMS to continue providing effective education and assistance to clinicians and their practices to ensure that this transition does not interfere with their ability to focus on their most important job: providing patient-centered care," said American College of Cardiology President Richard A. Chazal, M.D., FACC.

"It is clear CMS listened to stakeholders and has finalized policies such as the Pick Your Pace approach to reporting under the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System, technical assistance to small and rural practices and additional clarity under the Advanced Alternative Payment Model pathway. We will continue to examine the complete rule in more detail to determine where CMS has incorporated additional flexibility and support for practicing clinicians. We look forward to continued discussions between CMS and the clinician community as these policies are implemented."

The American College of Cardiology is a 52,000-member medical society that is the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team. The mission of the College is to transform cardiovascular care and to improve heart health. The ACC leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. The College operates national registries to measure and improve care, offers cardiovascular accreditation to hospitals and institutions, provides professional medical education, disseminates cardiovascular research and bestows credentials upon cardiovascular specialists who meet stringent qualifications. For more, visit acc.org.

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