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

WASHINGTON (Nov 02, 2017) -

American College of Cardiology President Mary Norine Walsh, MD, FACC, made the following statement in response to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid's (CMS) release of the 2018 Physician Fee Schedule:

"The ACC is pleased to see CMS finalize the requirement that clinicians consult with appropriate use criteria (AUC) for advanced imaging services starting in 2020 as an educational year, rather than 2018. The College hopes that CMS will continue to work with stakeholders to ensure that the AUC program supports improved, cost-effective patient care without excessively burdensome requirements," said ACC President Mary Norine Walsh, MD, FACC. "The ACC is committed to the use of AUC in clinical decision-making and is pleased to see that CMS is providing additional time to prepare for this program."

The American College of Cardiology is the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team. The mission of the College and its more than 52,000 members 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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