Heart of Health Policy | Hundreds of Advocates, One Voice For Cardiology
ACC Advocacy welcomed more than 400 cardiovascular clinicians – nearly 200 of whom were first-time attendees – to this year's ACC Legislative Conference in Washington, DC.
Despite a government shutdown, the meeting presented a unique opportunity for members to connect with advocacy staff and leaders, learn about key topics altering the current political landscape and build relationships with nearly 300 lawmakers and key staff on Capitol Hill.
By lending their clinical expertise and sharing personal stories and perspectives on patient care, attendees made significant strides in shaping cardiovascular care – all by taking action together.
This year's advocacy efforts centered around the following health policy themes:
- Establishing sustainable Medicare payment policies
- Maintaining critical telehealth flexibilities
- Streamlining prior authorization practices
- Providing financial relief for residents
- Improving access to maternal monitoring tools
Read more about these issues and ACC's critical asks below.
Advocacy is a team sport, requiring voices from across the profession and the care team. Pictured here: members of the Women in Cardiology and CV Team Sections and partner society leaders.
REMARKable Conversations LIVE Tackles CMS Proposals
ACC President Christopher M. Kramer, MD, FACC, sat down with Geoffrey A. Rose, MD, FACC, and ACC Advocacy staff at Legislative Conference to break down key provisions from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) 2026 proposed rules and share how the College is working to support members as the regulatory space continues to shift. Click here for a deep dive into the proposed rules and look for the final rules to be released soon!
Get Involved With #ACCAdvocacy
View more highlights from ACC Legislative Conference using @Cardiology on X.
Keep the momentum going – there are still plenty of ways to engage! Visit ACC.org/Advocacy to read about the latest advocacy and policy news, send messages to your lawmakers through ACC Action Alerts, or plan a Legislator Practice Visit with your lawmakers. Plus, save the date for next year's conference – Oct. 4-6, 2026.
"I'm here at ACC Legislative Conference to help advocate for patient access and to ensure that we as a country are able to care for our patients."
David B. Stultz, MD, FACC
Ohio
"Now more than any other time we've got to be engaged. I really appreciate the ACC letting me, and 400 of my closest colleagues from around the cardiovascular care team, come up and advocate for those issues that are important to us and our patients."
Samuel O. Jones IV, MD, MPH, FACC
Tennessee
"I do some health equity work and speaking up for women. The Connected MOM Act and getting remote monitoring is something I'm passionate about, so I'm excited to represent that here."
Anita Umayal Radhakrishnan, MBBS, FACC
Pennsylvania
"I'm very excited to be here at ACC Legislative Conference and looking forward to working with lawmakers in hopes of making a difference for our patients."
Nikita Jhawar, MD
New Jersey
"I'm here with ACC to lobby on Capitol Hill for a whole bunch of different things, but I'm particularly excited to talk about telehealth and access to cardiac rehabilitation for our Medicare patients."
ACC BOG Chair David E. Winchester, MD, FACC
Florida
"Leaving Washington, I felt a renewed sense of hope in my ability to connect policy to patient outcomes and foster partnerships that drive system-wide improvement. Advocacy isn't just for one group or another, it's for anyone committed to improving care."
Corrin McCloskey, MPH, FACC
Georgia
Read McCloskey's perspective on her first experience at ACC Legislative Conference.
Keywords: Cardiology Magazine, ACC Publications, Health Services Accessibility, Prior Authorization, Legislative Conference, Health Policy, Patient Care, ACC Advocacy
