Health Care Payment Trends on the Heart2Heart Stage

As cardiovascular care evolves, so does the system that supports it. At ACC.26, payment experts mapped out key payment trends redefining care delivery.

Hosted on the Heart2Heart Stage, a forum for powerful discussions on issues shaping the future of the field, panelists covered new payment policies that took effect in 2026, such as the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule conversion factor, the efficiency adjustment reduction, site-of-service payment differential policy, and the impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) on Medicaid funding.

They also touched on developments in the ambulatory care setting, like the sunsetting of the Inpatient-Only List, and raised awareness about the Ambulatory Specialty Model, a mandatory five-year model testing whether episode-based accountability for chronic conditions like heart failure can improve outcomes and reduce total cost of care for Medicare beneficiaries. (Visit ACC.org/ASMForHF for more resources on this topic.)

ACC Advocacy remains committed to making the Medicare system more sustainable and educating members about the Medicare payment system and legislative solutions available. Learn more about the College's efforts, and view a new Medicare Payment Building Blocks video series, at ACC.org/MedicarePayment.

4 Ways ACC State Chapters Are Advancing Access to Care, Strengthening the CV Workforce

ACC State Chapters across the country have been hard at work advancing policies that expand access to life-saving cardiovascular care and support the health care workforce. ACC Advocacy's strength lies in the engagement and expertise of its members, and their commitment is driving progress in statehouses nationwide and in Congress. Recent highlights include:

1. Partnering With the NFL to Raise SCA Awareness
   Alfred Danielian, MD, FACC, joined the Las Vegas Raiders for an event focused on increasing public access to AEDs. Representing the ACC Nevada Chapter, he delivered a keynote address and engaged community members in discussions on sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and cardiac emergency preparedness.

2. Showcasing the Strength of the CV Care Team
   ACC members in Alabama hosted Rep. Shomari C. Figures (D-AL) at Mobile Infirmary, offering an inside look at the coordinated effort required to deliver high-quality cardiovascular care. Following ongoing engagement with the Chapter, Figures has cosponsored several ACC-endorsed bills.
3. Testifying in Support of Athlete Well-Being
   In both Connecticut and Maryland, ACC members specializing in sports cardiology testified before state legislative committees on proposals requiring cardiac components in athlete physicals. Their expertise underscored evidence-based best practices for protecting competitive athletes from cardiac events.
4. Building Lasting Relationships With Lawmakers
   Recent state lobby days in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, New York, Tennessee and Vermont brought cardiovascular clinicians directly to state capitols to discuss priority health policy issues. Hot topics included improving AED access and implementing cardiac emergency response plans, eliminating noncompetes for clinicians, reforming prior authorization practices, and more. These in-person events continue to build momentum and cultivate relationships with decisionmakers at the state level.

Interested in helping shape cardiovascular policy? Save the date for ACC Legislative Conference 2026, taking place Oct. 4-6 in Washington, DC. Registration will open soon!

Clinical Topics: Cardiovascular Care Team

Keywords: Cardiology Magazine, ACC Publications, CM-May-2026, Health Policy, ACC Advocacy, Medicare, Workforce, Health Expenditures