The ACC submitted comments on the damned 2010 Physician Fee Schedule last week. How could the agency have miscalculated (almost absurdly) that cardiology practices have had a 30-40% reduction in practice costs over the last year, warranting a parallel reduction in Medicare reimbursement? Because it is an underfunded agency lacking empowered leadership, and which is obviously using a very flawed process, incapable for calculating practice costs accurately (this is not a good advertisement for a new public plan!).

If implemented in January 2010, the effects of this CMS 2010 Payment Rule would be devastating for outpatient cardiovascular services and the patients who need such care, and would hardly be consistent with the new Administration’s bold and welcome intention to reward improved quality and outcomes for a specialty that has led the way to the stunning reduction of US cardiovascular morbidity and mortality by 29% over the past 8 years alone! 

Not only will the rule affect services and patients, it's going to affect health care reform. Don’t miss a great Bloomberg article about the impacts of CMS’ proposed cuts on overarching health reform efforts. The article is absolutely correct that the “backlash” being generated by the cuts is “undermining the president’s health-care overhaul.” Even Mark McClellan, former head of CMS and currently an analyst with the Brookings Institute, says:

“The fight by physicians who work with the most expensive patients is weakening support for Obama’s broader goal, legislation to remake the health system ... If you can make the health-care debate all about moving slices of the pie around, it’s very easy to generate opposition and very easy to get derailed.”

ACC President Fred Bove is also quoted in the article, saying: “The cuts could have the unintended consequence of rationing care, especially in rural regions with a large number of Medicare patients.”

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