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Champion Access to Care For All

Diverse communities with varying geographical and socioeconomic factors face unique health challenges and growing disparities in care. The ACC is committed to supporting education and awareness among populations disproportionately affected by cardiovascular conditions, providing actionable data and tools to address health disparities and advancing policies to distribute critical research funding.

  • 200,000 patients*

    suffer avoidable PAD-related amputations every year
    *National Institutes of Health

  • 30% lower access*

    to specialists in rural areas
    *National Rural Health Association

ACC in Action

  • The ACC joined medical specialty groups in a letter to congressional leadership urging them to reject proposed changes to Medicaid in the budget reconciliation package.
  • ACC's Reproductive Health & Cardio-Obstetrics Member Section joined a virtual Hill Day, urging their federal lawmakers to support several bills aimed at improving maternal health.
  • ACC President Christopher M. Kramer, MD, FACC, testified before the U.S. House Appropriations Labor-Health and Human Services Subcommittee in April 2025 to urge full funding for the Cardiomyopathy Health, Education, Awareness, Research and Training in Schools (HEARTS) Act (H.R. 6829), which would make AEDs available in public elementary and secondary schools.
  • The ACC is a member of the Smart Heart Sports Coalition, which aims to advance legislation addressing sudden cardiac arrest and expanding access to AEDs.
  • ACC's New Mexico Chapter successfully opposed a bill requiring echocardiograms and electrocardiograms for most newborns, highlighting concerns that the bill does not align with clinical guidelines nor U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations and creates unnecessary burdens on patients and health care systems.

Policy Progress

  • The HEARTS Act, which aims to educate the public about cardiomyopathy and support the placement of AEDs in schools, was signed into law in December 2024. In Florida and North Dakota, bills expanding CPR training and AED access are awaiting signatures from their governors.
  • The ARC Act (H.R. 307), first championed by the late Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ) and crafted with support from the ACC, was reintroduced into Congress by Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ).
  • Several bills aimed at improving maternal health nationwide have been reintroduced in Congress, including the Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act (HR. 1909), Connected MOM Act (S. 141) and the Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act (S. 380).

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