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 is a member of the Smart Heart Sports Coalition, which aims to advance legislation addressing sudden cardiac arrest and expanding access to AEDs.
  • The College helped craft the Amputation Reduction and Compassion (ARC) Act, focused on narrowing the health equity gap for Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), as the condition disproportionately impacts people of color.
  • The ACC played a crucial role in passing the Cardiovascular Advances in Research and Opportunities Legacy (CAROL) Act, which provides funding for education and awareness about valvular heart disease.

Policy Progress

  • The Cardiomyopathy Health, Education, Awareness, Research and Training in Schools (HEARTS) Act (H.R. 6829), which aims to educate the public about cardiomyopathy and support the placement of AEDs in schools, was signed into law in December 2024.
  • The ARC Act (H.R. 307), first championed by the late Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ), was reintroduced into Congress by Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ).

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Prevent Avoidable Amputations

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