Contact: Beth Casteel, bcasteel@acc.org, 202-375-6275

Washington, DC – The American College of Cardiology’s (ACC) CEO, Jack Lewin, MD, today made the following statement following the release of the 2012 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule:

“The Medicare physician fee schedule rule released today will undoubtedly have negative consequences for providers and their patients. While cuts differ substantially based on the mix of services provided by a physician’s practice, is estimated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to overall have a -2 percent impact on payments to cardiologists. 

“While we are glad to see the original cuts to advanced imaging services were decreased from their proposed 50 percent, the continued cuts to cardiovascular services if the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula if not fixed, provide an even greater threat to patients access to quality care.  

“Congress has until the end of 2011 to come up with a solution to the flawed SGR payment formula and to prevent next year’s SGR-based cut, currently estimated at 27.4 percent, from taking effect.

“Fixing the SGR needs to be a top priority in the coming weeks since there is a need for real payment reform to happen in the U.S. Our members are actively involved in these discussions and we are ready and eager to work with Congress to make this happen.”

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About the American College of Cardiology
The American College of Cardiology is transforming cardiovascular care and improving heart health through continuous quality improvement, patient-centered care, payment innovation and professionalism. The College is a 39,000-member nonprofit medical society comprised of physicians, surgeons, nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists and practice managers, and bestows credentials upon cardiovascular specialists who meet its stringent qualifications. The College is a leader in the formulation of health policy, standards and guidelines, and is a staunch supporter of cardiovascular research. The ACC provides professional education and operates national registries for the measurement and improvement of quality care. More information about the association is available online at www.cardiosource.org/ACC.

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