Contact: Katie Glenn, kglenn@acc.org, 202-375-6472

WASHINGTON (May 23, 2019) -

American College of Cardiology President Richard Kovacs, MD, FACC, made the following statement on new, bipartisan draft legislation aimed at reducing health care costs released today by Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chair Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and the Committee's Ranking Member Senator Patty Murray (D-WA):

"The American College of Cardiology advocates for affordable access for all patients, regardless of insurance coverage, as excessive out-of-pocket expenses represent an insurmountable hurdle for many patients—especially those with chronic diseases like heart disease. As the entire health care community works toward providing value-based care, the ACC is committed to protecting patient access to high-quality care. We commend this bipartisan effort to address several of the key factors associated with rising health care costs. We are ready to assist Senators Alexander and Murray, as well as their colleagues, in moving this conversation forward."

The American College of Cardiology envisions a world where innovation and knowledge optimize cardiovascular care and outcomes. As the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team, the mission of the College and its more than 52,000 members is to transform cardiovascular care and to improve heart health. The ACC bestows credentials upon cardiovascular professionals who meet stringent qualifications and leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. The College also provides professional medical education, disseminates cardiovascular research through its world-renowned JACC Journals, operates national registries to measure and improve care, and offers cardiovascular accreditation to hospitals and institutions. For more, visit acc.org.

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