California Senate Bill 1215 (S.B. 1215), which sought to remove the in-office ancillary exception for advanced modality imaging (including PET, CT and MRI) and many other services performed outside cardiology, was successfully defeated on April 28 when a Senate committee voted against advancing the legislation. Through a grassroots campaign, ACC California (CA-ACC) chapter members met face-to-face with lawmakers to educate them on the bill’s consequences. During the committee hearing, Norman E. Lepor, MD, FACC, governor-elect of the CA-ACC (Southern), and one of his patients underscored how this legislation would diminish patient care by limiting access to life-saving cardiovascular services and raise the cost to Medicare and patients. Because California lawmakers were convinced that S.B. 1215 could negatively impact access to cardiovascular services in California, other states do not have the legislative precedent or political momentum to justify similar proposals. Nevertheless, ACC and its chapters will remain vigilant in tracking such proposals and educating state lawmakers on why cardiac imaging is a cost-efficient, life-saving procedure. Grassroots efforts such as these are imperative to ensuring that lawmakers understand how their decisions impact the cardiovascular community and patients. Get involved in ACC’s Advocacy efforts by inviting state and congressional legislators to tour your office or meeting with them in their home offices. Contact Elizabeth Shaw ateshaw@acc.org to set up a visit.

< Back to Listings