ACC Advocacy Action Alerts have been frequent the past few weeks. As members of Congress adjourn for the August recess, the profession of Cardiology needs your help at this critical juncture in healthcare reform in America. Below are two ways you can help today. The Time to Act Is Now, Before it is Too Late:
1. Write to CMS Directly to Voice Your Concern About the Proposed CMS Cuts:
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released their proposed Physician Fee Schedule. The bottom line: These proposed payment cuts are detrimental to cardiovascular practices and the quality care and necessary access we need to offer our patients. Overall the proposed changes would result in an 11% Medicare payment decrease for cardiology. This includes many proposals to cut payment for cardiovascular services, including: a 42% cut in transthoracic echo with Doppler, a 24% cut in left heart catheterization, and a 21% cut in EKG payments. If the proposed 21.5% slash in the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula also continues, the total Medicare payment decrease to cardiology will be greater than 30%. The bulk of the decreases will affect office based practices. In fact, if the proposed cuts are enacted, office based cardiology practices will cease to exist.
Please send your comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) by clicking the following link: Link to CMS website for comments. The more people who send comments, the better we will be heard. Please encourage your colleagues to contact CMS today.
The proposed rule is subject to revision following a period of public comment through August 31. Don’t hesitate — ACT TODAY and send your comments to CMS opposing these cuts!
2. Schedule a Meeting with Your Member of Congress:
Members of Congress have returned to their Illinois districts for summer recess. We encourage you to make appointments to meet with them in their district offices, call them, or invite them to your practice. These face-to-face meetings are the best way for you to voice your concerns and ask them to:
- Oppose the proposed 2010 CMS policy cuts for cardiology.
- To support Congressmen Gonzales and Rodger’s letter opposing the CMS proposed fee schedule by co-signing the letter as it instructs. Click here to download the PDF letter that can be printed and presented to your member of congress. For more information, including talking points, on the CMS cuts please go to www.acc.org/can
If you don’t know your member of Congress, click here to find your Representative
Talking points are available on www.acc.org/can to assist you. Cardiologists across the nation are enlisting their patients to help combat these issues. We encourage you to enlist the help of your patients and invite them to attend a meeting with you.
For more information and tools to help you contact your members of Congress about these issues, please visit www.acc.org/can or contact Molly Nichelson (800) 253-4636 x 6470. |
