The ACC Is Your Advocate

• Published in: Journal of the American College of Cardiology Vol. 72; no. 15; pp. 1870 - 1871
• Main Authors: Valentine, C. Michael, Waites, Thad F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 09-10-2018; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Advocacy; Bills; Cardiology; Cardiology - education; Cardiology - legislation & jurisprudence; Cardiology - organization & administration; Cardiovascular disease; Congresses as Topic; Congressional investigations; Disease control; Funding; Government Regulation; Health care policy; Health Care Reform - legislation & jurisprudence; Heart; Humans; Legislators; Liability, Legal; Medical research; Medicare; Physician Payment Review Commission; Public health; Rehabilitation; Society; United States; United States; United States > US
• ISSN: 0735-1097; 1558-3597
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2018.09.002

Over the years, ACC members have taken to Capitol Hill to advocate for patient access to imaging services; repeal of the flawed sustainable growth rate formula used to calculate Medicare physician payment; funding for cardiovascular research, graduate medical education, and prevention initiatives; medical liability reform; and balanced health care reforms that meet the now quadruple aim of improved outcomes, better care, lower costs, and clinician well-being. Thanking members for their votes in favor of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, which addressed several top cardiovascular priorities including supervision of cardiac rehabilitation by physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists beginning in 2024; simplification of the Quality Payment Program; additional funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program; authorization of increased funding for the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and elimination of the Independent Payment Advisory Board. Urging ongoing support for public health and medical research through robust funding for the National Institutes of Health, Food and Drug Administration, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and by cosponsoring HR 3592, the South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act, and supporting passage of HR 1222/S 477, the Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act.