Campaign for Patient Access
A Multi-Front Campaign to Protect Patient Access
In December 2009, the American College of Cardiology launched a national public affairs campaign to preserve patient access to cardiovascular care. The campaign responded to Medicare physician fee schedule cuts that threatened cardiology practices' ability to serve patients across the country.
The ACC pursued a coordinated strategy spanning three fronts: legislative advocacy, regulatory engagement, and legal action. Each approach reinforced the others, building pressure to reverse cuts that the College argued were based on flawed data and arbitrary rulemaking.
Key Actions
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December 2009
National Public Affairs Campaign Launched. The ACC mobilized cardiologists, patients, and partner organizations to raise awareness about the impact of Medicare cuts on access to cardiovascular care.
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December 29, 2009
Legal Action Filed. The ACC filed a lawsuit against HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in U.S. District Court in Florida, challenging the use of the Physician Practice Information Survey in setting 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rates.
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January 12, 2010
Legislative Advocacy Intensified. The ACC released a statement on health care reform and used the State of the Union address to highlight the urgent need to reverse Medicare cuts.
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April 12, 2010
Grassroots Mobilization. Medicare patients and physicians gathered in Washington, D.C., joining a petition drive calling on Congress for Medicare reform.
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April 30, 2010
National Alert Issued. The campaign released "MEDICARE MELTDOWN: Access to Health Care in Critical Condition," underscoring the severity of the access crisis.
Three Pillars of the Response
The ACC's response rested on three interconnected strategies, each targeting a different lever of change:
- Legislative: Engaging Congress directly to reverse the cuts through statutory action, supported by grassroots advocacy from patients and physicians nationwide.
- Regulatory: Challenging the validity of the Physician Practice Information Survey and the rulemaking process that produced the 2010 fee schedule.
- Legal: Seeking a preliminary injunction against HHS to halt implementation of the cuts, arguing the agency acted arbitrarily and capriciously.
Learn More
Legal Action
Frequently asked questions about the lawsuit against HHS, including plaintiffs, legal arguments, and potential outcomes.
View Lawsuit FAQs →Newsroom
Press releases and media coverage from across the nation documenting the campaign's progress and impact.
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