When Medicare reduces the amount it pays physicians, the effect can reach patients long before a bill arrives. A lower fee schedule may encourage practices to…
About the Campaign
The Campaign for Patient Access was launched by the American College of Cardiology in December 2009 as a national effort to reverse Medicare physician fee schedule cuts that threatened cardiovascular care. The site provided background on the issue, the ACC's legislative and legal response, resources for patients and practices, a newsroom tracking coverage across the country, and ways for supporters to share their stories and support the campaign.
From the Newsroom
Medicare Meltdown: Access to Health Care in "Critical Condition"
A press release warning that cardiology access was in critical condition due to Medicare payment cuts.
Read more
Cardiology Takes Legal Action Against Medicare
The ACC filed suit against HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius over the 2010 Physician Fee Schedule.
Read more
ACC Statement on Health Care Reform
The ACC used the State of the Union address to highlight the need to reverse the Medicare cuts.
Read more
Medicare Patients and Physicians Join Petition Drive
Patients and physicians in Washington, DC joined a petition drive calling on Congress for Medicare reform.
Read moreGuides
A rural hospital can lose its cardiology service long before its emergency department closes. The first warning may be a visiting specialist who stops…
Community heart health education helps people recognise risk, act on symptoms and make practical changes before illness becomes an emergency. In Australia,…
When a cardiology practice receives less income for each consultation, the effect is rarely limited to an accounting spreadsheet. A lower Medicare rebate or…
Patients often hear about Medicare payment changes through headlines about fee cuts, budget negotiations or revised physician payment schedules. For people…
Payment reductions can affect cardiovascular care long before a patient notices a change in a clinic. When revenue falls, practices may shorten appointments,…
Medicare physician fee schedules can seem like a technical issue reserved for policy specialists, yet payment decisions shape whether patients can see a…
Roulette remains popular because its rules are easy to understand while offering many different ways to wager. A player can choose a single number, a group of…
Cardiac rehabilitation is a structured, medically supervised service for people recovering from a heart attack, bypass surgery, angioplasty, valve procedure,…
Small cardiology practices play a critical role in the American health care system. They often provide diagnosis, follow-up care, imaging, preventive…
Campaign for Patient Access