Campaign for Patient Access
Cardiopulmonary exercise testing, commonly called CPET or an exercise gas analysis, helps clinicians understand how the heart, lungs, circulation and muscles…
A national public affairs campaign launched by the American College of Cardiology in December 2009 to oppose Medicare physician fee schedule cuts affecting cardiology patients and practices.
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
April 30, 2010
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.
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December 29, 2009
Cardiology Takes Legal Action Against Medicare
The ACC filed suit against HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius over the 2010 Physician Fee Schedule.
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January 12, 2010
ACC Statement on Health Care Reform
The ACC used the State of the Union address to highlight the need to reverse the Medicare cuts.
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April 12, 2010
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
For Australian patients and clinicians watching the slow-motion American cardiology crisis, the headlines can feel distant. Washington, lobbying groups, fee…
For people living outside Australia’s capital cities, access to heart care depends on more than the availability of a catheter laboratory. It relies on a chain…
Medicare physician payment policy can change through legislation, regulation, budget decisions and annual fee schedules. A proposal may begin as a bill in…
Cardiac amyloidosis is a progressive condition in which abnormal proteins build up in the heart, making it harder for the heart muscle to relax and pump…
When a heart attack happens, the emergency treatment is only the beginning. Recovery often depends on appointments, medication reviews, cardiac rehabilitation,…
An implantable loop recorder can help cardiologists investigate unexplained fainting, palpitations, falls and possible intermittent atrial fibrillation. Unlike…
Cardiac rehabilitation is one of the most effective ways to help people recover after a heart attack, coronary stent, bypass surgery or diagnosis of heart…
Clear visuals can make a complicated health policy issue easier to understand, remember and discuss. The Campaign for Patient Access used infographics to…
When people hear about the Medicare Economic Index, it can sound like an accounting issue reserved for policy analysts, practice managers and government…
