Campaign for Patient Access
Federal policy determines many of the financial conditions under which cardiology practices operate, especially through Medicare reimbursement, regulatory…
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
The Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula may sound like an obscure accounting rule, but it once had a direct bearing on the care heart patients received. The…
The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act reshaped how Medicare pays physicians and how policymakers evaluate the quality of care. Enacted in 2015,…
Physicians play a central role in explaining how Medicare payment policy affects real-world care. When reimbursement reductions make it harder for practices to…
Medicare physician payment is often discussed as if each specialty receives a single hourly or annual rate. In reality, Medicare pays for individual services…
Quality cardiac care depends on far more than a consultation and a prescription. It combines diagnostic technology, clinical judgment, trained teams, rapid…
Cardiovascular disease remains one of the leading causes of illness and death in the United States, but its effects are not evenly distributed. Black adults,…
Access to timely, affordable cardiovascular care can influence whether high blood pressure is controlled, symptoms are investigated, and serious heart disease…
Cardiovascular disease remains one of the most expensive and disruptive health conditions in the United States. Its costs reach far beyond hospital bills.…
Cardiology depends on a stable funding environment. Medicare payment policies, administrative costs, workforce shortages, and rising demand for cardiovascular…
