Campaign for Patient Access
Physician fee reductions in Medicare can look like an accounting adjustment, but their effects reach far beyond a payment notice. When reimbursement falls…
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
I expected the hardest part of heart surgery to be the operation itself. I was wrong. Before I reached the hospital, I had to navigate referrals, testing,…
When Medicare reduces payment for physician services, the effect reaches far beyond a line on a practice budget. It can influence staffing, appointment…
For people living far from major medical centers, access to heart care depends on a fragile local network. A rural clinic, independent cardiology practice,…
Medicare payment policy can feel remote from the exam room, yet physician fee schedule decisions affect whether cardiology practices can recruit clinicians,…
For patients, a change in the Medicare physician fee schedule can seem like an administrative detail. In a cardiology practice, however, payment policy affects…
When Medicare changes the amount it pays physicians, the effect can reach far beyond an accounting statement. Payment updates influence how practices staff…
Access matters in every online service, whether people are seeking reliable health information or a convenient way to enjoy digital entertainment. Campaign for…
Cardiovascular care depends on timely appointments, diagnostic testing, medication management, and long-term relationships with qualified clinicians. For…
Medicare’s Physician Fee Schedule may sound like an issue for billing departments and policy specialists, but its effects reach directly into patients’ lives.…
