Cardiology Groups Implore President Obama: Stop Medicare Rule That Will Restrict Access to Heart Care

Cardiology Groups Implore President Obama: Stop Medicare Rule That Will
Restrict Access to Heart Care

Ads focus on regulations scheduled for Nov. 1

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American College of
Cardiology (ACC) and the Cardiology Advocacy Alliance (CAA) today announced a
national advertising campaign imploring President Obama to halt Medicare
regulations that will restrict patients' access to cardiac care.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which runs the Medicare
program, is scheduled to release the final 2010 Physician Fee Schedule by
November 1. If the regulations are implemented as proposed, cardiologists will
see cuts of 27-40 percent or more beginning January 1 for common cardiac tests
used to diagnose and treat heart disease. The cuts to cardiology are in
addition to the 21.5 percent reduction all physicians face in 2010 due to the
flawed Sustainable Growth rate formula, and will force practices nationwide to
lay off staff, close offices and otherwise reduce access to lifesaving
treatments.

In an open letter running in the nation's flagship newspapers October 29, the
ACC and CAA call upon the President to intercede with CMS to prevent the cuts
to cardiology. The ads will run in The Washington Post, USA Today, The New
York Times, and the President's hometown newspaper, The Chicago Tribune.

To view the ad, please click here.

About the American College of Cardiology
The American College of Cardiology is leading the way to optimal
cardiovascular care and disease prevention. The College is a 37,000-member
nonprofit medical society and bestows the credential Fellow of the American
College of Cardiology upon physicians who meet its stringent qualifications.
The College is a leader in the formulation of health policy, standards and
guidelines, and is a staunch supporter of cardiovascular research. The ACC
provides professional education and operates national registries for the
measurement and improvement of quality care. More information about the
association is available online at www.acc.org.

About the Cardiology Advocacy Alliance
The CAA represents more than 5,000 private practice cardiologists across the
nation and provides leadership and education on issues that affect the quality
of patient care and access to cardiovascular services.

SOURCE American College of Cardiology

ACC Contact: Ana Fullmer, +1-202-375-6229, CAA Contact: Margo Burrage,
+1-734-878-2108