ACC Advocacy: Medicare Physician Payment

1. ACC Advocacy: Medicare Physician Payment

2. The Problem: When combined with other changes in Medicare payments for 2008, cardiologists are facing average cuts of 15 percent or more depending on mix of services.  

3. The Situation in Congress: Congress last month passed legislation reauthorizing the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The legislation, which provides critical low-cost health insurance for families and children, ultimately passed without any of the Medicare reforms initially included in House version of the bill. Congress now has a limited window of time to address Medicare physician payment before adjourning for the year.

4. Stop the Cuts, Fix the Problem ACC Efforts: • More than 250 members visited nearly 250 congressional offices during ACC’s annual Legislative Conference in September • Regular meetings are taking place with Hill staff/lawmakers • National grassroots campaign is underway to generate calls, faxes and personal visits to lawmakers • Monthly updates in Cardiology Magazine and ACC News e-mail newsletter.

5. Medicare Physician Payment: Stop the Cuts, Fix the Problem! Get Involved: • Call your members of Congress using the ACC’s toll-free grassroots hotline at 1-800-210-7193. • Email or send a fax to your members of Congress through www.acc.org/can. A sample letter is available for you to personalize. • Meet with your lawmakers face-to-face, whether in their district offices or in Washington, D.C.. Contact Frank Ryan (fryan@acc.org) or Molly Nichelson (mnichels@acc.org) on the ACC staff for assistance.