Of the patient for the profession…Act Now

Fellow Governors/Colleagues,

As Winston Churchill so eloquently stated “…We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give...” This quote is timely in the context of the proposed CMS fee cuts for Cardiology. On July 1, 2009 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its proposed 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule which includes proposed payment cuts that could cripple cardiology practices and threaten access to services that prevent premature death and disability for millions of Americans with heart disease. CMS projects that the proposed changes would reduce total Medicare payments to cardiology by 11 percent. The projected payment cut would result from changes to the following areas: practice expense calculation; equipment utilization rates; malpractice rate calculation; and payment for consultations. In addition, CMS proposes a 21.5 percent reduction in the Medicare conversion factor due to the flawed sustainable growth rate. In short, there could be as high as a 30 percent cut in Medicare payments for cardiology. Taken together with the payment cuts cardiology has already experienced, CMS’ proposed rule represents a grave threat to cardiology practices and the patients we serve.

The deadline for public comments on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) proposed 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule is August 31, 2009. With that in mind, it is critical that ACC members across the country contact their respective members of Congress and urge them to stop the drastic cuts from being implemented. Congress needs to hear about the impacts of these proposed cuts as they relate to practice viability and patient care. In the House, Reps. Charles Gonzalez (D-TX) and Mike Rogers (R-MI) are circulating a letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, expressing concerns regarding the proposed rule and the data used to justify the practice expense cuts. Your members can express their opinion at: http://www.capitolconnect.com/cardiology/

As ACC Delaware Governor Dr. Guy Pastore has done, I urge you to take advantage of the ACC patient materials made available to all College members. State Chapters such as Oregon and Delaware are reporting an overwhelming response from their patients who are more than willing to sign letters in support of asking our state representatives to oppose the projected, severe cuts that Cardiology practices are facing in 2010! In Delaware, one seven physician practice has sent several hundred letters to their Federal legislators. Dr. Pastore has asked other practices to do the same and they have responded.  He has received confirmation from Delaware legislators that these letters are being received and given the highest consideration. Its one thing to hear from physicians about opposition to the cuts but it's entirely another to hear from our patients.  For those of you who have not become engaged thus far I urge you to do so. As Dr. Pastore points out: “…I am sure you will all agree that we can talk about healthcare reform all we wish but it really won't matter much to us or our patients if we are subject to the proposed DRASTIC cuts that CMS plans to impose come January 1st. I am confident that with these cuts our practice (and I suspect yours as well) will be unable to provide the same high level of care that our patients have come to expect and deserve from us…” 

Kudos to our Governors across the nation such as ACC Maryland Governor Sam Goldberg whose patients have also sent over 1000 letters to his Representatives and Senators over the past 3 weeks.

Sample patient materials are copied below:

Patient Sample Letter to Congress:

Dear [Enter Name of Representative or Senator],

I am sending this note to express my concerns about my ability to continue to get the cardiovascular care I need given the drastic Medicare payment cuts proposed for cardiologists next year.

As a Medicare patient under the care of a cardiologist, I am concerned that my physician may no longer be able to treat me or other Medicare patients as a result of these and other cuts. Already, many practices across the country are being forced to consider drastic options, whether it’s laying off key support staff or limiting new Medicare patients.

I cannot afford to find a new doctor, nor can I afford higher co-payments or extra trips to the hospital for procedures like medical imaging. As you consider Medicare legislation over the next few months, I urge you to consider the impacts of the reimbursement cuts not only on physicians, but on patients like me. Please help stop the cuts and help ensure [State] cardiologists and other specialists not only stay in [State] but are able to provide the best possible care.

Sincerely,

[Name of Patient]

Patient Flyers and Posters that can be downloaded by clicking links:

Help Protect Your Cardiovascular Care (Flyer) (Poster)

Congress Holds Your Heart in Its Hands (Flyer) (Poster)

Your Access to Cardiovascular Care is at Risk Ask What You Can Do (Flyer) (Poster)

Now is the time for American College of Cardiology members to tell CMS and your members of Congress that these cuts are unacceptable. Click on the "Take Action Now!" button on the capitolconnect.com/cardiology/ website to tell your members of Congress to sign on the Gonzalez-Rogers Letter to CMS! Patient materials are available for download at www.acc.org/can. Contact your lawmakers TODAY and ask them to prevent these payment policies that will result in devastating cuts. Click here to send a letter to your representative and senators. A sample letter and/or talking points are provided. You can use the ACC’s toll-free grassroots hotline (800-210-7193) to be directly connected to your lawmakers' offices.

The White House will host a conference call briefing for physicians Tuesday evening August 25th to discuss Health Insurance Reform. Please join this call with other physicians and members of the White House Office of Health Reform.  If you have a question you would like to submit in advance, please email it to public@who.eop.gov and write "Physician Health Insurance Reform Call" in the subject line. The White House has indicated that it will do its best to respond to as many questions as possible but since this is a large call, it might not be possible to get to all of them.
Call In Number: (800) 230-1096               
Date: Tuesday, August 25
Time: 8:30 PM Eastern

We need to always be cognizant that we are of the profession for the patient. Our voice in Congress will have greater weight if we approach the threatened payment cuts and healthcare reform from this perspective. In the Year of the Patient we have to keep the patient at the center of all discussions realizing at the same time the mantra of no margin no mission. In the beginning of our seventh decade as a College, we are redoubling our commitment to medical professionalism with a focus on patient value, and new patient-centered initiatives. I look forward to meeting all of you at the upcoming Board of Governors meeting this September.