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Feb 17, 2026
Washington, D.C. — The CardioVascular Coalition today applauded the bipartisan relaunch of the Congressional Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Caucus, highlighting a renewed commitment to advancing policies that improve early detection, reduce preventable amputations, and—critically—stabilize Medicare reimbursement for outpatient limb salvage procedures.
Hosted by Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL), the caucus relaunch brought together lawmakers, physicians, patient advocates, and leading medical societies to address urgent gaps in PAD diagnosis and treatment.
Peripheral artery disease affects more than 10 million Americans and is frequently underdiagnosed and undertreated. Left untreated, PAD can lead to chronic pain, non-healing wounds, heart attack, stroke, and limb amputation. Nearly 70 percent of individuals living with PAD are unaware they have the disease.
The relaunched Congressional PAD Caucus will focus on several key legislative priorities, including:
Expanding Medicare coverage for PAD screening in high-risk populations to encourage timely diagnosis and treatment.
Educating Congress and communities about PAD while supporting legislative activities to improve PAD research, education, and treatment.
Reducing unnecessary, traumatic PAD-related amputations.
Increasing federal funding for PAD awareness and advancing research into prevention and treatment options.
Stabilizing Medicare reimbursement for office-based, outpatient limb salvage procedures to ensure continued patient access to minimally invasive, community-based care.
"Stabilizing Medicare reimbursement for office-based, outpatient limb salvage procedures is essential to protecting patient access to care," said Jason McKitrick, Executive Director, CardioVascular Coalition. “When reimbursement policies are unpredictable or insufficient, patients are forced into higher-cost settings or experience delays in care. Office-based, outpatient specialists are on the front lines of preventing amputations, and Medicare policy must reflect the value of that care. We applaud the relaunch of the PAD Caucus and look forward to working with Representatives Bilirakis and Cherfilus-McCormick on these important issues."
About the CardioVascular Coalition
Founded in 2014, the CardioVascular Coalition comprises doctors, nurses, patients, and businesses dedicated to improving the lives of those affected by cardiovascular disease. It’s one of the leading voices in Washington, D.C. fighting for patient access to top-notch cardiovascular care. You can learn more by visiting www.cardiovascularcoalition.com.
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