Cardiovascular Coalition Urges Congress to Pass H.R. 3674 During Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Awareness Month

Washington, D.C. –– The CardioVascular Coalition (CVC) – a coalition of physicians, care providers, advocates, and manufacturers working to improve awareness and prevention of peripheral artery disease (PAD) – called on Congress to pass the Providing Relief and Stability for Medicare Patients Act of 2023 (H.R. 3674) to remedy the actions of CMS.

Ongoing cuts to office-based specialists make it harder for patients with PAD to get the care they need.

During Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Awareness Month, it is a time to reflect on the nearly 21 million Americans impacted by PAD, including an estimated 200,000 individuals who suffer preventable amputations every year due to complications from the chronic disease, and to ensure patients’ access to vascular care that is shown to improve quality of life, reduce care costs, and prevent limb loss. Every three minutes in the United States, a limb is amputated due to diabetes - most of which are preventable. Recent data showed that about 130,000 diabetic patients experienced amputations, with evidence suggesting a rising trend.

Additionally, it is important to address health equity issues as amputation rates are significantly higher among Black, Native American, and Hispanic patients compared to White non-Hispanic patients (Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 145 /Pg. 423). Data shows that the rate can be up to eight times higher for black patients in some regions of the United States.

“As we recognize PAD Awareness Month and the major impact that peripheral artery disease has on Americans – particularly people of color – the CVC is gravely concerned how these ongoing cuts would increase instability and further limit patient access to revascularization services that are proven to prevent amputation and reduce costs,” said Interventional Cardiologist and Endovascular Specialist Jeffrey G. Carr, MD, a CVC Board member.

Dr. Carr continued, “To address the issues of patient access and systemic health inequity in our country, Congress must pass the Providing Relief and Stability for Medicare Patients Act of 2023 (H.R. 3674) ,” said Dr. Carr. “Further, CMS must work closely with Congress to fundamentally reform the Physician Fee Schedule so that any future unjustified cuts to specialty provider services can be avoided.”