CVC Backs Letter Asking MedPAC to Work with Congress to Protect Specialty Care Providers

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, the CardioVascular Coalition (CVC) announced it is supporting a letter sent by The United Specialists for Patient Access (USPA) to MedPAC, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). The letter outlines how ongoing cuts to office-based specialists under the Physician Fee Schedule are driving closures of community-based specialty care centers and causing a migration of services to higher cost sites-of-service.

Since 2006, specialties such as cardiology, radiology, radiation oncology, vascular surgery and others have been cut by 20-40% under the Physician Fee Schedule. Concurrent with these cuts, there has been an 11% decrease in private practice and an 11% increase in hospital employment or ownership of physician practices.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE LETTER

CLICK HERE TO VIEW “FAST FACTS” FROM THE LETTER

Jeffrey G. Carr, MD, an Interventional Cardiologist, Endovascular Specialist, and CVC Board member stated: “We strongly support the message USPA delivered to MedPAC because it relates to our members. Congress needs to step in and stop further cuts to office-based specialty centers from harming patients and forcing providers to close their doors. We also need Congress to focus on long-term solutions to a broken Physician Fee Schedule by working with providers to find solutions that benefit everyone.”