CVC Issues Statement on House Budget Reconciliation Legislation

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the CardioVascular Coalition (CVC) issued the following statement in response to the text of the Budget Reconciliation legislation passed by the House last week:

"The CardioVascular Coalition views the Physician Fee Schedule provisions in the House Budget Reconciliation package as a preliminary measure toward delivering crucial support that office-based healthcare providers require throughout the remainder of the 119th Congress. However, significantly more action is needed to assist Americans living with cardiovascular disease and ensure continued access to exceptional cardiovascular care."

"Although the projected permanent 1.7% boost to the 2026 conversion factor represents positive progress, this modification does not adequately restore the 2024 cuts. This increase continues to burden physicians with an 8% overall decline in the conversion factor from 2020 to 2026. Moreover, the planned future adjustments—limited to just 10% of the Medicare Economic Index—cannot match healthcare inflation rates, rendering them inadequate from inception."

"These measures also neglect to remedy the urgent necessity of correcting Physician Fee Schedule practice expense deficiencies that are forcing office-based cardiovascular specialists to close their practices, particularly in rural and medically underserved areas. Ongoing reductions in PFS practice expense reimbursements result in independent providers routinely receiving payments that fall below their operational expenses."

"The CVC urges the Senate to build upon the preliminary PFS provisions in the House Budget Reconciliation package by recognizing the value of cost-efficient, office-based cardiovascular care and providing additional resources for both the conversion factor and practice expenses for office-based healthcare providers. Congress must support the CVC's mission to advance patient access to care for peripheral artery disease (PAD) and coronary artery disease (CAD). By ensuring adequate provider reimbursement, we can increase interventional treatments across America, improve the quality of life for patients, and prevent unnecessary deaths and amputations.”

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(1) The reconciliation bill provides for a 2026 conversion factor increase of 75% of MEI which is estimated by MedPAC to be around 2.3% per year from 2025 through 2023.