ACC Members Take Their Message to Congress at the Annual Legislative Conference

The 2025 ACC Legislative Conference [acc.org]held October 5-7 in Washington, DC with more than 450 cardiovascular professionals offered a chance to hear from ACC leaders, staff and other experts on health policy issues affecting patients and the profession. 

This year’s conference was critical as Congress is considering several key policies, including efforts to stabilize the Medicare payment system, optimize care delivery, and strengthen the clinician pipeline. With national attention focused on these and other pressing issues, the importance of continuing ACC’s Advocacy efforts on behalf of clinicians, patients, and the entire medical community cannot be overstated.

Talking points for congressional meetings focused on the following themes:

·    Establish Sustainable Medicare Payment Practices

·    Enact long-term reform to the Medicare payment system to ensure practices can keep up with inflationary pressures and rising practice costs.

·    Foster Care Transformation and Optimization

·    Decrease administrative burden and promote clinician well-being by streamlining prior authorization practices.

·    Expand patient access to telehealth and cardiac rehabilitation services.

·    Bolster the Clinician Workforce Now and for the Future & Champion Access to Care for All

·    Increase access to remote monitoring devices for pregnant and postpartum women to identify potential pregnancy complications and improve maternal and infant health outcomes.

·    Provide financial relief for residents during medical internships and training.