NC Chapter Members Take Their Message to Congress at the annual ACC Legislative Conference

The 2026 ACC Legislative Conference held October 4-6 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. 

 

Talking points for congressional meetings focused on the following themes:

Medicare Payment Reform

  • Supports updating Medicare’s outdated budget neutrality rules to reflect inflation.

  • Helps stabilize physician reimbursement and reduce payment volatility.

Medicare Payments and Inflation

  • Supports annual physician payment updates tied to inflation.

  • Helps offset years of reimbursement cuts and rising practice costs.

Prior Authorization Reform

  • Streamlines prior authorization requirements in Medicare Advantage.

  • Reduces delays in care and administrative burdens for providers.

Women’s Heart Health

  • Expands access to cardiovascular screenings and preventive care for women.

  • Supports earlier detection of risk factors and improved outcomes.

Resident Student Loan Relief

  • Prevents student loan interest from accruing during residency training.

  • Helps reduce financial burdens for future physicians.

Support for Advanced Nursing Education

  • Protects access to affordable loans for nurses pursuing advanced degrees.

  • Helps strengthen and grow the cardiovascular care workforce.

Beth Denny