ACC Advocacy Update

Overarching ACC Mission: Our Mission Overarching ACC Mission: Transform cardiovascular care and improve heart health Advocacy Mission: Transform cardiovascular care and improve heart health through interactions with Congress, federal government agencies, state legislative and regulatory bodies, private insurers, and other policy making groups.

Our Vision ACC is a leading voice in shaping health policy to put patients first and support CV professionals’ commitment to high quality care. Every ACC member is an advocate for patients and for CV medicine.

Our Health Reform Principles Expand access to and prevent loss of health care coverage through public and private programs. Guarantee access to affordable coverage options for patients with cardiovascular disease or other pre-existing medical conditions. Improve access to and coverage of preventive care and expand the nation’s investment in research, prevention, public health and disease surveillance. Continue and build upon policies to promote usability and interoperability of health information technology to improve patient care and outcomes.

Our Health Reform Principles Maintain commitment to patient-centered, evidence-based care and reverse the trends toward decreased personal contact between the patient and the physician/care team. Emphasize professionalism, transparency and the collaborative clinician-patient relationship to improve quality and promote better outcomes. Foster collaborative development, testing and expansion of models that promote and reward value, team-based care and shared decision making through the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation and other entities. Minimize barriers to the delivery of efficient, high-quality cardiovascular care in all practice settings.

ACC Advocacy Priorities Create a value driven health care system Ensure access to care and CV practice stability Promote use of clinical data to improve care Foster research and innovation in CV care Prevent CV disease and improve public health Enhance member engagement in advocacy and health policy

Health Affairs Committee 16 ACC members, including FIT, CVT/APP member, practice administrator. Implements ACC strategic plan and other BOT direction through advocacy with federal and state government, health plans, other policy making groups. Establishes advocacy priorities, provides guidance to staff, develops ACC policy positions.

ACC Advocacy Targets Federal U.S. Congress White House/Executive Office of the President HHS (CMS, FDA, CDC, NIH, ONC) MedPAC GAO USDA State Legislature Governor/Lt. Governor Health Department (or equivalent) Insurance Commissioner or equivalent State medical board Medicaid program Non-Government Health plans Think tanks (e.g., Brookings, Pew) National Quality Forum Healthcare Transformation Learning and Action Network

ACC Advocacy staff teams Congressional Affairs Medicare Payment and Coverage Research and Innovation Policy State Advocacy Payer and Value Solutions

Congressional Affairs: Key Activities Monitor and shape congressional activity through ongoing contact with members of Congress and their staff. Review relevant legislation and solicit feedback and guidance from Health Affairs Committee and other relevant ACC stakeholder groups. Interface with medical societies and other external allies to advance shared priorities. Increase and facilitate ACC member involvement in federal advocacy activities through ACCPAC, lawmaker practice visits, grassroots communications, and Legislative Conference.

Medicare Payment and Coverage: Key Activities Review and comment on Medicare payment system regulations & policies (physician fee schedule, hospital inpatient, hospital outpatient, Quality Payment Program, etc.) Create and revise CPT codes for CV services Develop work and practice expense recommendations for CPT codes Obtain appropriate coverage policies for CV services

Research and Innovation Policy: Key Activities With member experts, develop and promote ACC’s policies pertaining to research, health IT policy, new therapies & Medicare compliance Analyze and respond to relevant regulatory proposals Serve as ACC’s primary liaison to FDA, NIH, ONC & other related government organizations; coordinate with Medicare Payment & Coverage team on CMS-related matters Interface with medical societies and external allies to promote shared goals Promote ACC’s advocacy activities through the development of member-facing materials, such as leadership reports and web content

State Advocacy: Key Activities Track legislation, regulations in 50 states, PR, DC. Engage BOG, HAC, ACC leadership on state issues of national importance. Position ACC members to interact with state lawmakers and serve as constituent experts Maintain ongoing collaboration with key partners: AHA, state medical societies, health care coalitions More on state advocacy resources for chapters later

Payer and Value Solutions: Key Activities Quality measure implementation, including Core Quality Measure Collaborative for CV Measures. Strategic payer/health plan relationships, including reimbursement and coverage issues. Research and surveillance on alternative payment model activity (public/private payers), including interactions with multiple public and private stakeholders and thought leaders (e.g., HCP LAN, HCTTF, CMMI, PTAC, Duke/ACC cardiology/primary care collaboration). Member education on value based payment and alternative payment models. Staff liaison to Partners in Quality (subcommittee of Health Affairs Committee).

advocacy resources

MACRA Resources The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) will have profound impacts on health care delivery in the U.S. Your ACC has all of the information you need to transition into this new system. ACC’s MACRA Hub Advocate Newsletter ACC’s MACRA hub is your one-stop shop for all things related to MACRA and its implementation. Learn about Quality Payment Program Pathways, how they will impact your practice, and more at www.ACC.org/MACRA. The weekly Advocate newsletter is your resource for advocacy news updates, including the latest information on MACRA, as they occur. Subscribe to the Advocate at www.ACC.org/MACRA.

Voluntary, non-partisan Political Action Committee formed to support the American College of Cardiology’s mission to transform cardiovascular care and improve heart health Opens the doors for ACC members and staff to educate key members of Congress on cardiovascular issues Helps build grassroots contacts to bring about election results in line with our advocacy goals Works by combining the voices of cardiovascular professionals to impact the political process and send a powerful message to Congress regarding the need to preserve and improve cardiovascular care

Legislator Practice Visit Program PURPOSE: ACC’s Legislator Practice Visit Program provides federal and state lawmakers the opportunity to witness first-hand how the cardiac care team provides patients with quality, cost-efficient care by employing state of the art technology, health care data and professional training through a team approach. MESSAGE: It is essential that legislators understand how their decisions impact the cardiovascular community and their patients. CONTACT: Elizabeth Shaw (federal) at eshaw@acc.org or Kelly Memphis (state) at kmemphis@acc.org. VENUE: A legislator practice visit can be hosted in a number of locations, such as academic settings, hospitals, clinics and private practices.

ACC Grassroots Network Make your voice heard in REAL TIME in less than 3 clicks: Send a letter to Congress Tweet your legislators Enjoy Advocacy at your fingertips with the ACC Advocacy Mobile App Automatically populates your Senators and Congressman with their contact information Go to “App Store” Type in “ACC Advocacy” in the search bar Tap “Get” Go to ACC Advocacy App and log in with ACC credentials Learn more about fundraisers and in-district events in your area Connect with other ACC Grassroots Network members in your area

ACC State Advocacy Playbook The primary function of the state government affairs team is to arm cardiovascular specialists with the resources and information needed to advocate effectively in state capitals.    We’ll help you grow your chapter’s advocacy presence and put your members in front of key state policymakers.

Grow Your Chapter’s Advocacy Presence OUTSIDE SUPPORT: EXTERNAL ALLIES: Develop strong relationships with state medical societies, AHA affiliates and state hospital associations MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD IN THE ADVOCACY COMMUNITY: Position the chapter to be heard on health care issue coalitions that deal with imaging, population health, medical malpractice and more Hire and manage contract lobbyists, attorneys and consultants

A Few Ways We Can Help… Arrange legislator practice visits Organize state lobby day Secure positions on state advisory panels Arrange meetings with legislators and regulators Prepare legislative testimony Track and analyze legislation Facilitate calls to action for urgent issues Train chapter members to advocate effectively