1. ACC Advocacy: Medicare Physician Payment

2. The Problem: When combined with other changes in Medicare payments for 2008, cardiologists are facing significant cuts depending on mix of services provided.

3. The Situation in Congress:  While we were successful in preventing the 10 percent cut to Medicare physician payment from taking place on Jan. 1, 2008, congressional intervention only delayed the cuts for six months. Congress now has a limited window of time to meet its self-imposed deadline of July 1 for preventing cuts to Medicare that will endanger access to care for millions of beneficiaries.

4. Stop the Cuts, Fix the Problem ACC Efforts:  More than 250 members visited nearly 250 congressional offices during ACC’s annual Legislative Conference in September  Regular meetings are taking place with Hill staff/lawmakers  National grassroots campaign is underway to generate calls, faxes and personal visits to lawmakers  Monthly updates in Cardiology Magazine and ACC News e-mail newsletter.

5. Medicare Physician Payment: Stop the Cuts, Fix the Problem! Get Involved:  Call your members of Congress using the ACC’s toll-free grassroots hotline at 1-800-210-7193.  Email or send a fax to your members of Congress through www.acc.org/can. A sample letter is available for you to personalize.www.acc.org/can  Meet with your lawmakers face-to-face, whether in their district offices or in Washington, D.C.. Contact Frank Ryan (fryan@acc.org) or Molly Nichelson (mnichels@acc.org) on the ACC staff for assistance.fryan@acc.orgmnichels@acc.org

6. Key Messages to Congress  Stop the payment cuts for 18 months;  Provide a positive update through 2009 that covers the increase in the cost of care;  Pave the way for a permanent replacement of the physician update formula; and  Oppose cuts to medical imaging services and support policies that foster imaging appropriateness and quality.