Action Alert - Contact Members of 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. Given the narrow timeframe it is critical that the cardiovascular voice is heard loud and clear now. All members are urged to contact their members of Congress, even if you’ve already done so this year, and tell them to stop cutting Medicare physician payments. Explain to them the consequences of cuts on your practices and your patients. When combined with other changes in Medicare payments for 2008, cardiologists face even greater cuts. Not to mention, more cuts are slated for Jan. 1, 2009. The ACC has arranged several options for you to reach your lawmakers: 1. Call your members of Congress using the ACC’s toll-free grassroots hotline at 1-800-210-7193. 2. Email or send a fax to your members of Congress at click here. A sample letter is available for you to personalize. Despite repeated promises to stop the payment cuts, lawmakers have yet to fix the problem. The ACC has and continues to work with Congress and others to find short- and long-term solutions to the problem, but we need your help. The ACC urges all members to contact their lawmakers and urge them to: • 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. We must make Congress realize that physicians will not stand by and allow themselves to fall victim to irrational and unsound Medicare policies year after year. Hold lawmakers accountable and tell them it is time that they commit to helping America’s physicians by preventing further cuts in Medicare payments. Thank you for your help! Disclaimer