The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its proposed 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, which includes policy proposals that would significantly reduce payments for cardiovascular-related services. CMS projects that the proposed changes would reduce total Medicare payments to cardiology by 11 percent. The projected payment cut would result from changes to the following areas: practice expense calculation; equipment utilization rates; malpractice rate calculation; and payment for consultations. In addition, CMS proposes a 21.5 percent reduction in the Medicare conversion factor due to the flawed sustainable growth rate. In short, there could be as high as a 30 percent cut in Medicare payments for cardiology. Taken together with the payment cuts cardiology has already experienced, CMS’ proposed rule represents a grave threat to cardiology practices and the patients they serve. ACT NOW! The ACC and our partners are prepared to wage an aggressive campaign to prevent implementation of these damaging policies. The ACC urges its members to contact their lawmakers and ask them to prevent these payment policies that will result in devastating cuts. You can reach your members using the ACC’s toll-free grassroots hotline (800-210-7193) or by emailing your members of Congress by going to the Policital Action Committee (PAC)CardioAdvocacy Network (CAN) website.