CardioVascular Coalition Applauds Introduction of Medicare Stability for Patients and Providers Act

November 22, 2021—The CardioVascular Coalition (CVC) commended the introduction of the Medicare Stability for Patients and Providers Act (H.R. 6048). The bipartisan legislation, which was sponsored by Representatives Bobby Rush (D-IL) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), prohibits the implementation of certain clinical labor price updates included in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Final Rule for CY 2022.

According to the CVC, the main driver of payment cuts in the 2022 PFS Final Rule is CMS’ updates to clinical labor data. The hardest-hit specialties are cardiology, vascular surgery, venous, radiation oncology, and radiology practices. CVC stated that if left unaddressed, CMS’ changes to the clinical labor policy will result in cuts of up to 22% over 4 years to critical revascularization services at a time when patients are choosing to access health services in outpatient facilities that are convenient and less costly.

The ability to access revascularization services in a less expensive site that is closer to home can often mean the difference between saving or amputating a patient’s lower limb, noted CVC in the press release.

“We applaud Congressmen Rush and Bilirakis for their leadership in sponsoring this legislation to protect patient access to specialty care in the outpatient setting and preserve the stability of independent physician and specialty practices across the country,” stated Jeffrey G. Carr, MD, in the press release. Dr. Carr is a CVC member and cofounder of the Outpatient Endovascular and Interventional Society (OEIS). He continued, “Bipartisan lawmakers and providers agree that CMS’ clinical labor cuts will do nothing more than limit patient choice, stifle efforts to advance health equity, and drive further consolidation of the health care marketplace.”

The CVC press release further advised that limiting patient access to revascularization services for patients living with vascular disease could lead to higher amputation rates and exacerbate inequities that already exist. CVC noted that according to the Dartmouth Atlas reports that amputation risks for African Americans living with diabetes are as much as four times higher than the national average.

On September 13, Representatives Rush, Bilirakis, and 73 of their House colleagues sent a letter to CMS urging the agency not to finalize the cuts to specialty care providers included in the proposed 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS). The lawmakers expressed particular concern on the cuts’ impact on minority health, stated the CVC press release.