Advocacy in Action

On February 29th, Congress passed the fourth interim spending measure of fiscal year 2024, averting the threat of a partial government shutdown ahead of the first government funding deadline on March 1^st.

The Heart Rhythm Society, the American College of Cardiology, and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions are administering a survey on behalf of the American Medical Association (AMA) Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC) for percutaneous transcatheter closure of the left atrial appendage (LAAC).

Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Thune (R-S.D.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.) recently announced the formation of a working group to investigate and propose long-term reforms to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) and make necessary updates to the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA).

With the culmination of many clinical trials, recent and pending Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval, and growing clinical interest, pulsed field ablation (PFA) for the treatment of atrial fibrillation has garnered a great deal of attention in the field of cardiology, especially electrophysiology.

On Friday, February 16th, HRS leadership participated in a meeting with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) officials to discuss patient access to dual-chamber leadless pacemakers in the outpatient setting.

On February 14th, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health convened a legislative hearing to consider proposals to support patients and caregivers.

Congressional committees of jurisdiction are considering legislative proposals that aim to rein in health care spending and provider consolidation by ending Medicare payment disparities in which services provided at a hospital outpatient department are reimbursed a higher rate than the same service provided in a physician office or ambulatory surgery center.

On February 22nd, HRS along with over 200 other organizations joined a letter sent to House and Senate leadership urging the extension of the statutory telehealth flexibilities set to expire at the end of 2024.

On February 6th, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a frequently asked questions (FAQs) document addressing Medicare Advantage (MA) plan development of coverage and prior authorization policy, including use of artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithms.

You may be randomly selected to complete a survey for the American Medical Association’s (AMA’s) Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC) for percutaneous transcatheter closure of the left atrial appendage (LAAC).