President's Messageoctober 2024Hello Virginia Chapter members! I hope you are having a good start to fall. October is not just the time when the leaves change colors but also when advocacy is in full gear. I would like to take a moment to recognize the tireless work of our state chapter advocacy chair, Dr. Robert Bernstein, MD FACC, on these endeavors. On the state front, there was a win for providers in terms of extending the prior authorization grace period from 30 to 90 days. There was also an expansion of mental health and burnout resources and protections for health care providers. Finally, an attempt to repeal the Virginia malpractice cap for younger patients failed, but the committee vote was extremely close. It is likely that more efforts will be made in the future to repeal the malpractice caps in the state, so keep an eye out for notices from state medical societies on this very important issue. On the federal front, the annual ACC Legislative Conference in DC brought together cardiology providers from all over the US to advocate for patient care on Capitol Hill. The main priority was to push Congress to pass legislation to avert the end-of-year cuts to Medicare physician payments that make it ever more challenging to provide care to seniors. There are additional proposals to provide much-needed long-term fixes to this annually recurring problem. The ACC also supported legislation to expand access to AEDs in schools, streamline prior authorization, and retain the ability to use telehealth in patient care. Finally, remember to register for the Mid-Atlantic Capital Cardiology Symposium (MACCS) that takes place in DC on November 10. It will be a great opportunity to catch up on the latest clinical breakthroughs and network with colleagues from across the Mid-Atlantic!
Victor Soukoulis, MD, PhD, FACC President, Virginia Chapter ACC | VIRGINIA CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGYOur purpose is to contribute to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, to ensure optimal quality of care for individuals with such diseases, and to foster the highest professional ethical standards.
ACTION NEEDED:ABMS Seeking Comments on the Proposed CV BoardThe American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) has announced the start of a 90-day Public Comment Period seeking input on the new, independent Board of Cardiovascular Medicine proposed by the ACC, American Heart Association, Heart Failure Society of America, Heart Rhythm Society and The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions. The comment period is a critical part of the ABMS application review and an important opportunity for the cardiovascular community, hospitals and health systems, patients and other stakeholders to show their support for the new Board and engage in the decision-making process. All comments must be submitted electronically by July 24. In addition to providing basic identifying information, including your name and email, the comment form consists of three main questions: 1) Do you agree with the creation of a new American Board of Cardiovascular Medicine; 2) Does the new Board meet ABMS requirements for initial certification; and 3) Does the new Board meet ABMS requirements for continuous certification? Along with indicating your agreement, the form includes opportunities to provide any comments related to your responses, as well as a chance to upload a letter or document. Additional comments on the ways a specialized, independent Board of Cardiovascular Medicine would benefit you, your hospital, practice and/or your patients are strongly encouraged. To submit your comments, as well as access detailed FAQs, on-demand webinars and a listing of the initial Board of Directors, visit CVBoard.org. In addition, we encourage you to help spread the word about the comment period using the social media graphic and sample messaging below. Should you need any additional communication support, please contact Shalen Fairbanks (sfairban@acc.org).VCACC is proud be the official international exchange partner with the British Cardiovascular Society (BCS).
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