President's Message

june 2021

Hello Virginia ACC Colleagues!

VCACC Council Update - Thank you for the excellent response to the call for volunteers. I’d like to welcome the newest members to the Chapter Council.

Michael Ayers, MD, FACC

Dr. Ayers is an Assistant Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at UVA with a special interest in preventative cardiology and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Benham Tehrani, MD, FACC

Dr. Tehrani serves as Medical Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab at INOVA Heart and Vascular Institute. He has a particular interest in the management of cardiogenic shock and is pioneering the launch of the Virginia Cardiogenic Shock Initiative.

Mohammad Abuannadi, MD, FACC

Dr. Abuannadi is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the UVA in Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology, publishing papers in both these aeras. 

ACC.21 Scientific Sessions - The American College of Cardiology's  70th Annual Scientific Session & Expo was a great success with excellent virtual participation. We look forward to meeting in-person next Spring in Washington, DC for ACC.22.

Congratulations - We want to congratulate our colleagues who were recognized as new fellows (FACC) and associates (AACC) of the American College of Cardiology!

Mohammad Abuannadi, MD, FACC

Mitabh Parashar, MBBS, MD, FACC

Jennifer Shea, MD, FACC

Peter Dean, MD, FACC

Dhavalkumar Patel, MD, FACC

Matthew Cauchi, DO, FACC

Vasutakarn Chongthammakun, MD, FACC

Eric Pauley, MD, FACC

David DeMaria, MD, FACC

Raymond Vlacancich, DO, FACC

David Kopin, MD, FACC

Ramiro Lizano Santamaria, MD, FACC

Bryant Self, DO, FACC

Arehzo Jahangiri, MD, FACC

Michael Ayers, MD, FACC

Lorenzo Azzalini, MD, FACC

Venu Vadlamudi, MD, FACC

James Dingess, FNP-C, AACC

Lauren Feeney, FNP-C, AACC

Advocacy Update - Significant, bipartisan federal legislation was recently reintroduced that would provide necessary reforms to the prior authorization process. We urge you to ask your member of Congress to support the Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act of 2021. The legislation would make several changes to items and services in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. Specifically, the bill would: 

• Establish an electronic prior authorization process (ePA) and require MA plans to adopt ePA capabilities;
• Require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a list of items and services eligible for real-time decisions under an MA ePA program;
• Standardize and streamline the prior authorization process for routinely approved items and services;
• Ensure prior authorization requests are reviewed by qualified medical personnel;
• Increase transparency around MA prior authorization requirements and their use;
• Protect beneficiaries from any disruptions in care due to prior authorization requirements as they transition between MA plans.

The ACC has been a driving force behind the reintroduction of this legislation, working with the authors to ensure that this will make a series of positive reforms to improve patient care. It is our hope that this important step forward will bring about much needed changes to the prior authorization process.
 
Please urge your member of Congress to cosponsor H.R. 3173 to reduce unnecessary barriers to patient care. Contact Your Member of Congress Here

Best,

Evan D. Ownby, MD FACC

President, Virginia Chapter ACC

VCACC is proud be the official international exchange partner with the British Cardiovascular Society (BCS). Above, VCACC members participate in the BCS Virtual Annual Meeting.