Late Fall President's Message

Dear Virginia ACC Colleagues,

Mid-Atlantic Capital Cardiology Symposium 2020 

Our annual meeting, in combination with other regional chapters, is coming up and will be virtually held on Sunday, November 22. The theme for this year is “Diversity, Inclusion and Innovation in Cardiovascular Care.” There are many excellent presentations including: Women and Cardiovascular Disease, Cardio-Obstetrics, Post-Partum Hypertension and Menopause and Its Impact on Cardiovascular Health in Women; Contemporary Topics in Cardiovascular Medicine that will include topics such as PFO Closure, Pulmonary Hypertension, and Cardiac Amyloidosis; and CYIA Oral Presentations and CVTeam Case Study Presentations. It is a combination of live hours on Sunday and additional credit hours you can watch within the next sixty days. The full agenda and registration can be found at: https://maccscardiology.org/Agenda

ACC Legislative Day

On October 6 as part of the ACC’s Legislative Conference, almost a dozen VCACC members including FITs, APPs and physicians met (virtually) with staff members of Representatives Wexton, Spanberger, and Connolly, and Senators Kaine and Warner. The meetings were very successful (despite the potential for computer glitches) with strong support offered from all with whom we met. We discussed and asked for support for the following legislative bills that have the support of the ACC:

• The Protecting Access to Post-COVID-19 Telehealth Act of 2020 (H.R. 7663) which would extend continuation of Medicare telehealth reimbursement beyond the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). Being able to provide medical services to patients who have significant limitations to access for health care is critical for providing patient care.
• The Increasing Access to Quality Cardiac Rehabilitation Care Act of 2019 (H.R. 3911/S. 2842) to move funding to 2020 – rather than 2024 (current law) that authorizes non-physicians to be able to supervise patients’ day-to-day cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation care.
• Physician Well Being legislation that includes the Coronavirus Provider Protection Act (H.R. 7059) which would provide liability protections for clinicians during the COVID-19 PHE, the Coronavirus Health Care Worker Wellness Act of 2020 (H.R. 7255) to provide grants to establish or expand clinician mental wellness programs, and the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act (S.4349/H.R. 8094) to create behavioral health and well-being programs along with a national campaign to encourage clinicians to seek support and treatment.
• The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2019 (H.R. 3107) which would streamline prior authorization practices and increase transparency and accountability in the Medicare Advantage program, decreasing physician, practice, and most importantly, patient burden.

ACC COVID Website

As a reminder, acc.org has an excellent COVID-19 website for up-to-date information on the virus. It includes links to clinical guidance, policy and operational guidance, global perspectives, and hot topics. A recent publication provides recommendations on COVID and athletes: State-of-the-Art Paper: Screening of Potential Cardiac Involvement in Competitive Athletes Recovering from COVID-19: An Expert Consensus Statement

Virginia ACC Membership Dues

Please do not forget to renew your ACC dues. The ACC and Chapter membership renewal deadline is just around the corner on December 10. This year, the greater ACC community has rallied together to face unprecedented challenges to our practices and our communities. Membership prices are the same this year as last. Additionally, if you’re unable to pay your full renewal amount – reach out. Your membership is worth more than a single year’s dues payment, and ACC is happy to work with you on alternate payment options for 2021.

Keep ACC as your cardiovascular home as together we transform CV care and improve heart health. Renew online at www.acc.org/dues or by calling ACC Member Care from 9:00am-5:00pm at 202-375-6000, ext. 5603.

With 2020 being such an unusual year - a few members have contacted us about extra membership or CME monies which they'd like to use to prepay future years' worth of dues (at current prices). If this fits with your needs, or if you'd like to arrange to pay your dues on a payment plan, please contact ACC's Member Care Department directly at the number above or membercare@acc.org

Michael Kontos, MD, FACC

President, Virginia Chapter ACC  

VCACC is proud to announce that we are the official international exchange partner with the British Cardiovascular Society (BCS). Members John Brush, MD, FACC, Christopher Kramer, MD, FACC and Michael Valentine, MD, FACC, signed the agreement at the BCS conference in Manchester, England at the beginning of June. On behalf of the BCS Sarah Clarke, MD, FACC, President, and Simon Ray, MD, President-elect welcomed the entire chapter. Plans are being made for the exchange of innovative ideas, patient care models, international clinical experiences that would be open to all VCACC members.