Cardiology, cardiac imaging groups support new bill delaying cuts to physician pay
The American College of Cardiology, American Society of Echocardiography, American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance, Society for Vascular Surgery, Heart Rhythm Society and Society of Thoracic Surgeons have all signed a new letter to support legislation that would delay the “efficiency adjustment” included as part of the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS).
The bill in question, the Efficiency Adjustment Delay Act (HR 7520), would delay the 2.5% reduction to work relative value units (RVUs) and intra-service time for non-time-based services until 2030. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) added the adjustment to the MPFS due to its belief that many services are becoming more straightforward and easier to complete thanks to advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence. Healthcare groups, including many of those in the cardiovascular health space, have been pushing back against this adjustment since it was first announced.
The Efficiency Adjustment Delay Act was introduced to the House of Representatives by Rep. Ron Estes, a Republican out of Kansas. In addition to delaying the adjustment until 2030, it requires CMS to provide data that such an across-the-board adjustment is necessary.
“Our physicians in Kansas and across our country are committed to the health and wellbeing of all Americans, and I will continue to fight in their best interest in Washington,” Estes said in a statement.
“Doctors are overwhelmed as it is,” added Rep. Tom Suozzi, a Democrat out of New York who also supports the bill. “They’re suffering from record rates of burnout while spending more time filling out paperwork than with their patients. Asking them to work even faster without properly understanding what actually affects procedure times doesn’t make sense.”
A total of 38 healthcare organizations signed the letter in support of this new legislation. Click here for the full document.
Michael has more than 19 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.