Cardiology groups cheer new bill that would improve access to Medicare claims data
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) and American College of Cardiology (ACC) have joined dozens of other U.S. medical societies to praise new bipartisan legislation that, if passed, would give clinician-led clinical registries access to Medicare claims data for research purposes.
The Access to Claims Data Act was introduced by U.S. Reps. Kim Schrier, MD, Larry Bucshon and Derek Kilmer on Wednesday, Sept. 25. If signed into law, the legislation would help physician researchers track Medicare data associated with different diseases, therapies and procedures.
“As a doctor, I understand how beneficial and effective quality data is for physician researchers to develop best practices so that all physicians can provide their patients with the best care possible,” Schrier said in a statement. “That's why I'm proud to introduce this commonsense, bipartisan legislation which will help improve patient outcomes in both the immediate and long-term future.”
Medical societies show support for new bipartisan legislation
Healthcare leaders have been working with the U.S. representatives on this legislation for quite some time, and two leading societies from the cardiovascular health space stepped forward to show their support.
“By providing surgeons and other providers with comprehensive access to federal claims data, we can identify trends, improve treatment protocols, and ultimately ensure better patient outcomes,” STS President Jennifer Romano, MD, MS, said in the statement. “This legislation empowers clinicians with the information necessary to make informed decisions, driving quality and efficiency in our healthcare system.”
“The ACC strives to transform cardiovascular care and improve patient outcomes in all our endeavors,” added ACC President Cathleen Biga, MSN. “We look forward to working with Congress to pass this legislation as the entire medical community works to provide the best possible care for all our patients.”
In addition, a total of 31 organizations—including the STS, ACC and American Medical Association—all signed a letter of thanks to Schrier, Bucshon and Kilmer for their support. The groups highlighted the importance of “quality improvement, innovation, healthcare transparency, accountability and value” when working to provide the best care possible.
Clinician-led registries can technically gain access to Medicare claims data now through a program known as the Virtual Research Data Center. However, the groups explained that this current program is ineffective and fails to provide the level of support researchers require.
“When registry data is combined with Medicare, Medicaid, and State Children’s Health Insurance Program claims data, registries can facilitate both quality improvement efforts and longitudinal studies,” according to the letter. “This outcomes-based work gives surgeons and other practitioners critical insights to improve health care quality and efficiency.”
Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.