Washington, DC (October 31, 2024)—The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI) President James B. Hermiller, MD, MSCAI, released the following statement on the introduction of the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act:

“SCAI proudly endorses the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act, which would stop cuts to Medicare physician reimbursements in 2025 and provide additional funding to partially offset rising practice costs. Medicare reimbursement rates for physician services have fallen by 29% since 2001, but cuts have fallen disproportionately on interventional cardiologists and other specialists who were negatively impacted by the clinical labor pricing update implemented by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). This bipartisan legislation recognizes and begins to address the harm that rising practice costs have had on physicians’ ability to continue serving Medicare patients. SCAI urges lawmakers to pass this critical bill before cuts take effect on January 1, 2025.”