1. Avoided approximately 10% in cuts to Medicare reimbursement

Including:

• A 4% statutory cut in PAYGO provisions ($36B) until 2023
• An extension of the moratorium on the 2% Medicare payment sequester until April 2022, a rule requiring Congress to fully fund any legislation it passes
• Mitigation of the 3.75% Medicare Physician Fee Schedule conversion factor: a 75% fee schedule cut was reduced to 0.75%.

SCAI and SCAI PAC also created a messaging campaign supporting the "Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act (P.L. No. 117-71), (December 10, 2021).

2. Petitioned CMS to Remove NCD (240.6) for Transvenous (Catheter) Pulmonary Embolectomy

• CMS cited SCAI comments (October 28, 2021)

3. Worked with Regulatory Relief Coalition to obtain 29 Senators' signatures for a letter demanding prior authorization reform

• (November 1, 2021)

4. Worked with the Regulatory Relief Coalition towards Senate introduction of Prior Authorization Reform Legislation

Entitled, the "Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2021," (S.3173), the legislation will protect America’s seniors from unnecessary delays in care by streamlining and standardizing prior authorization under the Medicare Advantage program. (October 20th, 2021). 

5. Stood up to tobacco industry efforts to weaken the Food & Drug Administration’s authority over cigars and other tobacco products

Working with the Tobacco Free-Kids coalition, and other medical specialty societies, SCAI voiced its opposition to the Fiscal Year 2022 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. (June 30, 2021).

6. Supported the reintroduction of the Amputation Reduction and Compassion (ARC) Act (H.R. 2631)

The legislation is intended to reduce unnecessary amputations due to peripheral artery disease by providing coverage of PAD screening for at-risk beneficiaries under the Medicare and Medicaid programs without the imposition of cost-sharing requirements. (April 21, 2021).

7. Prevented Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) from implementing proposed restrictions on the use of invasive FFR when FFRct is performed first in a series of proposed local coverage decisions (LCDs).

One MAC publicly stated: "We especially thank the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, ... for responses coordinated on behalf of their membership."

8. Nominated and promoted the election of Dr. Sergio Bartakian as SCAI Representative on the AMA’s Relative Value Update Committee (RUC)

9. Over $55,000 was raised by SCAI PAC, 3 SCAI PAC exclusive fundraisers held, and 3 Medical and Dental PAC events attended for candidates that supported SCAI legislative priorities. 

10. Hosted a Washington fly-in experience, in parallel with SCAI Scientific Sessions, enabling SCAI members to meet their Members of Congress, Senators, and their staff.