key: cord-0689091-0flcqmk5
authors: Jones, Samuel O.; Lewis, Sandra J.
title: ACC Advocacy: We Own the Problem, We Must Own the Solution
date: 2020-07-14
journal: J Am Coll Cardiol
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2020.06.006
sha: 0ad97377e427a46655faf7a13cd34d14a4409b4a
doc_id: 689091
cord_uid: 0flcqmk5

nan

Telemedicine also quickly emerged as a critical solution to being able to safely provide continued care for cardiovascular (CV) patients-with and without COVID-19. However, without reimbursement for these visits, practices and systems found themselves facing tremendous financial strain.

Within this landscape, it was easy to question if anyone was looking out for clinicians and their ability to provide the best care to patients. Thankfully, the ACC, including its advocacy leaders and staff, were listening and primed to "care for the caregivers" by providing support and delivering solutions on multiple fronts.

The ACC's Health Affairs Committee started receiving urgent requests for public policy interventions from members across the United States almost from the start. "Comments needed by noon tomorrow" became an almost daily request-and the Committee responded. The College's existing relationships with state and national lawmakers, regulatory agencies, and payers fostered by ACC members and staff over the years, coupled with its reputation as a trusted leader in the health care space, helped ensure we were able to pivot quickly and hit the ground running.

As other areas of the College 

national policymakers and other key stakeholders. 

Where have all the heart attacks gone? New York Times

ACP on role digital, telehealth can play to mitigate community spread of COVID-19

Here's what the ACC is telling the administration and members of congress regarding COVID-19