A Community Devoted to the Cardiovascular Ultrasound Industry

How To Stop A 42% Cut In Echo Payments

Editorial Opinion

Do not be distracted.

You have only 10 days remaining to affect changes to the 2010 Physician Fee Schedule.

The 2010 Physician Fee Schedule is not in any way connected to, or dependent on, the larger health care debate.

No. This is a Regulatory change that will be decided on November 1, 2009.

The entire ultrasound industry will experience a meaningful and permanent drop in cash flow as a result of the Proposed 2010 Physician Fee Schedule.

This will be particularly difficult for the community at EchoChief since 48% of you have indicated the existing economic downturn has mildly or significantly reduce patient volumes in your lab.

The proposed 2010 Physician Fee Schedule will cause job loss in every sector of the industry: sales, marketing, commercial, clinical and service. Clinics will close and patients will have to travel further for their care.

Please answer Dr. Byrd's call to action.

Now more than ever individual citizen's contacts and input are important to political matters such as this.

You need not be a member of the American Society of Echocardiography to participate.

You need not be a clinician or physician to change this regulatory outcome.

Please encourage your friends and colleagues to help.

You have 10 days to stop the 42% cut in reimbursement for echocardiography and preserve the cash flow your career so desperately depends upon.

Communicate Your Concerns Directly To:

Secretary of Health and Human Services

Kathleen.Sebelius@HHS.gov

* Phone.......: 202-690-7000
* Fax..........: 202-690-7203
200 Independence Ave., S.W., Room 615-F
Washington, DC 20201

Your United States Congressman & Senator
http://capwiz.com/asecho/home/

Tim Thigpen
Editor
EchoChief