The College has written the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex M. Azar II to request quick and direct disbursement of "necessary Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund resources to eligible health care providers, including specialty and multi-specialty practices."

The fund was created to be distributed to "eligible health care providers for health care related expenses or lost revenues that are attributable to coronavirus" as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was signed into law late last month after widespread ACC grassroots action and large scale medical organization coalitions.

Cardiovascular clinicians nationwide are serving on the frontlines of the COVID-19 response, both treating patients and leading organizational action and planning. The ACC writes also that "dissemination of ample guidance, complete with equitable and transparent selection criteria, is essential to ensure necessary funds reach all health care providers as they navigate this crisis within their own communities.

In the comments submitted to the Secretary, ACC joined the American Medical Association (AMA) in calling for immediate financial assistance for practices suffering financial loss due to COVID-19. The ACC and other organizations called on HHS to provide one month of revenue to each physician (MD or DO), nurse practitioner, and physician assistant enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid to account for financial losses and non-reimbursable expenses.

ACC staff continue to monitor for regulatory updates and to quickly disseminate resources to members on implications of the CARES Act to their practices.

Read the full comments.

Keywords: ACC Advocacy, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, Coronavirus Infections, United States Dept. of Health and Human Services, Emergency Medical Services

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