As you know, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently set the 2010 Physician Fee Schedule, which includes a provision to balance practice expense payment rates for all providers. The rates were developed from independently verified data gathered from all major medical and health care professional groups.

This independent review showed primary care services were undervalued, and the new CMS rule responded with a 5% to 8% increase for primary care services. This increase will be phased in over 4 years.

Now, cardiologists are putting up a serious fight to encourage Congress to overturn this rule. They claim these new payment rules will unjustly cut their reimbursements, and they're misleading Congress by exaggerating what they stand to lose. Their claims of a 30% payment cut include the 21.2% SGR cut that all physicians face on January 1, 2010, and we know that Congress will not allow this 21% cut to go into effect.

Help us keep a level playing field and ensure fair payment for providers and quality care for all patients. Click here to find out how to contact your Representative and tell him or her to stand up for quality care for all and stand behind the Physician Practice Information Survey 2010 implementation.