The American Society of Echocardiography’s mission in advocacy is to represent the interests of our members, while advocating to create an environment for excellence in the quality and practice of cardiovascular ultrasound. The ASE’s role as the voice of echocardiography on Capitol Hill, to federal agencies, and among private payers is unquestionably of great–and ever-increasing– importance.
Health Affairs Weekly Newsletter
The Health Hart Strategies Newsletter is a weekly policy briefing that includes timely information on changes to healthcare in the congressional and regulatory space.
NEW ASE Advocacy Updates:
- ASE Joins Coalition Urging Congress to Provide an Inflationary Update to the Physician Fee Schedule
- On September 10, 2024, ASE joined 120 other state and national organizations in a joint letter to Congressional Leadership urging Congress to fix the current physician payment system so Medicare payments reflect the cost of practice and to ensure Medicare beneficiaries have timely access to care. The letter stresses the importance of ensuring Medicare payments are adjusted each year with an inflationary update.
- ASE Submits Comments on the CY 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule
- On September 3, 2024, ASE submitted comments to CMS on the Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule. ASE’s comments focused on the unsustainable cut to the conversation factor and offered an inflationary update solution. The comments also included feedback on the updates to the practice expense data collection and methodology, the expiration of telehealth flexibilities, and changes to code G2211.
- ASE Submits Comments on the CY 2025 Medicare Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Proposed Rule
- On September 3, 2024, ASE submitted comments to CMS on the Outpatient and Ambulatory Services Center proposed rule. ASE’s comments focused on the Society’s request for the removal of CPT code 93355 on the Ambulatory Covered Services list, as it should not be listed for reasons related to patient safety, clinical appropriateness, and the unique requirements of the procedure.
- ASE Joins Coalition in Response to the National Coverage Analysis for Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Replacement
- On July 19, 2024, ASE signed onto a coalition letter to CMS in support of a National Coverage Determination for transcatheter tricuspid valve replacements. The letter also expresses support for facility and operator requirements, including Coverage with Evidence Development.
- CMS Releases Medicare CY 2025 Proposed Rules on Physician Payment and Outpatient Prospective Payment
- On July 11, 2024, CMS released the Calendar Year 2025 Medicare Proposed Rules; Physician Fee Schedule and the Outpatient Proposed Payment System and Ambulatory Services. ASE sent this alert to members with a summary of proposed provisions that impact echo.
- ASE Joins Alliance Letter in Response to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee’s White Paper on Physician Payment
- On June 14, 2024, ASE signed onto an Alliance of Specialty Medicine letter to the Senate Finance Committee responding to questions posed in the committee’s white paper, “Bolstering Chronic Care through Physician Payment: Current Challenges and Policy Options in Medicare Part B.” The letter offers recommendations regarding payment updates, budget neutrality, incentivizing APMs, physician reporting burden related to MIPS, and fee-for-service Chronic Care Benefits.
- ASE Joins Two Coalition Responses to the U.S. Senate Bipartisan Medicare GME Working Group’s Draft Proposal Outline
- GME Coalition Letter
- On June 24, 2024, ASE joined the GME Advocacy Coalition in a letter to the Senate GME Medicare Working Group, recommending they increase the availability of Medicare-supported GME slots to 10,000, include directive language for CMS to adhere to the distribution methodology outlined in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, ensure proper distribution of GME slots, and publicize and extend the window for GME applications.
- Alliance for Specialty Medicine Letter
- ASE signed onto the Alliance of Specialty Medicine letter to the Senate Working Group, commenting in support of GME position increases but emphasized that Medicare should fully fund training for board certification and invest in rural care. Additionally, the Alliance made recommendations to establish a Medicare GME Policy Council to improve the distribution of GME slots to specialties experiencing shortages.
- GME Coalition Letter
- AMA House of Delegates Full Report (June 2024)
- ASE is a member of the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates, AMA’s policy making body. ASE delegates, Dr. Kamu Maganti and Dr. Peter Rahko, prepared this summary from the Annual Meeting of the House of Delegates in June 2024.
- ASE Joins Alliance Letter in Response to CMS’s Request for Information on Medicare Advantage (MA) Data
- On May 20, 2024, ASE joined the Alliance of Specialty Medicine in a comment letter to CMS on improving MA data capabilities. The Alliance made recommendations on beneficiary access to care, utilization management, supplemental benefits, marketing, quality measures, and medications.
2024 ASE Correspondence
- Congressional
- Regulatory
ASE’s Coding Connection Newsletters
Resources for Members
- CMS Information
- Coding Information
- Ask A Coding Expert
- Interventional Transesophageal Echocardiography: Background and Coding Review
- Add-on Code CPT Code +93319 and Value for 3D Echocardiography
- E/M Coding Changes Take Effect January 1, 2021: Are You Ready?
- Coding FAQS
- 2020 Reimbursement Updates Including the New Strain Code +93356 Webinar
- CMS FAQ on G2211
- AMA RUC and CPT Information
- What is the RUC and the RUC Survey
- Quality Information
View additional comments from previous years:
- 2023 Correspondence
- 2022 Correspondence
- Review CY2023 payment charts for echocardiography services:
- PFS/HOPPS Final Rules
- ASE Payment Cut Letter to Congress
- The ASE Congressional MACRA RFI Letter
- ASE CAROL Act Support Letter
- 2021 Correspondence
Find additional resources on the Advocacy page on the ASE public website