ASNC Joins Cardiology Community in Commenting on the Consumer Assurance of Radiologic Excellence (CARE) Act of 2005
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October 24, 2005
On October 24, ASNC joined with the American College of Cardiology, the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, the American Society of Echocardiography, the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography and the Heart Rhythm Society in providing comments to the leadership of the Senate HELP Committee regarding the committee's draft legislation entitled, "The Consumer Assurance of Radiologic Excellence (CARE) Act of 2005."
First and foremost, the coalition letter cautioned the committee about taking action on such wide-sweeping legislation in the absence of any congressional hearings or full debate by the health care community - especially since adoption of this legislation could have a significant negative impact on access to a broad array of cardiac services for patients covered by Medicare, Medicaid and other federal programs.
In addition, the cardiology community called for:
- a minimum period of 36 months for allied health personnel to comply with any applicable requirements following the issuance of regulations
- exemption from the requirements for technologists who are under direct physician supervision
- adequate time to allow for development of specialty-specific certification programs for certain modalities for which adequate standards do not currently exist
- strong requirements that the DHHS Secretary consult with professional medical societies in all affected specialty areas regarding the minimum requirements for technologist certification.
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