American Society of Nuclear Cardiology Takes Legal Action to Halt Implementation of the 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule

On December 28, 2009, the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC), joined by the American College of Cardiology (ACC), the Florida ACC Chapter, the Association of Black Cardiologist, and the Cardiology Advocacy Alliance, filed a complaint, as well as motions for a preliminary injunction and expedited discovery, against Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius, in U.S. District Court in Florida.

The lawsuit alleges that Secretary Sebelius, in her capacity of HHS Secretary, abused her discretion and acted arbitrarily and capriciously in violation of the Medicare statute and the Administrative Procedures Act by using an invalid Physician Practice Information Survey to set the payment rates for cardiology services in the 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS). According to the complaint, the 2010 MPFS makes such devastating cuts to cardiology that patient access to care will be threatened and cardiologists will be driven out of community practice. As a result, the lawsuit seeks to enjoin implementation of the 2010 MPFS and require the use of more reliable data in connection with the adoption of the 2010 MPFS.

For more information on Medicare Reimbursement and/or Cardiology Issues, please contact Adrienne Dresevic, Esq., Abby Pendleton, Esq., or Carey Kalmowitz, Esq. at (248) 996-8510.