HRA Town Hall: The Evolving Ep Practice Landscape On Demand-HRA Town Hall: The Evolving Ep Practice Landscape

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The Heart Rhythm Advocacy (HRA) session, hosted by the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS), highlighted the vital role of advocacy in the evolving field of cardiac electrophysiology (EP). Speakers emphasized the necessity for EP physicians to engage in advocacy, particularly to address challenges like reimbursement cuts driven by budget neutrality policies that unfairly restrict physician payments despite rising procedure volumes. HRA, established in 2024 as the advocacy arm of HRS, focuses on policy-driven efforts to ensure equitable access to EP care, fair reimbursement, research funding, and patient outcomes.<br /><br />Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) were discussed extensively as a transformative opportunity for EP. ASCs provide outpatient procedural settings that can reduce costs, improve patient access, and maintain quality comparable to hospital settings. Approval of CMS reimbursement codes for EP procedures in ASCs could significantly shift practices, benefiting private and employed physicians by enabling efficient, patient-centered care. However, regulatory hurdles like state Certificate of Need laws remain barriers in some regions. HRA plans state-level task forces to assist EPs in navigating these laws and advocating for change.<br /><br />The session also addressed broader advocacy challenges, including engaging more physician participation, partnering with organizations like the American Heart Association, fighting against prior authorization barriers, and supporting research amid federal funding cuts. Fundraising is crucial, with calls for greater philanthropic contributions from physicians to sustain advocacy efforts.<br /><br />Looking ahead, HRA aims to expand educational initiatives, develop leadership programs, and enhance patient engagement events. The session closed with a call to action for at least 75% of HRS members to join HRA by April 2026, underscoring that unified grassroots advocacy is essential to secure the future of EP care and innovation.

Keywords

Heart Rhythm Advocacy

Heart Rhythm Society

cardiac electrophysiology

physician advocacy

reimbursement cuts

ambulatory surgery centers

CMS reimbursement codes

Certificate of Need laws

prior authorization barriers

federal research funding