References


1. Mostafavi B. Understanding racial disparities for women with fibroids. University of Michigan mHealth Lab. Aug. 12, 2020. labblog. uofmhealth.org/rounds/understanding-racial- disparities-for-women-uterine-fibroids.


2. Wechter ME, Stewart EA, Myers ER, Kho RM, Wu JM. Leiomyoma-related hospitalization and surgery: Prevalence and predicted growth based on population trends. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2011 Nov;205(5):492.e1–5. doi: 10.1016/j. ajog.2011.07.008. Epub 2011 Jul 20. PMID: 22035951; PMCID: PMC3746963.


3. The fibroid fix: What women need to know. Society of Interventional Radiology. Aug. 29, 2017. sirweb.org/globalassets/aasociety-of- interventional-radiology-home-page/patient- center/fibroid/sir_report_final.pdf.


4. An act relating to insurance—Accident and sickness insurance policies, RI H 5898. (2021).


5. Stephanie Tubbs Jones Uterine Fibroid Research and Education Act of 2021, H.R. 2007, 117th Cong. congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/ house-bill/2007/text.


coverage for PAD screening would combat serious PAD complications that lead to avoidable amputations. These nontraumatic amputations are also performed on racial and ethnic minorities at a disproportionately high rate.9


H.R. 2631 would also require arterial testing before amputation is performed to determine if other interventions can be applied to salvage the limb. Additionally, the act would work to educate healthcare professionals and the public about PAD with the aim of increasing awareness and reducing amputations.


Research has shown that early diagnosis and treatment can prevent as many as 85% of amputations,10


but making and


keeping these services available to URMs requires extensive advocacy efforts.


Currently, the proposed 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) includes significant cuts to revascularization services, which would impose 5–9% cuts on payments to physicians when these services are performed in office- based labs. These services are crucial to preventing avoidable amputations in the treatment of PAD, and these cuts would likely make it harder for URMs to receive this necessary care.11


In response, the CardioVascular Coalition (CVC) is calling on Congress and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to address these cuts. SIR,


24 IRQ | WINTER 2023


a member of the CVC, is also working to further PAD legislation by supporting the passage of H.R. 2631 through advocacy efforts. In addition to sending letters to Congress, SIR has held meetings with Rep. Donald M. Payne, D-N.J., chair of the Congressional PAD Caucus and sponsor of H.R. 2631, and with Rep. Mike Bilirakis, R-Fla., the co-chair of the Congressional PAD Caucus. SIRPAC also donated to Rep. Payne’s and Rep. Bilirakis’s election campaigns.


The way forward Advocacy is one way that health providers can pause and leave the bedside while still working to improve patient care. Virtual lobbying continues in the post-COVID advocacy world and allows busy physicians to remain in the clinical setting while adding their voices to discussions with lawmakers to improve healthcare and support interventional radiology.


Please consider becoming a volunteer for the SIR Voices for IR grassroots advocacy program, which provides education and opportunities to engage with your elected officials. Your voice does matter.


Glossary


Minority tax: The emotional and physical labor expended by individuals from minority groups in order to educate on and advance diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts and dismantle bias.


6. Dr. Lorna Breen Healthcare Provider Protection Act, H.R. 1667, 117th Cong. (2021). congress.gov/ bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1667.


7. ARC Act of 2021, H.R. 2631, 117th Cong. gov/ bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2631?r=1&s=3.


8. Yost M. The economic cost of PAD, CLI and venous disease: How big is the market? Lecture. May 2019.


9. Nehler MR, Duval S, Diao L, Annex BH, Hiatt WR, Rogers K, Zakharyan A, Hirsch AT. Epidemiology of peripheral arterial disease and critical limb ischemia in an insured national population. J Vasc Surg. 2014 Sep;60(3):686–95.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jvs.2014.03.290. Epub 2014 May 10. PMID: 24820900.


10. Creager M, et al. Reducing nontraumatic lower-extremity amputations by 20% by 2030: Time to get to our feet: A policy statement from the American Heart Association. Circ. 2021;143:e875–e891.


11. CY 2023 Final MPFS estimated impact comparative analysis of services related to interventional radiology. Society of Interventional Radiology. 2022. sirweb.org/ practice-resources/coding-page.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40