April 2006 | Vol. 24, No. 4

Deficit Reduction Act Update!

by Bill Schroedter, BS RVT FSVU, Chair, Government Relations Committee

As you know, SVU and the vascular ultrasound profession have a major fight on its hands. The devastating reimbursement cuts for vascular ultrasound studies included in the Deficit Reduction Act threaten the viability of our profession. Reimbursement cuts of 30% -50% for vascular ultrasound studies will take effect on January 1, 2007, unless we are successful in getting Congress or CMS to significantly reduce or eliminate these scheduled reimbursements cuts.

Without question, these steep cuts will be disastrous for the vascular ultrasound profession, threatening patient access to high quality care, especially in physician office-based or independent vascular labs.

We can assure you that the SVU, along with other organizations, has been working feverishly to impact this latest professional challenge. We are fighting for your future, but we need your help and indeed many of our loyal SVU members have responded by asking what they can do to help us in this effort. We anticipate a time later this year that letters and other contact with your U.S. Senators and Representatives will be necessary. However, at this point we are attempting to coordinate all such efforts in order to maximize their impact. Therefore, on that front, we ask that you stand ready to help SVU with our Congressional contact efforts, but wait until we notify you.

Our immediate need is monetary. Money was budgeted in 2006 for SVU's usual regulatory and legislative advocacy effort, but the future of our profession hangs in the balance. As a result of the Deficit Reduction Act, SVU has been forced to fund a much more extensive legislative and regulatory advocacy effort in 2006. We are urging Congress and CMS to modify the DRA provisions in order to preserve your practice.

We are asking you to help fund this enhanced GR effort in 2006 by making a voluntary contribution to the SVU Government Relations Fund. In fact, more than 300 members have already made voluntary contributions to our Government Relations Fund on their 2006 dues renewal invoices or by separate contributions. Every member's contribution will be spent solely on fighting this major battle for the vascular ultrasound profession! Check out the SVU website for information on making a contribution now to the Government Relations Fund. Thank you!