President's Messagemarch 2021Dear PaACC Members: Until next month, Katie Berlacher, MD, FACC President, Pennsylvania Chapter ACC Governor, Western Pennsylvania February 2020 - Jessica Oh, MD Reflections on Starting Residency in the Middle of a Global Pandemic I never imagined I would start my residency in the middle of a global pandemic. That I would be worried about PPE availability. Or be afraid of contracting a new virus that scientists were racing to find more information on, a virus that could potentially have life threatening consequences. To read the rest, click here.Humans of Cardiology is an opportunity for PaACC members to share motivating stories about their personal and professional lives and was inspired by the wildly popular Humans of New York series. Submit your story and view past posts here. | PaACC CME OpportunitiesClick on each link for additional details and registration. 2021 EMERGING FIELDS OF CARDIOLOGY SERIES: Sports Cardiology 2021 Pennsylvania Legislative Session UpdatesClick here to see what's happening in Harrisburg. Congress All Ears on Telehealth Expansion Post-PandemicWith Medicare and many private payers now covering an expanded list of telehealth services as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress continues to wrestle with post-pandemic virtual care, particularly around quality of care and patient safety, privacy and security, and appropriate payment. Several key House and Senate committees have met to discuss options. Most recently, the House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing this week to discuss the expansion of access to telehealth for Medicare beneficiaries. This continues to be a priority issue for your ACC Advocacy team in ongoing discussions with Congress. ACC members are encouraged to help amplify these messages by meeting with lawmakers and sharing expertise and lessons learned. For help with scheduling a meeting, email advocacyleg@acc.org. ACC Membership RenewalThe ACC and Chapter membership renewal deadline is just around the corner on December 10th. This year, the greater ACC community has rallied together to face unprecedented challenges to our practices and our communities. Be sure your voice is at the table in 2021. Our membership prices are the same. Additionally, if you’re unable to pay your full renewal amount—contact us. Your membership is worth more than a single year’s dues payment, and we’re happy to work with you on alternate payment options for 2021. Additionally, at the Chapter level, we’ve been hard at work providing you with localized opportunities for involvement, education and networking—plus providing you with representation to lawmakers and decision makers at the local and state levels. Keep ACC as your cardiovascular home as together we transform CV care and improve heart health. Renew online or by calling ACC Member Care at 202-375-6000, ext. 5603. CORONAVIRUS AND YOUR HEART: DON'T IGNORE HEART SYMPTOMSACC CardioSmart recently published the infographic below to emphasize the importance of maintaining heart health through the epidemic. Click here for additional information. ![]() |