February 27, 2025 -- The Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) and Heart Rhythm Advocates (HRA) have submitted a formal request to congressional appropriators urging $50 million in FY 2027 Labor-HHS funding to implement the HEARTS Act and calling for continued strong, sustained federal investment in NIH-supported cardiovascular research.   Appropriations requests are how national priorities are translated into funding decisions. Even in years when the legislative calendar is compressed,

February 2, 2026 -- Heart Rhythm Advocates (HRA), working in coordination with the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS), recently submitted formal comments to the U.S. Department of Education addressing a proposed rule that could have far-reaching implications for the electrophysiology (EP) workforce and patient access to arrhythmia care.   The Department’s proposal, issued under the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBBA), would significantly narrow the definition of “professional degree” for

Indiana lawmakers have decided to keep requirements for schools to have cardiac emergency response plans and defibrillators at school events. This is a win for students and families.

State legislation proposals affecting cardiac emergency preparedness, health care workforce licensing, imaging standards, and patient safety.

Heart Rhythm Advocates looks back on 2025, a year defined by clarity, momentum, and a new sense of purpose in how we advocate for patients, clinicians, and the entire EP field.

Heart Rhythm Advocates (HRA) have submitted the following lette on December 3, 2025  to the Department of Education with concerns about their reinterpretation of the federal “professional degree” designation under the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBBA) regulations that could significantly affect the EP care workforce. The proposal would exclude many nursing graduate programs - particularly advanced practice and specialty tracks - from eligibility for higher federal student loan l

In a milestone decision for the electrophysiology community, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized the CY 2026 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (HOPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System rule and, for the first time, approved key cardiac catheter ablation procedures for performance in ASC settings.    Effective January 1, 2026, CMS has added several cornerstone EP ablation codes, including 93650, 93653, 93654, 93656, and r

On October 31, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its Calendar Year (CY) 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) final rule and associated fact sheet . This update provides an overview of the policy and payment changes most impactful to electrophysiology services. The finalized changes will take effect on January 1, 2026, unless otherwise noted. ​ Beginning in CY 2026, the PFS conversion factor (CF) will vary based on whether clinicians part

Late last month the Senate Appropriations Committee approved its FY26 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) appropriations legislation. While the bill includes increases for key health programs like the National Institutes of Health (NIH), it notably does not include any specific funding for implementation of the HEARTS Act, legislation passed in late 2024 designed to expand CPR training, AED access, and cardiac research in schools and commu

On July 14, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the proposed rule for the Calendar Year (CY) 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS). Together with the American College of Cardiologists (ACC) and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI), the Heart Rhythm Society has issued the following Joint Statement. WASHINGTON (Jul 15, 2025) - Today the presidents of the American College of Cardiology, Heart Rhythm Society and S

On July 15, 2025, CMS released the proposed rule for outpatient hospital services and ambulatory surgical centers for 2026.  In the rule, CMS is proposing to add cardiac ablation procedures to the covered procedures list (PCL) for calendar year 2026. Heart Rhythm Advocates leveraged two years of prior HRS work in advocating for this important coverage change.   ​ For the first time, CMS proposes adding several complex ablation procedures to the ASC Covered Procedures List (AS

Congress and the President have recently passed the "One Big Beautiful Bill," and there are several provisions that impact the field of EP.

May 12, 2025   The Honorable Mehmet Oz, M.D., M.B.A. Administrator Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 200 Independence Ave, SW Washington, DC 20201 Dear Administrator Oz:   We are writing to congratulate you on your new role as the Administrator of the Centers of Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). As cardiac electrophysiologists and leaders of the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) and Heart Rhythm Advocates (HRA), we are excited for you