Heart Rhythm Advocates

Heart Rhythm Advocates Advocating for heart rhythm care, advancing policy, and empowering the EP community for better patient outcomes.

Heart Rhythm Advocates (HRA) is a mission-driven 501(c)(6) organization established as the dedicated advocacy arm of the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS). As an independent but affiliated organization, HRA aims to amplify the voice of the global electrophysiology (EP) community by advancing policy initiatives, advocating for heart rhythm care professionals, and ensuring patient access to life-saving arrhythmia treatments. HRA leverages over 45 years of experience and strong relationships built by HRS to address critical issues such as government reimbursement models, new technology adoption, and workforce challenges in EP. With the ability to fundraise and support political activities, HRA is uniquely positioned to drive change in the rapidly evolving field of heart rhythm care.

10/29/2025

Your contributions matter! Hear from HRA Board Secretary Jodie Hurwitz, MD, FHRS on how your financial support is critical to the mission. Help support the cause: http://bit.ly/4eeZ99l

Don't miss our upcoming town hall to hear from HRA and HRS leadership on the Evolving EP Practice Landscape. Register to...
10/24/2025

Don't miss our upcoming town hall to hear from HRA and HRS leadership on the Evolving EP Practice Landscape. Register today at https://bit.ly/4nveOUZ

To celebrate October as Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) Awareness Month, HRA is pleased to share 5 downloadable presentation...
10/09/2025

To celebrate October as Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) Awareness Month, HRA is pleased to share 5 downloadable presentations available for patient education, including What is SCA, COVID and SCA, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, the Value of Defibrillators, and Preventing Sudden Cardiac Death in Athletes. Download at http://bit.ly/42AbiRM

HRA Co-Chair Ken Ellenbogen, MD, FHRS and HRA Associate VP of Advocacy Justin Beland were on the Hill last Friday, meeti...
09/30/2025

HRA Co-Chair Ken Ellenbogen, MD, FHRS and HRA Associate VP of Advocacy Justin Beland were on the Hill last Friday, meeting with Zoey Keeley from the office of Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), Catherine Knowles, Professional Majority Staff Member, Senate Appropriations Committee, and Joshua Chavez, Health Legislative Assistant, office of Rep. John McGuire (R-VA) to talk about HEARTS Act funding, extension of telehealth provisions, research funding, and dispensations for medical students in the H-1B visa changes.

Take Action: Demand Physician Exemption from H-1B Visa FeesThe new H-1B Visa fee jeopardizes residency, fellowship, and ...
09/29/2025

Take Action: Demand Physician Exemption from H-1B Visa Fees

The new H-1B Visa fee jeopardizes residency, fellowship, and research positions that rely on H-1B physicians.

The field of electrophysiology (EP) already faces a workforce pipeline challenge. Many cardiology and EP fellows are international medical graduates, some of whom require H-1B sponsorship. If incoming residents and fellows cannot secure visas, the pathway to cardiology and subspecialty EP training will be blocked.

The result: fewer future EP specialists to care for patients with atrial fibrillation, ventricular arrhythmias, and device management needs at a time when the U.S. population is aging and demand for EP services is rising.

Tell the Department of Homeland Security and the White House to give an exemption for physicians, recognizing their entry is in the nation's best interest. Sample comment letter: http://bit.ly/4mzhY9L

September is AFib Awareness Month, and we're celebrating a recent advocacy win that helps patients with AFib. Elevance (...
09/25/2025

September is AFib Awareness Month, and we're celebrating a recent advocacy win that helps patients with AFib. Elevance (formerly Anthem BlueCross/Blue Shield) revised their Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) policy to remove the heart arrhythmia criteria that considered pulsed field ablation (PFA) for AFib as investigational and not medically necessary.

This latest insurance coverage win is the culmination of many months of advocacy by Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) and HRA leadership. Learn more about what happened behind the scenes: http://bit.ly/4myoqOq

🚨 Final Reminder: Deadline Approaching!CMS’s proposed cut to the LAAO work RVU will reduce patient access and increase l...
09/11/2025

🚨 Final Reminder: Deadline Approaching!
CMS’s proposed cut to the LAAO work RVU will reduce patient access and increase long-term healthcare costs.
📣 Make your voice heard—submit your comments at Regulations.gov today!
✉️ Sample letter at http://bit.ly/47rHQAD

🚨Final Reminder: Comments due Sept. 12!Medicare undervalues remote monitoring for pacemakers & ICDs—just $20 per 90 days...
09/11/2025

🚨Final Reminder: Comments due Sept. 12!
Medicare undervalues remote monitoring for pacemakers & ICDs—just $20 per 90 days despite nearly 84 minutes of work.
Your voice matters. Submit your comments to CMS today at Regulations.gov and help secure fair reimbursement that keeps patients connected—and safe.
👉 Get a sample letter here: http://bit.ly/4ntr0Go

⚠️ Proposed CMS Rule Threatens Patient Access to LAAOCMS has proposed reducing the work RVU for Left Atrial Appendage Oc...
09/10/2025

⚠️ Proposed CMS Rule Threatens Patient Access to LAAO

CMS has proposed reducing the work RVU for Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion (LAAO) procedures. If finalized, this rule will:
❌ Reduce access for patients who need this life-saving procedure
❌ Drive up long-term healthcare costs
❌ Undermine the delivery of high-value cardiovascular care

👉 We need your voice. Submit your comments at Regulations.gov and share your experiences.

We’ve provided a sample letter you can use as a starting point—please add your own language and patient stories to make your comment stronger: http://bit.ly/47rHQAD
🗓️ Don’t wait—act today! Comments due by Friday, September 12, 2025

Medicare is undervaluing remote monitoring for pacemakers and ICDs.CPT code 93296 currently pays only $20 per 90 days, d...
09/10/2025

Medicare is undervaluing remote monitoring for pacemakers and ICDs.
CPT code 93296 currently pays only $20 per 90 days, despite nearly 84 minutes of work and 32 critical tasks, from urgent alert response to troubleshooting connectivity.

We are calling on CMS to:
✅ Update technology assumptions to reflect today’s wireless systems
✅ Correct staffing inputs to cardiovascular technicians—not outdated roles
âś… Lay the groundwork for fair time-based reimbursement in the future

Why it matters: These updates alone could raise payments by ~50%, supporting remote monitoring programs that keep patients safe, reduce disconnections, and prevent unnecessary ER visits.

đź“Ł Take Action Today: Submit your comments to CMS by Friday, September 12, 2025 at Regulations.gov. Use our sample letter at http://bit.ly/4ntr0Go as a starting point, and share your own experiences and patient stories.

September is Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month, and HRA is pleased to share 5 downloadable presentations available for...
09/09/2025

September is Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month, and HRA is pleased to share 5 downloadable presentations available for patient education, including an intro to AFib, risk factor modification, stroke risk & prevention, catheter ablation, and the role of wearables in AFib detection. Download at http://bit.ly/4m6uSMk

08/28/2025

When you make a contribution to HRA, your dollars make a difference. Hear from HRA Board Treasurer Scott Greenberg, MD, FHRS about why financial support is critical right now. Make a donation to help us continue this important work. http://bit.ly/4eeZ99l

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