WASHINGTON, D.C., Feb. 8, 2018 — American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown issued the following statement today calling on Congress to vote yes on the two-year budget bill proposed by Senate leaders:
“Access to care for heart and stroke patients will improve dramatically under the bipartisan budget agreement and we sincerely hope Congress approves it.
Stroke victims will be able to take advantage of telemedicine no matter where they live under the Furthering Access to Stroke Telemedicine or FAST Act, and receive essential rehabilitation with no arbitrary restrictions on Medicare therapy caps. Heart patients will also be able to access the critical cardiac rehabilitation services they need because more health care professionals will be allowed to provide them.
In addition, the association appreciates the commitment made to boost support for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The $1 billion annual increase over the next two years will assist in the discovery of innovative ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat cardiovascular disease. However, we will continue to work towards higher funding levels in both years to sustain our long-term investment in the NIH.
Passage of these provisions would be a wonderful way to support American Heart Month and we want to thank all the Senate members who made it possible.”
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About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – the two leading causes of death in the world. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org or call any of our offices around the country. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
About the American Stroke Association
The American Stroke Association is devoted to saving people from stroke — the No. 2 cause of death in the world and a leading cause of serious disability. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat stroke. The Dallas-based association officially launched in 1998 as a division of the American Heart Association. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-888-4STROKE or visit StrokeAssociation.org. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association receives funding mostly from individuals. Foundations and corporations donate as well, and fund specific programs and events. Strict policies are enforced to prevent these relationships from influencing the Association's science content. Financial information for the American Heart Association, including a list of contributions from pharmaceutical companies and device manufacturers, is available at http://www.heart.org/corporatefunding.
For Media Inquiries:
Retha Sherrod: retha.sherrod@heart.org, 202-785-7929
For Public Inquiries: (800) AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
