HFSA has chosen to contact Congress in light of potential changes in national healthcare for the United States. The HFSA letter sent to Members of Congress is posted below.

Dear Members of Congress,

We, the Heart Failure Society of America, express grave concern about impending changes in healthcare coverage for our six million U.S. patients suffering with heart failure.

Heart failure* is caused by cardiovascular illnesses that lead to serious disability and early mortality, at any age. It is the number one discharge diagnosis in Medicare recipients and has been such for the past 20 years. Heart failure therapies improve quality of life and reduce hospitalization, costs and mortality.  Most critically, an interruption of healthcare coverage will unquestionably risk lives and increase cost – both direct and indirect -- to the healthcare community.

We respectfully petition that, as you consider changes in the healthcare reimbursement system, you ensure our patients have ongoing and adequate access to healthcare coverage.

The Heart Failure Society of America welcomes the opportunity to address your specific questions or concerns.

* Heart failure, a highly treatable condition, is a public health crisis.  It is a progressive condition in which the heart’s muscle becomes impaired after it is injured from cardiovascular events such a heart attack or high blood pressure and gradually loses its ability to pump enough blood to supply the body’s needs, leading to severe disability and early death.