Champion Access to Care For All

Diverse communities with varying geographical and socioeconomic factors face unique health challenges and growing disparities in care. The ACC is committed to supporting education and awareness among populations disproportionately affected by cardiovascular conditions, providing actionable data and tools to address health disparities and advancing policies to distribute critical research funding.

  • 200,000 patients*

    suffer avoidable PAD-related amputations every year
    *National Institutes of Health

  • 30% lower access*

    to specialists in rural areas
    *National Rural Health Association

ACC in Action

  • ACC President Christopher M. Kramer, MD, FACC, testified before the U.S. House Appropriations Labor-Health and Human Services Subcommittee in April 2025 to urge full funding for the Cardiomyopathy Health, Education, Awareness, Research and Training in Schools (HEARTS) Act (H.R. 6829), which would make AEDs available in public elementary and secondary schools.
  • The ACC is a member of the Smart Heart Sports Coalition, which aims to advance legislation addressing sudden cardiac arrest and expanding access to AEDs.
  • The College helped craft the Amputation Reduction and Compassion (ARC) Act, focused on narrowing the health equity gap for Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), as the condition disproportionately impacts people of color.

Policy Progress

  • The HEARTS Act , which aims to educate the public about cardiomyopathy and support the placement of AEDs in schools, was signed into law in December 2024.
  • The ARC Act (H.R. 307), first championed by the late Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ), was reintroduced into Congress by Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ).
  • Several bills aimed at improving maternal health nationwide have been reintroduced in Congress, including the Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act (HR. 1909), Connected MOM Act (S. 141) and the Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act (S. 380).

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