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Cardiovascular disease is the Number One killer in America - claiming more lives each year than cancer, accidents and diabetes combined. Every second, 37 people die from heart disease in the United States.

Changes in certain Medicare rules could result in a rise in these numbers, because patients may have less access to cardiologists and important imaging tools needed for diagnosis.

2010 changes in Medicare may have life-threatening impacts to cardiac care in America. These changes will:

• Limit access to in-office imaging equipment, which would delay diagnosis, increase patient out-of-pocket costs and add another layer between doctor and patient.
• Force cardiologists to reduce services and perhaps limit the number of Medicare patients they treat.

In addition, there have been proposed amendments to some of the health care reform proposals that could also reduce patient access to critical cardiac care.

Together, such changes would decrease access to cardiac care, particularly in rural areas, and would diminish competition and choice.

America's cardiologists are in a battle against the nation's Number One killer - heart disease. It's a life-and-death fight that we are increasingly winning. Advancements in cardiology during the past 10 years have reduced heart-related deaths and the severity of heart-related illness by 27 percent. The urgent need for this lifesaving specialty will increase 60 percent in the next 15 years as baby boomers advance in age.

Now we need your help, so we can be ready when you need us.

Please speak out. Urge your representative and senators to:

• Support and ask for language that will protect access to and enhance quality of patient care for all Americans, especially for the critical care your heart needs.
• Oppose any legislative language that limits access and threatens the ability of a trained specialist to diagnose and treat his or her patient by using available tools as necessary and clinically appropriate to protect patient safety.
• Oppose any changes to cardiology services that will reduce the level of care you need when you need it, or which could result in longer wait times for diagnoses of life-threatening illnesses and fewer doctors available to provide services in your community.