Representatives LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), and Robin Kelly (D-IL) have reintroduced the Amputation Reduction and Compassion (ARC) Act (H.R. 307), aimed at reducing unnecessary and preventable amputations associated with peripheral artery disease (PAD). This legislation was previously championed by the late Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ).

An estimated 20 million Americans suffer from PAD. Unfortunately, about 200,000 of these patients, disproportionately people of color, suffer avoidable amputations every year. Many of these amputations can be prevented through early diagnosis and attention to the condition, allowing clinicians to pursue aggressive risk factor modification, supervised exercise programs, and surveillance studies.

The ARC Act will reduce PAD-related amputations by ensuring at-risk beneficiaries within Medicare and Medicaid receive coverage for PAD screening. It will also improve education and awareness of PAD through a new U.S. Department of Health and Human Services program.

Your ACC played a key role in helping to craft this legislation – from responding to RFIs to participating in briefings and even taking part in a Capitol Hill press conference to help advance the bill. This legislation marks a step forward in our effort to reduce health disparities for patients in need of cardiovascular care.

Please urge your members of Congress to help reduce preventable amputations and provide a greater understanding of PAD by supporting the ARC Act today.