According to the American Society of Echocardiography, 2025 was a particularly active year for healthcare advocacy in cardiovascular imaging. Many of the policy priorities addressed by ASE aligned with broader concerns shared by other medical societies, particularly in relation to physician reimbursement, regulatory changes, and workforce sustainability.
Medicare Physician Payment and CMS Policy Changes
ASE actively supported the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act (HR 879), which aimed to eliminate the 2025 conversion factor cut and introduce a 2% payment update. Although the bill did not advance, ASE reported progress when the House included physician payment provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR 1), proposing a 2.5% update for 2026 and a 10% Medicare Economic Index (MEI) adjustment beyond 2026.
ASE advocated for annual MEI-based updates to physician payments, noting that while hospitals receive inflationary adjustments, physicians do not. The American Medical Association has reported that this imbalance has contributed to a 33% loss in physician revenue since 2000.
In September, ASE submitted comments opposing proposed changes in the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. These included a new “efficiency adjustment” reducing work values by up to 2.5% for non-time-based services such as echocardiography.
They also raised concerns about revised practice expense methodologies that could result in payment reductions of up to 11% for hospital-based interventional echocardiography services.
Workforce Shortages and Training Capacity
ASE identified physician and sonographer workforce shortages as a persistent issue in 2025. The society supported the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act (S. 2439 / HR 3890), which proposes expanding Medicare-supported graduate medical education positions.
Visa policy was another focus area. ASE joined advocacy efforts urging exemptions for physicians from new H-1B visa fees introduced in 2025, emphasizing the role of international physicians in underserved and rural areas.
Student loan access also plays an important role in addressing workforce shortages, as the high cost of medical school and residency training continues to be a barrier for many prospective physicians. ASE was part of a coalition of medical organizations that sent letters opposing legislation that would eliminate the Grad PLUS program and impose new limits on direct loan borrowing for physician residents.
In addition, ASE supported the Specialty Physicians Advancing Rural Care (SPARC) Act (S. 1380/H.R. 4681), which would establish a loan repayment program of up to $250,000 over six years to incentivize specialty physicians to practice in rural communities facing the most severe clinician shortages.
Prior Authorization, AI Policy, and Research Funding
ASE supported legislation aimed at reducing administrative burden from prior authorization, including the Reducing Medically Unnecessary Delays in Care Act (HR 2433) and the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act (HR 3514 / S. 1816). The society also welcomed Congressional action to halt funding for the WISeR Model, which would have introduced AI-driven prior authorization into Medicare fee-for-service.
In AI policy, ASE submitted recommendations calling for standardized terminology, clinician oversight, monitoring of algorithm performance, and clarification of liability issues.
