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President's Messagenovember 2026Dear Chapter Members: As we head into the final months of 2026, I want to share a few important updates from our Chapter, including our continued advocacy efforts in Washington, DC, some exciting news about our future leadership, and an upcoming educational opportunity.
Advocating for Cardiology in Washington Once again, Florida was well represented at the ACC Legislative Conference in Washington, DC, where cardiologists and fellows-in-training joined colleagues from across the country to advocate for our patients and profession.
Over two days, attendees heard from national leaders, learned about the legislative challenges facing cardiovascular medicine, and met with members of Congress on Capitol Hill.
Among the key issues discussed were Medicare reimbursement reform, reducing the burden of prior authorization, expanding cardiovascular prevention efforts for uninsured women, and addressing the financial challenges facing medical trainees.
A special thank you to Dr. David Winchester and all of the Florida members and fellows-in-training who traveled to Washington to represent our Chapter. Their meetings with congressional leaders, including Representative Kat Cammack, reinforced the importance of making our voices heard on issues affecting our patients and profession.
Announcing Our Next Florida ACC President I am delighted and excited to announce that Rhea Sancassani, MD, FACC, has been selected as the next President of the Florida Chapter of the American College of Cardiology!
Rhea will begin her term as President-Elect at ACC.27 in Houston and will assume the presidency at ACC.28, when my term concludes.
Rhea has done an outstanding job leading our Women in Cardiology Committee, bringing tremendous energy, enthusiasm, and dedication to everything she does. I have no doubt she will bring that same passion and leadership to her new role, and I look forward to working closely with her over the coming year.
I also want to recognize and thank Mario López, MD, FACC, for putting his name forward and for his many contributions to our Chapter. As Chair of our International Outreach Committee, Mario has been instrumental in building and maintaining our relationship with the Sociedad Española de Cardiología (SEC), including organizing our exchange visits to Spain every year. His commitment to expanding our Chapter’s international relationships has been invaluable.
We are fortunate to have such talented and dedicated leaders willing to give their time and energy to our Chapter. Please join me in congratulating Rhea and thanking Mario for his continued service.
Upcoming All Florida Electrophysiology Grand Rounds — December 7 Lastly, I want to highlight our upcoming All Florida Electrophysiology Grand Rounds, featuring Raul D. Mitrani, MD, FACC, FHRS, Professor of Clinical Medicine and Director of Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
Dr. Mitrani will present “Treatment of Patients with Persistent Atrial Fibrillation: A Guide for the Perplexed” on December 7 at 7:00 AM via Zoom.
Advance registration for this complimentary educational opportunity is required for each Grand Rounds session, so please be sure to register. As always, thank you for being part of the Florida ACC. Our Chapter continues to grow stronger because of the commitment and involvement of our members, and I look forward to everything we will accomplish together.
President, Florida Chapter ACC
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FIT the GuidelinesRedefining Cardiology:Evolving Definitions.Everyday Clinical DecisionsDecember 1st & 8th | 6:30pm |Zoom Registration and additional information are here. Ambulatory Specialty Model For Heart FailureAs part of its broader strategy to expand specialty participation in value-based care, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has finalized a mandatory five-year Ambulatory Specialty Model (ASM) for heart failure (HF). Additional information and resources are available on a dedicated page of ACC.org. |
Florida Approves Waivers Expanding Physician Board Certification OptionsFlorida is moving toward broader recognition of physician board certification pathways following action by the state’s medical regulatory boards. On August 7th, the Florida Board of Medicine approved a waiver sought by the National Board of Physicians and Surgeons (NBPAS), allowing physicians who meet NBPAS certification requirements to represent themselves as “board certified” in Florida under the state’s physician advertising rules. The Board of Osteopathic Medicine has also approved a similar waiver for osteopathic physicians. Final orders will be prepared by the respective boards to formally implement the waivers. The decisions represent an important development in Florida’s ongoing discussion over physician board certification and maintenance of certification (MOC), providing physicians with greater flexibility in how they maintain and demonstrate specialty credentials. NBPAS was established as an alternative certification pathway for physicians who have previously completed initial specialty certification through an American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) member board. NBPAS argued that physicians who had already completed the required specialty examination had demonstrated competency and should not face additional barriers simply because they chose not to continue with an ABMS maintenance-of-certification program. The waiver also addresses concerns raised by physicians regarding the cost, time and administrative burden associated with ongoing MOC requirements. The Florida Chapter of the American College of Cardiology supports the waiver, recognizing the importance of physician choice and flexibility while maintaining appropriate standards for specialty certification. Once the final orders are issued, qualifying NBPAS-certified physicians will be permitted to represent themselves as board certified in Florida under the state’s advertising rules. The waiver does not, however, require hospitals, health systems, insurers or other credentialing organizations to accept NBPAS certification. Physicians should continue to verify the certification requirements applicable to their employment, medical staff privileges, payer participation and other professional credentials. The Florida Chapter of the American College of Cardiology will continue to monitor implementation of the waivers and any additional developments affecting physician certification and credentialing in Florida. |
Florida Chapter, American College of Cardiology Orlando, FL 32803 |
