News from the Indiana Chapter of the American College of Cardiology | | Indiana-ACC Newsletter, May 2026 | | |
Dear Indiana-ACC Colleague,
The Ambulatory Specialty Model for Heart Failure: What You Need to Know
As we head into the second half of 2026, I want to bring an important national policy development to your attention — one that will directly affect many of you who care for heart failure patients in the outpatient setting.
The Ambulatory Specialty Model for Heart Failure: What You Need to Know
CMS has established a mandatory five-year Ambulatory Specialty Model (ASM) for heart failure, set to launch January 1, 2027. This is not a voluntary program. Cardiologists who have historically managed at least 20 original Medicare beneficiaries with heart failure and who practice within CMS-selected geographic areas will be held financially accountable for the management of chronic congestive heart failure — evaluated across cost, quality, improvement activities, and interoperability performance categories.
The ACC has been actively engaged, submitting formal comments to CMS raising significant concerns about the model's individual-level focus, gaps in team-based care principles, issues with the patient attribution framework, and several operational design flaws. We share those concerns, especially as our Indiana colleagues have worked so hard to build collaborative, team-based models of care.
What This Means for Indiana Cardiologists
CMS released preliminary participant lists in February 2026, and final participant lists are expected this summer. I strongly encourage every general cardiologist in our chapter to:
It is worth noting that interventional cardiologists, electrophysiologists, and advanced heart failure and transplant specialists are excluded from the model. This is a general cardiology-focused program, but the implications ripple across our entire community.
Indiana-ACC Will Be Here With You
We will continue to monitor developments as the Summer 2026 final participant announcement approaches and keep you informed. For full details on the model and ACC's ongoing advocacy efforts, visit the ACC's ASM for Heart Failure page. Feel free to reach out to me directly if you have any questions.
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Indiana-ACC Annual Meeting: You're Invited
Indiana-ACC Annual Meeting
Saturday, September 26, 2026
Marriott Indianapolis North
We are excited to invite you to the 2026 Indiana-ACC Annual Meeting on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at the Marriott Indianapolis North. This is the premier gathering for Indiana's cardiovascular community — a full day of cutting-edge education, meaningful networking, and collegial connection.
Why You Should Attend
Whether you are a cardiologist, fellow, or cardiovascular team member, this meeting is designed to keep you at the forefront of a rapidly evolving field. In one day, you will hear from leading voices across cardiology subspecialties, engage with the latest trial data and guideline updates, and connect with colleagues from across the state. The meeting also features a poster competition showcasing emerging research from Indiana FITs, residents, and CV team members, dedicated breakout sessions for Women in Cardiology and CV Team members, and an exhibit hall with opportunities to explore the latest in cardiovascular innovation.
Please take a look at the agenda, and plan to participate. Register Now — We look forward to seeing you there!
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Contact Us
If Gwen Goldfarb, our chapter executive, or I can be of assistance to you, please let us know.
Sincerely,
Parin J. Patel, MD, FACC
Governor, Indiana Chapter of the American College of Cardiology
| | Poster Competition: Plan to Participate | | |
We invite Indiana FITs, residents, and CV team members to compete in the 2026 Indiana-ACC Poster Competition at the Annual Meeting on September 26. Submit your abstract today! There will be cash prizes awarded in each category.
Eligibility
- Fellows in Training — All current Indiana fellows in a cardiology training program. Eligible submissions: Clinical Research or Case Report.
- CV Team Members — All current Indiana-ACC Advanced Practice Nurses, PAs, Clinical Pharmacists, Registered Nurses, CV Technologists, Cardiac Rehabilitation Professionals, and Genetic Counselors. Eligible submissions: Clinical Research or Case Report.
- Medical Residents — All current Indiana medical residents in a training program. Eligible submissions: Case Report only. Residents may NOT submit/present research (nor on behalf of a secondary author) and must identify themselves as residents, not fellows.
Only ONE abstract may be submitted per person.
Key Dates
- August 17 (before midnight) — Abstracts Due & Meeting Registration Required
- September 3 — Acceptance Notification
- September 26 — Posters on display at the Annual Meeting; winners announced at the end of the meeting
Submission and presentation at the Indiana-ACC Annual Meeting does not preclude submission to national meetings like ACC and AHA, so you can use this opportunity to get good feedback on your project and make it stronger for a national submission.
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Indiana-ACC is proud to partner with Project ADAM Indiana, Indiana's affiliate of the national Project ADAM program, dedicated to promoting emergency action plans (EAP), basic life support (BLS), and automated external defibrillator (AED) readiness in schools and community centers across the state.
Organized within Riley Cardiology, Project ADAM Indiana is led by Medical Director Adam Kean, MD, MPH, and Program Coordinator Nickolas Hogan, EMT-P, in partnership with the Riley Trauma service. The program works directly with schools and community organizations to achieve Heart Safe designation — recognizing facilities that meet rigorous standards for AED placement, staff training, and emergency preparedness.
The results are already being felt. Indiana-ACC member Vijay Rao, MD, PhD, FACC, shared this exciting update (along with the photo):
"Creekside Middle School knocked it out of the park in an AED mock code today with IN-ACC and Project ADAM. They are now an officially designated Heart Safe school! They are working to get all Carmel public schools designated. A huge win for public safety!! And yes, that’s my kiddo who initiated the code. Proud dad moment!"
To learn more or to bring Heart Safe designation to a school or community center near you, visit Project ADAM Indiana. Please let us know if you are interested in participating!
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Best Practices Series
Have you checked out our latest Best Practices Series?
TEE vs. CT in the Evaluation of the Left Atrium
In conversation with Ryan Daly, MD, FACC; Bruno Lima, MD, PhD, FACC; and Parin Patel, MD, FACC
Pharmacist-Led Heart Failure GDMT Clinic
In conversation with Josh Rajkumar, PharmD, BCPS and Vijay Rao, MD, PhD, FACC
Same-Day Discharge in EP Procedures
In conversation with Chandrashekar Kumbar, MD, FACC and Parin Patel, MD, FACC
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The new ACC/AHA Guideline on the Management of Dyslipidemia offers a comprehensive “one-stop shop” for addressing the evaluation, management and monitoring of individuals with dyslipidemias, including high blood cholesterol, hypertriglyceridemia, and elevated lipoprotein(a). The document consolidates evidence-based recommendations for managing dyslipidemias and retires and replaces the 2018 Guideline on the Management of Blood Cholesterol. Among the highlights, early intervention, starting in childhood, as well as use of the newer PREVENT-ASCVD equations instead of the older Pooled Cohort Equations for 10- and 30-year risk assessment, are included in the new guideline. Treatment goals are also back. In addition, the document provides guidance on when to consider additional testing, as well as when to use nonstatin therapies. Read and cite the full guideline in JACC.
NOW AVAILABLE: AI Prompt Generation Guide For Health Care Professionals
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming how diseases are diagnosed, treated and managed. In health care, AI prompt generation serves as a critical bridge between clinical expertise and AI capabilities, ultimately helping clinicians improve care delivery. The latest chapter in the ACC and MedAxiom Care Transformation Initiative, AI Prompt Generation Guide For Clinicians, examines the principles and practices of prompt generation, offering practical strategies to apply AI tools to patient care, workflow optimization and innovative problem-solving. Download the guide.
*Looking for more on AI? Visit ACC’s AI Resource Center for additional resources, including the new AI-Enabled Clinician Podcast.
CardioSmart is the ACC’s dedicated home for patient tools and resources, including infographics, shared decision-making aids, and more. Find information on specific clinical conditions, health lifestyle choices and more at CardioSmart.org.
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