April 2023
AVA Partners with Petra Capital and Canopy Capital
We’ve got some exciting news to announce! We’re working hard to make sure we’re well-prepared for the future, and we’re glad to have partners of this caliber supporting us on this journey. Click down below to learn more about our newest endeavor!
Click here to learn more!
Dr. Siddhartha Rao to Join Revolutionary Amputation Prevention Campaign
We are proud to announce that Dr. Siddhartha Rao of Vascular Solutions of North Carolina — one of our associate centers — has been invited by the American Diabetes Association to join its newest Amputation Prevention Campaign.
This campaign is focused on preventing unnecessary diabetes-related amputations, thereby enhancing patient outcomes and quality of life via state, federal, and regulatory action.
Dr. Rao will serve as an expert on the campaign’s clinical panel, which focuses on critical insights and perspectives as a part of the Clinical Advisory Working Group.
According to the American Diabetes Association, this impactful group will “regularly convene to provide subject matter expertise on preventing unnecessary amputations, developing educational material for providers and at-risk populations, and shape recommendations for improving Standards of Care.”
Congratulations, Dr. Rao!
Day of Action: USPA Members Discuss | Clinical Labor and EM Cuts With Congress
USPA members participated in over 100 meetings with members of Congress and their staff to stop the ongoing clinical labor and EM cuts to office-based specialists in the 2023 MPFS
WASHINGTON, DC — Yesterday, the United Specialists for Patient
Access (USPA) organized a virtual lobby day to meet with over 100 members of Congress and staff to discuss the proposed cuts to clinical labor and EM in the 2023 Physician Fee Schedule (CMS-1770-P).
USPA
Members shared with lawmakers and their staff the vital role office-based specialists play in our healthcare system and the patients who rely on their care. If the cuts proposed in the 2023 PFS are finalized as written, office-based specialists would have no choice but to close their doors or reduce services. This round of closures would further accelerate widespread health system consolidation, limit patient options, and, as a result, undermine the Biden administration’s efforts to address health equity issues.
Click here to read USPA’s comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Dr. Mark Garcia, USPA board member and CMO for American Vascular Associates, said,
“Right now, our priority is to do all we can to stop the proposed cuts to office-based specialists in the 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. We need lawmakers to see that our nation’s specialists cannot endure another round of drastic cuts. It’s not sustainable and the outlook is bleak if nothing is done. Office-based centers are already closing in record numbers. Further Medicare cuts will only accelerate this trend, cause higher prices, limit patient access to care, and worsen health equity issues nationwide.”
Dr. Garcia continued, “Congress and CMS must stop these cuts to office-based specialists!”
June 18, 2022
STATE CONGRESSMEN VISIT VOLUSIA-FLAGLER VASCULAR CENTER AMIDST MEDICARE REFORMS
American Vascular Associates and Volusia-Flagler Vascular Center were proud to welcome Senator Tom Wright of Florida District 14 and Representative Webster Barnaby from Florida District 27.
The congressmen were met by two of the leaders at Volusia-Flagler Vascular Center: Dr. Danny Patel and Center Director Maxine Mann. Follow the link below to read about their visit!
Click here to learn more!
Check out our CMO Dr. Mark Garcia discussing Starting an OBL From Scratch: Facility, Staffing, and Marketing!
In this video, Mark Garcia, MD, advises on strategies to follow and questions to answer when setting up a new office-based lab, including setting up the facility, hiring physicians and staff, and marketing the OBL to the community.
Click here to watch video!
May, 2022
Congratulations to the entire team at North Mississippi Vascular Care!
As of May 2022, we’re proud to announce that King and Associates has been voted 2022 Viewers Choice: Best Cardiology Clinic!
Click here to learn more!
May, 2022
AVA is celebrating 14 years!
American Vascular Associates is celebrating 14 years of working alongside of physicians to open and sustain vascular centers.
We are both humbled and honored to have earned the trust of our network of interventionalists and surgeons and their invaluable staff. We love you all!
Please celebrate with us – there is plenty more to follow.
January 29, 2022
1 DAY TO ACT ON MEDICARE CUTS!
American Vascular Associates urgently needs your help. Lawmakers in Congress are now taking action to address Medicare’s clinical labor cuts, so it is important they hear from you.
As you know, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services began implementing reimbursement cuts of more than 20% to some specialty care providers on January 1, which directly impacts AVA clinics and clinicians treating patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD).
Despite efforts to block these cuts in the 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, revascularization services are being cut by double digits. These severe cuts disproportionately impact communities of color who are at greatest risk for amputation. If left unaddressed, these “clinical labor” cuts threaten to undermine national efforts to address health inequity. Further, providers may be forced to close their centers and migrate to larger health systems, increasing the cost of care for patients.
AVA, with our partners in the CardioVascular Coalition, is urging PAD advocates to ask their members of Congress to stop these cuts in the February omnibus appropriations legislation by signing a bipartisan letter spearheaded by U.S. Representatives Bobby L. Rush (D-IL) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL).
Time is running out. This letter to Congressional leadership closes in 1 DAY on January 30. If you have already contacted your lawmakers in Congress on these cuts, we urge you to please do so again.
January 28, 2022
2 DAYS TO ACT ON MEDICARE CUTS!
American Vascular Associates urgently needs your help. Lawmakers in Congress are now taking action to address Medicare’s clinical labor cuts, so it is important they hear from you.
As you know, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services began implementing reimbursement cuts of more than 20% to some specialty care providers on January 1, which directly impacts AVA clinics and clinicians treating patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD).
Despite efforts to block these cuts in the 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, revascularization services are being cut by double digits. These severe cuts disproportionately impact communities of color who are at greatest risk for amputation. If left unaddressed, these “clinical labor” cuts threaten to undermine national efforts to address health inequity. Further, providers may be forced to close their centers and migrate to larger health systems, increasing the cost of care for patients.
AVA, with our partners in the CardioVascular Coalition, is urging PAD advocates to ask their members of Congress to stop these cuts in the February omnibus appropriations legislation by signing a bipartisan letter spearheaded by U.S. Representatives Bobby L. Rush (D-IL) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL).
Time is running out. This letter to Congressional leadership closes in 2 DAYS on January 30. If you have already contacted your lawmakers in Congress on these cuts, we urge you to please do so again.
January 27, 2022
3 DAYS TO ACT ON MEDICARE CUTS!
American Vascular Associates urgently needs your help. Lawmakers in Congress are now taking action to address Medicare’s clinical labor cuts, so it is important they hear from you.
As you know, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services began implementing reimbursement cuts of more than 20% to some specialty care providers on January 1, which directly impacts AVA clinics and clinicians treating patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD).
Despite efforts to block these cuts in the 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, revascularization services are being cut by double digits. These severe cuts disproportionately impact communities of color who are at greatest risk for amputation. If left unaddressed, these “clinical labor” cuts threaten to undermine national efforts to address health inequity. Further, providers may be forced to close their centers and migrate to larger health systems, increasing the cost of care for patients.
AVA, with our partners in the CardioVascular Coalition, is urging PAD advocates to ask their members of Congress to stop these cuts in the February omnibus appropriations legislation by signing a bipartisan letter spearheaded by U.S. Representatives Bobby L. Rush (D-IL) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL).
Time is running out. This letter to Congressional leadership closes in 3 DAYS on January 30. If you have already contacted your lawmakers in Congress on these cuts, we urge you to please do so again.
January 26, 2022
4 DAYS TO ACT ON MEDICARE CUTS!
American Vascular Associates urgently needs your help. Lawmakers in Congress are now taking action to address Medicare’s clinical labor cuts, so it is important they hear from you.
As you know, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services began implementing reimbursement cuts of more than 20% to some specialty care providers on January 1, which directly impacts AVA clinics and clinicians treating patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD).
Despite efforts to block these cuts in the 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, revascularization services are being cut by double digits. These severe cuts disproportionately impact communities of color who are at greatest risk for amputation. If left unaddressed, these “clinical labor” cuts threaten to undermine national efforts to address health inequity. Further, providers may be forced to close their centers and migrate to larger health systems, increasing the cost of care for patients.
AVA, with our partners in the CardioVascular Coalition, is urging PAD advocates to ask their members of Congress to stop these cuts in the February omnibus appropriations legislation by signing a bipartisan letter spearheaded by U.S. Representatives Bobby L. Rush (D-IL) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL).
Time is running out. This letter to Congressional leadership closes in 4 DAYS on January 30. If you have already contacted your lawmakers in Congress on these cuts, we urge you to please do so again.
January 25, 2022
5 DAYS TO ACT ON MEDICARE CUTS!
American Vascular Associates urgently needs your help. Lawmakers in Congress are now taking action to address Medicare’s clinical labor cuts, so it is important they hear from you.
As you know, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services began implementing reimbursement cuts of more than 20% to some specialty care providers on January 1, which directly impacts AVA clinics and clinicians treating patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD).
Despite efforts to block these cuts in the 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, revascularization services are being cut by double digits. These severe cuts disproportionately impact communities of color who are at greatest risk for amputation. If left unaddressed, these “clinical labor” cuts threaten to undermine national efforts to address health inequity. Further, providers may be forced to close their centers and migrate to larger health systems, increasing the cost of care for patients.
AVA, with our partners in the CardioVascular Coalition, is urging PAD advocates to ask their members of Congress to stop these cuts in the February omnibus appropriations legislation by signing a bipartisan letter spearheaded by U.S. Representatives Bobby L. Rush (D-IL) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL).
Time is running out. This letter to Congressional leadership closes in 5 DAYS on January 30. If you have already contacted your lawmakers in Congress on these cuts, we urge you to please do so again.
October, 2021
We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our associate center, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐡𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐦 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲, for being recognized by the American College of Cardiology in the 2022 𝘜.𝘚. 𝘕𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘰𝘧 “𝘉𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘏𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘴”!
This guidebook is compiled to highlight the health care leaders that foster a positive patient experience, implement the highest standards of care, and more. Congratulations on your exemplary cardiovascular care!
September, 2021
OEIS
We’re proud to announce that we will be participating in the 𝟾𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘖𝘌𝘐𝘚 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨!
𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐬:
Sept. 24 – 25
Booth #206
July, 2021
July UFE Post with Collaborative IR video
July is UFE Awareness Month! Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) is a minimally-invasive method for blocking blood flow to a uterine fibroid, thereby shrinking it to the point of elimination in one simple outpatient procedure. UFE is FDA-approved, requires no general anesthesia, requires no large surgical incisions, and does not affect fertility. If you’re looking for more uterine fibroid-related resources to pass on to a loved one or patient, we can help. Our CEO, Jan Dees, is the Vice-Chair of the Free From Fibroids board of directors. Check out the Free From Fibroids website below to learn more about the 501(c)(3) and its mission!
https://freefromfibroids.org/
May, 2021
National Meeting
- American Vascular Associates was proud to host its annual National Center Director Educational Symposium from May 4th through May 7th, which was held at the esteemed Sheraton Sand Key on Clearwater Beach.
While on-site, attendees were not only provided with industry updates regarding EMR systems, staff organization and leadership, revenue cycle management, and more, but they were also offered the opportunity to engage with one another in regular break-out sessions and workshops.
In all, between symposium sessions and social events, leaders from both American Vascular Associates and its associate centers effectively furthered their combined commitment to physician development and patient care through collaborative education.
May 7, 2021
Welcome Chief Medical Officer: Dr. Mark Garcia
Please join American Vascular Associates in welcoming our new Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Mark Garcia!
Dr. Garcia is an award-winning vascular and interventional radiologist who is board-certified by the American Board of Radiology in diagnostic radiology. With a proven history of excellence, he brings with him years of experience in publishing academic articles and research, conducting clinical trials, and providing quality care to patients for nearly 20 years.
Now, as the new CMO, Dr. Garcia will strengthen the American Vascular Associates’ vision of synergistically expanding and supporting associate centers.
“I elected to join AVA because, from the moment I met the leadership team, it was clear they really want to make a difference for both the patient and physician,” Dr. Garcia said. “With their strong leadership, expertise, and ability to implement positive change to the practice, not only will the patient benefit but so will a physician’s ability to focus on and improve their patient care. It’s very clear to me they are dedicated to enhancing patient care and the practice, as well as a physician’s lifestyle and well-being.”
Dr. Garcia is also the founder and medical director of Endovascular Consultants, where he is the owner of his own vascular center in Wilmington, DE.
Welcome to the team, Dr. Garcia!
April 14, 2021
Recognizing Dr. Davis
We would like to take a moment to recognize Dr. Davis of Douglas Vascular Center, one of our associate centers, for passing the comprehensive exam and meeting all of the requirements of the American Board Of Venous & Lymphatic Medicine (ABVLM)!
Certification in venous and lymphatic medicine demonstrates Dr. Davis’s commitment to providing quality patient care, as well as to continuing to elevate his professional standards of care for venous disease patients.
As of 2020, there were only 886 physicians certified in Venous & Lymphatic Medicine in the United States — and now Dr. Davis is one of the esteemed few to be a part of their ranks!
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Davis!
March, 2021
Celebrating The Skills Of Dr. Rao & Dr. Vitulli
We are proud to celebrate Dr. Sid Rao and Dr. Paul Vitulli two of our physicians for their recent recognition by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS)!
As leading endovascular specialists, Dr. Rao and Dr. Vitulli — of Vascular Solutions of North Carolina and Duval Vascular Center, respectively — have been listed by the CMS as members of an elite group of U.S.-based vascular specialists that perform pedal–plantar loop technique — a minimally-invasive procedure capable of saving a patient’s limb.
Thus, they not only save patients’ limbs but also patients’ lives as they prevent the disease progression of PAD (Peripheral Arterial Disease).
Congratulations, Dr. Rao and Dr. Vitulli, we’re proud to have you in our network!
Click here to see the LinkedIn post citing other such specialists.
Click here to visit the official website of Vascular Solutions of North Carolina and Dr. Rao.
Click here to visit the official website of Duval Vascular Center and Dr. Vitulli.
December 2020
We Need Your Support
Starting Jan. 1, 2021, new Medicare cuts instituted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will go into effect, thereby placing an additional financial burden on providers. In response, H.B. 8702, “The Holding Providers Harmless From Medicare Cuts During COVID-19 Act of 2020,” was introduced by members of Congress in October. This bill would allow providers to be paid in 2021 and 2022 under the original 2020 PFS, thereby making them whole.
Please visit FreeRoots to automatically draft a letter to your Congressional representative(s) and ask them to save specialty care!
November 2020
The 2020 PAD Awareness Lifetime Achievement Award Winner: Mary Yost
Please join us in congratulating our colleague and friend, Mary Yost, for her passion and endless commitment to peripheral arterial disease (PAD) awareness and limb salvation!
On Tuesday, Nov. 17, Mary was presented with the PAD Awareness Lifetime Achievement Award by The Way To My Heart, a non-profit organization whose mission focuses on PAD patients.
Mary was the first recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award in nearly two decades. As the co-founder and president of the Sage Group, she created a significant positive impact on PAD patient outcomes through her extensive research and various efforts to raise awareness of the disease.
To learn more about the award and Mary’s achievement, please read this article.
Otherwise, please take a moment to watch the video below, which contains a brief lecture entitled “PAD & CLI Where is the Media?”
July 2020
Congratulations Team Rao!
Sid Rao, MD is a world-class interventional cardiologist located in Cary, NC. Dr Rao, Dr Devulapalli and their team, along with assistance from American Vascular Associates (AVA) has opened Amputation Prevention Center of North Carolina. AVA is exceptionally fortunate to have Dr Rao as a part of our 100+ network of physicians across the US. When you meet Dr Rao you immediately understand his passion for providing the optimum level of patient care. Check out his most recent publication in Cath Lab Digest and SAGE Open Medicine.
Congratulations Team Rao!
July 2020
AVA Internal News Flash
New Vascular Center in Georgia
I am delighted to share with you that American Vascular Associates is expanding yet again in Georgia. After a lot of hard work by all, and support from Jan, Bill and Kevin, we received late last week the signed documents for Innovative Vascular and Vein, of Atlanta (IVVA). Extremity Healthcare will be our partner on this new venture.
Extremity Healthcare is a holding and management services company that supports several medical disciplines in the treatment and diagnostics for anatomical extremities. Most specifically in the field of podiatry.
As always, we will only execute on delivering the optimum level of service when we all work alongside one another to fully demonstrate our capabilities. We are strong! Let’s show them what we are made of.
Opening in North Carolina
This week Dr Rao will be opening his first vascular center in Cary, NC. AVA worked with Dr Rao to fulfill his dream of aggressively treating CLI at Amputation Prevention Center of North Carolina. Dr Rao is an Interventional Cardiologist and he is highly respected by his peers on bedside manner and the difficult cases that he is not afraid to tackle. His partner, Dr Kavi is a young Interventional Radiologist and will also contribute to the overall success of the center. In addition, he will work under Dr Rao and continue to broaden his skills. Congrats gentlemen (and to Dr Rao’s wife, Dr Jaya Rao)
