Compensation

This channel page includes news on the salaries of cardiologists and other cardiology department staff, compensation studies, and articles on the economic impacts on pay due to changes in public or payor policy and shifting trends in medicine.  

Arnold Seto, MD, MPA, FACC, FSCAI, cath lab director, Long Beach VA Medical Center, professor of medicine at Charles Drew University, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) treasurer and chair of the SCAI Advocacy Committee, explains the new CPT reimbursement codes being introduced in January 2026 and their impact on practice.

CPT code updates in 2026 will change how interventional cardiologists get paid

A variety of CPT code changes take effect in 2026, and many of them will make a direct impact on interventional cardiology. Arnold Seto, MD, spoke to Cardiovascular Business about these updates for a new video interview.

Heart Rhythm Society electrophysiology public policy advocacy through Heart Rhythm Advocates. through

Heart Rhythm Advocates town hall to review key EP policies

Leaders from HRS and Heart Rhythm Advocates will take the stage to explore policy updates, advocacy goals for the future and much more.

Medicare physician fee schedule final rule 2026.

Medicare Physician Fee Schedule cuts cardiologist pay because CMS says doctors should be more efficient

The new, negative 2.5% efficiency adjustment will be applied to the vast majority of Medicare payments for physician services. It was opposed by cardiology and most other medical societies. 

At the recent American College of Cardiology (ACC) Legislative Committee meeting, leaders warned that ongoing federal policy uncertainty threatens patient access and the stability of cardiovascular care. Cathie Biga, MSM, immediate past president of the ACC, outlined growing concerns over telehealth, shrinking Medicare reimbursement, and mounting physician workforce shortages driven by visa restrictions.

ACC raises red flags over telehealth, payment reform and the cardiologist shortage

"We need telehealth the way we had it for COVID," Cathie Biga told Cardiovascular Business at TCT 2025. "We don't want to go back to having it so restricted."

ASE leading push to revise CPT code for interventional echocardiography

The pressure is on for ASE and other societies to create a new CPT code for the use of interventional echocardiography during structural heart procedures.

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Cardiologist compensation hits an all-time high

Cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and cardiology APPs all earned more in 2024 than 2023, according to a new survey. Compensation in private practices continues to be much lower than it is integrated practices. 

healthcare value value-based care money dollar

Salary update: Cardiologist compensation stays steady—thoracic surgeon pay takes a hit

Cardiologist compensation in the United States is experiencing slow, but steady growth. How does it compare to other specialties? 

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Female heart surgeons take home much lower salaries

Both base salaries and total compensation are consistently lower for women than men, according to new survey data. The disparities in cardiac surgery are often worse than those found in other healthcare specialties.