Senate Approves AF Resolution

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Senate Approves AF Resolution

The U.S. Senate has approved, by unanimous consent, Senate Resolution 243, a resolution promoting increased awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of atrial fibrillation to address the high morbidity and mortality rates and to prevent avoidable hospitalizations associated with the disease.

AF Resolution Approved by the Senate

On July 29, 2011 Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) introduced S. Res. 243 (PDF, 160K), a U.S. Senate resolution promoting increased awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of atrial fibrillation to address the high morbidity and mortality rates and to prevent avoidable hospitalizations associated with the disease. S. Res. 243 is the companion bill to H. Res. 295, introduced by Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX), Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) and Rep. Charles Gonzalez (D-TX) in the U.S. House of Representatives in early June.

Sen. Robert P. Casey (D-PA), Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Sen. Patrick Toomey (R-PA) and Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI) co-sponsored the Senate resolution. On the same day, the Senate passed the S. Res. 243 by unanimous consent.

"The Heart Rhythm Society applauds the recent adoption of the Atrial Fibrillation (AF) Resolution by the Senate. The AF Resolution will help to raise public awareness of AF by enhancing the quality of care and patient safety, advancing research and education, and improving access to appropriate medical treatment for patients suffering from AF," said Bruce L. Wilkoff, MD, FHRS, President of the Heart Rhythm Society. "The Heart Rhythm Society will continue working in these areas through our Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Campaign, which we are using to foster greater communication between patients and caregivers."

In addition to the Heart Rhythm Society, many organizations support the AF resolution, including the Alliance for Aging Research; American Academy of Neurology; American College of Cardiology; American Heart Association; American Osteopathic Association; Association of Black Cardiologists, Inc.; Mended Hearts; National Blood Clot Alliance; National Council of Women's Organizations; National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention; National Stroke Association; Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association; Sister to Sister Foundation; Society for Women's Health Research; StopAfib.org; The Women's Heart Health Foundation and WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease.