When Rick Snyder, MD, FACC, appeared before Congress on May 20, his message was clear: Cardiac PET is not simply another imaging option. It is a safer, more accurate, and more clinically meaningful advancement in the diagnosis and management of heart disease.
Dr. Snyder, a board-certified interventional, advanced heart failure, and transplant cardiologist, serves as President of HeartPlace and Chief Physician Executive for US Heart & Vascular. Representing the American Independent Medical Practice Association, a physician-led national advocacy organization representing more than 600 independent medical practices and 12,000 physicians across 47 states, Dr. Snyder testified before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health during a hearing focused on the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, MACRA, and payment reform.
While the broader hearing centered on physician reimbursement and access to care, Dr. Snyder’s comments brought national attention to an important clinical reality: Cardiac PET is helping physicians detect disease earlier, diagnose more accurately, and avoid unnecessary invasive procedures.
A Safer, More Accurate Test for Patients
During his testimony, Dr. Snyder described Cardiac PET as an important advancement over traditional nuclear stress testing because of the quality and depth of information it provides.
“It yields one third to one sixth of the radiation. So it’s a safer, better test overall. It’s much more accurate. You get better images, and it gives us very good data, probably the most accurate data about whether a patient has an obstructive blockage or not.”
That distinction matters. For patients, lower radiation exposure supports a safer diagnostic experience. For physicians, clearer images and more accurate data can help guide better clinical decisions with greater confidence.
In cardiac imaging, accuracy is not just a technical advantage. It can directly influence what happens next in a patient’s care journey.
Reducing Unnecessary Invasive Procedures
One of the most important points Dr. Snyder raised is that Cardiac PET may help reduce false positives that may otherwise lead patients to the cath lab unnecessarily.
When physicians have more accurate information about whether a patient has an obstructive blockage, they can make more informed decisions about whether an invasive procedure is truly needed. That has implications for patient safety, patient experience, and overall healthcare costs.
Cardiac PET gives clinicians a noninvasive way to evaluate disease more precisely before moving to more costly or invasive interventions. As Dr. Snyder explained, this is not only better for patients — it can also help avoid unnecessary spending by deferring procedures that may not be clinically appropriate.
Identifying Disease Other Tests May Miss
Dr. Snyder also highlighted one of Cardiac PET’s most significant clinical advantages: its ability to detect microvascular dysfunction.
He described microvascular dysfunction as a serious condition associated with higher morbidity and mortality, and testified that Cardiac PET is validated to detect it. This is especially important for patients who may have symptoms of heart disease but do not show evidence of obstructive coronary artery disease.
That distinction is critical. Patients with chest pain or other symptoms may be told they do not have a severe blockage, but that does not always mean nothing is wrong. Microvascular dysfunction can still be present, and without the right diagnostic tools, it may be missed.
Dr. Snyder noted that this condition is frequently seen in women with non-obstructive disease and appears at higher rates in certain minority populations, including African Americans. In that context, Cardiac PET is not only a more advanced imaging tool. It is also an important pathway to more equitable and accurate diagnosis.
Disclaimer: Clinical outcomes and operational benefits may vary based on patient population, workflow, and imaging protocols.
Why Payment Policy Matters for Patient Access
When asked by Rep. Nick Langworthy of New York about the importance of payment policies keeping pace with newer technologies, Dr. Snyder warned that reducing reimbursement for Cardiac PET could create access challenges and slow adoption.
That concern is especially relevant as more cardiology programs evaluate how to bring advanced imaging capabilities to their patients. Innovation alone is not enough if reimbursement barriers make it difficult for practices to invest in the technology, staffing, infrastructure, and workflow support needed to deliver it.
For Cardiac PET to reach more patients, payment policy must recognize its clinical and economic value. As Dr. Snyder explained, Cardiac PET can help physicians provide safer, more accurate, noninvasive care while potentially reducing the need for more expensive invasive procedures.
A Clearer Path Forward for Cardiac PET Adoption
Dr. Snyder’s testimony reinforces what many cardiology programs are already seeing in practice: Cardiac PET can play a powerful role in improving diagnostic confidence, strengthening patient care, and supporting more informed clinical decision-making.
But adopting Cardiac PET is not just a technology decision. It is an operational, financial, and strategic decision that requires careful planning.
That is where Cardiac PET 360 from CDL Nuclear Technologies can help.
As patient demand and physician support continue to grow, Cardiac PET 360 gives practices the flexibility to expand imaging capabilities in a way that supports where they are today and where they want to be in the future. Whether an organization is exploring Cardiac PET for the first time, expanding an existing program, or evaluating the best model for long-term growth, CDL Nuclear helps create a clearer path forward.
Explore Cardiac PET 360 and discover how CDL Nuclear can help your program grow its advanced cardiac imaging capabilities.