Poll: Respondents More Likely to Vote for U.S. Congressional Candidates who Support Requiring Medicare to Broaden Patient Access to TAVR
Published May 20, 2026
When the FDA first approved Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) 15 years ago in 2011, it was an important, less-invasive advancement for older adults with severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) who needed their heart valves replaced but were too ill or frail to withstand open-heart surgery. Today, TAVR is now considered the standard of care for most patients with symptomatic, severe AS, however, for many of the 2.5 million Americans over 75 affected by this form of heart valve disease, it is not accessible because of barriers in the Medicare system.
Currently, Medicare covers TAVR under a Coverage with Evidence Development (CED) policy. The mandatory CED registry collects a burdensome amount of data and imposes additional requirements that make it unaffordable and inaccessible for many hospitals, heart centers, and patients. Unfortunately, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) — the federal agency that runs the Medicare program — relies on CED as a utilization management tool, limiting coverage for patients to save money for the program, even when the procedure may be the best option and preferred by the patient.
In June, Medicare is expected to announce a decision of whether to remove CED and other outdated coverage requirements and broaden patient access to this treatment, which has a shorter hospital stay and recovery time than the alternative: open-heart surgery.
According to a poll commissioned in May 2026 by the Alliance for Aging Research, respondents of all ages (77%) agree that Medicare should cover TAVR the same way that it covers open-heart surgery. Additionally, 74% agree that if the Medicare program does not announce broadening the coverage in June, Congress should step in and require it.
A strong majority of all age groups (67%) say they’d be more likely to support a political candidate who supports requiring Medicare to broaden patient access to TAVR. Moreso, 84% of adults age 65 and older say they would be more likely to vote for a Congressional candidate who supports requiring Medicare to broaden patient access.
“TAVR is a life-saving treatment for AS that many patients prefer because it avoids open heart surgery, and it can help people get treated sooner while saving Medicare and taxpayers about $10,000 in lower total health care costs per patient in the first year after treatment,” said Sue Peschin, President & CEO of the Alliance for Aging Research. “The Medicare program needs to remove the CED and other outdated coverage requirements for TAVR and stop getting in between patients and their doctors.”
The Alliance is calling on allies to contact CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz to ask him to eliminate CED which is hindering patient care. Those who would like to weigh in, should email [email protected].
Big Village conducted this CARAVAN survey among a sample of 1,005 adults aged 18 years or older. The online omnibus study is conducted three times a week among a demographically representative U.S. sample. This survey was live May 15-17, 2026.