Recent news reports describe an $89 million multi-state scheme involving a cardiologist accused of marketing free heart screenings to student-athletes, offering kickbacks to school officials, using false diagnoses, and billing insurers. According to prosecutors, the scheme has also been linked to the death of a student-athlete whose abnormal cardiac test results were allegedly certified as normal without proper review.

Parent Heart Watch wants families, schools, and communities to understand that community heart screening events hosted by our member foundations are fundamentally different.

PHW member foundations provide free or affordable heart screenings to children, teens, and young adults, athletes and non-athletes alike. These programs are supported through donations, grants, sponsorships, fundraising efforts, and participant fees when applicable.

Most importantly, PHW member foundations do not bill insurance for heart screening services. Period.

PHW member foundations also partner with medical champions who are proficient in the interpretation of cardiac screening results in the population being screened.

The purpose of these screenings is to help identify heart conditions associated with sudden cardiac arrest and, when appropriate, connect individuals and families with healthcare providers for follow-up evaluation and care.

For more than two decades, Parent Heart Watch and its member foundations have worked to protect children and young adults from sudden cardiac arrest through education, awareness, preparedness, and community heart screenings. Read more…