Reimbursement and Practice Management
On April 14, 2015, Congress repealed the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula. The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) permanently eliminates SGR and provides positive annual payment updates lasting through 2019. Since MACRA significantly changes the way Medicare pays physicians, we have developed a MACRA Resource Page to help educate neurosurgeons about this topic. In addition to our efforts on MACRA, the Coding and Reimbursement Committee is actively involved in bringing or reviewing new or revised CPT codes, is a strong advocate for appropriate valuation of neurosurgical services and neurosurgery’s Rapid Response Team works tirelessly to ensure that third party payors cover necessary neurosurgical services.
Key Resources
Letters
Published: August 30, 2023
Via email: ExecutiveResponseTeam@aetna.com SUBJECT: Medical Policy Number 0016 “Back Pain – Invasive Procedures” Dear Mr. Kane and Drs. Moffitt and McDonough, On behalf of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons […]
Position Statement
By: - AANS/CNS Washington Office
Published: August 29, 2023
2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule Summary Overview On July 13, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) Proposed […]
Letters
Published: August 28, 2023
Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, AdministratorCenters for Medicare & Medicaid ServicesU.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesAttention: CMS–3421–NCMail Stop C4–26–057500 Security BoulevardBaltimore, MD 21244–1850 Subject: Notice with Comment – Transitional Coverage for Emerging […]
Letters
Published: August 11, 2023
Subject: Support for Gold Card Legislation Dear Representatives Burgess and Gonzalez: The Regulatory Relief Coalition (RRC), a coalition of national physician specialty organizations seeking to reduce regulatory burdens that interfere […]
Letters
Published: August 4, 2023
Tamara Syrek Jensen, DirectorJoseph Chin, MD, Deputy DirectorCoverage and Analysis GroupCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services7500 Security Blvd.Baltimore, Maryland 21244 SUBJECT: Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty of the Carotid Artery Concurrent with […]
Letters
Dear Speaker McCarthy and Leader Jefferies: We write again to bring to your attention a matter of great urgency. Financial uncertainty in our nation’s health care system has been growing […]
Letters
Subject: Inclusion of Prior Authorization Provisions in Health Care Price Transparency Act Dear Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Neal, On behalf of the Regulatory Relief Coalition (RRC), a coalition of […]
Letters
Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, MPPAdministrator Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Attention: CMS-1784-PP.O. Box 8016Baltimore, MD 21244-8016 RE: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; CY 2024 Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes […]
Letters
Pamela Villanyi, MD, Medical OfficerCenters for Medicare & Medicaid ServicesCMS NCCI Program TeamAudits and Vulnerabilities GroupCenter for Program Integrity7500 Security BoulevardBaltimore, MD 21244-1850Pamela.villanyi@cms.hhs.gov Submitted electronically via NCCIPTPMUE@cms.hhs.gov SUBJECT: NCCI PTP […]
Letters
Dear Secretary Becerra and Administrator Brooks-LaSure: We write to thank the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for taking action toward ensuring timely access to health care by […]
Letters
Dear Secretary Becerra and Administrator Brooks-LaSure: We write to thank the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for taking action toward ensuring timely access to health care by […]
Position Statement
By: - AANS/CNS Washington Office
Surgical Coalition’s Plan for Reforming the Medicare Physician Payment System The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) continues to put forth annual regulations that exacerbate the underlying problems within […]
Letters
Dear Chair Smith and Ranking Member Neal: Thank you for your ongoing leadership on expanding access to virtual care and for your commitment to considering a pathway for permanent policy […]
Letters
Dear Chairpersons Smith and McMorris Rodgers and Ranking Members Neal and Pallone: The undersigned medical professional organizations write to you in strong opposition to H.R. 2713, the “Improving Care and […]
Letters
Dear Chairman Blumenthal and Ranking Member Johnson, We write today to thank you for holding your May 17 hearing titled “Examining Health Care Denials and Delays in Medicare Advantage” and […]
Letters
John G. Finkenberg, MD, PresidentNorth American Spine Society7075 Veterans Blvd.Burr Ridge, IL 60527 SUBJECT: NASS Cervical Laminectomy and Laminoplasty Draft Coverage Policy Dear Dr. Finkenberg: On behalf of the American […]
Letters
Subject: Delays and Denials in Medicare Advantage Plans Dear Chairs Blumenthal and Peters and Ranking Members Johnson and Paul: As the Alliance of Specialty Medicine (Alliance), a coalition of 16 […]
Letters
Dear Senators Murkowski, Hassan, Marshall, and Rosen: Thank you for your leadership of S. 652, the Safe Step Act, legislation that would create guardrails for patients subjected to step therapy […]
Letters
Re: Support of H.R. 2474, the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act Dear Representatives Ruiz, Bucshon, Bera, and Miller-Meeks: As patient and physician advocates, the Alliance of Specialty Medicine […]
Letters
RE: Support for S. 652, the Safe Step Act Dear Senators Murkowski, Hassan, Marshall, and Rosen: As patient and physician advocates, the Alliance of Specialty Medicine (Alliance) writes in support […]
Letters
RE: Support for H.R. 2630, the Safe Step Act Dear Representatives Wenstrup and Ruiz: As patient and physician advocates, the Alliance of Specialty Medicine (Alliance) writes in support of your […]
Letters
Dear Representatives Ruiz, Bucshon, Bera and Miller-Meeks: On behalf of the undersigned physician and non-physician organizations, representing more than one million clinicians and the patients they serve, thank you for […]
Letters
Published: April 19, 2023
Dear Representatives Ruiz, Bucshon, Bera, and Miller-Meeks: The undersigned national physician specialty societies and state medical associations commend you for introducing H.R. 2474, the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers […]
Letters
Published: April 18, 2023
David CordaniChairman and Chief Executive OfficerThe Cigna Group900 Cottage Grove RoadBloomfield, CT 06002 Dear Mr. Cordani: On behalf of the undersigned organizations representing physicians and health care professionals across the […]
Letters
Published: March 29, 2023
David E. Mino, MD, MBASenior Medical DirectorCigna Healthcare, Clinical Performance and QualityNational Medical Director, Orthopaedic Surgery and Spinal Disorders150 S. Warner Ave, #310King of Prussia, PA 19406 SUBJECT: Cigna Coverage […]
