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On April 14, 2015, Congress repealed the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula.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
Comment Letter
Last updated: June 26, 2024
The Honorable Chiquita Brooks-LaSureAdministratorCenters for Medicare & Medicaid ServicesDepartment of Health and Human ServicesAttention: CMS-1751-PMail Stop C4-26-057500 Security BoulevardBaltimore, MD 21244-1850 Re: [CMS–4203–NC] RIN 0938–AV01 Medicare Program; Request for Information on Medicare Advantage (MA RFI) Dear Administrator Brooks-LaSure: The Regulatory Relief Coalition (RRC) appreciates the opportunity to comment on the MA RFI referenced above. The […]
Comment Letter
Last updated: June 26, 2024
Admiral Rachel L. Levine, MDOffice of the Assistant Secretary for HealthOffice of the SecretaryU.S. Department of Health and Human Services200 Independence Avenue, S.W.Washington, D.C. 20201 Sent electronically to OASHPrimaryHealthCare@hhs.gov RE: Primary Health Care RFI Dear Admiral Levine, The Alliance of Specialty Medicine (Alliance) represents more than 100,000 specialty physicians across 15 specialty and subspecialty societies. […]
Comment Letter
Last updated: June 26, 2024
Admiral Rachel L. Levine, MDAssistant Secretary for HealthDepartment of Health and Human Services200 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 716GWashington, DC 20201 Submitted electronically via OASHPrimaryHealthCare@hhs.gov SUBJECT: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) Primary Health Care Request for Information (RFI) Dear Admiral Levine: On behalf of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and […]
Comment Letter
Last updated: June 26, 2024
Admiral Rachel L. Levine, MDAssistant Secretary for HealthDepartment of Health and Human Services200 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 716GWashington, DC 20201 Submitted electronically via OASHPrimaryHealthCare@hhs.gov SUBJECT: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) Primary Health Care Request for Information (RFI) Dear Admiral Levine: On behalf of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and […]
Comment Letter
Last updated: June 26, 2024
Re: GOLD CARD Act of 2022, H.R. 7995 Dear Representatives Burgess and Gonzalez: The Alliance of Specialty Medicine writes to express support for your legislation, the Getting Over Lengthy Delays in Care As Required by Doctors (GOLD CARD) Act of 2022 (H.R. 7995). The Alliance’s mission is to advocate for sound federal health care policy […]
Comment Letter
Last updated: June 26, 2024
Dear Chairs and Ranking Members: On behalf of the undersigned organizations representing over one million physician and non-physician health care professionals and providers, we appreciate Congress’ 2021 year-end legislative action to mitigate scheduled cuts generated by changes within the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS). In particular, we strongly supported provisions in the “Protecting Medicare and […]
Comment Letter
Last updated: June 26, 2024
Subject: Ways and Means Markup of Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act Dear Chairman Neal and Ranking Member Brady, On behalf of the Regulatory Relief Coalition (RRC) — a group of national physician specialty organizations advocating for reduced regulatory burdens that interfere with patient care — we are pleased to support the Improving Seniors’ […]
Position Statement
Last updated: June 26, 2024
Overview On July 7, 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the CY 2023 Revisions to Payment Policies under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) and Other Changes to Part B Payment Policies [CMS-1770-P] Proposed Rule. CMS shows the impact of the provisions of the rule to be a zero percent change […]
Comment Letter
Last updated: June 26, 2024
Subject: Advancing Prior Authorization Legislation Dear Chairman Pallone, Ranking Member McMorris Rodgers, Chair DeGette and Ranking Member Guthrie: The Regulatory Relief Coalition (RRC) — a group of national physician specialty organizations advocating for regulatory burden reduction in Medicare so that physicians can spend more time treating patients — applauds the Committee on Energy and Commerce’s […]
Comment Letter
Last updated: June 26, 2024
Ms. Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, AdministratorCenters for Medicare & Medicaid ServicesU.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesATTN: CMS-1771-PP.O. Box 8013 Baltimore, MD 21244-1850 Submitted electronically via https://www.regulations.gov/ SUBJECT: Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Medicare Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Proposed Rule (CMS-1771-P) Dear Administrator Brooks-LaSure: On behalf of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and the […]
Comment Letter
Last updated: June 26, 2024
Dear Representatives Bera and Bucshon: The undersigned organizations representing surgeons and anesthesiologists support the Supporting Medicare Providers Act of 2022. We commend your leadership and commitment to stopping the 4.42% Medicare payment cut, and helping protect seniors’ access to surgical and other lifesaving care. We stand with you and commit our resources to passing this […]
Comment Letter
Last updated: June 26, 2024
Subject: Advancing Prior Authorization Legislation Dear Chairman Pallone, Ranking Member McMorris Rodgers, Chair DeGette and Ranking Member Guthrie: The Regulatory Relief Coalition (RRC) — a group of national physician specialty organizations advocating for regulatory burden reduction in Medicare so that physicians can spend more time treating patients — applauds the Committee on Energy and Commerce’s […]
Comment Letter
Last updated: June 26, 2024
Re: Prior Authorization in Medicare Advantage Plans Dear Chairs DeGette and Pallone and Ranking Members Griffith and McMorris Rodgers: The Alliance of Specialty Medicine writes to thank you for examining Medicare Advantage (MA) plans during the upcoming hearing “Protecting America’s Seniors: Oversight of Private Sector Medicare Advantage Plans.” The Alliance’s mission is to advocate for […]
Comment Letter
Last updated: June 26, 2024
Edward Dohring, MD, PresidentNorth American Spine Society7075 Veterans Blvd.Burr Ridge, IL 60527 SUBJECT: NASS Draft Model Coverage Policy on Basivertebral Nerve Ablation Dear Dr. Dohring: On behalf of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) and the AANS/CNS Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves (DSPN), […]
Position Statement
Last updated: June 26, 2024
Simplicity, relevance, alignment, and predictability, for physician practices and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Ensuring financial stability and predictability Click here to view the full Neurosurgery Announces New Medicare Principles.
Comment Letter
Last updated: June 26, 2024
Micky Tripathi, PhD, MPPNational Coordinator for Health ITOffice of the National Coordinator for Health ITDepartment of Health and Human ServicesMary E. Switzer Building330 C Street SWWashington, DC 20201Submitted electronically via Regulations.gov RE: Request for Information: Electronic Prior Authorization Standards, Implementation Specifications, and Certification Criteria Dear Dr. Tripathi: The Alliance of Specialty Medicine (the “Alliance”) represents […]
Comment Letter
Last updated: June 26, 2024
Re: Medicare Physician Payment Dear Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Schumer, and Minority Leaders McCarthy and McConnell: The Alliance of Specialty Medicine is dismayed that Congress is about to enact legislation that will result in a 2% Medicare physician pay cut in 2023. As specialty physicians who collectively and continually care for the many patients suffering […]
Comment Letter
Last updated: June 26, 2024
Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, JDCenters for Medicare & Medicaid ServicesDepartment of Health and Human ServicesAttention: CMS-9911-PP.O. Box 8016Baltimore, MD 21244-8016 RE: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2023 Dear Ms. Brooks-LaSure, The Alliance of Specialty Medicine (the “Alliance”) represents more than 100,000 specialty physicians across 15 specialty and subspecialty […]
Amicus Brief
Last updated: June 26, 2024
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION,et al.,Plaintiffs,v.UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, et al.,Defendants. Case No. 1:21-cv-03231-RJL MOTION FOR LEAVE TO FILE AMICUS CURIAE BRIEF BY THE PHYSICIANS ADVOCACY INSTITUTE, NINE NATIONAL MEDICAL SPECIALTY SOCIETIES, AND SIXTEEN STATE MEDICAL ASSOCIATIONS IN SUPPORT OF PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION FOR […]
AANS Toolkit for Physicians
Last updated: June 26, 2024
AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION™TOOLKIT FOR PHYSICIANS:PREPARING FOR IMPLEMENTATIONOF THE NO SURPRISES ACT THIS AMA® TOOLKIT FOR PHYSICIANS:PREPARING FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NO SURPRISES ACTis for informational purposes only. It is not intended as medical, legal, financial, or consulting advice, or as a substitute for the advice of a physician, attorney, or other financial or consulting professional. […]
Comment Letter
Last updated: June 26, 2024
The Honorable Chiquita Brooks-LaSure AdministratorCenters for Medicare and Medicaid ServicesDepartment of Health and Human Services7500 Security BoulevardBaltimore, MD 21244-1850 Via Electronic Delivery Re: Step Therapy for Part B Drugs in Medicare Advantage Dear Administrator Brooks-LaSure, The undersigned organizations, representing millions of Medicare beneficiaries with life-threatening, complex, chronic conditions and/or the physicians who care for them, […]
