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Washington E-Newsletter

AANS and CNS Respond to CMS RFI to Improve Transparency in Medicare Advantage

On Jan. 30, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking input from the public regarding various aspects of Medicare Advantage (MA) data. On May 20, the AANS and the CNS joined the Alliance of Specialty Medicine in responding to the RFI, recommending CMS improve the availability of […]
Washington E-Newsletter

Neurosurgery Urges CMS to Recognize Complexity of “Add-on” CPT Codes

On April 23, the AANS, CNS and AANS/CNS Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves led an effort urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to ensure access to care for certain spine procedures performed in hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). Specifically, the societies recommended that […]
Washington E-Newsletter

Neurosurgery Continues to Urge Aetna to Modify ACDF Surgical Policy

Despite two decades of scientific literature, Aetna remains the only major commercial insurer that routinely denies coverage for interbody spacers in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Aetna’s policy deems poly-ether-ether-ketone, or PEEK, and metallic spacers (CPT code 22853) as “experimental and not medically necessary” for routine ACDFs. Neurosurgery has vigorously opposed this position for many years. […]
Washington E-Newsletter

AANS and CNS Oppose Expanding Prior Authorization to ASCs

On April 16, the AANS and the CNS joined the Regulatory Relief Coalition (RRC) commenting on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) notice announcing its intention to collect information from the public in conjunction with a potential demonstration project that would require Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs) to obtain prior authorization (PA) before providing […]
Washington E-Newsletter

Please Support Neurosurgery’s Advocacy Activities: Contribute to NeurosurgeryPAC

As the second quarter ends, NeurosurgeryPAC fell short of its quarterly goals and needs your help! Please help to support neurosurgery’s advocacy activities in Washington, D.C., by contributing to NeurosurgeryPAC. Neurosurgery is making considerable progress on several priority issues, including prior authorization reform, due in part to the generous contributions from neurosurgeons. Nevertheless, NeurosurgeryPAC needs […]
Washington E-Newsletter

Neurosurgery Urges Funding for Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program

On May 24, the AANS, CNS, AANS/CNS Joint Section on Pediatric Neurological Surgery and American Society of Pediatric Neurosurgeons joined more than 60 organizations dedicated to improving the health and well-being of children in urging Congress to invest in the pediatric subspecialties by including $30 million for the Pediatric Subspecialty Loan Repayment Program (PSLRP). With […]
Washington E-Newsletter

Neurosurgery Asks Congress to Fund Pediatric Device Consortium

On May 6, the AANS, CNS, AANS/CNS Section on Pediatric Neurological Surgery and American Society of Pediatric Neurosurgeons urged Congress to fund the Pediatric Device Consortia (PDC) Grant Program at the Food and Drug Administration for fiscal year 2025. To address the need for improved pediatric medical devices, Congress created the PDC program and has […]
Washington E-Newsletter

AANS and CNS Urge Senate to Address Medicare Physician Payment Reform

On April 11, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) joined the Alliance of Specialty Medicine in submitting a statement for the record to the Senate Finance Committee for convening a hearing to examine how changes to Medicare physician payment can bolster chronic care. The statement outlines suggested […]
Washington E-Newsletter

Neurosurgeon Testifies in Congress

On May 8, Anthony M. DiGiorgio, DO, MHA, FAANS, testified before the U.S.Senate Committee on the Budget at a hearing titled “Reducing Paperwork, Cutting Costs: Alleviating Administrative Burdens in Health Care.” In his testimony, Dr. DiGiorgio, a neurosurgeon at the University of California, San Francisco, tackled the issue of administrative burdens such as prior authorization, […]
Letter of Support

Neurosurgery Urges House to Fund Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program

Dear Chair Cole, Chair Aderholt, and Ranking Member DeLauro: On behalf of organizations dedicated to improving the health and well-being of children and adolescents, we write to thank you for your continued support of the Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program (PSLRP, Public Health Service Act Sec. 775) and request $30 million in funding for PSLRP […]
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