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Washington E-Newsletter

HHS Physician Burnout Advisory Report Released

On May 23, the U.S. Surgeon General released an advisory report titled “Addressing Health Worker Burnout: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on Building a Thriving Health Workforce.” The report notes that the COVID-19 pandemic not only intensified work demands and long working hours but also added new challenges in unprecedented ways. Notably, the report states […]
Washington E-Newsletter

President Biden Appoints Neurosurgeon to Cancer Moonshot Panel

On July 13, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. appointed Mitchel S. Berger, MD, FAANS, to the Cancer Moonshot panel. Dr. Berger — an AANS past president and former chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of California San Francisco — will advise the president on opportunities for reducing the burden of cancer. In February, President Biden announced a […]
Washington E-Newsletter

Review of Cervical Degenerative Disease Treatment Announced

On July 21, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) announced that its Effective Health Care Program is interested in receiving supplemental evidence and data for a systemic review on cervical degenerative disease treatment. This topic was nominated by the CNS, which published guidelines on managing cervical degenerative disease in 2009. According to the […]
Washington E-Newsletter

2021 Open Payments Data Released

On June 30, CMS published the 2021 Open Payments Program data and newly submitted and updated payment records for previous program years. The Open Payments program collects and publicly reports information annually about payments that biopharmaceutical and medical device companies make to physicians and teaching hospitals for items such as travel, research, gifts, speaking fees and meals. […]
Washington E-Newsletter

MedPAC 2022 Data Book on Health Care Spending and the Medicare Program Released

On July 19, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) released its 2022 data book on health care spending and the Medicare program. The publication provides data on Medicare spending, demographics of the Medicare population, beneficiaries’ access to care and quality of care in the program, among other information. Click here to access the 2022 MedPAC data book.
Washington E-Newsletter

Neurosurgery Responds to HHS RFI on Strengthening Primary Care

On June 27, the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking input from the public about innovations, models, solutions to barriers and other actions that may strengthen primary care. On Aug. 1, the AANS and the CNS responded to the RFI. The group’s pointed out that policymakers “should be […]
Washington E-Newsletter

Appropriate Use Criteria Program Penalty Phase Delayed

On July 7, CMS announced that the agency is indefinitely delaying the penalty phase of the Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) Program for advanced diagnostic imaging. The program requires physicians ordering advanced diagnostic imaging for Medicare beneficiaries to consult AUC and communicate specific AUC information to the rendering physician, who must then attach the AUC information to the […]
Washington E-Newsletter

NeurosurgeryPAC Makes Additional Contributions to Candidates for Congress

NeurosurgeryPAC recently made additional contributions, including to Sen. Bill Cassidy, MD, (R-La.). The PAC also contributed to House of Representatives candidates Reps. Neal Dunn, MD, (R-Fla.); Andy Harris, MD, (R-Md.); Bill Johnson (R-Ohio) and House Candidate Rich McCormick, MD, (R-Ga.). Finally, the PAC contributed to the Across the Aisle PAC, PAC Unitatis, Tuesday Group/Republican Governance Group PAC and the Value in […]
Washington E-Newsletter

Contribute to NeurosurgeryPAC to Advance Neurosurgery’s Advocacy Agenda

As of July 26, NeurosurgeryPAC has raised $160,889 from neurosurgeons across the country. Thank you to all our contributors! These funds will allow NeurosurgeryPAC to support those candidates who support neurosurgery’s policy agenda. Please help your political action committee (PAC) reach its $250,000 annual fundraising goal by making your contribution. NeurosurgeryPAC is a nonpartisan political action […]
Washington E-Newsletter

Senate Releases Health Spending Bill Reflecting Neurosurgery’s Priorities

On July 28, the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee released its draft fiscal year 2023 appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies. The legislation funds several of neurosurgery’s priorities, including: Click here for the bill, here for an explanatory statement and here for a summary.