Efforts to advance legislation to reverse Medicare payment cuts and adopt long-term reforms continue to be one of neurosurgery’s top advocacy priorities.
AANS and CNS Urge Congress to Fix the Medicare Physician Payment System. On July 24, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) joined national medical societies and state medical associations in sending a letter to Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.). The letter urges Congress to prioritize and advance several key bills and legislative proposals that provide fiscal stability for physicians and reform elements of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization (MACRA) Act.
Senate Introduces Legislation to Fix the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. On Aug. 1, Sens. John Boozman (R-Ark.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Angus King (I-Maine), Roger Marshall, MD, (R-Kan.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) introduced the bipartisan Physician Fee Stabilization Act (S. 4935) to reform the outdated Medicare physician fee schedule. The bill addresses issues that have led to significant payment cuts, particularly in rural areas, and ensures fair compensation for health care providers. The bill has garnered strong support from medical organizations, including the AANS and the CNS.
Click here to read Sen. Boozman’s press release, highlighting the AANS and the CNS’ support of the legislation, and here for Sen. Welch’s press release, featuring a quote from Russell R. Lonser, MD, FAANS, AANS/CNS Washington Committee chair.
AANS and CNS Urge Congress to Provide Physicians with Inflation-Based Medicare Payment Update. On Sept. 10, the AANS and the CNS signed onto a letter sent to Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.). The letter urges Congress to take action to fix the unsustainable fee schedule so Medicare payments to physicians and other clinicians reflect the cost of practice and ensure Medicare beneficiaries have timely access to care.
