Neurosurgery Submits Comments to Congress on Medicare Physician Payment System

On Nov. 13, the Alliance of Specialty Medicine (ASM) submitted comments to GOP leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee in response to their outline to address systemic issues within the Medicare physician payment system and offer specific recommendations. Key points include advocating for annual inflationary updates tied to the Medicare Economic Index, addressing payment variability caused by budget neutrality requirements and improving access to Alternative Payment Models for specialty physicians. The comment letter also emphasizes concerns about insurer consolidation, its impact on independent practices and the need to stabilize physician reimbursements to maintain access to care. ASM urges Congress to enact reforms that align with the goals of fairness, accountability and sustainability in the Medicare payment system.