Quality Improvement and Patient Safety
The AANS and CNS are committed to quality improvement and supports innovative efforts to provide high quality, cost-effective care to patients. While Congress has taken the first steps towards implementing quality improvement programs, the current Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS — formerly PQRI) needs to be drastically reworked to better incorporate a system for clinical data collection and reporting. A "one-size-fits-all" approach will not result in better patient outcomes. The AANS and CNS support a pay-for-participation system under which data regarding physician quality are collected in a nonpunitive environment and analyzed using accurate risk‐adjustment mechanisms; public reporting of data only occurs at the aggregate level and not at the individual level; and physicians receive performance feedback continually and in a timely manner. Organized neurosurgery will continue to push the message that Congress should rescind the PQRS penalties, reconsider the value‐based payment modifier and streamline the federal quality improvement programs created by the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Key Resources
Letters
Published: February 21, 2014
Dear Secretary Sebelius: The undersigned organizations write to express immediate concerns confronting our respectivemembers’ ability to comply with the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR)Incentive Program. We recognize the […]
Letters
Published: April 22, 2013
Re: Advancing Interoperability and Health Information Exchange Dear Dr. Mostashari, The undersigned organizations appreciate the opportunity to submit comments to the Office of theNational Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) […]
Letters
Re: Request for Information on the Use of Clinical Quality Measures (CQMs) Reportedunder the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS), the Electronic Health Record(EHR) Incentive Program, and Other Reporting Programs Dear […]
Letters
Published: March 19, 2013
Dear Congressman Black: As the nation’s healthcare system is undergoing a transformation in an effort to improve quality,safety, and efficiency of care, the undersigned organizations support the use of electronic […]
Letters
Published: March 11, 2013
Re: SACHRP Recommendations Regarding Informed Consent and Waiver ofConsent Dear Secretary Sebelius: The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and Congress of Neurological Surgeons(CNS) appreciate the opportunity to comment on […]
Article
Published: January 1, 2013
Medicare’s Physician Quality ReportingSystem Program in Nutshell For the next two years, physicians may qualify for Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) incentivepayments. In addition, physicians may qualify for additional incentive […]
Letters
Dear Senator Coburn,On behalf of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and the Congress ofNeurological Surgeons (CNS), representing 4,000 practicing neurosurgeons in the United States, we arepleased to support […]
Letters
Subject: Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) Reform Dear Chairman Camp: On behalf of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and the Congress ofNeurological Surgeons (CNS), representing 4,000 practicing neurosurgeons […]
Letters
Subject: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Electronic Health Record IncentiveProgram—Stage 2; CMS-0044-P; RIN 0938-AQ8 Dear Ms. Tavenner: On behalf of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and Congress of NeurologicalSurgeons […]