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).

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Letters

AANS/CNS Comment on EHR Interoperability and Health Information Exchange

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) […]
  • Quality Improvement and Patient Safety
Article

PQRS In a Nutshell

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 […]
  • Quality Improvement and Patient Safety
Letters

A letter commenting on the Seniors’ Choice Act

Published: June 4, 2012
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 […]
  • Medical Liability Reform
  • Quality Improvement and Patient Safety
Letters

A letter commenting on the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) Reform

Published: May 25, 2012
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 […]
  • Quality Improvement and Patient Safety