Reimbursement and Practice Management

On April 14, 2015, Congress repealed the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula. The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) permanently eliminates SGR and provides positive annual payment updates lasting through 2019. Since MACRA significantly changes the way Medicare pays physicians, we have developed a MACRA Resource Page to help educate neurosurgeons about this topic. In addition to our efforts on MACRA, the Coding and Reimbursement Committee is actively involved in bringing or reviewing new or revised CPT codes, is a strong advocate for appropriate valuation of neurosurgical services and neurosurgery’s Rapid Response Team works tirelessly to ensure that third party payors cover necessary neurosurgical services.

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Letters

Neurosurgery Sends Letter to CMS Regarding Cancellation of Bundled Payment Program 10.16.17

Published: October 16, 2017
SUBJECT: Medicare Program; Cancellation of Advancing Care Coordination ThroughEpisode Payment and Cardiac Rehabilitation Incentive Payment Models;Changes to Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Payment Model (CMS5524-P) Dear Ms. Verma, On behalf […]
  • Quality Improvement and Patient Safety
  • Reimbursement and Practice Management
Letters

Neurosurgery Comments on the Proposed 2018 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule

Published: September 11, 2017
Subject: CMS-1676-P Medicare Program; Revisions to Payment Policies Under thePhysician Fee Schedule (PFS) and Other Revisions to Part B for CY 2018 Dear Administrator Verma: On behalf of the American […]
  • Quality Improvement and Patient Safety
  • Reimbursement and Practice Management
Article

Neurosurgery Sends Comments on Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) for Imaging to the House Ways and Means Committee for its Medicare Red Tape Relief Project

Published: August 25, 2017
Please describe the submitting organization’s interaction with the Medicare program: The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), founded in 1931, and the Congress ofNeurological Surgeons (CNS), founded in 1951, are […]
  • Quality Improvement and Patient Safety
  • Reimbursement and Practice Management
Article

MIPS Exemption and Special Status Resource Guide (prepared by Hart Health Strategies)

Published: August 24, 2017
The following tables provide information on exemptions and “special status” determinations under the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). This guide does not provide details regarding treatment under the Advanced Alternative […]
  • Quality Improvement and Patient Safety
  • Reimbursement and Practice Management
Letters

AANS and CNS Send Letter to CMS Regarding 2018 Updates to the Quality Payment Program

Published: August 21, 2017
SUBJECT: Medicare Program; CY 2018 Updates to the Quality Payment ProgramProposed Rule (CMS-5522-P) Dear Administrator Verma: On behalf of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and the Congress ofNeurological […]
  • Quality Improvement and Patient Safety
  • Reimbursement and Practice Management
Article

Global Surgery Code Alert

Published: August 18, 2017
Starting on July 1, 2017, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is requiring that certainneurosurgeons in the nine states listed above to report the number of post-operative visits […]
  • Reimbursement and Practice Management
Article

Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) Update

Published: July 17, 2017
BackgroundOn Oct. 14, 2016, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final ruleimplementing the new Medicare Quality Payment Program (QPP). Mandated by the Medicare Accessand CHIP Reauthorization […]
  • Quality Improvement and Patient Safety
  • Reimbursement and Practice Management
Article

Summary of the CY 2018 Proposed Updates to the Quality Payment Program (prepared by Hart Health Strategies)

Published: July 9, 2017
Table of Contents Executive Summary/Background………………………………………………………………………………………….6Overview…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………6QPP Strategic Objectives…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….6One QPP………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….6Summary of the Major Provisions…………………………………………………………………………………………………7QPP Year 2 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………7Small Practices…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………7Summary of Major Provisions for Advanced APMs……………………………………………………………………………….7Summary of Major Provisions for MIPS……………………………………………………………………………………………….8Payment Adjustments………………………………………………………………………………………………………………10Benefits and Costs […]
  • Quality Improvement and Patient Safety
  • Reimbursement and Practice Management