Neurosurgery and Healthcare Reform
America's neurosurgeons strongly support improving our nation's health care system; however, the AANS and CNS firmly believe that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) goes far beyond that which is necessary to fix what is broken with the current health care system. Rather than enacting a carefully targeted set of reforms that would improve access to affordable health insurance and redress a number of deplorable insurance practices, the ACA vastly expands the federal government's role in healthcare and fails to address significant problems with the current system. This portion of the website is dedicated to items concerning the world of neurosurgery and health care reform.
- Fact Sheet on Prior Authorization Legislation 2021
- Alliance for Health Reform
- Kaiser Family Foundation
- American Medical Association
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- Neurosurgery Urges Congressional Leaders to Include Prior Authorization Reform in Year-End Spending Bill 12.01.22
- AANS and CNS Lead Amicus Brief in Surprise Billing Litigation 10.19.22
- Neurosurgery Urges CMS to Improve Prior Authorization in Medicare Advantage 08.31.22
- Neurosurgery Supports GOLD CARD Prior Auth Bill 07.28.22
- Neurosurgeons Urge House Committee to Advance Prior Authorization Legislation 07.26.22
- Neurosurgery-Led Coalition Calls on House Committee to Advance Prior Auth Legislation 06.27.22
- Neurosurgery Joins Alliance in Urging Congress to Approve Prior Auth Legislation 06.27.22
- Neurosurgery Urges Action on Prior Authorization 06.27.22
- Neurosurgery Joins Alliance in Commenting on CMS e-Prior Authorization Standards 03.18.22
- Neurosurgery Joins Alliance in Commenting on Network Adequacy 1.27.22
- Neurosurgery Leads Amicus Brief Effort in Surprise Billing Lawsuit 01.07.22
- No Surprises Act Tool Kit 1.1.22
- Reps. Neal and Brady Urge Changes to Surprise Billing Rules 10.4.21
- AANS and CNS Join Urge CMS to Ban Step-Therapy in Medicare Advantage 11.23.21
- Neurosurgery Urges Biden Administration to Fix Surprise Billing Reg 11.17.21
- Neurosurgery Leads Coalition Effort Urging CMS to Reform Prior Auth 10.28.21
- Neurosurgery Joins Alliance in Endorsing Prior Auth Reform Legislation 10.20.21
- Neurosurgery Comments on New Surprise Billing Rules 09.07.21
- AANS and CNS Provide Comments to CMS on Network Adequacy 07.28.21
- Neurosurgeons Join Coalition Supporting Prior Auth Reform Legislation 05.13.21
- Neurosurgeons Endorse Legislation to Reform Prior Authorization in Medicare 05.12.21
- AANS and CNS Urge Congress to Repeal Medicare’s AUC for Imaging Mandate 05.10.21
- Neurosurgery Joins Effort Urging CMS to Limit Mandatory Step Therapy in Medicare 04.22.21
- Neurosurgery Supports Bill to Rein In Step Therapy Protocols 04.21.21
- Neurosurgery Joins Coalition Opposing New Prior Auth Requirements 04.07.21
- Neurosurgery Joins Alliance in Supporting Bill to Reform Step Therapy 03.16.21
- Neurosurgery Endorses Legislation to Permanently Fund CHIP 02.10.21
- Neurosurgery Joins Alliance in Commenting on Prior Authorization Reform 01.04.21
- Neurosurgery Joins Coalition in Commenting on Proposed Prior Authorization Reforms 01.04.21
- Neurosurgery Endorses Senate Prior Auth Reform Legislation 12.17.20
- Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act Introduced in the Senate 12.16.20
- Neurosurgeons Call On Congress to Delay AUC Imaging Program 11.6.20
- Neurosurgeons Call for Improvements to Surprise Medical Bills Proposal 10.06.20
- Doc Caucus Objects to White House Proposal on Surprise Medical Bills 07.24.20
- AANS and CNS Join Effort for Prior Authorization Relief in Medicare 07.20.20
- Neurosurgery Joins Alliance in Commenting on Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Program Proposals 4.6.20
- Surgical Coalition Asks Congress for COVID-19 Relief 3.19.20
- AANS and CNS Lead Effort on Surprise Medical Bills 3.4.2020
- Neurosurgery Sends Letter to Education and Labor Committee on Surprise Medical Bills 01.21.20
- Neurosurgery Sends Letter to Ways and Means Committee on Surprise Medical Bills 01.21.20
- Neurosurgery Joins Coalition in Commenting on Proposed Prior Authorization Reforms 01.04.20
- Lower Health Care Costs Act Section-by-Section 12.10.19
- Letter to House Leadership Regarding Surprise Medical Bills 12.11.19
- AANS and CNS Join Alliance in Commenting on Medicare Executive Order 11.08.19
- AANS and CNS Register Concerns about Medicare Executive Order 10.29.19
- Neurosurgery Joins the Alliance of Specialty Medicine in Supporting the Safe Step Act 10.29.19
- AANS and CNS Urge House to Adopt Balanced Solution to Surprise Medical Bills 10.16.19
- AANS and CNS Urge Senate to Adopt Balanced Solution Surprise Medical Bills 10.16.19
- Neurosurgery Calls on Congress to Repeal the Medical Device Tax 9.24.19
- Neurosurgery Joins Medicine in a Letter to CMS Regarding Prior Authorization 9.20.19
- Neurosurgeons Statement to the House Committee on Small Business Regarding Utilization Management: Barriers to Care and Burdens on Small Medical Practice 9.11.19
- Neurosurgery Joins 370 Patient and Provider Groups to Send Letter of Support for Legislation to Streamline Prior Authorization in Medicare 9.9.19
- Neurosurgery Joins Regulatory Relief Coalition to Send Comments in Response to CMS’ Request for Information on Ways to “Put Patients Over Paperwork” 8.12.19
- Neurosurgery Sends Comments in Response to CMS’ Request for Information on Ways to “Put Patients Over Paperwork” 8.12.19
- Neurosurgery Sends Letter of Support for H.R. 2207, the Protect Medical Innovation Act
- Neurosurgery Sends Letter of Support for S. 692, the Protect Medical Innovation Act
- Neurosurgery Prior Authorization Overview 6.20.19
- Neurosurgery Sends Letter of Support to Rep. Graham Regarding S. Res. 245, Designating July 17, 2019, as “Glioblastoma Awareness Day” 6.19.19
- Neurosurgery Sends Letter of Support to Rep. Finkenauer Regarding Keeping Physicians Serving Patients Act of 2019 6.17.19
- Neurosurgery’s Principles for Unanticipated Medical Bills 6.17.19
- Neurosurgery Sends Comments to the Health Tax Taskforce Regarding the Medical Device Excise Tax 6.14.19
- H.R. 3107, Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2019
- Neurosurgery Sends Letter to Chairman Alexander and Ranking Member Murray Regarding the Lower Health Care Costs Act 6.5.19
- Neurosurgery Prior Authorization Survey Results 6.4.19
- Regulatory Relief Coalition Prior Authorization Survey Results 6.4.19
- Regulatory Relief Coalition Prior Authorization Survey 6.4.19
- Neurosurgery Statement to the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health for Protecting Patients from Surprise Medical Bills 6.4.19
- Neurosurgery Sends Letter to Rep. Kelly Endorsing the “Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act" 6.3.19
- Neurosurgery Sends Letter to Rep. Bera Endorsing the “Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act" 6.3.19
- Neurosurgery Sends Letter to Rep. Marshall Endorsing the “Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act" 6.3.19
- Neurosurgery Sends Letter to Rep. DelBene Endorsing the “Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act” 6.3.19
- Neurosurgery Sends Comments to E&C Chairman Pallone and Ranking Member Walden Regarding “The No Surprises Act” 5.28.19
- Neurosurgery Joins Other Medical Groups in Sending a Letter to CMS in Support of a CMMI POH Demo 5.21.19
- Neurosurgery Sends Letter to Sens. Cassidy, Bennet, Young, Hassan, Murkowski and Carper Regarding the STOP Surprise Medical Bills Act 5.20.19
- Neurosurgery Joins Other Groups to Send Letter to Congressional Leadership Opposing Hospital Bundling (Network Matching) Included in Surprise Billing Proposals 5.14.19
- Neurosurgery Joins Other Groups to Send Letter to the Senate Finance Committee in Support of PCORI Reauthorization 5.13.19
- Neurosurgery Joins Other Groups to Send Letters to House E&C and Ways and Means Committees in Support of PCORI Reauthorization 5.13.19
- Neurosurgery Joins Other Medical Groups in Sending Letter to Congress Regarding Strong Opposition to H.R. 2143, the “Promoting Integrity in Medicare Act 4.23.19
- Neurosurgery Joins Other Medical Groups to Send Letter to Congress Regarding Surprise Medical Bills 2.7.19
- Neurosurgery and 140 Other Groups Urge Congress to Repeal the Medical Device Excise Tax 12.05.18
- Neurosurgery and the Alliance Respond to CMS Proposals Aimed at Redesigning the Medicare Shared Savings Program ACOs 10.16.18
- Reps. Phil Roe and Ami Bera Spearhead Congressional Letter to CMS Administrator Seema Verma Regarding Prior Authorization 10.10.18
- Neurosurgery Joins the Alliance and Other Medical Groups to Send Letter to the CMS Regarding the ACA Risk-Adjustment Program 7.16.18
- Neurosurgery Joins Alliance in Sending Letter to Congressional Leaders Urging for IPAB Repeal 2.2.2018
- Neurosurgery Joins the Alliance to Urge Congressional Leadership for CHIP Reauthorization 1.18.18
- Neurosurgery Joins Other Medical Groups in Sending a Letter to House and Senate Leadership Regarding the Medicare Extenders Package 12.11.17
- Neurosurgery Joins the Alliance in Sending a Letter to Chairman Hatch and Ranking Member Wyden Regarding Medicare Extenders Package 12.6.17
- Neurosurgery Joins the Alliance in Sending a Letter to Chairman Brady and Ranking Member Neal Regarding Medicare Extenders Package 11.30.17
- Neurosurgery Sends Comments to CMS Regarding Innovation Center New Direction RFI 11.20.17
- Neurosurgery Joins the Alliance in Sending Comments to CMS Regarding New Direction for the Innovation Center 11.20.17
- Neurosurgery Joins AIM Coalition in Sending Comments to CMS Regarding Innovation Center New Direction RFI 11.20.17
- Neurosurgery Joins Other Medical Groups in Supporting S. 2051, “The Medicare Care Coordination Improvement Act of 2017” 11.1.17
- Neurosurgery Joins Other Medical Groups in Supporting H.R. 4206, “The Medicare Care Coordination Improvement Act of 2017” 11.1.17
- Neurosurgery Joins the Alliance in Sending a Letter to Speaker Ryan and Minority Leader Pelosi in Supporting H.R. 3922, the “CHAMPIONING HEALTHY KIDS Act 11.01.17
- Neurosurgery Sends Letter to Rep. Sessions Supporting H.R. 4133, the “Medicare Patient Empowerment Act” 11.01.17
- Neurosurgery Joins Other Organizations in Sending a Letter to Speaker Ryan and Minority Leader Pelosi Urging for IPAB Repeal 11.01.17
- Neurosurgery Sends Letter of Support to Sens. Alexander and Murray for Bipartisan Efforts to Develop Health Care Reform Legislation 10.23.17
- Neurosurgery Joins the Alliance in Sending a Letter to Speaker Ryan and Minority Letter Pelosi Urging for IPAB Repeal 10.19.17
- Neurosurgery Joins Other Medical Groups in Sending Letter to Chairman Burgess and Ranking Member Green Urging for Loan Repayment for Pediatric Subspecialists 10.12.17
- Neurosurgery Joins Other Medical Groups in Supporting H.R. 3767 and S.989, the Ensuring Children’s Access to Specialty Care Act of 2017 10.12.17
- Neurosurgery Joins the Alliance in Sending Letter to Chairman Walden and Ranking Member Pallone Urging for IPAB Repeal 10.3.17
- Neurosurgery Joins the Alliance in Sending Letter to Chairman Brady and Ranking Member Neal Urging for IPAB Repeal 10.3.17
- Neurosurgery Joins the Alliance in Sending a Letter of Support to Chairman Brady and Ranking Member Neal Regarding the HEALTHY KIDS Act 10.3.17
- Neurosurgery Sends Letter to Chairman Brady and Ranking Member Neal Urging for IPAB Repeal 10.3.17
- Neurosurgery Sends Letter to Chairman Walden and Ranking Member Pallone Urging for IPAB Repeal 10.3.17
- Neurosurgery Sends Letter of Support to Senate Lawmakers for S. 1016, the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies for Health Act 6.1.17
- AANS and CNS Join the Alliance in Sending Comments to Sens. Cassidy and Collins Regarding Health Reform 5.26.17
- AANS and CNS Send Letter of Support to Sen. Feinstein on the Affordable Health Insurance for the Middle Class Act 5.25.17
- Neurosurgery joins the Alliance in Sending Comments to Sen. Hatch Regarding Health Reform 5.23.17
- AANS and CNS Send Letter Regarding Health Reform to Sen. Hatch 5.22.17
- Neurosurgery and Other Medical Groups Send Letter to Congress Urging for Passage of the Patient Access to Higher Quality Health Care Act 5.16.17
- AANS and CNS Join Other Health Organizations to Develop Out of Network Consensus Principles 5.20.17
- Neurosurgery Joins Other Medical Groups in Sending a Letter on Regulatory Relief to Secretary Price 3.20.17
- Neurosurgery Health Care Reform Survey of Neurosurgical Leaders 3.17.19
- AANS and CNS Send Letter to Speaker Ryan Regarding H.R. 1215, the Protecting Access to Care Act 3.17.17
- Neurosurgery Joins Other Medical Groups in Sending IPAB Repeal Letter of Support to Sen. Cornyn Regarding S. 260 - 3.16.17
- Neurosurgery Joins Other Medical Groups in Sending IPAB Repeal Letter of Support to Reps. Roe and Ruiz Regarding H.R. 849 - 3.16.17
- Neurosurgery Joins Other Medical Groups in Sending IPAB Repeal Letter of Support to Sen. Wyden Regarding S. 251 - 3.16.17
- AANS and CNS Send Letter to Chairman Walden and Chairman Brady Regarding the American Health Care Act 3.9.17
- Neurosurgery Joins the Alliance in Sending Congratulatory Letter to Sec. Price Regarding his HHS Secretary Appointment 2.28.17
- Neurosurgery Joins Alliance of Specialty Medicine to Create 2017 Health Policy Principles 2.21.17
- Neurosurgery Joins Alliance in Sending IPAB Repeal Letter of Support Letter to Sen. Cornyn Regarding S. 260 2.3.17
- Neurosurgery Joins Alliance in Sending IPAB Repeal Letter of Support Letter to Sen. Wyden Regarding S. 251 2.3.17
- Neurosurgery Joins Alliance in Sending IPAB Repeal Letter of Support Letter to Reps. Roe and Ruiz Regarding H.R. 849 2.3.17
- Neurosurgery Joins the Alliance in Sending a Letter of Support to Sen. Wyden for his IPAB Joint Resolution (S.J.Res. 16) 2.2.17
- Neurosurgery Joins the Alliance in Sending a Letter of Support to Reps. Roe and Ruiz for their IPAB Joint Resolution (H.J.Res. 51) 2.2.17
- Neurosurgery Joins the Alliance in Sending a Letter of Support to Sen. Cornyn for his IPAB Joint Resolution (S.J.Res. 17) 2.2.17
- PCRC Letter to Senate Leadership Supporting 21st Century Cures 12.01.16
- PCRC Letter to House Leadership Supporting 21st Century Cures 11.30.16
- Neurosurgery and HCLA Congratulate Rep. Kevin Brady for Being Named to the Health Care Reform Task Force 3.18.16
- Neurosurgery and HCLA Congratulate Rep. John Kline for Being Named to the Health Care Reform Task Force 3.18.16
- Neurosurgery and HCLA Congratulate Rep. Fred Upton for Being Named to the Health Care Reform Task Force 3.18.16
- Neurosurgery and HCLA Congratulate Rep. Tom Price for Being Named to the Health Care Reform Task Force 3.18.16
- Neurosurgery Sends Letter to Congress Requesting Support for H.R. 2513, The Protecting Access, Competition and Equity Act 12.2.15
- Neurosurgery Joins AMA in Sending Letter to NAIC Regarding Network Adequacy 10.26.15
- Neurosurgery Joins Alliance in Sending Letter of Support for H.R. 2653, the American Health Care Reform Act of 2015 7.20.15
- Coalition Representing 450,000 Physicians Urges Congress to Repeal IPAB 6.15.15
- AANS and CNS Urge Ways and Means Committee to Pass H.R. 160, the "Protect Medical Innovation Act." 6.1.15
- AANS and CNS Urge Ways and Means Committee to Pass H.R. 1190, the “Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act” 6.1.15
- Neurosurgery and 500 Other Groups Urge Congress to Repeal IPAB 5.13.15
- Neurosurgery Joins Alliance in Sending Letter of Support for H.R.1190 to Reps. Phil Roe and Linda Sánchez 3.16.15
- Neurosurgery Joins Alliance in Sending Letter of Support for S. 141 to Sen. John Cornyn 3.16.15
- Neurosurgery Joins AMA to Send Comments to CMS Regarding Network Adequacy Provisions in the 2016 MA Call Letter 2.12.15
- Neurosurgery Joins Alliance in Sending Comments to CMS Regarding MSSP ACO Rule 2.6.15
- AANS and CNS Send Letter of Support to Reps. Roe and Sánchez Regarding IPAB Repeal Legislation 1.22.15
- AANS and CNS Send Letter of Support to Sen. Cornyn Regarding IPAB Repeal Legislation 1.22.15
- Neurosurgeons Join AdvaMed in Urging Congress to Repeal the Medical Device Tax 1.13.15
-
Neurosurgery Joins Alliance in Sending Comments to NAIC Regarding Network Issues 1.10.15
AANS and CNS Unveil 2015 Legislative Agenda
- Neurosurgery Joins AMA in Sending Letter to NAIC Regarding Network Issues 11.16.14
- Neurosurgery Joins Alliance in Sending Letter to NAIC Regarding Network Issues 10.31.14
- AANS and CNS Send Letter to CMS Regarding Sunshine Act 6.2.14
- Neurosurgeons Join Alliance in Urging Congress to Repeal the SGR 05.09.14
- AANS/CNS Sponsor Ad Urging Congress to Repeal Medical Device Tax 3.31.14
- AANS and CNS Unveil 2014 Legislative Agenda 3.18.14
- AANS/CNS Send Letter to OMB Urging for Pediatric Subspecialty Loan Repayment Program Funding 1.31.14 (PDF)
- Neurosurgeons Join Alliance in Sending Letter to Congress Outlining SGR Reform Principles 1.21.14
- Neurosurgeons Join Surgical Community to Send Letter to the Senate Committee on Finance Opposing SGR Legislation (PDF)
- Neurosurgeons Join Surgical Community to Send Letter to the House Ways and Means Committee Opposing SGR Legislation (PDF)
- Neurosurgery’s Perspective on Healthcare Reform 9.30.13
- Healthcare Reform Overview 9.30.13
- AANS/CNS Join Effort to Repeal Medical Device Tax 09.28.13
- AANS/CNS Sponsor Ad Urging Congress to Repeal Medical Device Tax 09.26.13
- AANS/CNS Send Letter to Senate Finance Committee Urging SGR Repeal 9.20.13
- AANS/CNS Lead Coalition Effort to Repeal SGR 9.17.13
- Neurosurgery Sends LTE to the WSJ on IPAB (PDF)
- U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee SGR Testimony (PDF)
- Neurosurgery Joins the Alliance to Send Support Letter to Sen Cornyn for IPAB Repeal Bill (S. 351) (PDF)
- AANS/CNS Endorsement Letter for Protecting Seniors’ Access to Medicare Act (PDF)
- Letter to Senator Murkowski discussing the Medicare Patient Empowerment Act (PDF)
- AANS/CNS 2013 Legislative Agenda
- Mark Levin Transcript
- A letter to the Food and Drug Administration regarding posterior cervical screws (PDF)
- Neurosurgeons Condemn False Assertions Made About Health Reform Law on Mark Levin Show
- AANS/CNS led coalition urges deficit supercommittee to repeal IPAB
-
AANS/CNS Join over 130 medical groups in urging Congress to repeal the SGR, March 10, 2011.
- Letter to House (PDF)
- Letter to Senate (PDF)
