Reimbursement

On April 14, 2015, Congress repealed the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula.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.

• AANS Coding Courses
• AMA CPT Panel Information
• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) NCCI Edits
• Washington State Healthcare Authority

• Neurosurgery responds to NASS Draft Coverage Policy for Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring (IONM) 09.24.23
• AANS and CNS Submit Comments on the 2024 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System/Ambulatory Surgery Center Proposed Rule 09.11.23
• Neurosurgery Joins Alliance in Commenting on Proposed 2024 Medicare Fee Schedule 09.11.23
• AANS and CNS Submit Comments on the Proposed 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule 09.06.23
• Title: Neurosurgery Urges Aetna to Modify Coverage Policy re Cages for ACDF 08.30.23
• Summary of Proposed 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
• AANS and CNS Comment on CMS Breakthrough Device Coverage Policy 08.28.23
• Neurosurgery Supports Medicare Coverage of Carotid Artery Stenting 08.04.23
• 100+ Representatives Urge Collaboration on Medicare Physician Payment Reform 07.28.23
• Neurosurgery Urges CMS to Eliminate Unnecessary Add-on Code Driving Medicare Pay Cuts 07.26.23
• Neurosurgery Leads Effort to Rescind Edit for Spinal Decompression Codes 07.25.23
• Surgical Coalition Outlines Plan for Reforming Medicare Payment System 06.21.23
• AANS and CNS Support Telehealth Expansion Act 06.06.23
• AANS and CNS Join Alliance in Supporting Legislation to Improve Medicare Physician Payment System 05.03.23
• Neurosurgery Joins Coalition Effort to Improve Medicare Payment System 05.02.23
• Neurosurgery Endorses Bill to Improve Medicare Payment System 04.19.23
• Neurosurgery Urges Cigna to Rescind Modifier -25 Policy 04.18.23
• Neurosurgery Reaches out to Cigna Regarding Coverage Policy for Intraoperative Monitoring for Cervical Spine Procedures 03.29.23
• AANS and CNS Urge Congress to Provide Physicians with Inflation Update 03.15.23
• Neurosurgery Urges CMS to Revisit Medicare Coverage Policy for Carotid Stenting 02.07.23
• Neurosurgery Urges Congress to Hold Hearings on Medicare Payment System 01.23.23

• Neurosurgery Expresses Disappointment with Congress’ Failure to Stop the Full Medicare Cut 12.21.22
• Surgeons Urge Congress to Modify Spending Bill to Halt Entire Medicare Cut 12.20.22
• Neurosurgery Supports Senate Bill to Stop Medicare Cuts 12.16.22
• Doctors Caucus Letter to House Leadership on Physician Payment Cuts 12.15.22
• House of Reps Members Urge Leaders to Prevent Medicare Cuts 12.13.22
• AANS and CNS Comment on MedPAC’s Ideas for Improving Primary Care Reimbursement 12.06.22
• Neurosurgery Joins Alliance in Commenting on National Provider Directory 12.06.22
• Neurosurgeons Push for Legislation to Prevent Medicare Cuts 12.05.22
• Senators Urge Action to Mitigate Medicare Payment Cuts 11.02.22
• Neurosurgery Submits Comments to Congress on Medicare Payment and Quality Program Improvements 10.31.22
• Neurosurgery Comments on NASS Cervical Fusion Coverage Policy 10.24.2022
• AANS CNS Submit Comments on MS-DRG Assignment for LITT 10.20.22
• Neurosurgery Provides Comments on MS-DRG Assignment for LITT Procedures 10.2.222
• Neurosurgery Leads Coalition Effort to Prevent Medicare Cuts 093022
• Neurosurgery Joins Alliance in Supporting Legislation to Mitigate Medicare cuts 09.29.22
• Reps. Bera and Bucshon Urge CMS to Increase Global Surgery Codes 09.27.22
• Neurosurgery Joins Surgical Coalition in Supporting Bill to Prevent Medicare Cuts 09.26.22
• Neurosurgery Submits Comments to Novitas Regarding Neurostimulator LCD 9.24.2022
• Neurosurgery Submits Comments to Frist Coast Regarding Neurostimulator LCD 9.24.2022
• Neurosurgery Joins AMA in Urging Congress to Prevent Medicare Cuts 09.22.22
• Neurosurgery Led Coalition Urges CMS to Drop Prior Auth Requirement for Spine Procedures 09.13.22
• Neurosurgery Urges Senate to Act on Telehealth legislation 09.13.22
• AANS and CNS Comment on 2023 Medicare OPPS and ASC Proposed Rule 09.12.22
• Neurosurgery Joins the Alliance in Comments on 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule 09.06.22
• Neurosurgery Leads Coalition Effort Urging CMS to Increase Global Surgery Codes 09.06.22
• AANS and CNS Comment on 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule 08.31.22
• AANS and CNS Comment on Primary Care RFI 08.01.22
• AANS and CNS Urge HHS to Prioritize Access to both Specialty and Primary Care 08.01.22
• Neurosurgery Joins Alliance in Commenting on HHS Primary Care Initiative 08.01.22
• Neurosurgery Joins Coalition in Urging Congress to Stop Steep Medicare Cuts 07.27.22
• Summary of the Proposed 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule

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