Neurosurgery Urges CMS to Increase Medicare’s Global Surgery Values

On Aug. 21, the AANS and the CNS sent a letter to CMS voicing strong opposition to certain policies related to the new E/M codes included in the 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) proposed rule. In the letter, the groups strongly urged CMS to apply the American Medical Association/Specialty Society Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC)-recommended work and time incremental increases for the revised E/M codes to the global surgery codes. The letter points out that to do otherwise:

• Disrupts the relativity of the Medicare PFS;
• Violates the Medicare law’s ban on specialty payment differentials; and
• Ignores recommendations endorsed by nearly all medical specialties.

To read the letter, click here.