Neurosurgery Supports Medicare Coverage for Innovative Technologies

On Nov. 2, the AANS and the CNS sent a letter to CMS regarding a proposed rule for Medicare coverage of medical devices approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the expedited FDA breakthrough" device pathway. To date, the FDA has approved 16 devices under the breakthrough program. The neurosurgery letter — prepared by the AANS/CNS Coding and Reimbursement and Drugs and Devices Committee leaders — supports the expedited path to coverage. The groups also encouraged the agency to work with organized neurosurgery to use data from the NeuroPoint Alliance.

The AANS and the CNS also joined the Alliance of Specialty Medicine in a multi-specialty letter on the subject.