Skip to Main Content

NOTICE
MyAANS, password-protected resources, and purchases are currently experiencing issues and are unavailable. We are working to get this fixed as soon as possible.

President Signs Omnibus Spending Bill

On Dec. 27, former President Donald J. Trump signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260) — a massive omnibus spending bill that includes nearly $900 billion for coronavirus relief and an additional $1.4 trillion spending package to fund the federal government through the end of the Fiscal Year 2021. Addressing several of organized neurosurgery’s advocacy priorities, the legislation:

  • Prevents steep Medicare cuts by earmarking $3 billion to help offset the budget-neutrality adjustment and by delaying for three years the new G2211 add-on code for certain complex office visits;
  • Extends the moratorium on the 2% Medicare payment sequester for an additional three months through March 2021, allocating $3 billion for this purpose;
  • Temporarily freezes alternative payment model (APM) payment incentive thresholds for two years, allowing more physicians to qualify for the 5% APM bonus payments;
  • Provides funding for 1,000 additional Medicare-funded graduate medical education (GME) residency positions and increases funding for the Children’s Hospital GME program;
  • Increases funding for the National Institutes of Health;
  • Encourages reimbursement for opioid alternatives; and
  • Bans surprise medical bills.

Click here for a summary of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021.