Neurosurgery Supports Medicare Patient Empowerment Act

On May 19, the AANS and the CNS expressed their support for the Medicare Patient Empowerment Act (S. 826/H.R. 3322). Sponsored in the Senate by Sens. Rand Paul, MD, (R-Ky.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and in the House by Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas), this legislation would ensure that Medicare beneficiaries can seek care from the physician of their choice by allowing patients and providers to privately contract for Medicare-covered services without penalty. Under current law, Medicare beneficiaries that choose to see physicians who do not accept Medicare must pay the physician’s charge entirely out of personal funds. In addition, physicians who privately contract must opt out of the Medicare program for two years.

Click here to read the letter to the Senate and here to read the letter to the House.