Neurosurgery Urges CMS to Increase Global Surgical Code Values

On Oct. 28, the AANS and the CNS joined the American College of Surgeons and other surgical groups in a letter to CMS urging the agency to increase global surgery code post-operative evaluation and management (E/M) values. The letter follows up on issues raised during a Sept. 7 meeting the societies had with CMS. AANS/CNS Washington Committee and Coding and Reimbursement Committee leaders, John K. Ratliff, MD, FAANS, and G. Edward Vates, MD, FAANS, represented neurosurgery at this meeting. In 2021, the values for new stand-alone E/M office visit codes were increased, but CMS refused to increase the E/M portion of the 10- and 90-day global codes. The letter emphasized that this omission disrupts the relativity of the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and inappropriately undervalues these codes.

Click here to read the letter.