Neurosurgery Comments on 2022 Medicare Hospital OPPS ASC Proposed Rule

On Sept. 17, the AANS and the CNS submitted comments to CMS regarding the 2022 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment (OPPS)/Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Payment System proposed rule. In the letter, the neurosurgery groups agreed with the agency’s plans to restore the Medicare Inpatient Only List and increase the procedures on the ASC list, while at the same time stressing that the site of service should be determined by the surgeon in consultation with the patient. The AANS and the CNS also reemphasized that CMS should rescind the prior authorization requirements for spinal cord stimulator and cervical spine procedures when they are performed in the hospital outpatient department.