• Neurosurgery and Health Care Reform

    America’s neurosurgeons strongly support improving our nation’s health care system; however, the CNS firmly believes that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) goes far beyond that which is necessary to fix what is broken with the current health care system. Rather than enacting a carefully targeted set of reforms that would improve access to affordable health insurance and redress a number of deplorable insurance practices, the ACA vastly expands the federal government’s role in healthcare and fails to address significant problems with the current system. This portion of the website is dedicated to items concerning the world of neurosurgery and health care reform.

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    Jan 07, 2022
    Consistent with Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, rule 29(a)(4), as adopted by LCvR 7(o)(5), the undersigned, counsel for the amici parties submitting this brief, states that no party’s counsel authored this brief in whole or in part; no party or party’s counsel contributed money intended to fund the preparation or the submission of this brief; and no person other than the amici curiae, its members, and its counsel contributed money intended to fund the preparation or the submission of this brief.
    Jan 01, 2022
    The federal No Surprises Act (NSA)1 prohibits out-of-network health care providers2 and facilities from balance billing commercially insured patients, in certain circumstances.
    Nov 23, 2021
    The undersigned organizations, representing millions of Medicare beneficiaries with life-threatening, complex, chronic conditions and/or the physicians who care for them, are asking the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to ensure that beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans continue to have appropriate and timely access to the therapies they need to properly manage their conditions.
    Nov 17, 2021
    On behalf of the undersigned organizations representing physicians across the country, we write to urge you to reconsider the requirements in the Interim Final Rule (IFR), entitled “Requirements Related to Surprise Billing; Part II,” 86 Fed. Reg. 55,980 (Oct. 7, 2021), implementing the No Surprises Act (NSA) that directs Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) entities to consider the qualifying payment amount (QPA) a rebuttable presumptive reasonable payment for out-of-network physicians engaging in the IDR process and, in turn, places a thumb on the scale in favor of health insurers in contract negotiations.
    Oct 28, 2021
    The undersigned members of the Regulatory Relief Coalition, representing thousands of physicians throughout the United States, are writing to request a meeting with you and your staff to discuss the Center for Medicare & Medicaid’s (CMS) utilization review policies, particularly those related to prior authorization (PA).
    Oct 20, 2021
    As the Alliance of Specialty Medicine (Alliance), our mission is to advocate for sound federal health care policy that fosters patient access to the highest quality specialty care.
    Oct 04, 2021
    We write regarding our concerns with respect to the implementation of the historic and bipartisan No Surprises Act by your Departments.
    Oct 01, 2021
    Prior authorization is a cumbersome process that requires physicians to obtain pre-approval for medical treatments or tests before rendering care to their patients.
    Sep 07, 2021
    The undersigned surgical organizations appreciate the opportunity to comment on the “Requirements Related to Surprise Billing; Part I” interim final rules with comment (IFR) implementing certain provisions of the No Surprises Act issued by the Office of Personnel Management; Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury; Employee Benefits Security Administration, Department of Labor; and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services (collectively referred to as the “Departments” in this letter).
    Jul 28, 2021
    The Alliance of Specialty Medicine (the “Alliance”) represents more than 100,000 specialty physicians across 14 specialty and subspecialty societies.
    Jun 03, 2021
    Thank you for your letter on behalf of the Medical Devices Manufacturing Association and other healthcare stakeholders requesting that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) suspend or delay the implementation of prior authorization requirements for cervical fusion with disc removal and implanted spinal neurostimulators. We appreciate you bringing your concerns to our attention.
    May 13, 2021
    As the Alliance of Specialty Medicine (Alliance), our mission is to advocate for sound federal health care policy that fosters patient access to the highest quality specialty care.
    May 12, 2021
    On behalf of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), we are pleased to endorse your legislation, the “Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act.”
    May 10, 2021
    In 2014, Congress passed the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA) [Public Law 113-93], establishing the Medicare Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) Program for advanced diagnostic
    Apr 22, 2021
    The undersigned organizations, representing millions of Medicare beneficiaries with life-threatening, complex, chronic conditions and the physicians who care for them, are asking the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to ensure that beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans continue to have appropriate and timely access to the therapies they need to properly manage their conditions.
    Apr 21, 2021
    As patient and physician advocates, the Alliance of Specialty Medicine (Alliance) writes in support of your legislation, H.R. 2163, the Safe Step Act, which would provide patients and providers with a clear and transparent appeals process when subject to step therapy protocols instituted by insurers.
    Apr 07, 2021
    On behalf of the organizations below and the patients and healthcare stakeholders we serve, we are writing to reiterate the growing concern within the healthcare community regarding the expanding use of prior authorization by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
    Mar 16, 2021
    As patient and physician advocates, the Alliance of Specialty Medicine (Alliance) writes in support of your legislation, S. 464, the Safe Step Act, which would provide patients and providers with a clear and transparent appeals process when subject to step therapy protocols instituted by insurers.
    Feb 10, 2021
    On behalf of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) and the AANS/CNS Joint Section on Pediatric Neurological Surgery, representing more than 4,000 practicing neurosurgeons in the United States, we write to support your legislation, H.R. 66, the Comprehensive Access to Robust Insurance Now Guaranteed (CARING) for Kids Act.
    Jan 04, 2021
    On behalf of more than 100,000 specialty physicians, the undersigned members of the Alliance of Specialty Medicine (the “Alliance”) write in response to proposals outlined in the aforementioned proposed rule.
    Dec 17, 2020
    As the Alliance of Specialty Medicine (Alliance), our mission is to advocate for sound federal health care policy that fosters patient access to the highest quality specialty care.
    Dec 16, 2020
    To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish requirements with respect to the use of prior authorization under Medicare Advantage plans, and for other purposes
    Nov 06, 2020
    In 2014, Congress passed the “Protecting Access to Medicare Act” (PAMA), establishing the Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) Program for advanced diagnostic imaging.
    Jul 24, 2020
    As members of the GOP Doctors Caucus, we commend your leadership in highlighting the serious issue of surprise medical billing, and share your interest in ensuring patients are protected from what are essentially billing disputes between providers and insurance companies.
    Jul 20, 2020
    The Part B Access for Seniors and Physicians (ASP) Coalition represents patient and provider groups dedicated to preserving patient access to Medicare Part B covered services.

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