Liaison: Tiffany R. Hodges, MD

Congressional leaders have reached a deal on a $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill, which includes several provisions affecting the neurosurgical community. Although the bill provides a two-year postponement of the 4% Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) cut for Medicare payments, the bill falls short in preventing the entire 8.5% payment cut that physicians are facing on January 1, 2023. The budget deal also extends bonus payments for physicians participating in Medicare advanced alternative payment models for one year, but with a reduced bonus payment of 3.5% in 2025.

The bill includes funding for 200 additional Medicare-supported Graduate Medical Education residency positions and extends the Children’s Health Insurance Program  for two years. This legislation also provides $1.5 billion for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health and $47.5 billion for the National Institutes of Health, supporting a wide range of biomedical and behavioral research.

Despite the lack of prior authorization reform legislation, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued three proposed rules in December that incorporate most of the provisions of the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act. Congressional leaders have assured the neurosurgical community that the legislation will be passed in the 118th Congress.

With a rapidly changing and challenging health care climate, the Washington Committee will remain steadfast in engaging our policymakers on the issues that affect neurosurgeons and our patients. Members of the AANS/CNS Tumor Section are encouraged to communicate with Tiffany R. Hodges, MD, FAANS, who serves as your tumor section liaison to bring issues or concerns to our Washington Committee. You can stay informed on health care policy topics by subscribing to Neurosurgery Blog at www.neurosurgeryblog.org and following the Washington Committee on Twitter @neurosurgery.  Finally, periodic updates are available via AANS and CNS publications and through presentations at neurosurgery meetings.