{"id":183,"date":"2019-04-14T04:11:10","date_gmt":"2019-04-14T04:11:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/f0c1857d78.nxcli.net\/tumor\/?page_id=183"},"modified":"2019-04-14T04:16:37","modified_gmt":"2019-04-14T04:16:37","slug":"washington-committee-update-spring-2019","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/newsletters.aans.org\/tumor\/tumor-section-spring-2019\/washington-committee-update-spring-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"Washington Committee Update Spring 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Neurosurgeons who focus on oncology face the same daily challenges that all neurosurgeons experience, including regulatory burdens such as prior authorization and mandates to utilize appropriate use criteria (AUC). Whether ordering imaging for tumor surveillance, navigation purposes or scheduling a case for tumor removal, prior authorization is often required and frequently results in treatment delays. \u00a0In the near future, Medicare will mandate that neurosurgeons first consult with AUC when ordering MRI, CT and PET scans. \u00a0This will require the use of a Medicare-approved Clinical Decision Support Mechanism (CDSM) necessitating the purchase of software and registration fees, an additional layer of coding plus additional staff \u2014 all which will lead to increased overhead costs and hassles. Not surprising, neurosurgeons have identified this as a top priority issue for both 2018 and 2019.<\/p>\n<p>Last month, the Washington Committee sent a survey to AANS and CNS members seeking their input in determining neurosurgery\u2019s 2019 Legislative and Regulatory Agenda. \u00a0At the time of this report, 600 surveys were completed. Individuals were asked to select their top 10 legislative priorities from a suggested list of 26 topics and top 10 priorities from a list of 26 regulatory topics.\u00a0 Space was provided for comments and additional suggestions. \u00a0The survey was not stratified to ensure a representative demographic sample, but we did collect demographic data, and the results appear to represent an appropriate cross-section of individuals.<\/p>\n<p>Based on the survey and additional deliberations at its February meeting, the Washington Committee has developed the following agenda:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Protect patients\u2019 timely access to care<\/strong>, by reforming utilization review practices such as prior authorization, step-therapy and Medicare\u2019s appropriate use criteria program for advanced diagnostic imaging.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Fix the broken medical liability system <\/strong>by adopting proven reforms that are in place in California and Texas.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Improve the health care delivery system<\/strong>, including maintaining existing insurance market reforms and advancing solutions that will lower costs and expand choice, including out-of-network options \u2014 with appropriate patient protections for unanticipated medical bills.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Support quality resident training and education <\/strong>by increasing the number of Medicare-funded residency positions and preserving the ability of surgeons to maximize education and training opportunities within the profession\u2019s current regulatory structures.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Alleviate the burdens of electronic health records<\/strong>, including promoting interoperability, reducing unnecessary data entry, and improving the functionality of EHR systems to enhance, not hinder, the delivery of medical care.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Continue progress with medical innovation <\/strong>by repealing the medical device tax, implementing the 21st Century Cures Act.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>End the opioid epidemic<\/strong>, by implementing the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Champion fair reimbursement <\/strong>by maintaining a viable fee-for-service option in Medicare and by empowering patients and physicians to privately contract fee arrangements. Additionally, Medicare must maintain the 10- and 90-day global surgery payment package and minimize the burden of the global surgery code data collection initiative.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The survey also identified a number of concerns that may not have made the top ten list but stood out as important to neurosurgeons: modifications to the Affordable Care Act, overlapping surgery, Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act, Medicare reform, and Trauma\/emergency care.<\/p>\n<p>Recent turnover of members in the U.S. House and Senate, as well as a rapidly changing health care climate, dictates that our strategy remains facile so we can effectively engage policymakers \u2014 including Congress and the administration \u2014 on the issues that affect neurosurgeons and our patients. Thus, going forward this year, while the Washington Committee will proactively pursue the above agenda, we will remain flexible in responding to a fluctuating health care environment and governmental action.<\/p>\n<p>Members of the AANS\/CNS Tumor Section are encouraged to communicate with <strong>Brian V. Nahed<\/strong>, MD, MSc, who serves as your tumor section liaison to bring issues or concerns to our Washington Committee. \u00a0You can stay informed on health care policy topics by subscribing to Neurosurgery Blog at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.neurosurgeryblog.org\">www.neurosurgeryblog.org<\/a> and following the Washington Committee on Twitter @neurosurgery. \u00a0Finally, periodic updates are available via AANS and CNS publications and through presentations at neurosurgery meetings.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Neurosurgeons who focus on oncology face the same daily challenges that all neurosurgeons experience, including regulatory burdens such as prior authorization and mandates to utilize appropriate use criteria (AUC). Whether ordering imaging for tumor surveillance, navigation purposes or scheduling a case for tumor removal, prior authorization is often required and frequently results in treatment delays. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":34,"menu_order":20,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"NewsletterTOC.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-183","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Washington Committee Update Spring 2019 - Tumor News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/newsletters.aans.org\/tumor\/tumor-section-spring-2019\/washington-committee-update-spring-2019\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Washington Committee Update Spring 2019 - Tumor News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Neurosurgeons who focus on oncology face the same daily challenges that all neurosurgeons experience, including regulatory burdens such as prior authorization and mandates to utilize appropriate use criteria (AUC). 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