The top issues AANS expects to address in 2018 are:
1. An improved healthcare delivery system, which would expand affordable health insurance coverage and allow individuals to choose their healthcare provider. The organization also would like to see Congress reauthorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
2. Ensure quality opportunities for resident education and training, which would include providing additional funded residency positions and eliminating the current graduate medical education funding caps.
3. Advocate for comprehensive medical liability reform.
4. Keep medical innovation possible in the spine field and eliminate the medical device excise tax.
5. Support the Medicare quality improvement program restructuring and Congressional efforts to revisit the Medicare AUC Program for advanced diagnostic imaging.
6. Champion fair reimbursement, especially as bundled payments become more popular to ensure global fees are appropriate for neurosurgical procedures.
7. Move the Medicare program to a defined contribution model.
More articles on spine surgery:
5 trends in the spine surgery market
3 surgical options for adult spinal deformity—Which comes out on top?
5 trends in the spine surgery market
At the Becker's 23rd Annual Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management-Driven ASC + The Future of Spine Conference, taking place June 11-13 in Chicago, spine surgeons, orthopedic leaders and ASC executives will come together to explore minimally invasive techniques, ASC growth strategies and innovations shaping the future of outpatient spine care. Apply for complimentary registration now.
