The American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons support the House of Representatives' legislation that would repeal and replace Medicare's sustainable growth rate formula.
There is a 21 percent pay cut going into effect on April 1 if the SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2015, or another patch, isn't passed. AANS/CNS recommended three steps to transform Medicare payments:
1. Repealing SGR with a stability period for physician payments
2. Restructure and streamline physician-led quality improvement
3. Adopt flexible criteria for physician participation and engagement in delivery and payment models, including fee-for-service options
"We are encouraged that the bill establishes a stable mechanism for reimbursing doctors and will help create a delivery system that promotes high-quality, high-value and better-coordinated care for our patients," said John A. Wilson, MD, chairman of the AANS/CNS Washington Committee.