Neurosurgeons back legislation aiming to improve Medicare physician payment system

The American College of Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons have endorsed the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act.

The act, which was introduced April 3, would install an annual physician payment update based on the Medicare economic index beginning in 2024 to reflect physician practice cost inflation, according to an April 6 news release.

“Medicare physician payments have failed to keep pace with inflation, jeopardizing the viability of physician practices and patients’ timely access to care,” Russell Lonser, MD, chair of the AANS/CNS Washington committee, said in the release.

Medicare payments to physicians have declined by 26 percent from 2001 to 2023, according to a report from the American Medical Association. Meanwhile, the cost of operating a medical practice has increased by more than 70 percent.

“Neurosurgeons take care of some of the sickest patients with brain tumors, degenerative spine disease, stroke and traumatic brain and spinal injuries," Dr. Lonser said. "We agree with the Medicare trustees that access to Medicare-participating physicians will become a significant issue in the long term unless Congress takes steps to fix the payment system today.”

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