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Regulatory Relief

Cross-Post: Bipartisan Bill Would Improve Medicare Patients’ Access to Care

By Cross Post, Health Reform, Prior Authorization, Regulatory ReliefNo Comments

From time to time on Neurosurgery Blog, you will see us cross-posting or linking to items from other places when we believe they hit the mark on an issue. Today’s post originally appeared in The American Spectator on July 21, 2021. In the op-ed, Richard Menger, MD, MPA, assistant professor of neurosurgery and political science at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Ala. discusses how H.R. 3173, the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act, could bring transparency to the process of prior authorization in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans.

Prior authorization is a tool insurance companies use to limit the services they provide for their customers. If passed, this legislation would reduce prior authorization hassles and help curb unnecessary delays for patients. “It’s quite rare for a piece of legislation to have the direct ability to truly impact the lives of so many of my patients. It’s even rarer for that legislation to have bipartisan support,” according to Dr. Menger.

To bring needed transparency and oversight to the MA program, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) are urging Congress to adopt H.R. 3173, the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act. Please contact Congress and ask your Representative to co-sponsor H.R. 3173.

Click here to go to neurosurgery’s Advocacy Action Center to send an email to your Representative asking them to co-sponsor the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act. A sample message, which can be personalized, is provided.

Click here to read the full article in The American Spectator.

Editor’s Note: We hope that you will share what you learn from our posts. We invite you to join the conversation on Twitter by following @Neurosurgery and using the hashtag #FixPriorAuth.

Cross-Post: Streamlining the Process of Prior Authorization for Medical and Surgical Procedures

By Cross Post, Health Reform, Prior Authorization, Regulatory ReliefNo Comments

From time to time on Neurosurgery Blog, you will see us cross-posting or linking to items from other places when we believe they hit the mark on an issue. Today’s post originally appeared in The Hill on Jan. 14, 2021. In the op-ed, Richard Menger, MD, MPA, assistant professor of neurosurgery and political science at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Ala., highlights the need to streamline the cumbersome process of prior authorization for medical and surgical procedures performed through the Medicare Advantage program. Prior authorization is a tool insurance companies use to limit the services they provide for their customers. “Reducing the footprint of prior authorization bends the arc towards that proper direction of reform,” according to Dr. Menger.

Click here to read Dr. Menger’s full article in The Hill.

Editor’s Note: We encourage everyone to join the conversation online by using the hashtags #FixPriorAuth and #RegRelief.

The FDA and Regulation – Neurosurgery Partners with FDA for Patient Safety, Innovation and Regulatory Reform

By Access to Care, Drugs and Devices, Guest Post, Health, Medical Innovation, Patient Safety, Regulatory ReliefNo Comments

Clemens M. Schirmer, MD, PhD, FAANS, FAHA (left) Vice-Chair, AANS/CNS Communications and Public Relations Committee Geisinger Wilkes Barre, PA Catherine Jeakle Hill (right) Senior Manager for Regulatory Affairs, Washington Office…

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