Articles
Congressman Luttrell Submits Amendment in Support of the BRAIN Initiative Funding
According to the American Brain Coalition of which NANS is a member, Congressman Luttrell, co-chair of the Congressional Neuroscience Caucus, has submitted an amendment to the Rules Committee in favor of increasing funding for the BRAIN Initiative (H.R. 9029).
2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule: Updates to Physician Payment System
On July 10, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its Calendar Year (CY) 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) proposed rule, which includes proposals related to Medicare physician payment and the Quality Payment Program (QPP).
NANS Supports MACRA Reform
NANS joins national societies and state medical associations in urging Congress to prioritize and advance key bills and legislative proposals that provide greater financial stability to Medicare physicians and reform the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA).
NANS Leads Response Objecting to Cigna’s Depiction of PNS
In March, NANS learned about Cigna’s Medical Coverage Policy characterizing peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) to treat chronic pain as “not medically necessary.” NANS led the response objecting to Cigna’s depiction of the treatment as lacking medical necessity.
NANS Supports Seniors’ Act to Improve Timely Patient Access to Care
NANS signs on to support the introduction of the Seniors’ Act or the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act, bipartisan legislation to streamline the use of prior authorizations under Medicare Advantage.
NANS Leads Response to Washington State’s Draft Guidelines for SCS Coverage
On behalf of the 40,000+ members across 10 medical societies, NANS submitted a response to draft guidelines for SCS coverage proposed by the Washington State Health Technology Clinical Committee.
NANS Supports Protections for Thousands of Medical Providers in Change Healthcare Cyberattacks
In February, Change Healthcare, the nation’s largest processor of medical claims, experienced one of the largest cyberattacks in the healthcare industry, resulting in the loss of patient and claims data.
Washington State Approves Coverage for Spinal Cord Stimulation, Granting Access to Care for Millions of Residents
On May 17, in a follow-up meeting with the Washington State Health Technology Clinical Committee (HTCC), members voted to cover spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for patients with nonsurgical low back pain, diabetic peripheral neuropathy and failed back surgery syndrome.
Humana Revises Medicare Advantage Policy Allowing PNS Treatment for Chronic Pain Under Certain Criteria
Humana revised its Medicare Advantage policy regarding coverage of PNS for chronic pain after NANS issued a statement on behalf of 12 medical societies through the Multisociety Pain Workgroup.
Draft LCD Deems Arthrodesis of the SI Joint Not Medically Necessary
NANS joins the Multisociety Pain Workgroup to object to Palmetto’s draft local coverage determination for minimally invasive arthrodesis of the sacroiliac joint.
New CIGNA Policy Calls Peripheral Nerve Stimulation “Not Medically Necessary”
In March, CIGNA released policy 0539, characterizing peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) as “not medically necessary.” NANS is working with the PNS Subcommittee to respond to this categorization.
NANS’ Efforts Ensure Coverage for Closed-loop SCS with Cigna and EviCore
NANS led efforts on behalf of the Multi Society Pain Workgroup to object to insurers’ classification of closed-loop spinal cord stimulation (SCS) as experimental, investigational and/or unproven. Cigna and EviCore revised their policies to include coverage of closed-loop SCS.