Federal Policy Agenda

ACNS advocates on behalf of neurophysiologists so they can continue to deliver high quality care to their patients. ACNS will engage with policymakers to enact policies on coverage, coding and reimbursement that promote patient access to the specialized care delivered by ACNS members.  This includes working both with Congress on legislative initiatives, and with federal agencies on regulatory issues. In order to achieve these goals, ACNS will work collaboratively with organizations that share mutual interests, whether they are provider groups or patient advocacy organizations. 

Specific activities include:

• Advocate before Congress and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and Congress as appropriate for equitable reimbursement for services typically performed by ACNS members, including electroencephalography, electromyography, neurophysiologic intraoperative monitoring, continuous and long-term EEG monitoring, and evoked potentials.
• Participate in the AMA CPT® Editorial Panel and Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC) processes to ensure the service codes billed by ACNS members represent current practice and are appropriate valued.
• Advocate for equitable reimbursement of evaluation and management visits for patients treated by ACNS members.
• Monitor legislative efforts to address clinical practice issues, including efforts to reduce regulatory burden, increase price transparency and reduce drug prices, in order to ensure that these policies do not hinder access to the care delivered by ACNS members.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory initiatives to expand access to telehealth services.
• Engage with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the “Patients over Paperwork” initiative to reduce the burden on ACNS members and improve patient outcomes.