SNIS Opposes 10% Cut to NeuroInterventional Reimbursements In CMS-Approved Physician Fee Schedule

December 3, 2020—The Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery (SNIS) announced that the final 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) was issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on December 2.

SNIS stated that according to an analysis published November 30 by Theresa H. Nguyen, MD, et al online in the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery (JNIS), the 2021 MPFS will result in reimbursement cuts of approximately 10% for neurointerventional procedures. The cuts are caused by Medicare’s budget-neutrality requirements, which require substantial reductions to offset payment increases approved in other areas of the health care system. Practitioners are concerned that this measure may jeopardize access to lifesaving care for individuals experiencing strokes, aneurysms, and other deadly conditions, noted the society. SNIS has joined a coalition of professional societies urging Congress to provide a legislative fix to reverse these cuts.

The JNIS article outlines the potential impact of the new fee schedule and cautions that this action by CMS could further compound current challenges to the viability of neurointerventional practices, which already have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The JNIS analysis also stated that these impacts will almost certainly be compounded in upcoming years.

In the press release, JNIS Editor-in-Chief Felipe Albuquerque, MD, noted that the article authors predict even more severe economic impacts as private payers follow Medicare’s lead.

“This rule originates in Medicare, but we know that private insurers often base their own rates on those set by CMS. Together, that represents about 80% of the patient population. Some practices will not be able to withstand that level of reimbursement reduction for very long.”

Joshua A. Hirsch, MD, chair of the SNIS health policy committee and a co-author of the analysis, commented In the SNIS announcement, “We’ve been working for more than 2 decades to increase access to neurointerventional therapies that actively save lives but the thoughtlessness of CMS’ approach puts practices at risk in the midst of fighting a pandemic. It is inexcusable. Congress needs to move quickly and add stability to the system without diminishing access to critical diagnostic tests and surgical procedures.”