Arbitrary Cuts for Lifesaving Brain Cancer Treatment Jeopardize Patient Access to Critical Therapy
On April 2, 2013, President Obama announced the new Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies, or BRAIN, initiative. Yet even as he did this, patients suffering from brain cancer and other brain disorders may lose access to a vital therapy due to significant Medicare payment reductions. Tucked away in section 634 of the “fiscal cliff” […]
Tomorrow’s Healthcare Challenges: Will the Neurosurgical Workforce Measure up?
Guest Post From Ann R. Stroink, MD, FAANS Central Illinois Neuro Health Sciences Bloomington, Illinois Like other neurosurgeons, I maintain a busy practice, take call, train residents and work with hospital administrators and members of the healthcare team to ensure that my patients receive the highest quality care. Days start early and end late. Time […]
The IPAB: No Good Rotten Very Bad News for Medicare
The Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) topic is not new for Neurosurgery Blog. In fact, we have dissected and addressed its many flaws in previous blog posts. Fortunately, for patients and physicians alike, today Rep. Phil Roe (R-TN) provided Congress with a solution to the problem by introducing the “Protecting Seniors’ Access to Medicare Act.” […]
Going Over the Fiscal Cliff will Hurt Patients
Today, Roll Call Newspaper (Capitol Hill’s paper of record) published a Guest Opinion piece featuring the Alliance of Specialty Medicine and our own Alex Valadka, the Alliance’s spokesperson and chair of the AANS/CNS Washington Committee. The article, “Doctors: We Gave at the Office, and Then Some” addresses the idea that preventing the pending SGR cuts […]
The Unaccountable Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB)
Recently Rep. Michael Burgess, MD (R-TX), took on CNN’s Soledad O’Brien on Medicare reform and the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) in particular. Before we show you the video here’s some background information on the topic. The IPAB was created by the health-reform legislation, and is a board of 15 unelected and largely unaccountable government […]