ASA Expresses Concern with CMS Data Collection

On Thursday, April 20, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) joined 22 other specialty societies in a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tom Price, M.D., and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma expressing concerns with implementation of the CMS policy requiring data collection on global services as finalized in the CY 2017 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule.  

This new policy will mandate reporting of care provided within the global period of specified services for those providing care in F:, KY, LA, NV, NJ, ND, OH, OR or RI. The list of specified services includes some services frequently performed by anesthesiologists/ pain medicine:

62264 - Percutaneous lysis of epidural adhesions using solution injection (eg, hypertonic saline, enzyme) or mechanical means (eg, catheter) including radiologic localization (includes contrast when administered), multiple adhesiolysis sessions; 1 day

63650 - Percutaneous implantation of neurostimulator electrode array, epidural

63685 - Insertion or replacement of spinal neurostimulator pulse generator or receiver, direct or inductive coupling

64555 - Percutaneous implantation of neurostimulator electrode array; peripheral nerve (excludes sacral nerve)

64633 - Destruction by neurolytic agent, paravertebral facet joint nerve(s), with imaging guidance (fluoroscopy or CT); cervical or thoracic, single facet joint

64635 - Destruction by neurolytic agent, paravertebral facet joint nerve(s), with imaging guidance (fluoroscopy or CT); lumbar or sacral, single facet joint

64640  - Destruction by neurolytic agent; other peripheral nerve or branch

For more information on this requirement: https://www.cms.gov/medicare/medicare-fee-for-service-payment/physicianfeesched/global-surgery-data-collection-.html

Read a copy of the letter here.