In October 2020, AAPM&R submitted a comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the 2021 Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center (OPPS/ASC) Payment System Proposed Rule.

In our comment letter, we urge CMS not to finalize its proposal to add implanted spinal neurostimulators to its list of procedures subject to prior authorization. AAPM&R opposes the use of prior authorization as a tool for curbing perceived overutilization of services. Prior authorization has been shown to be a significant cause of provider burnout and adds significant burden to physicians and their office staff.

CMS has published a fact sheet, detailing specifics from the rule.

The final rule is expected in early December. Your Academy will continue to monitor these issues and will distribute updates when available.