Healthcare Economics Committee Charge
The Healthcare Economics Committee (HEC) is responsible for presenting information on issues affecting the colon and rectal surgeon to Congress and agencies of the federal government. The committee's responsibilities include keeping members informed on these issues and tracking developments in managed care, regulatory, legislative, and other issues that impact coding, billing, and reimbursement for colorectal services.
Message from the Chair
The importance of understanding the current legislative, regulatory, and economic environment in the present day cannot be underestimated. The "business" end of providing care directly impacts our ability to effectively provide the clinical care that is best for our patients. Active advocacy around these issues is crucial to the future of Colorectal Surgery and Medicine in general. The Healthcare Economics Committee of the ASCRS is dedicated to educating and supporting members of the ASCRS as they pursue understanding and participate in advocacy around current issues affecting the business practice of medicine. We seek to align our efforts as a Society, and with other Medical Professional Societies we will advocate for fair reimbursement, legislation that improves patient care, and reasonable regulations that allow for the safe provision of care.
Your questions are welcome. Please contact [email protected]. The staff will assure that your question is routed to the correct person.
Surgical Care Coalition
The Surgical Care Coalition is composed of 12 surgical professional associations that proudly represent more than 150,000 surgeons working across the country with a common goal of improving the quality of care, and quality of life, for all patients.
Founding Members of the Surgical Coalition:
- American Academy of Ophthalmology
- American Association of Neurological Surgeons
- American College of Osteopathic Surgeons
- American College of Surgeons
- American Society for Surgery of the Hand
- American Society of Breast Surgeons
- American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons
- Congress of Neurological Surgeons
- Society for Vascular Surgery
- Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons
- The American Society of Breast Surgeons
- The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Recent Advocacy Efforts supported by the ASCRS via the Surgical Care Coalition:
Call for CMS Reform : Sign on letter to support: February 2021
CMS Prior Authorization Requirements : Sign on letter to oppose March 2021
SCC 2021 Policy Agenda: Sign on letter May 2021
CMS Payment Cuts: Sign on letter to oppose July 2021
SCC Comments on Requirements Related to Surprise Billing: September 2021
Advocacy Resources from our Partners
https://www.facs.org/publications/advocacy-brief/
https://www.ama-assn.org/health-care-advocacy
CMS Resources
https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-Fee-for-Service-Payment/HomeHealthPPS/coding_billing
https://www.cms.gov/medicare/physician-fee-schedule/search/overview
ASCRS Representation to the AMA
ASCRS actively participates in several important committees of the AMA including the House of Delegates, the RVS Update Committee (RUC) and the CPT Committee. Through participation, the Society is able to contribute in these areas on a national level allowing for advocacy to promote improvements in Colorectal practice.
- Advisors/Delegates for each AMA committee are now members of the HEC during their terms.
- AMA committee representatives provide updates to the HEC Committee as they are available (most meetings occur 3 times a year)
- The HEC Chair reports any pertinent updates to ASCRS President and Executive Council
- Succession planning:
- As the result of HEC and Executive Council action, ASCRS has succession plans in place for the HOD and the CPT.
- The HOD and CPT have alternate delegates in place and approved by the EC to learn the “ropes” and transition into the delegate positions
- House of Delegates: Dr. Ronald Gagliano is ASCRS delegate to the HOD and Dr. Anne Mongui is the Alternate Delegate.
- RUC: Dr. Stephen Sentovich and Dr. Guy Orangio are the representatives. Succession planning will begin within the next 3-4 years
- CPT Committee: Dr. Bill Harb is the Advisor. Dr. Joshua Eberhardt is the Alternate Advisor
https://www.ama-assn.org/house-delegates
https://www.ama-assn.org/about/rvs-update-committee-ruc
https://www.ama-assn.org/about/cpt-editorial-panel
https://www.ama-assn.org/about/cpt-editorial-panel/cpt-code-process