Newsline – Neuro News

Deep Brain Stimulation Codes’ Value May Increase
Doctors who perform deep brain stimulation (DBS) with intraoperative microelectrode recording (MER) may be looking at a sharp increase in reimbursement next year. At its April 27 meeting, the American Medical Association’s Relative Value Update Committee, known as the RUC, voted to increase the work relative value of DBS performed with MER (new CPT code 6186X3) from 19.0 to 31.34. According to Jeffrey W. Cozzens, MD, who serves on the AANS/CNS Current Procedural Terminology Subcommittee and attended the RUC meeting, if the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services accept the recommendation, the increase will translate to at least a 30 percent increase in reimbursement for this procedure. “It all depends on what is published in the Federal Register on Nov. 1, but I think that optimistically we can expect probably a 50 percent increase over the previous code,” he stated. Other new approved codes related to DBS include: DBS with MER, each additional array (6186X4), 7.92; DBS without MER, (6186X1), 19.0; and DBS without MER, each additional array (6186X2), 4.50. For more information about DBS, see “Deep Brain Stimulation: Expanding Indications and Increasing Reimbursement“.

AANS Delays New Definition of Neurosurgical CME Until Jan. 1, 2005
In response to questions raised by a number of members, in March the Executive Committee of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) delayed implementation of AANS’ new definition of what programs are acceptable for attaining neurosurgical continuing medical education (CME) credit until Jan. 1, 2005, when the new three-year CME cycle begins. See the Education column for more on this story.

Registration Opens for Distinctive “.Pro” and “.Med.Pro” Internet Addresses
Beginning in July 2003, physicians and other professionals can register for the new Internet “top-level” .pro domain name. Medical and osteopathic doctors, as well as medical organizations also will be able to register for the new .med.pro sub-domain. According to a statement released by .pro domain operator RegistryPro Inc., .pro offers a way for professionals to distinguish themselves on the Internet and provides access to secure electronic communications. Registrants self-certify that they are professionals, providing licensing and identity information that is independently cross-checked by each .pro registrar. Once professional status is verified, a digital certificate is issued. This certificate, “an online passport that facilitates secure communications and transactions,” is reissued annually, and the eligibility for the .pro registration is re-verified at least annually. More information is available at https://www.registrypro.pro.

2004 Humanitarian Award Nominations Due Oct. 15
Voting members of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) are invited to submit nominations for the 2004 Humanitarian Award by Oct. 15. The award will be presented at the 2004 Annual Meeting in Orlando, May 1-6. The Humanitarian Award was established in 1987 to honor an AANS member whose activities outside the art and science of medicine bring great benefit to medicine. Nominees can be living members from any category of AANS membership who give selflessly of time or talents to a charitable or public activity; who are deserving of recognition by the AANS; and whose actions enhance neurosurgery’s image. Nominees may be recognized for activities of national, regional or local nature that benefit humanity collectively or individually without providing remuneration to the recipient. Nominations must be submitted using the form available at https://www.AANS.org, or by contacting Susan Eget at [email protected] or (847) 378-0514.

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