The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) announced their opposition to the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,” released this week by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Additionally, while Senator Reid pushes ahead to finalize sweeping healthcare legislation in order to extend coverage to the uninsured and control increasing healthcare costs, the AANS and CNS cannot ignore several key issues which are vital to any overhaul plan and are missing from this bill including: concrete options for proven medical liability reform and protections to ensure patient choice of physician, including the right of patients to privately contract with their physicians.
“Despite some positive aspects of this bill, including the expansion of health insurance coverage, improvements in access to emergency neurosurgical care, and loan forgiveness for pediatric subspecialists, this bill still seriously misses the mark. It’s missing vital solutions to fix some of the most crucial broken aspects of our current system,” states Troy M. Tippett, MD, President of the AANS. “The Senate will vote on a procedure motion to begin debate this weekend and as it is now drafted, the bill is extremely detrimental for physicians and our patients.”
Gerald E. Rodts, MD, President of the CNS, comments, “We remain concerned that despite the state opt-out provision, the community health insurance option will ultimately limit patient choice; will put the government between the doctor and the patient, interfering with patient care decisions; and because of its tremendous cost – immediately and in the future – will be a burden to all Americans.”
The AANS and CNS find the following provisions to be particularly alarming: