Whether meeting with agency officials, key Congressional committee staff or federal or state lawmakers, members and staff stress the importance of policies that preserve patient access to high quality, evidence-based specialty care.

Key advocacy issues include:

Reforming the Medicare program to guarantee access to high-quality, specialty care for the country’s aging population and ensure a fair physician reimbursement system that accurately accounts for the true costs of delivering health care services.  Review NASS’ position statement on Medicare physician reimbursement here.

Addressing the professional liability insurance crisis and the resulting gaps in the health care safety net by supporting reforms intended to reduce frivolous lawsuits and stabilize insurance premium costs.  Review NASS’ position statement on Medical Liability Reform here.
 
Promoting patient safety initiatives aimed at decreasing medical errors and improving health care quality, including a system of voluntary, confidential reporting and evaluation of patient safety data. Review NASS’ position statement on the Medicare Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) here.

Ensuring the delivery of high quality spine care by promoting  the best treatments for each individual patient. Review NASS’ position statement on Comparative Effectiveness
Research here.