Local Doctors Lobbying for Better Patient Care

Sarasota FL

13 January, 2022

12:02 PM

Description

The healthcare industry is once again experiencing a shift in patient care. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released new policies for epidural steroid injections that went into effect on December 12, 2021. This national policy contains changes that have the potential to adversely affect patient care and access, increase healthcare costs and cause a new explosion in the opioid crisis. The changes impact how Medicare covers specific pain injections and anesthesia, and also may hamper access to patient care both here in our local community and across the nation. Doctors at Coastal Orthopedics are advocating to reverse these changes with lawmakers by dedicating themselves to supporting patients' rights. Coastal Orthopedics’ physicians Dr. Douglas Constant and Dr. Richard Bundschu have been working closely with legislators by sitting on congressional input panels to educate both our local legislation and others across the country. These panels consist of 25 physicians in various specialties across the nation that gather with U.S. Congressman Michael Burgess of Texas, the most senior physician within Congress, and U.S. Congressman Vern Buchanan of Florida to discuss issues and legislation impacting healthcare. The significant policy changes that Coastal Orthopedics is advocating for revision around include: Medicare will no longer cover sedation for Epidural Steroid Injections and Medial Branch Blocks.Epidural Steroid Injections (ESI) are limited to a maximum of (4) four sessions per spinal region in a rolling 12-month period. Medicare does not find it medically necessary to have bilateral injections.Repeat Epidural Steroid Injections, within a 12-month period, must have at least 50% sustained improvement. The LCD policy calls for these procedures to be performed after three months of relief.Medicare does not find it medically reasonable or necessary for treatment with Epidural Steroid Injections to extend beyond 12 months. You can stand alongside our team by making your voice heard to help improve access for Medicare beneficiaries to receive pain management services. Coastal Orthopedics is encouraging patients to take a stand against these changes by using our sample patient letter (click here) and emailing or calling your local legislators. Every voice counts when it comes to reversing these major life-impacting decisions, and we implore you to help us advocate for this change! Click here for more information and contact information for our local senators. [Photo attached from left to right: Dr. Richard Bundschu and Dr. Douglas Constant with Congressman Burgess]