American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Association to advocate at federal level

The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Association announced it recently created the position of Director of Federal Advocacy and Practice Support in an attempt to expand advocacy efforts and influence national policies that affect dermatologic surgery.

ASDS president-elect, George J. Hruza, MD, said the ASDS needs to be heard at the national level, as this will directly impact its members and patients, according to a press release.

The new federal position was created as a direct result of member concerns and federal health care efforts like The Affordable Care Act.

“A great deal of health care is directed from Washington, D.C.,” Hruza said. “The Affordable Care Act has increased that trend even more. Many issues cannot be addressed at the state level, and members knew we needed to expand our reach.”

Some of the other national issues that affect ASDSA members include changes in Medicare and Medicaid, working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, national legislative proposals and the Sustainable Growth Rate, according to the press release.

The ASDSA hopes to provide guidance for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), helping to shape CMS coding and procedures, according to Hruza.

“How members code and for what procedures impact what we’ll be reimbursed for and, to some extent, even how much we’ll be reimbursed,” Hruza said in the release.

CMS is targeting certain procedures for review, including reconstructive surgery, Mohs surgery and pathology services, biopsies and more, according to the press release.

“They are being directly affected by what CMS decrees. Being able to have an impact and influence some of those decisions is of vital importance,” Hruza said.

According to the release, the ASDSA will also support legislative relief to the problem of narrowing provider networks across the country.