ACS Advocacy Brief: January 9, 2025

Advocacy in Action

New SurgeonsPAC Chair Selected

A surgical oncologist with a long history of service to the ACS has been selected as the new ACS Professional Association (ACSPA)-SurgeonsPAC Board Chair.

Joshua M. V. Mammen, MD, PhD, FACS, from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, has been an ACS Fellow since 2011. He has served as President of the Kansas State Chapter, Chair of the Resident and Associate Society (RAS), and Chair of the Young Fellows Association (YFA). He also was a member of the Health Policy Advisory Council, Board of Regents Bylaws Committee, Commission on Cancer, and ACSPA-SurgeonsPAC Board of Directors.

Dr. Mammen succeeds Alan G. Thorson, MD, FACS.

The SurgeonsPAC Board comprises ACS members in all career stages and across College leadership, including the Board of Regents, Board of Governors, YFA, and RAS. PAC Board members play a critical role in shaping the PAC's agenda and strategy, as well as educating ACS members about the PAC’s objectives, soliciting contributions, and making decisions regarding PAC disbursements.

Regulatory Updates

Review CPT Coding, Regulatory Updates for 2025, and New Payment Model for 2026

As 2025 begins, there are several important updates for surgeons, their staff, and administrators to consider regarding Current Procedure Terminology codes and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services-derived regulations and reimbursement. The January Bulletin features three articles that explore key concepts for 2025:

Also explored in the January issue, 2026 will see the introduction of the new Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM), which will bundle payment to acute care hospitals for five types of surgical episodes. TEAM may create opportunities for quality improvement and care redesign to achieve shared savings, but it also may include risk for losses to participating hospitals and physicians. Learn more:

New TEAM Payment Model Brings Opportunities, Challenges for Surgeons and Hospitals

CMS Updates QPP Resource Library for 2025

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released several updates to its Quality Payment Program (QPP) Resource Library.

The QPP reimburses clinicians for Medicare Part B covered professional services via two pathways: the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Advanced Alternative Payment Models (APMs).

The QPP Resource Library provides educational materials to clinicians participating in both pathways of the QPP, such as fact sheets, toolkits, user guides, and more.

Recently, CMS updated the Resource Library with numerous materials for the 2025 performance year, including the measure lists and specifications for the Quality and Cost performance categories of the MIPS. However, surgeons should note that the 2025 measure benchmarks are not yet available.

CMS will continue to update the Resource Library as more information is available. Surgeons may contact QualityDC@facs.org with any questions regarding the QPP.

On the Hill

EMSC Reauthorization Is Signed into Law

The Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Reauthorization Act was signed into law earlier this month.

The bill extends funding for the EMSC program, the only federal program focused on enhancing emergency care for children and adolescents, for 5 years. It provides funding ensuring that hospitals and ambulances are properly equipped to treat pediatric emergencies, provide pediatric training to paramedics and first responders, and improve the systems that allow for efficient, effective pediatric emergency medical care.

The ACS strongly supported the bill, which was championed in the House by Representatives Buddy Carter (R-GA), Kathy Castor (D-FL), John Joyce, MD (R-PA), and Kim Schrier, MD (D-WA). Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Ted Budd (R-NC) championed the bill in the Senate.