Medicare, Nurse Anesthetists Billed for Few Chronic Pain Procedures; Implementation of CMS Payment Policy Inconsistent

" Chronic pain costs the nation about $600 billion each year, a quarter of which is borne by Medicare. One MAC, Noridian Healthcare Solutions (Noridian), began denying CRNA claims for certain chronic pain services in 2011, citing patient safety concerns. CMS issued a rule, effective January 2013, clarifying that CRNAs can bill Medicare for "any services that a CRNA] is legally authorized to perform in the state in which the services are furnished," including chronic pain management services. GAO was asked to review Medicare's payment policy regarding the provision of chronic pain management services by CRNAs. This report examines, among other things, (1) trends in Medicare provider billing for selected chronic pain procedures; (2) in which states MACs allowed payment for selected procedures billed by CRNAs as of early 2013; and (3) how MACs implemented the payment policy. To do this, GAO selected seven categories of chronic pain procedures, in consultation with pain care experts. GAO analyzed Medicare claims data from 2009 through 2012, by provider type and geography. To determine which MACs allow CRNA payments and how MACs implemented CMS's policy, GAO interviewed medical directors at all nine MACs. "