Coding and Payment Policy Subcommittee

The Coding and Payment Policy Subcommittee (COPAY) advocates for appropriate coding, reimbursement, and coverage policy for neurologists. The Subcommittee reports to the Medical Economics and Practice Committee.

Chair: Korwyn Williams, MD, PhD, FAAN

Vice Chair: Kavita Nair, PhD

Staff Liaison: Desiree Cremeen, Senior Payer Relations and Coverage Program Manager

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Job Description

Committee Responsibilities

• Work with appropriate national and international organizations to assist with the maintenance and development of proper diagnosis (ICD), procedure (CPT), and evaluation and management (E/M) codes used in the practice of neurology and educate members on how to code correctly.

• Provide instruction to AAN members on emerging coding and reimbursement issues via in-person and online education.

• Provide feedback on payment- and coverage-related advocacy efforts to the full committee and AAN staff, including the review of and comment on letters to be sent to the American Medical Association, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, etc.
• Foster positive relationships by working together with CMS and the health insurance industry toward high-quality patient-centered health care solutions.
• Meet with payers (via virtual meetings) to address key neurology issues.
• Review relevant health insurer/payer coverage policies, recommend subject matter experts for an in-depth review, and coordinate the development of AAN comment letters, where necessary.
• Review AAN evidence-based guideline recommendations to identify potential payment policy impact. Contribute to the development of companion policy impact articles.
• Identify topics for which the AAN may consider developing a model medical/coverage policy.

Member Responsibilities

• Attend one Coding and Payment Policy Subcommittee (COPAY) meeting each year and participate in three to five other virtual meetings per year.
• Participate in the COPAY Subcommittee listserv discussions, provide input on timely issues, and check and respond to emails at least once a week.
• Serve as liaison to other medical specialty societies or organizations. This may include, but is not limited to, overseeing aspects of the collaboration, attending meetings of the collaborating group, and guiding projects through the AAN approval process.
• Copy AAN staff on all subcommittee-related correspondence.
• Submit status reports to AAN staff prior to the agenda deadline for each MEP meeting and provide a report to the full Committee at the meeting.

Selection/Appointment

Appointments are made by the AAN President Elect.

Meeting Schedule

The subcommittee meets in person one time per year in the summer. Other meetings will be held virtually. 

Estimated Time Commitment

Six hours per month, one face-to-face meeting, some phone conferences between meetings, and the remaining work by email.

Committee Composition

COPAY Subcommittee consists of 13 members, including the following:

• Chair and vice chair
• CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) advisor or advisor alternate
• RUC (Relative Values Update Committee) representative or alternate
• ICD-10-CM (International Classification of Diseases Tenth Revision Clinical Modification) advisor or alternate
• Business Administrator
• Private payer relations expert
• CMS relations expert