Graduate Medical Education

Restrictions that regulate the number of hours medical residents can work have a drastic impact on neurosurgical training programs. Decreased hours means decreased training for residents and many programs have struggled to ensure residents are receiving adequate training since the regulations took place in July 2003.

Neurosurgery joins Surgical Coalition in Opposing OSHA Regulation of Resident Duty Hours

• ACGME Program Requirements
• July 2004 - The ACGME’s Approach to Limit Resident Duty Hours 12 Months After Implementation: A Summary of Achievements
• July 2003 - Requests by Specialty
• June 2003 - ACGME Requirements 07-03
• June 2002 - ACGME Work Hours Policy 2002

Specialty Hospitals
Under the federal Stark II laws, physicians cannot have an ownership interest in a facility to which they refer patients. An exception to this law, however, allows physicians to own specialty hospitals if certain requirements are met. The Medicare Prescription Drug, Modernization and Improvement Act of 2003 (MMA) put a 18-month moratorium on the exception. During this 18-month time, various government agencies will be researching specialty hospitals.

• CMS Clarification on Specialty Hospital Moratorium
• GAO Report on Specialty Hospitals