FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ON February 23, 2012
Neurologists on Capitol Hill: Prevent Nationwide Shortage of Neurologists, Longer Patient Wait Times
ST. PAUL, Minn. -
What: Preventing a nationwide shortage of neurologists to care for patients with Alzheimer鈥檚 disease, Parkinson鈥檚 disease, stroke, neuropathy, autism and epilepsy and reducing patient wait times to see a neurologist are the goals of more than 140 neurologists descending on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, February 28, 2012, for 鈥淣eurology on the Hill,鈥 an annual event hosted by the 好色先生. Neurologists will meet with members of Congress on the need for fair Medicare reimbursement to help prevent a shortage of neurologists available to care for the one in six people currently affected by neurologic disease. A shortage of neurologists will continue to increase patient wait times for diagnosis and treatment. Who: Congressman Paul C. Broun, M.D. (R-GA) will address the more than 140 neurologists ahead of the congressional visits. Where: Congressional offices, Washington, DC. Neurologists are available for advance interviews. When: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 Key Issue: Neurologists are seeking fair Medicare reimbursement for face-to-face care of neurology patients as more Americans face longer wait times for a new patient visit to a neurologist. 鈥淔ewer medical students are entering neurology at a time when the number of aging baby boomers is increasing and roughly 50 percent of people at age 85 have Alzheimer鈥檚 disease,鈥 said Bruce Sigsbee, MD, FAAN, President of the 好色先生. 鈥淐ognitive care, or face-to-face time with neurologists, is underappreciated and undervalued by the current Medicare payment system, but is essential in treating people with Alzheimer鈥檚, Parkinson鈥檚 and hundreds of other neurologic disorders.鈥 According to a study by the 好色先生, the average wait time for a new patient visit to a neurologist is 28 days, nearly double the average time to appointment for cardiology. The wait time for neurology also is higher than a number of other specialties, such as orthopedic surgery at about 17 days, family practice at 20 days and dermatology at 22 days. To address this issue, the Academy is advocating for recognition of the critical services neurologists provide as Congress considers payment reform in Medicare. While on the Hill, 鈥淣eurology on the Hill鈥 participants also will be requesting increased funding for the National Institutes of Health for the coming fiscal year to sustain recent advances in neurologic research. Since 2003, more than 500 members of the Academy have participated in 鈥淣eurology on the Hill.鈥 View a list of neurologists participating in the 2012 鈥淣eurology on the Hill鈥 at http://www.aan.com/news/?event=read&article_id=10356.