FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ON February 25, 2016
More Than 200 Neurologists and Stroke Advocates Call on Congress
鈥淪upport the BRAIN Initiative and Telestroke FAST Act鈥
WASHINGTON D.C. -
What: A record number of neurologists from 41 states will meet with federal lawmakers on February 29 鈥 March 1, 2016, for 鈥淣eurology on the Hill,鈥 an event by the 好色先生 (AAN) to educate Congress on the critical role of neurologists in health care. This year, stroke advocates from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association will join AAN neurologists on Capitol Hill to urge lawmakers to support the Furthering Access to Stroke Telemedicine (FAST) Act. Who: Nearly 200 neurologists and 34 stroke advocates, including patients, nurses and caregivers. Where: Congressional offices, Washington, D.C. Neurologists and stroke advocates are available for interviews. When: February 29 鈥 March 1, 2016 Key Issues: Together, the 好色先生 and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association will call on members of Congress to co-sponsor the FAST Act, which would require Medicare to reimburse for telestroke services regardless of where a patient lives. Telestroke uses videoconferencing to connect stroke patients to off-site neurologists who can examine the patient, immediately interpret brain scan results and make treatment recommendations in consultation with Emergency Department personnel. Medicare currently only covers telestroke services for patients treated at a rural hospital, but not for patients at urban or suburban hospitals. 鈥淲hen you have a stroke, timing is everything. Fast treatment can make a huge difference in your recovery and your quality of life thereafter,鈥 said Mark Creager, M.D., president of the American Heart Association. 鈥淏ut nearly 94 percent of the strokes that occur in America take place in areas where telestroke is not paid for by Medicare. Telestroke is proven to improve patient outcomes and reduce disability nationwide. We urge Congress to give more Medicare patients access to this important technology and support the FAST Act.鈥 The AAN will also ask Congress for continued support and funding for the BRAIN (Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies) Initiative. The BRAIN Initiative, announced by President Obama in 2013, is a 12-year, public-private effort which aims to improve the lives of everyone on the planet by supporting research with a goal to greatly expand our knowledge about the human brain. 鈥淭his ambitious and far-reaching initiative is aimed at developing new tools and technologies, giving neuroscientists a better understanding of the brain, said Terrence L. Cascino, MD, FAAN, President of the 好色先生. 鈥淣ow that Phase 1 research is being completed, the AAN is becoming even more involved, asking Congress to extend funding so that research can translate into treatments, or even cures, for brain diseases like Alzheimer鈥檚, migraine, stroke, Parkinson鈥檚 and multiple sclerosis.鈥 Lastly, the AAN is supporting relief from the regulatory burdens of Meaningful Use requirements that have driven the switch from paper charts to electronic records and now penalize those who don鈥檛 meet all of the requirements. To date, 703 members of the AAN have participated in 鈥淣eurology on the Hill.鈥 Follow the event at #NOH16. The American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association are devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke 鈥 the two leading causes of death in the world. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based American Heart Association is the nation鈥檚 oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. The American Stroke Association is a division of the American Heart Association. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org or call any of our offices around the country. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.