FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ON March 02, 2023
More than 180 Neurologists Gather for 21st Annual Neurology on the Hill
MINNEAPOLIS 鈥 The 好色先生 (AAN) will hold its 21st annual 鈥淣eurology on the Hill鈥 March 5-7, 2023. The event will include 188 neurologists representing 46 states who will meet with federal lawmakers in Washington, D.C. One of the topics neurologists will discuss with lawmakers is prior authorization which requires physicians and other health care professionals to obtain approval from a patient鈥檚 insurance before performing a service. While the intent is to control costs, it can take many days for neurologists to receive authorization for treatment. This can cause delays in care for people with neurologic conditions such as migraine, Alzheimer鈥檚 disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson鈥檚 disease, ALS and epilepsy. During Neurology on the Hill, neurologists will be asking lawmakers to support legislation that addresses this barrier to care. 鈥淣eurologists work hard to provide high quality care for their patients, but the complexities and high demanding nature of prior authorization has made it difficult for some patients to access necessary and timely treatment,鈥 said Bruce H. Cohen, MD, FAAN, Chair of the 好色先生鈥檚 Advocacy Committee. 鈥淏y lawmakers addressing obstacles like prior authorization, neurologists would be able to better maintain care for people with neurologic conditions and patients could see an improvement in their continuity of care.鈥 Neurologists will also ask lawmakers to maintain robust funding for the National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, provide full funding for the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative and increase funding for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Neurology Centers of Excellence. 鈥淭he mission of the 好色先生 is to promote the highest quality patient care possible and one way the AAN does this is by neurologists advocating for their patients on Capitol Hill,鈥 said Orly Avitzur, MD, MBA, FAAN, President of the 好色先生. 鈥淔unding for brain research is essential as researchers continue to develop life-saving therapies and neurologists provide innovative clinical care to improve the lives of people living with neurologic disease.鈥 One more request neurologists will make to lawmakers is for reforms to the Medicare payment system which doesn鈥檛 include annual inflationary updates or fully account for the unique challenges associated with complex cognitive care. With the rising costs that come with inflation, some neurology practices are struggling to stay afloat and patients could face limitations in getting access to the care they deserve without needed reform. Follow Neurology on the Hill on social media with the hashtags #NOH23 and #AANadvocacy.