ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉú

Read the Academy's bi-weekly update on legislative and regulatory advocacy for neurology.

July 20, 2026

Medicare physician payment reform bill introduced

We’ve got your back on Capitol Hill—and we’re in overdrive advocating for you and your patients. Capitol Hill Report is your source for all things neurology advocacy, including a new Action Alert for legislation that would reform Medicare physician payment. Let us know if your practice, research, or patients are affected by recent policy changes.

Issue in focus

A bipartisan group of physician lawmakers has introduced the Patients First Act, a comprehensive proposal to modernize Medicare physician payment and address longstanding challenges that threaten patient access to care. Led by Reps. Kim Schrier, MD (D-WA), John Joyce, MD (R-PA), and Greg Murphy, MD (R-NC), the legislation marks the first major physician payment reform effort jointly championed by the Democratic and Republican Doctors’ Caucuses. The AAN strongly supports this significant step toward creating a more predictable and sustainable Medicare payment system that better reflects the realities of caring for patients in today’s environment and strengthens independent practices. Further, we acknowledge and appreciate the deliberative process that led to the introduction of this legislation, allowing for significant AAN feedback throughout the drafting process.

The Patients First Act would establish a permanent Medicare physician payment update tied to inflation through the Medicare Economic Index (MEI), helping physician reimbursement better keep pace with rising practice costs. The legislation would also increase Medicare’s budget neutrality threshold from $20 million to $54.3 million, reducing the frequency and magnitude of payment cuts that have created uncertainty for physician practices. The legislation also includes additional reforms aimed at improving quality measurement and strengthening physician participation in alternative payment models. Together, these reforms would provide greater payment stability and protect patient access to neurological care.

For far too long, Medicare physician payment has failed to keep pace with the rising costs of delivering care, threatening the financial stability of physician practices and patients’ access to timely, high-quality neurological care. AAN members can help build momentum for this important legislation by urging their members of Congress to support the Patients First Act. Participate in our to encourage lawmakers to advance these bipartisan reforms! 

Latest advocacy news

CMS releases annual proposed rule for Medicare physician payment
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) just published the 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule, which contains policy changes for Medicare reimbursement. The agency projects that, based on changes contained in the proposed rule, payments to neurology as a specialty will change by 0%. It’s important to note that this projection does not include the impacts of the expiration of temporary funding appropriated into the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for 2026 or annual positive statutory updates to the conversion factor. After accounting for changes in the proposed rule, if the temporary funding is not extended by Congress for 2027, CMS projects that the Medicare conversion factor will be reduced by 1.68% for clinicians who do not qualify as Alternative Payment Model (APM) participants and by 1.19% for clinicians who qualify as APM participants. The AAN is currently reviewing the proposals for their impacts on neurology and will draft comments in response. Read our detailed summary of key provisions. 

Public comments are in for proposed research funding changes
The public comment period for the White House Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB’s) proposed rule changes to federal grantmaking policy closed early last week. Thank you to those of you who responded to our Action Alert and submitted comments opposing this harmful proposal. Your advocacy helped show why it’s so important to protect the integrity of the scientific review process and preserve access to critical neuroscience research funding—and a found that about 95% of comments opposed the changes.

The AAN will continue engaging with policymakers and advocating against these proposed changes to promote transparency, accountability, and the consistent and reliable administration of grants. Read our full comments on the proposed rule.

Organizations urge congressional leaders to advance bill for rural pregnancy, postpartum care
The AAN joined a sign-on letter to urge key House and Senate committees to mark up the Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act. This bill supports the provision of critical care to pregnant and postpartum women in rural areas without access to emergency obstetric services. The AAN supports this effort as it supports mothers’ brain health by addressing severe hypertension during and after delivery. Shortly after the letter was sent, the Senate’s HELP Committee scheduled the bill for a hearing. 

Organizations support California bill protecting genetic information
The AAN joined a coalition sign-on letter led by the ALS Association in support of California's AB 1798, legislation that would prohibit the use of predictive genetic test results in life and disability insurance underwriting. If enacted, this important bill would help ensure people can pursue medically appropriate genetic testing without concern that the results could be used against them when seeking financial protection.

What we're reading

• Defense funding to research troops’ brain injuries shrank since 2025 |
• Flood of comments on White House grantmaking overhaul is largely negative, analysis shows |
• AMA interoperability initiative brings structured clinical terminology to CPT codes |