Regulatory burden

Priority Issues

Physicians, including neurologists, face growing administrative requirements from the federal government, insurers, and their institutions. Despite the medical community constantly working towards providing more efficient, high-quality patient care, they are forced to adhere to many redundant and ineffective processes. Neurologists need relief from overwhelming regulatory requirements, so they may prioritize caring for patients with complex brain and nervous system diseases.

The AAN supports reducing physician regulatory and administrative burdens such as prior authorization, step therapy requirements, quality reporting, and other administrative tasks so that neurology providers can spend less time on administrative tasks and more time on patient care.

Additional resources

Regulatory burden in neurology progress

The AAN has been hard at work to advocate for federal reforms to prior authorization with both Congress and the administration:

  • In April 2026, CMS issued a proposed rule that would extend crucial prior authorization reforms to medications prescribed to beneficiaries covered by Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and Exchange plans, including the extension of prior authorization requirements and strict mandates concerning payer decision timeframes and communications surrounding denials. This builds on rules finalized in 2023 and 2024 that placed crucial guardrails on prior authorization for physician services. 
  • On May 20, 2025, the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act was reintroduced in both chambers of Congress.
    • This bill, which would help reduce the administrative burden faced by physicians due to prior authorization requirements in MA plans, has been a top priority of the AAN since its first introduction in 2019.
    • The AAN worked closely with bill sponsors and the Regulatory Relief Coalition to ensure the bill’s reintroduction and will continue to work to urge Congress to pass the legislation before the end of the year.

At the state level, the AAN has been actively advocating for prior authorization reform legislation.

  • In 2026, the AAN is actively supporting legislation in Arizona and Kansas to further reform prior authorization, including bills that would prohibit the use of artificial intelligence in Florida and Hawaii to deny prior authorization requests. As legislative sessions move quickly, we remain committed to ensuring that neurologists and their patients are protected from unnecessary delays and administrative roadblocks.
  • In 2026, the AAN is actively supporting legislation in California, Hawaii, New Hampshire, New York, and Rhode Island to streamline step therapy protocols and prevent delays in care for patients.  

Comment letters