AAN Federal Legislative Report
January 30, 2017
The AAN has met its goals for BrainPAC for 2016, in both the number of unique donors and total contributions. BrainPAC, the only political action committee in Washington dedicated to neurology, contributed to 125 candidates up for election in 2016, and 92 percent of those candidates were successful. Roughly 50 percent of the funds go to each side of the political aisle.
AAN efforts helped to cancel a Medicare Part B drug payment model. CMS announced in December that it will not finalize the drug payment model, a demonstration intended to cut costs by changing how physicians are reimbursed for the use of Medicare Part B drugs. The AAN helped lead the effort to fight this demonstration, which would have had an impact on a number of neurology practice groups.
Rep. Tom Price, nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, referred to the benefits of stroke telemedicine provided by a neurologist during his confirmation hearing. When asked about the future of telemedicine he responded: “Telemedicine is one of those exciting innovations that I believe will allow for individuals to access resources from a clinical standpoint…There is a neurologist that works with telemedicine and has a network of clinics and hospitals around the state. If somebody comes in with symptoms of a stroke that physician is able to see the patient in real-time and determine whether or not they have having a stroke…Telemedicine is absolutely vital.”
AAN President Terrence L. Cascino, MD, FAAN; President Elect Ralph L. Sacco, MD, MS, FAHA, FAAN; and Executive Director and CEO Catherine M. Rydell, CAE, met with several members of Congress on the first day of the 115th Congress to ensure that issues affecting the practice of neurology would remain a top legislative priority. Learn more in Capitol Hill Report and continue to check Capitol Hill Report for updates on the transition in Washington and how it may affect neurology.
Stay up-to-date on #AANAdvocacy by reading the Capitol Hill Report and following the AAN’s Senior Legislative Counsel Mike Amery on Twitter at @MikeAmeryDC.
