Capitol Hill Report
Advocacy
Read the Academy's bi-weekly update on legislative and regulatory advocacy for neurology.
July 22, 2024
urge congress to prevent proposed cut
Issue in Focus
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) proposed rule this month. The proposed rule included a number of positive developments for neurological practice, including reforms to promote access to audio-only telehealth service, the extension of a number of flexibilities associated with providing telehealth services during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, and reforms aimed at improving access to neurological medication. However, the Fee Schedule once again included a cut to reimbursement for health care providers who bill Medicare, including those who serve patients with neurological conditions.
Specifically, due to the phase-out of temporary relief measures contained in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 and statutory budget neutrality requirements, CMS is currently proposing a reduction in the fee schedule conversion factor of approximately 2.8%. While CMS can propose policies that substantially impact neurological care, it cannot unilaterally add additional funds into the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. As such, the agency’s hands are tied, and this cut can only be fixed through an act of Congress.
The AAN is highly supportive of requests to Congress to waive budget neutrality and to appropriate necessary additional funds into the MPFS that will offset the impacts of the expiration of temporary relief measures. Additionally, the AAN continues to call on Congress to end the annual cycle of cuts by providing a permanent positive update, based on medical inflation, to the 2025 MPFS and in all future years to counterbalance the detrimental impacts of inflation on patient access to care and the stability of neurology practices serving all communities.
With many competing priorities—ranging from taxes to agricultural policy—that need to be addressed before the end of the year, Congress will not act on this issue unless they hear from constituents. With our AAN Advocacy Action Center, you can send a letter to your representatives in seconds. Write your member of Congress today and ask them to fix the cuts in the proposed MPFS as soon as possible.
Latest Advocacy News
AAN Comments on Botulinum Toxin Coverage Policies
The AAN submitted comments this month in response to coordinated local coverage determinations from the Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) concerning coverage policies impacting botulinum toxin injections.
While the AAN is grateful for efforts to harmonize coverage policies in different areas, the AAN’s comments raised several concerns about how the various proposals would impact access to neurological care. In support of this effort, the AAN also led a stakeholder sign-on letter that included sixteen national organizations and urged the MACs to reconsider their proposals.
Join AAN Support of the ALS Better Care Act
AAN president Carlayne Jackson, MD, FAAN, joined clinicians across the country this month in sending a letter to the House and Senate on behalf of physicians providing multidisciplinary care to people living with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in support of the ALS Better Care Act (H.R.5663/S.3258). The bill would ensure that patients with ALS can receive care at multidisciplinary clinics around the country by enhancing Medicare reimbursement to match the high-quality, multifaceted care these clinics provide.
The letter was led by a coalition in support of the bill, of which the AAN is an active member. Please join Dr. Jackson in advocating for support for ALS multidisciplinary clinics by contacting your representatives and urging them to support the ALS Better Care Act!
What We're Reading
- Physician burnout drops below 50% for first time since 2020, AMA poll finds (Fierce Healthcare)
- Most of Gen Z using TikTok for health advice: Survey (The Hill)
- Why Supporting Caregivers Could Make a Difference in Dementia Care (Podcast—Tradeoffs)
Capitol Hill Report Archives
2024
- July 8: Advocate for Neurology from Your Home State!
- June 24: Crucial Prior Authorization Bill Introduced in Congress
- June 10: Senate Group to Discuss Medicare Payment Reform
- May 20: 30 Years of Conrad 30
- May 6: Lobbyist for a Day
- April 22: Congress Considers Access to Care
- April 8: AAN Recommends More Transparency in Medicare Advantage
- March 25: AAN Identifies Top Advocacy Priorities
- March 11: Congress Acts on Medicare Cuts
- February 26: Could Your Advocacy Go Even Further at the State Level?
- February 12: Neurology on the Hill Preview
- January 22: Medicare Reimbursement Update
- January 8: 2023 Advocacy Year in Review
2023
- December 11: Take Action to Prevent Damaging Reimbursement Cuts!
- November 20: AAN Members Provide Perspective at AMA Meeting
- November 6: How Will the CMS Fee Schedule Affect You?
- October 23: Reps Hear Proposal to Cut 'Red Tape'
- October 9: Participant Goes from Training to Testimony
- September 25: AAN Leaders Take the Hill
- September 11: AAN Submits Comments on 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
- August 21: Proposed Code Will Help CMS Value Cognitive Care Services
- August 7: Reinforcements Are on the Way!
- July 24: AAN President Elect Testifies on New Alzheimer's Treatments
- July 10: FDA Approves Lecanemab for Alzheimer's Disease
- June 26: MACRA, Prior Authorization, and AMA Resolutions
- June 12: Debt Limit Deal Affects Dollars for Research
- May 22: Want Step Therapy Reform? Please Step Forward!
- May 8: Act Now to Protect Veteran Care, Medicare Reimbursement
- April 24: Do You Know the AAN's 2023 Advocacy Priority Issues?
- April 10: AAN Responds to Health Workforce Crisis Inquiry
- March 20: Working with CMS on Monoclonal Antibodies Coverage
- March 6: Support Your 180 Colleagues Now Advocating in DC
- February 20: Capitol Hill Report: AAN Addresses National, State Health Care Issues
- February 6: Confronting Prior Authorization Burden, End of PHE
- January 23: Advisory Committee Supports Medicare Reimbursement Increases
- January 9: Top AAN Advocacy Successes in 2022
2022
- December 23: Congress Enacts Bill with Key Advocacy Wins
- December 12: AAN Monitoring Lecanemab for Alzheimer's Disease
- November 21: How the Midterms Will Impact Neurology
- November 7: Advocacy Strengthens Neurology—Join Us!
- October 24: Urge Senate to Act on Medicare Payment Stability
- October 10: Get Involved in Neurology Advocacy
- September 26: Physician Lawmakers Seek to Stem Medicare Reductions
- September 12: AAN Comments on Proposed 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
- August 22: Administration Outlines Federal Response to Long COVID
- August 8: Congress Makes Progress on Neurology Issues
- July 25: AAN Urges Congress to Focus on Long COVID; Joined by 75 Organizations
- July 11: CMS Proposes Changes to Telehealth, E/M, QPP, More
- June 20: AAN Input Helps Shape AMA Policies
- June 6: Congressional Support Grows for Key AAN Legislation.
- May 23: It's Time for Neurology on the Hill!
- May 9: Focus Is on Three Issues for Neurology on the Hill
- April 25: Pushing Congress for More
- April 11: Congress Addressing AAN Priorities
- March 21: AAN Active on Legislation, Research Funding
- March 7: Members Make Their Advocacy Priorities Clear
- February 21: Legislation on Prior Authorization Gains Support
- February 7: Loosened Telehealth Policies in Peril
- January 24: COVID-19 Vaccinations, Aducanumab, and More
- January 10: Improving Care for Veterans With Neurological Conditions
2021
- December 28: Top 10 AAN Advocacy Successes
- December 6: Inching Closer to the Medicare Cliff
- November 22: BBB Act Reduces Medicare Drug Costs, Bolsters Physician Pipeline
- November 8: Biden Boost BBB; CMS Sets Final Fee Schedule
- October 25: Medicare Cliff: Will Congress Save Us—Or Push Us Over?
- October 12: Advocacy with FDA, CMS, CDC, AND Congress Produces Results
- September 20: Responding to Medicare 'Cliff,' Proposed Fee Schedule, More
- August 23: Advocacy Action on National, State Levels
- August 9: Support For Vaccine Mandates, Diversity in Clinical Trials
- July 26: Latest Efforts on Telehealth, Aducanumab, Medicare Fee Schedule
- July 12: New Bills Would Affect Telehealth, Drug Pricing, Residents
- June 21: Help Act to Increase Transparency and Streamline Prior Authorization
- June 7: FDA Approves Aducanumab for Alzheimer's Disease
- May 24: Members Lobby DC Lawmakers From Afar
- May 10: Zeroing in on Reimbursement, Telemedicine, and Lower Drug Prices
- April 26: Research Appropriations, Telehealth Policies, Open Payments, and New Staff
- April 12: Connect with AAN Advocacy at Annual Meeting
- March 22: Take Action to Delay Upcoming Medicare Payment Cuts
- March 8: Good News for MIPS Participants
- February 22: House Vote Near on COVID-19 Relief Bill
- February 8: Neurology Advocates Begin Educating New Members of Congress
- January 25: Leadership Transfers Peacefully in Nation’s Capital
- January 11: New Congress Brings Power Shift to DC