Capitol Hill Report: AAN Members Provide Perspective at AMA Meeting

November 20, 2023

Issue in Focus

The AAN participated this month in the American Medical Association's (AMA) House of Delegates Interim Meeting in National Harbor, Maryland. At the meeting, AMA members from state medical societies and specialty societies—such as the AAN—come together to propose and vote on AMA policies. The AAN values this opportunity to provide a neurologic perspective during important policy discussions.

Delegates considered resolutions that affected internal AMA governance, advocacy, medical education, science, public health, and payment policies. The AAN delegation was able to review the resolutions and give input on how the proposed policies could impact neurology and our patients. Notably, the AAN endorsed a resolution that asks for better clinical trial data after drugs receive accelerated approvals from the FDA, which went on to pass. The AAN delegation also engaged on resolutions directly affecting headache research, concussion protocols, and seizure intervention to better align them with current AAN policies and guidelines.

The AAN’s ability to participate in the House of Delegates is directly related to the number of Academy members who are also members of the AMA. By participating in both organizations, neurologists and other neurology professionals can ensure a strong voice for their specialty and their patients. To learn more about the meeting or about participating in AAN advocacy, please reach out to advocacy@aan.com.

Latest Advocacy News

Rule Proposed on Protections for People with Disabilities
On November 6, the AAN submitted comments in response to a proposed rule from the HHS Office for Civil Rights regarding protections for people with disabilities under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The AAN’s comments supported the need for robust protections for neurologic patients with disabilities but cautioned the agency that overly prescriptive rules could limit patients’ access to appropriate treatment and incentivize providers to practice defensive medicine.

House Energy and Commerce Legislative Proposals
On November 15, the House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Health held a markup of 21 legislative proposals aimed at supporting providers and improving patient access to care. The AAN continues to follow legislative activity in Energy and Commerce and is working closely with the committee to reiterate policies of importance to neurology and its patients. A recording of the meeting is available on the House's website.

Senate Finance Committee Hearings
The Senate Finance Committee has held several recent hearings on topics of particular importance to neurology. On November 8, the committee marked up a large package of legislation, which included a 1.25 percent increase to physician reimbursement under Medicare. On November 15, the committee held a hearing on continuing access to telehealth for Medicare beneficiaries.

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• Amazon is getting into health care. Will it actually make care more accessible? (NPR)
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