Capitol Hill report: AAN PRESIDENT ELECT TESTIFIES ON NEW ALZHEIMER'S TREATMENTS
July 24, 2023
Latest Advocacy News
- On July 13, 2023, CMS issued a proposed rule updating payment policies and rates for physicians paid under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule in 2024. The proposed rule illustrates the importance of the AAN’s regulatory advocacy efforts on behalf of neurologists and their patients. Key topics impacting neurology include evaluation and management billing, telehealth, suspension of the appropriate use criteria program, updates to the Quality Payment Program, and more. Read the AAN’s summary.
- Senate HELP Committee passed the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Response Act, which included an authorization for AHRQ to support research into Long COVID. The AAN has been a champion of Long COVID efforts to support research and support for our members treating these patients.
- Medicare physician reimbursements are once again facing a significant reduction if Congress does not act by the end of the year. Fortunately, some of our champions in Congress introduced legislation that would provide an inflationary update to Medicare physician payments. H.R. 2474, The Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act, will provide an important step forward in preventing debilitating cuts to your reimbursement. Reach out to your representatives through the AAN’s Action Center.
Issue in Focus
On Tuesday, July 18, Natalia S. Rost, MD, MPH, FAAN, FAHA, gave testimony to the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health. Rost was invited to testify about the AAN’s advocacy surrounding the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) coverage of new monoclonal antibody therapies targeted at amyloid for Alzheimer’s disease at a hearing titled “Innovation Saves Lives: Evaluating Medicare Coverage Pathways for Innovative Drugs, Medical Devices, and Technology.”
At the hearing, Rost was able to highlight the changes the AAN requested be made to the National Coverage Determination for these treatments in our reconsideration request letter sent to CMS in June. Her testimony focused on how accepting our reconsideration request would allow patients to safely access these treatments and allow physicians to collect additional data about their safety and efficacy. She also asked the subcommittee to consider additional barriers to access—including the neurology workforce shortage, increased use of prior authorization and step therapy protocols, and the high cost of prescription drugs.
The fact that Rost was invited to address the subcommittee is a testament to how valued the AAN’s expertise is on Capitol Hill. Read her submitted testimony and watch the full subcommittee hearing.
What We're Reading
- The Long Road to Reining In Short-Term Plans (Podcast, KFF Health News)
- Electronic Health Records were a game-changer – but a new proposal could be deadly (Op-Ed, The Hill)