On March 22, the AAN submitted comments in response to a proposed rule from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) impacting prescribing of controlled substances via telemedicine following the termination of the public health emergency. The proposed rules affect telemedicine consultations by a medical practitioner who has never conducted an in-person evaluation of a patient, and who has not received a referral from a medical practitioner who conducted an in-person examination. The AAN’s comments primarily addressed alignment with other telehealth flexibilities and ways in which the proposed rule could be implemented to minimize burden on providers.
The AAN has been active during the 2024 appropriations cycle, working tirelessly with members of Congress to secure federal funding f
Kavita Nair, PhD, FAAN, (bottom left) with Senators Faith Winters and Perry Will at the Colorado State Capitol.
or our many advocacy priorities. As Congress weighs in on what appropriators should allocate, we need them to hear from you!
On March 30, Kavita Nair, PhD, FAAN, vice-chair of the AAN’s Coding and Payment Policy Subcommittee, testified in support of banning the use of “copay accumulator” programs in Colorado. In support of this effort, Nair also published a joint editorial with state Sen. Faith Winter calling on Colorado legislators to support SB23-195. On March 31, the bill passed out of committee. Nair’s success is a powerful reminder of how AAN members can gain valuable tools through their engagement with AAN advocacy.
Issue in Focus
The AAN has long advocated for boosting the neurology workforce. In early March, Chair Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Ranking Member Bill Cassidy (R-LA) of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) put out a request for information on the national health care workforce shortage. The AAN’s response to this request discussed multiple hurdles, both more recent and long-standing, that neurologists are facing.
The letter addresses specific solutions to bolster the current neurology workforce, including reducing overly burdensome administrative requirements, appropriately valuing neurologic care, understanding the importance of the physician-led care team, and addressing mental health and burnout among physicians. The letter mentions several legislative priorities the AAN supports that seek to address these issues: the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act, the Gold Card Act, the Safe Step Act, and potential legislation that aligns with the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act passed into law in 2022.
The letter also highlights solutions that aim to build the future of the neurology workforce. These include supporting training and residency through Medicare-funded GME slots and student loan relief and supporting the international medical graduate workforce. AAN priorities in these areas include the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act, Resident Education Deferred Interest (REDI) Act, the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act, and the Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act. Last year, Congress approved 200 new federally funded GME slots, building on the 1,000 new slots approved a few years ago for the first time in decades.
The AAN recognizes this request for information as only the start to necessary conversations surrounding legislative solutions to the health care workforce shortage. The AAN is committed to working closely with Congress and the Senate HELP Committee to ensure that the neurology workforce is supported and that patients have access to neurologic care.