Neurologists Meet with Congress to Advocate for Safe Step Act, Medicare Reimbursement, and Research Funding as Part of “Neurology on the Hill” Event
From February 25-27, the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) is hosting the 22nd annual “Neurology on the Hill,” where 193 of the organization’s member neurologists from 47 US states will meet with federal lawmakers in Washington, DC. The primary focus of this gathering is to advocate for enhanced access to care for individuals with neurologic conditions, including migraine, Alzheimer disease (AD), multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and epilepsy, among others. Lawmakers will be educated about the need for reform, with the goal of better facilitating the critical role that neurologists play in optimizing care for their patients.
AAN’s neurologist representatives will specifically ask lawmakers to support the Safe Step Act [S. 652/H.R. 2630] addressing issues related to step therapy: a process whereby employer-sponsored insurance plans require patients to try less expensive medications before accessing the treatments prescribed by their physician. In their discussions with policymakers, the members of the AAN will argue for reducing barriers that hinder individuals with neurologic conditions from receiving optimal care, step therapy constituting one such barrier. According to a statement from the AAN, the Safe Step Act would streamline access to effective treatments and ensure timely interventions for patients.
“Decreasing barriers is essential in ensuring people with neurologic conditions receive the appropriate care in a timely manner,” said Carlayne E. Jackson, MD, FAAN, President of the AAN. “Step therapy protocols often cause delays in care and do not consider a person’s unique circumstances and medical history. The Safe Step Act would reform the process of step therapy.”
The AAN members will also advocate for the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act (H.R. 2474), which is proposed to assist physician practices through rising inflation. Additionally, the neurologists will ask lawmakers to increase funding for the National Institutes of Neurologic Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), as well as the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH’s) Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative, which is a partnership between federal and nonfederal stakeholders with the aim of advancing neurotechnological interventions for neurologic conditions.