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New Study Highlights Gender Disparities in Neurologist Compensation
An AAN study, “Gender Discrepancies in Neurologist Compensation,” published in the January 21, 2022, print issue of Neurology® , finds women neurologists’ salaries still significantly lag behind mens, according to an analysis of the Academy’s 2019 Neurology Compensation and Productivity survey. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that gender pay equality remains elusive given that women’s median weekly earnings in 2019 were 82 percent of men’s earnings. Previous studies have demonstrated that pay inequality is also widespread among physicians. The results of this AAN study show that despite adjustment for multiple confounding variables, gender-based disparities in compensation for neurologists persist. This retrospective, cross-sectional analysis adds to the existing body of evidence using data from the largest benchmarking survey dedicated to neurology and its subspecialties. Authors from the Practice Management and Technology and Health Services Research Subcommittees analyzed data from the AAN’s 2019 Neurology Compensation and Productivity survey. While the benchmarking survey wasn’t designed specifically to compare compensation between genders, the data contained thousands of AAN member responses making it possible to analyze and share this important information with neurologists. According to the new research, mean full-time equivalent (FTE) annual salary for all neurologists was $280,315, and mean standardized hourly compensation was $131. The estimated annual salary for women was 10.7 percent less (p ≤ 0.001, 95 percent confidence interval -4 percent to 16 percent) after controlling for race, region, years of practice, practice setting, call status, leadership role, and subspecialty-wage category. When broken down by years of practice, the highest earning women neurologists’ mean hourly wage (11 to 20 years of practice, $128/h) was less than that of all men neurologists except those with zero to five years of practice ($125/h). Though not the primary objective, the analysis revealed statistically significant relationships between compensation and seven other variables: leadership role status, race (White compared to non-White), compensation method, practice setting, years in practice, call status, and subspecialty. This and other analyses are first steps in solving compensation disparities because they expose and define the extent of issues. However, the authors note that awareness is not enough. Mitigation strategies need to be implemented, studied, and shared to make true impact. The authors note the “value of a professional society in surveying its membership and helping to shed light on pay inequity among its members. Medical professional societies have a critical role in exposing gaps in treatment of its members by gender, race, and orientation…. As a recurring source of data that has grown in scope and participation since its inception, the Neurology Compensation and Productivity Survey has the potential to provide metrics to assess the impact of further interventions.” This analysis will help inform future iterations of the AAN’s Neurology Compensation and Productivity Survey, which is conducted biennially and is open to all AAN member US neurologists, advanced practice providers, and business administrators. Participants receive free access to the entire aggregated data. 2021 data is available now at AAN.com/ benchmark, and the next survey will launch in spring 2023. Authors of the study were Melissa Yu, MD, FAAN; Shannon A. Merillat, MLIS, MPH; Allison L. Weathers, MD, FAAN; David A. Evans, MBA; Rebecca A. Wolf, MBA; and John P. Ney, MD, MPH, FAAN. The manuscript was approved by the Medical Economics and Practice Committee and the AAN Boards of Directors.
MARCH 26
March 26 Is Epilepsy Awareness Day
March 26 is recognized as Epilepsy Awareness Day. The AAN is proud to partner with the Epilepsy Foundation in support of its cooperative agreement with the CDC Epilepsy program: Improving Epilepsy Education, Systems of Care, and Health Outcomes through National and Community Partnerships. The goals of this initiative are to strengthen epilepsy systems of care, address inequities in epilepsy care, and improve patient outcomes. Visit AAN.com/EpilepsyResources to find a consolidated list of epilepsy resources for physicians, patients, caregivers, and the public, including seizure first aid certification and a 24/7 helpline.
AAN’s Care Model Case Study Library Expands
The AAN supports neurologists and neurology advanced practice in their value-based care efforts by developing resources to boost practice transformation initiatives. The care model case study library houses narrative case studies featuring novel models and includes overviews of how the model works operationally and financially, how it differs from traditional fee-for-service models, and highlights changes to the provider experience, including work-life balance implications. Three new case studies have been added to the case study library in addition to two telehealth care model case studies from 2020. Explore the case studies related to: The “5C” Model on Comprehensive Coordinated
Community-based Care of MS Patients Close to Home, featuring a unique public-private partnership in British
Columbia, Canada The Multidisciplinary Pituitary Care Model at Brigham and Women’s Hospital The Patient and Family-centered “Specialty Medical Home Model” at Neurabilities Healthcare Read, share, and download the case studies at AAN.com/CaseStudyLibrary. Send questions or direct interest in featuring your own care model in a future case study to practice@aan.com.
The first recipient of the new General Neurology Award is Sally L. Harris, MD, FAAN, a solo general neurologist in Albuquerque, NM, for the past 12 years. Prior to this, Harris was in a large group practice for a decade. Harris is on the faculty of the neurology department at the University of New Mexico, Burrell Osteopathic College, and Texas Tech University, where she precepts medical students and neurology residents. She teaches neurology to UNM nurse practitioner students, and currently mentors three other female neurologists through the AAN’s Practice Leadership Program and the Women's Issues in Neurology Section. The General Neurology Award is a new opportunity to recognize general neurologists. Approved by the Board of Directors in 2021, this award is designed to recognize exemplary service, performance, and/or innovation by a general neurologist. “We are excited to present Dr. Harris with the first General Neurology Award,” said Brad C. Klein, MD, MBA, FAAN, member of the AAN Board of Directors and chair of the General Neurology Award Work Group. “As a dedicated clinician, teacher, innovator, advocate, and leader, she exemplifies the qualities of a general neurologist. It is our pleasure to give this award to someone who gives so much to others.” “I am deeply honored to accept this award on behalf of all general neurologists,” said Harris. “I am grateful that the AAN recognizes the role we generalists play in delivering accessible care. It has been a privilege to develop long-term relationships with many patients. I see their remarkable grace as they live their lives in the face of illness. I thank the AAN for this award and dedicate it to my patients who showed me what it means to be a general neurologist.” The Board has approved additional new awards targeted to private practice members, which will be open for application in late summer 2022: Neurology Practice Award, designed to recognize the neurology private practice for excellence in quality clinical care and service to community Volunteer Service Award, designed to recognize a physician in private practice who provides volunteer services to patients, an organization, or their community without reimbursement or personal reward
Harris
GENERAL NEUROLOGY AWARD
Capitol Hill Report
Capitol Hill Report presents regular updates on legislative and regulatory actions and how the Academy ensures that the voice of neurology is heard on Capitol Hill. It is emailed to US members twice monthly and is posted at AAN.com/view/HillReport. Below are some recent highlights.
Latest Advocacy News
AAN President Orly Avitzur, MD, MBA, FAAN, published an op-ed in MedPage Today highlighting the AAN’s work to lower prescription drug prices.
Avitzur was quoted in a press release from Sen. Amy
Klobuchar (D-MN) expressing the AAN’s support for the Conrad 30 program, which helps bolster the US physician workforce in rural and underserved areas. On January 26, the AAN, along with the American
Geriatric Society and the Society for Nuclear
Medicine and Molecular Imaging, met with the
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to discuss the recently proposed National Coverage
Determination for aducanumab and other beta amyloid monoclonal antibody therapies for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. The AAN submitted comments on February 4. You can find more information on the Aducanumab Resources page on AAN.com. Applications for the 2022 Palatucci Advocacy
Leadership Forum are now open. Interested members can learn more about the forum and application at AAN.com/PALF. Issue in Focus
Every 90 days, the COVID-19 pandemic public health emergency (PHE) declaration must be renewed by Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. For now, extensions of the PHE are presumed and met with little fanfare. The significant easing of restrictions for treating Medicare beneficiaries via telehealth is only possible due to this public health declaration. Without it, most significant Medicare telehealth policies will revert to what they were pre-pandemic. At some point, the United States will no longer be in a pandemic which is good for population health, but terrible news for telemedicine. In recognition of this, last week hundreds of telehealth stakeholders, including the AAN, state neurosocieties, and patient advocacy organizations, demanded that Congress act soon to ensure Medicare telehealth flexibilities are maintained to provide muchneeded certainty to physicians and patients. This call was echoed by 35 senators and nine representatives, each of whom have been champions of telehealth over the years. Congress needed to pass legislation to continue to fund the government by February 18, 2022. This coalition has made it clear to Congress that we believe that policies to provide telehealth stability should be part of this legislative package.
Apply by March 28 for Palatucci Advocacy Leadership Forum
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of grassroots advocacy, leadership, relationship building, and media skills to help you take a problem or issue and mold it into a strategic action plan. The Palatucci Advocacy Leadership Forum teaches neurologists how to: Promote state and federal legislation Be more confident in public speaking and in front of a camera Organize and reinvigorate state neurological societies Lobby for fair reimbursement Help draft position statements that affect future legislation Up to 30 advocates will be selected to participate in the forum, which was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and held virtually in 2021. Note that the AAN is unable to accept international applicants this year. For more information and to submit your application by March 28, visit AAN.com/PALF. This program is supported in part by AbbVie.
EVENTS
Annual Meeting Advance Registration Savings End March 17!
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Safety Is Our #1 Priority
Because of our commitment to creating a safe and healthy environment in Seattle, all in-person attendees, exhibitors, press personnel, guests, and staff must complete the COVID-19 vaccination process with an acceptable vaccine and booster a minimum of seven days prior to the event, provide verification of full COVID-19 vaccination status, and wear a mask indoors or while attending any Annual Meetingrelated off-site event. Unvaccinated individuals may register for the virtual Annual Meeting experience. Learn more about our safety protocols at AAN.com/AMCOVID19.
AAN Conferences Mobile App Available Mid-March
After registering for the 2022 Annual Meeting, download the AAN Conferences mobile app in the App Store or Google Play to begin planning for your experience in Seattle. Log in to the app using your AAN ID and password to access all features so you can build your personalized agenda and get reminders for upcoming sessions, access program slides and syllabi, use turn-by-turn directions to find your way to the next session, complete program evaluations to claim CME, and more! Learn more at AAN.com/MobileApp.
Seattle: April 2 –7 Virtual Experience: April 24–26
Join us Wednesday, April 6, 2022, to support and celebrate breakthroughs in brain disease research.
Public Leadership in Neurology Award Recipients
Seth Rogen & Lauren Miller Rogen
Scientific Breakthrough Award Recipient
Stephen L. Hauser, MD
Ambassador Award Recipient
Susannah Cahalan
Join us at the AAN Annual Meeting in Seattle for Commitment to Cures, the annual event that galvanizes the neurology community around the crucial need to support research. Don’t miss out on listening to extraordinary stories from people living with brain disease, important updates on our latest research studies, and special guests, including actor and comedian Seth Rogen and his wife, Lauren Miller Rogen.
The event will also feature Susannah Cahalan, the New York Times bestselling author of Brain on Fire, and Dr. Stephen L. Hauser, who will be honored for his career-long commitment to understanding multiple sclerosis. Unable to attend in-person? Join us virtually!
Get your ticket when you register for the AAN Annual Meeting or at AmericanBrainFoundation.org/C2C2022
Add the 2022 Exhibit Hall to Your Seattle ‘Must Do’ List
While planning your week in Seattle, but sure and put the Exhibit Hall on your ‘must do’ list. The Annual Meeting Exhibit Hall is not your typical exhibit hall and it’s four days of the meeting you won’t want to miss! Set to kick off with an Opening Luncheon on Sunday, April 3, the Exhibit Hall will run through Wednesday, April 6. In addition to offering a wide array of opportunities to meet, mingle, and learn from pharmaceutical and medical device industry representatives, you’ll also find opportunities to: Connect with other health organizations throughout the
Association Neighborhood Gather career resources and more during the Career Fair Preview the latest products and services at Vendor Booths Grab a free cup of joe and mingle at the Exhibit Hall
Buzz Cafes Keep your devices charged in the comfort of the
Exhibit Hall Charging Lounges In addition, the Exhibit Hall will feature these special social and networking events: Opening Luncheon
Sunday, April 3, 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Exhibit Hall Networking Reception
Monday, April 4, 4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. These social and networking events will follow our safety protocols and all exhibitors must complete the COVID-19 vaccination process with an acceptable vaccine and booster a minimum of seven days prior to the event. Seattle: April 2 –7 Virtual Experience: April 24–26
Attend AAN Business Meeting
The annual Business Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology will be held in Seattle, during the Annual Meeting, Saturday, April 2, from 4:00 p.m.–4:45 p.m. The session will feature reports on 2021 activities and finances from President Orly Avitzur, MD, FAAN; CEO Mary E. Post, MBA, CAE; and Treasurer Charles C. Flippen II, MD, FAAN.
Avitzur Post Flippen
