ADVOCACY

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

On July 26, the AAN submitted comments in response to a new proposed coverage pathway from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for innovative medical devices, known as the Transitional Coverage for Emerging Technologies (TCET) pathway. This proposal primarily focuses on Medicare coverage policies for medical devices with the goal of identifying new approaches “to make decisions on certain new items and services, such as medical devices, more quickly to provide expedited access to new and innovative medical technologies.” TCET is voluntary and aims to reduce uncertainty about coverage options through the use of coverage with evidence development processes to expedite Medicare coverage of certain breakthrough devices.

Citing the steps the agency has taken to reduce data submission burden, on July 28, CMS rejected the AAN’s reconsideration request for coverage for monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. The AAN is committed to holding CMS accountable for updating the coverage policy based on emerging evidence.

The AAN led a coalition of 50 organizations in sending a letter in support of the Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act (S.665/H.R.4942). The AAN has been a longtime supporter of this legislation supporting the Conrad 30 program and international medical graduates and continues to lead efforts on Capitol Hill to advance this legislation. This bill, introduced by Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Susan Collins (R-ME) and Reps. Brad Schneider (D-IL), Don Bacon (R-NE), David Valadao (R-CA), and Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), would reauthorize and expand the Conrad 30 program and make several targeted policy improvements.

Issue in Focus

Thirty AAN members gathered in San Diego for the 20th annual Palatucci Advocacy Leadership

Forum (PALF), moderated by Justin Jordan, MD, MPH, FAAN. The award-winning event focuses on teaching members the skills necessary to become advocacy leaders in their clinics, institution, or communities.

Attendees began the weekend by identifying a specific issue and worked throughout the weekend with their advisor and several faculty members to solidify their goal and create a workable action plan.

On Friday, attendees focused on media and communications, sitting for mock interviews and developing the skills necessary to tell their story. Saturday’s programming focused on grassroots and legislative training, where attendees got an inside look at how government works and how to get results. By the end of the weekend, attendees left with next steps in place to complete their action plans and joined a PALF alumni network of over 550 graduates. 