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Washington E-Newsletter

House Passes Pediatric Medical Research Legislation

On July 27, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0 (H.R. 623). This legislation extends funding for this pediatric disease research program within the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Funding is provided by certain penalties assessed by the Securities and Exchange Commission against pharmaceutical companies. In making allocations […]
Washington E-Newsletter

Neurosurgery Urges Congress to Explore Problem of Long COVID

On July 14, the AANS and the CNS joined a coalition letter to Congressional leaders urging Congress to explore the growing issue of long COVID. Specifically, the groups asked the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee and House Energy and Commerce Committee to convene hearings to examine such topics as: Click here to read the […]
Washington E-Newsletter

AANS and CNS Urge Congress to Address Medical Student Debt

On July 15, the AANS and the CNS signed a letter calling on Congress to address the high student loan debt facing physicians by adopting the Resident Education Deferred Interest (REDI) Act (S. 3658/H.R. 4122). The bipartisan REDI Act would allow borrowers to qualify for interest-free deferment on their student loans while serving in a […]
Washington E-Newsletter

AANS and CNS Support GME Funding in Budget Reconciliation Legislation

On July 18, the AANS and the CNS joined the Graduate Medical Education (GME) Advocacy Coalition letter urging congressional leadership to include additional Medicare-supported GME training positions in the budget reconciliation package. Based on current estimates, the U.S. faces a shortage of up to 124,000 physicians by 2034. The letter acknowledged that Congress made a […]
Washington E-Newsletter

House Passes Telehealth Legislation

On July 27, by a vote of 416-12, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 4040, the Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID-19 Act. Sponsored by Reps. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), this bipartisan legislation extends through December 2024 key telehealth waivers implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. These provisions include the removal of geographic restrictions and the expansion of originating sites […]
Washington E-Newsletter

Biden Administration Renews COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration

On July 15, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra renewed the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) declaration. The PHE was extended for an additional 90 days. This means that all telehealth and other waivers and flexibilities implemented during the PHE will remain in effect. The department has also stated that it will provide 60 days’ notice when a decision is […]
Washington E-Newsletter

Efforts to Fix Broken Medicare Physician Payment System Continue

The AANS and the CNS continue their efforts to fix the broken Medicare physician payment system. On May 25, the AANS and the CNS endorsed principles for reforming the Medicare physician payment system. Developed in collaboration with the American Medical Association and 120 state and national medical societies, the “Characteristics of a Rational Medicare Payment System” document […]
Washington E-Newsletter

New Prior Authorization Reform Legislation Introduced

On June 15, Rep. Mark Green, MD, (R-Tenn.) introduced additional prior authorization legislation. The Reducing Medically Unnecessary Delays in Care Act (H.R. 8078) would reform prior authorization in Medicare by requiring that all prior authorizations and adverse determinations must be made by a licensed physician who is board certified in the specialty relevant to the health […]
Washington E-Newsletter

Prior Authorization Bill Clears Critical Legislative Hurdle in Congress

On July 27, the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee unanimously approved the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act, as amended (H.R. 8487), legislation that would streamline and standardize prior authorization in the Medicare Advantage (MA) program. Among other things, the legislation: In advance of the committee’s consideration, the Regulatory Relief Coalition […]
Comment Letter

Neurosurgery Supports GOLD CARD Prior Auth Bill

Re: GOLD CARD Act of 2022, H.R. 7995 Dear Representatives Burgess and Gonzalez: The Alliance of Specialty Medicine writes to express support for your legislation, the Getting Over Lengthy Delays in Care As Required by Doctors (GOLD CARD) Act of 2022 (H.R. 7995). The Alliance’s mission is to advocate for sound federal health care policy […]
  • Reimbursement and Practice Management