What: Preventing a nationwide shortage of neurologists to care for patients with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, autism and epilepsy and reducing patient wait times to see a neurologist are the goals of more than 140 neurologists descending on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, February 28, 2012, for “Neurology on the Hill,” an annual event hosted by the American Academy of Neurology.
Neurologists will meet with members of Congress on the need for fair Medicare reimbursement to help prevent a shortage of neurologists available to care for the one in six people currently affected by neurologic disease. A shortage of neurologists will continue to increase patient wait times for diagnosis and treatment.
Who: Congressman Paul C. Broun, M.D. (R-GA) will address the more than 140 neurologists ahead of the congressional visits.
Where: Congressional offices, Washington, DC. Neurologists are available for advance interviews.
When: Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Key Issue: Neurologists are seeking fair Medicare reimbursement for face-to-face care of neurology patients as more Americans face longer wait times for a new patient visit to a neurologist.
“Fewer medical students are entering neurology at a time when the number of aging baby boomers is increasing and roughly 50 percent of people at age 85 have Alzheimer’s disease,” said Bruce Sigsbee, MD, FAAN, President of the American Academy of Neurology. “Cognitive care, or face-to-face time with neurologists, is underappreciated and undervalued by the current Medicare payment system, but is essential in treating people with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and hundreds of other neurologic disorders.”
According to a study by the American Academy of Neurology, the average wait time for a new patient visit to a neurologist is 28 days, nearly double the average time to appointment for cardiology. The wait time for neurology also is higher than a number of other specialties, such as orthopedic surgery at about 17 days, family practice at 20 days and dermatology at 22 days.
To address this issue, the Academy is advocating for recognition of the critical services neurologists provide as Congress considers payment reform in Medicare. While on the Hill, “Neurology on the Hill” participants also will be requesting increased funding for the National Institutes of Health for the coming fiscal year to sustain recent advances in neurologic research.
Since 2003, more than 500 members of the Academy have participated in “Neurology on the Hill.” View a list of neurologists participating in the 2012 “Neurology on the Hill” at http://www.aan.com/news/?event=read&article_id=10356.
The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 25,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, migraine, multiple sclerosis, brain injury, Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy.
For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit http://www.aan.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and YouTube.
RSS