ICYMI: Congress put a spotlight on physician-owned hospitals today. During a House Judiciary Committee field hearing on competition in health care, Brian Miller, MD, MBA, MPH, highlighted the federal restrictions that prevent new POHs from participating in Medicare and existing facilities from expanding. His testimony cited 30 years of research showing that POHs can deliver higher-quality care, and called on policymakers to reconsider federal policies that restrict physician-led competition. 👏 The AANS and CNS have long advocated for removing these barriers and expanding opportunities for POHs. 🎥 Watch the hearing: judiciary.house.gov/committe… @physicianhosp @DrBrian4Health @spinesection @

We have a few ideas. Looking forward to submitting comments!

Thank you to the bipartisan Physician Caucuses for meeting with leadership from the AANS/CNS Washington Committee to discuss the challenges facing physicians and the patients they serve. We appreciate your leadership in advancing the Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act to the House floor and for sharing the bipartisan vision behind the Patients First Act. We look forward to continuing our collaboration to refine the legislation, strengthen provisions that support neurological patients, and advance policies that improve patient access to timely, high-quality care. #NeurosurgeryAdvocates

A major step forward for healthcare providers and the patients we serve. Administrative burdens continue to drive physician burnout and stall timely medical interventions. Thank you to @WaysandMeansGOP @WaysMeansCmte for advancing this critical bill. Has prior auth disrupted your practice or delayed care for your patients? Share your story using the link below. #PriorAuthorization #fixpriorauth @painsection @councilsns @councilsns @CNS_Update @spinesection @cvsection @AANSNeuro @AANSCNStrauma

🚨👏👏👏 LET'S GO! #FixPriorAuth Today's markup includes the Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act — a bipartisan, bicameral, commonsense bill to modernize and increase transparency in the Medicare Advantage prior authorization process. After years of advocacy and overwhelming support from patients, physicians, manufacturers, state agencies, health plans, and other stakeholders across the health care sector, we're encouraged to see Congress advance this legislation. Huge thanks to the leadership of @HouseCommerce and @EnergyCommerce, and especially our legislative champions @MikeKellyPA, @RepDelBene, @RepJohnJoyce, and @RepBera! Read more in the @regrelief press release 👉 regrelief.org/wp-content/upl… @CNS_Update @AANSNeuro @councilsns @spinesection @painsection @cvsection

This week, the House Appropriations Committee advanced its FY 2027 Labor-HHS spending bill, prioritizing NIH funding and preserving NIH's ability to forward-fund multiyear research awards - an important step toward ensuring lifesaving research continues without disruption. The AANS and CNS were proud to stand alongside nearly 600 organizations supporting robust NIH funding and policies that allow researchers to pursue the next generation of cures and treatments. Read the joint statement from our coalition here 👉 fundnih.org/media/10616/down… @AANSNeuro @CNS_Update @councilsns @cvsection @spinesection @PedsSection @painsection

ICYMI: Some insurers are denying implants commonly used in neck/spine surgery by labeling them “experimental” — despite decades of use and broad clinical support. Washington Committee member Luis Manuel Tumialán, MD, and spine surgery leaders are calling for coverage policies grounded in evidence-based medicine and clinical expertise — not outdated insurer guidelines. Read more 👇 cns.org/advocacy/statements-… @TUMI4L4N @spinesection @AANS_President @AANSNeuro @CNS_Update

🚨 FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, MD, will deliver the Charles L. Plante Lecture at #AANS2026. The AANS/CNS Washington Committee secured his participation as part of its ongoing work to bring national leaders to neurosurgery’s premier forums and advance the shared mission of @AANSNeuro and @CNS_Update. He will be joined in conversation by Washington Committee Chair Alexander Khalessi, MD, MBA. Don't miss out. Join us on Friday, May 1, in San Antonio!

ICYMI: #fixpriorauth in #MedicareAdvantage is back on the table thanks to @RogerMarshallMD @MarkWarner @SuzanDelBene @MikeKellyPA @RepBera and @RepJohnJoyce! Congress: No need for complex navigation. This one’s a straight shot! ✅ Bipartisan support ✅ Zero cost ✅ 500+ orgs behind it ✅ Real fixes, ready to implement Read our press release here👉aans.org/advocacy/articles/n…

#Neurosurgeon Brian R. Gantwerker, MD of @cscla, calls for increased #Medicare reimbursement for spine procedures. For over twenty years, reimbursements have been on the decline despite the technical difficulty of these operations and the extensive postoperative, unreimbursed care involved. Read more 👉 beckersspine.com/spine/the-c…

@Neurosurgery and their partners are leading the way in supporting bipartisan efforts to address the illegal #fentanyl crisis. Read our press release quoting @DrAlexKhalessi on the Senate Judiciary’s hearing and the letter here-> newswise.com/articles/neuros…

We urge Congress to address regulatory barriers that limit access to certain FDA-approved opioid therapies—often the last line of relief for patients. TY to @joshuarosenowMD and @DrAlexKhalessi for your leadership! Read more in #neurosurgery’s press release 👉 aans.org/advocacy/articles/n…

#Neurosurgery is committed to the responsible stewardship of controlled substances, ensuring patients have access to evidence-based pain management. #Neurosurgeons take care of some of the sickest patients with advanced cancer, complex surgeries, and neurological disorders.

The HALT Fentanyl Act passed cloture ✅ in the Senate with strong bipartisan support. 👏 TY to Judiciary Committee leaders, @RogerMarshallMD and @SenatorShaheen for engaging #physicians on our clinical perspective as @DEAHQ registrants. Looking forward to full chamber passage and appreciate the spirit of bipartisanship!