News Express

AANEM Joins AMA In Opposing CMS Proposed Payment Cuts

September 01, 2026

AANEM joined the AMA and other physician specialty societies in opposing CMS’s proposed 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule changes affecting services billed with Modifier 25. The proposal would reduce payment when a separately identifiable evaluation and management (E/M) service is provided on the same day as a procedure, including electrodiagnostic (EDX) testing, by paying 100% for the highest-valued service and 50% for the other service or services. AANEM emphasized that EDX testing is often only one component of a comprehensive neuromuscular evaluation that also requires a patient history, examination, medical decision-making, and discussion of results and next steps. The organization warned that the policy could undervalue medically necessary physician work, disproportionately affect office-based practices, and discourage coordinated, patient-centered care. AANEM will continue working with CMS, the AMA Federation, and other stakeholders to advocate for fair payment and patient access to timely neuromuscular and electrodiagnostic care.

Wiley Transitions Muscle & Nerve to Fully Digital, Affects AANEM Membership Dues Rates

September 01, 2026

Beginning in 2027, Muscle & Nerve will be fully digital, leading AANEM to simplify dues to one rate per membership category—with digital journal access for all—while offering transition discounts to members most affected by the organization’s first dues adjustment in many years.

One Challenging Case, Many Perspectives: Clinical Collaboration on AANEM Connect

August 12, 2026

An AANEM Connect member sought input on a 70-year-old patient whose itching progressed from a focal, steroid-responsive complaint to severe, more diffuse pruritus affecting the back and arms. Although the neurologic examination and spine imaging were largely unremarkable, needle EMG identified bilateral denervation changes, and the patient had lost 70 pounds while using Wegovy. Contributors considered whether the symptoms and electrodiagnostic findings represented a medication- or weight-loss-related effect, neuropathy, myopathy, a dermatologic condition, or a combination of these factors. Read the discussion highlights to explore the diagnostic considerations shared by AANEM members.

Patient Safety: Considerations When Performing an EMG/NCS on a Patient with a Spinal Cord Stimulator

August 12, 2026

A patient is referred for an EMG/NCS that has a spinal cord stimulator (SCS) to treat pain from a chronic lumbar radiculopathy. It is considered safe to proceed with electrodiagnostic testing when which of the following pre-procedure tasks are completed?

One Challenging Case, Many Perspectives: Clinical Collaboration on AANEM Connect

July 31, 2026

A recent AANEM Connect discussion began with a challenging localization question: Were a patient's findings best explained by bilateral ulnar neuropathies, cervical radiculopathy, or potentially more than one coexisting lesion? What followed was a robust discussion among AANEM members about how to weigh clinical findings, electrodiagnostic results, and imaging when they don't necessarily point in the same direction. Members explored the significance of absent ulnar sensory responses and temporal dispersion, the potential role of cervical MRI findings, additional muscles and sensory nerves that could help refine localization, and the use of high-resolution neuromuscular ultrasound. The conversation even sparked a follow-up discussion about dorsal ulnar cutaneous nerve study technique.

Michael Swash, MD, Receives 2026 AANEM Honorary Member Award

July 27, 2026

Michael Swash, MD, has been named the 2026 AANEM Honorary Member Award recipient.

Jerry D. Morris, CNCT, MS, R.NCS.T., FASET Receives 2026 AANEM Outstanding Service Award

July 27, 2026

Jerry B. Morris, CNCT, MS, R.NCS.T., FASET has been recognized with the 2026 Outstanding Service Award, honoring his decades of impact in EDX medicine.

Crystal J. Yeo, MD, PhD,FRCP, Receives 2026 AANEM Scientific Impact Award

July 27, 2026

Crystal J. Yeo, MB BChir, PhD, is recognized with the AANEM 2026 Scientific Impact Award

James B. Meiling, DO, Receives 2026 AANEM Scientific Impact Award

July 27, 2026

James B. Meiling, DO, has been awarded the 2026 Scientific Impact Award.

Dale Colorado, DO, MPH, Receives 2026 AANEM Ernest Johnson Outstanding Educator Award

July 27, 2026

Dale Colorado, DO, MPH, has been named the 2026 Ernest Johnson Outstanding Educator Award recipient.

Kelly G. Gwathmey, MD, Receives 2026 AANEM Jun Kimura Outstanding Educator Award

July 27, 2026

Kelly G. Gwathmey, MD, has been named the 2026 AANEM Jun Kimura Outstanding Educator Award recipient.

William S. Pease, MD, Receives 2026 AANEM Advocacy Award

July 27, 2026

AANEM is proud to present the 2026 Advocacy Award to William S. Pease, MD, in recognition of his outstanding commitment to advancing patient care through leadership and advocacy.

Jeremy M. Shefner, MD, PhD, Receives 2026 AANEM Distinguished Researcher Award

July 27, 2026

Jeremy M. Shefner, MD, PhD, is recognized with the AANEM 2026 Distinguished Researcher Award.

Pushpa Narayanaswami, MD, Receives 2026 AANEM Distinguished Physician Award

July 27, 2026

Pushpa Narayanaswami, MD, has been awarded the 2026 Distinguished Physician Award.

Peter A. Grant, MD, Receives 2026 AANEM Lifetime Achievement Award

July 27, 2026

Peter A. Grant, MD, has been named the 2026 AANEM Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.

Aetna EDX Denials: Documentation and Appeal Guidance for Physicians

July 08, 2026

AANEM has received reports of Aetna denying NCS and EMG claims when study counts exceed thresholds in its policy, even though the Maximum Numbers of Studies Table was intended as a general guideline, not a strict cap. Physicians should rely on Appendix J for accurate study counting and ensure documentation clearly explains the clinical rationale, especially in complex or atypical cases requiring additional testing. Thorough documentation and well-structured appeals are essential to demonstrate medical necessity and address inappropriate denials.

Science News: The Resisted Levator Scapulae Test: A Clinical Test for C4 Radiculopathy

June 15, 2026

The findings from this study highlight the clinical application of the RLS test as a new bedside diagnostic tool for patients with C4 radiculopathy.

AI-Generated Deepfakes and Physician Identity: What EDX and NM Clinicians Should Know

June 08, 2026

Advances in artificial intelligence are making it easier to create realistic, but fabricated, images, audio, and video. These “deepfakes” can replicate a physician’s voice, likeness, or clinical presence in ways that may be difficult for patients to distinguish from authentic content.

Patient Safety: Importance of Temperature in Nerve Conduction Studies

June 08, 2026

Ensuring appropriate limb temperature during electrodiagnostic testing is essential for accurate results. Lower temperatures can increase amplitudes, prolong latencies, and slow conduction velocities, potentially leading to misdiagnosis. Maintaining limb temperatures as appropriate (31° (lower) and 32° (upper) helps prevent technical artifacts and supports accurate clinical interpretation.

Science News: Muscle Involvement in Women Carrying Pathogenic DMD Gene Variants: A 6.5-Year Follow-up Study

May 13, 2026

This study is valuable for neuromuscular clinicians because it provides rare, long‑term, quantitative data on how muscle involvement evolves in women carrying pathogenic DMD variants, a population that is frequently seen in clinic but historically understudied.