AANEM Hosted 11th Annual Day on Capitol Hill

AANEM hosted its 11th Annual Day on Capitol Hill on May 20, 2024. AANEM State Liaisons from around the country traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet key legislative offices to educate Senators and Representatives about electrodiagnostic (EDX) medicine and the current challenges facing the patient and professional community. The Liaisons’ primary purpose for their congressional visits was to garner support for AANEM’s legislation, H.R. 2639 -- “Electrodiagnostic Medicine Patient Protection and Fraud Elimination Act of 2023,” which was introduced in spring of 2023 by Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX), a longstanding friend and supporter of AANEM.

H.R. 2639 aims to ensure that patients receive the right tests at the right time by a qualified provider to improve patient care and stop fraud and abuse in this area of medicine. A provider must simply demonstrate that they are using the correct equipment and have the correct training to perform/supervise the tests and make a diagnosis.

The liaisons also referenced the testimony that AANEM submitted to the House and Senate’s Appropriations Committee’s Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee in their Hill visits. The testimony included a request for report language for CMS Program Management regarding the ongoing proliferation of fraud and abuse in EDX medicine and the lack of meaningful enforcement, as well as a report from CMS on possible opportunities to improve oversight in this area.

In addition to discussing the importance of preventing fraud and abuse in EDX medicine, the liaisons also asked the offices to support the bipartisan “Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act” (S. 1302/H.R. 2389), which seeks to address the growing shortage of physicians by increasing the number of Medicare supported residency positions by over 14,000 over seven years, focusing on hospitals in rural areas and health professional shortage areas. As the population continues to age, it is critical to ensure there are enough trained physicians to care for those who need physician services.

Finally, the liaisons asked the offices to increase funding for National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This standard investment would serve to ensure meaningful progress in a variety of research portfolios and bring benefits to patients facing serious and life-altering neuromuscular conditions.

The visits were well received, and the offices were supportive of the bill and appeared eager to assist in moving the legislation forward. AANEM’s State Liaisons will continue to build relationships with lawmakers and advocate for quality EDX testing and we will keep you informed of progress that is made in advancing our legislation.

If you are interested in getting involved in any of the AANEM advocacy efforts or want to learn more, contact the AANEM policy department at policy@aanem.org. Visit the Action Center and the Guide to Legislative Advocacy to learn more about how to set up a visit and talk with your legislators.