State Resources
The Center for Health Policy's Advocacy Team is your resource for information that affects neurological care at the state level. The Academy provides state-society development tools, guest speaker services, event calendars, news, and more to help you take advantage of all that your state organizations have to offer.
Neuro-terrorism Highlights California Neurology Society Annual Meeting
The 2012 Annual Meeting of the California Neurology Society (CNS) will be held March 2-4 in Anaheim, CA. This is the first large scale meeting for the CNS in eight years and will offer a maximum of 11 CME credits.
Learn more and register today.
Neurosocieties Plan for 2012 after Successful Year
In 2011 state neurosociety meetings brought together over 1,000 members for high quality CME programs and a chance to network with colleagues. Academy staff attended and exhibited at 16 state neurological society meetings. AAN staff was able to interact with attendees and society leadership to build relationships and resolve challenges facing state neurosocieties.
The Academy worked with state societies to provide eight expert speakers on topics including: advocacy, medical economics, practice management, AAN guidelines, and Maintenance of Certification.
The Minnesota Society of Neurological Sciences (MSNS) held its first meeting in four years in November in Minneapolis. MSNS President Jane Achenbach, MD organized the lecture and dinner meeting, and is currently recruiting volunteers to revitalize the organization. A meeting is being planned for the fall of 2012.
Two pilot programs were developed from the State Society Task Force recommendations.
AAN–Approved CME for Neurosociety Meetings
The AAN worked with the Commonwealth Neurological Society to approve CME credits for its Comprehensive Epilepsy Symposium at the University of Kentucky on November 11. The program offered 4.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits to 50 attendees.
AAN/State Society Online Dues Payment Option
AAN members can now pay their state society dues after they pay their AAN membership dues. This pilot program is an online–only option during the 2012 AAN dues cycle. Ten neurosocieties are participating: Arizona, California, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington. Since October 155 payments have been completed.
Academy staff and the Government Relations Committee will evaluate both programs to determine expansion in 2012.
The State Society Leadership Roundtable was held September 17 and 18 in Minneapolis, with 14 leaders representing 12 neurosocieties. The program allowed the leaders to discuss successes and challenges facing their societies, as well as how the AAN can collaborate with and expand support to neurosocieties. Other topics discussed included the State Society Task Force pilot programs, AAN state and federal advocacy efforts, building and maintaining structure in a neurosociety, nonprofit and legal issues, AAN efforts in the private sector, and Academy support services for neurosocieties.
2012 Outlook
Neurosociety meetings begin in early February and the Academy will have a presence at eight meetings throughout the month in California, Georgia, Iowa, Massachusetts, Missouri, North Carolina, Texas, and Virginia. Expert speakers will also discuss Accountable Care Organizations, Maintenance of Certification, the Future of Medicare for the Practicing Neurologist, and the AAN guideline "Prediction of Outcome in Comatose Survivors after Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation".
A full list of 2012 neurosociety meeting dates is now available (see bottom of page) and will be updated throughout the year.
The California Neurology Society is holding its first large scale educational meeting March 2–4 in Anaheim. The society is expecting a large turnout for the Neuro–Disaster Mangement/Neuro–Terrorism conference. Review the educational agenda and register.
Academy staff is coordinating two State Society Leadership Roundtables in 2012. The first will be held at the AAN Annual Meeting in New Orleans on Monday, April 23 from 7:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m. The fall meeting will take place at the new AAN headquarters in Minneapolis.
State neurosocieties continue to face issues over membership, industry funding, and CME accreditation. The Government Relations Committee will work with Academy staff to develop resources to help societies overcome these challenges and address the needs of each organization. Academy staff will also be working to implement key recommendations of the State Society Task Force to expand our relationship with neurosocieties.
For information on the neurosociety in your state, visit http://www.aan.com/stateresources or to learn more about how you can be involved contact Dave Showers at dshowers@aan.com.
State Society Leaders Review AAN Pilot Programs at Roundtable
On September 17 and 18 state neurological society leaders gathered in Minneapolis for the Academy's Sixth Annual State Society Leadership Roundtable. The 14 attendees included presidents, board members, executive directors, secretaries, and treasurers representing 12 state societies. Neurosocieties from California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington were all represented at the meeting. The leaders used this time to share successes and seek advice on challenges facing their societies.
Two key discussions focused on the pilot programs for AAN-approved CME for state societies and the option to pay state society membership dues in conjunction with the online AAN dues process. State society leaders provided staff with valuable feedback on these two programs. Staff will continue to work with the societies during the evaluation of the two pilot programs.
Other topics discussed included: building and maintain structure in a neurosociety, nonprofit and legal issues, AAN efforts in the private sector, state and federal advocacy, and Academy support services for neurosocieties.
During the two-day meeting, each leader created an action plan to set goals to add value to their society or overcome challenges facing their state. This action plan consists of an issue, objective, tactics, and success measures. AAN staff will be working with the leaders to help accomplish these goals throughout the next year.
State society support resources compiled by the Academy can be found in the State Neurosociety E-Manual. The E-Manual is an online document that is continuously updated by Academy staff.
Overall, attendees considered the September meeting a success, coming away with valuable information to make their society stronger. The Academy continues to encourage members to become a part of their state society, which in turn will help to advance their careers and the neurology profession.
For more information regarding the State Society Leadership Roundtable—or to learn how you can join your state neurological society—please contact Dave Showers at dshowers@aan.com or 651-332-8683.
AAN State and Local Advocacy
The Center for Health Policy's Advocacy Team is your resource for information that affects neurological care at the state level.
Click your state on the map below to find contact information for your state neurological society (if applicable), state medical society, NeuroCAC representative, and Medicare carrier.
Please contact advocacy@aan.com with any questions.