FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ON April 01, 2009

AAN to Testify Before Congress Thursday on Health Care Reform

WASHINGTON, DC. -

What: American Academy of Neurology (AAN) testimony at the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee Hearing, “Making Health Care Work for American Families: Saving Money, Saving Lives.” When: 10:00 a.m. ET, Thursday, April 2, 2009, in Washington, DC. Who: Bruce Sigsbee, MD, FAAN, Treasurer and Board member of American Academy of Neurology. Watch Live: Watch the AAN’s testimony live via the website of the Committee on Energy and Commerce at 10:00 a.m. ET, Thursday, April 2, 2009. WASHINGTON, DC. – The U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee has invited AAN Board member Bruce Sigsbee, MD, FAAN, of Rockport, Maine, to testify on behalf of the Academy during a hearing focusing on health care quality and cost control. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. ET, Thursday, April 2, 2009. Sigsbee will testify about his experience as a practicing neurologist and the consequences of the current Medicare fee schedule. Declining reimbursement for neurologic services is creating a challenge in attracting medical students into the specialty of neurology at a time when baby boomers are aging and there is expected to be increasing numbers of patients living with neurologic conditions, including dementia, stroke, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. If current trends continue, there will be a shortage of well-trained neurologists to treat an increasing number of neurologic patients. Sigsbee’s invitation to testify was extended by both the majority and minority parties after Sigsbee met with key members of Congress before and during the AAN’s recent Neurology on the Hill event, in which a record 112 AAN members met with their Congressional representatives on issues facing neurologists and the patients they treat. The Academy will post Sigsbee’s compete testimony on www.aan.com following Thursday morning’s hearing.

The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 21,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to improving patient care through education and research. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as multiple sclerosis, restless legs syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, narcolepsy, and stroke. For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit www.aan.com.