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Nation's Neurosurgeons Launch Ad Campaign Opposing Senate Health Reform Bill
The AANS and CNS have joined thousands of other physicians from 12 medical specialty organizations to deliver an urgent message to the public and to Congress: we need reform, but this isn’t the right reform; urge your Senator to vote "NO" on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590). For more information and to view the ads, with the strong message, "Physicians Agree: Senate Health Care Bill is Bad Medicine for Patients," visit www.PhysiciansUnitedForPatients.org. Click here to read our press release.

The NREF Announces New Post-Residency Fellowship
Grant Program
The Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation is pleased to announce that it has reached an agreement with Codman & Shurtleff, Inc. to provide funding to the NREF in support of the Foundation’s new post-residency fellowship grant program. Codman will provide funding for post-residency clinical neurosurgery fellowships with a focus on general neurosurgery as well as subspecialty areas such as pediatrics, neurosurgical oncology, peripheral nerve, neurocritical care, and stereotactic & functional neurosurgery for the 2010-2011 funding cycle. Click here to view the press release on this exciting, new initiative.

As Nation Focuses on Reforming Healthcare, Neurosurgeons Release the First Evidence-Based, Multidisciplinary Treatment Guidelines for Brain Metastases Patients
Recent Explosion in New Technology and Increased Treatment Options Led to Need for Uniform Guidance to Medical Providers. Click here to read a summary and to access the guidelines. Click here to view the press release.

State and National Medical Societies Join Forces to Oppose Senator Reid's Health Reform Bill
Tens of thousands of physicians in America, who are deeply concerned over the direction of health reform legislation, have joined forces to deliver a strong message to Congress: it's not too late to get it right; slow down and change course. These 17 state and national medical societies, including AANS and CNS, represent more than 92,000 physicians from coast to coast, and are unified in their opposition of the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" (H.R. 3590). Click here to read their letter to the U.S. Senate and the news release

Opposing Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

Neurosurgeons Join Prominent Surgical Coalition Opposing Senator Reid’s Health Reform Bill
The American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons have joined 17 other surgical organizations in opposing the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" introduced by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. The surgical coalition, which includes more than 240,000 surgeons and anesthesiologists, has just sent the U.S. Senate a letter detailing our major concerns with this legislation. Click here to read the letter and the news release.

Summary of 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
In October, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) final rule for Calendar Year (CY) 2010. This summary highlights the provisions affecting neurosurgeons.

Neurosurgeons Announce Opposition to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
On Saturday, November 21, the Senate voted 60-39 on a procedural vote to bring the bill to the floor and begin debate later this month on Majority Leader Harry Reid's healthcare overhaul legislation. The AANS and Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) believe this bill is missing several critical components and therefore do not support it. Click here to read the press release.

ACS/AANS Executive Leadership Program in Health Policy
and Management
The American College of Surgeons and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons are offering an annual scholarship to subsidize attendance and participation in the Executive Leadership Program in Health Policy and Management at Brandeis University. The course takes place June 13-19, 2010. The award is in the amount of $8,000, to be used toward the cost of tuition, travel, housing, and subsistence during the period of the course.

Neurosurgeons' Stand Firm: Protect Patient Access, Limit Government Intrusion
New House Healthcare Reform Bill, H.R. 3962, Missing Key Ingredients for True Reform. Click here to view the press release.

The Neurosurgeon's View of Healthcare Reform:
A Candid Conversation with Dr. Troy Tippett, President of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Click here to read this interview.

As Nation Focuses on Reforming Healthcare, Neurosurgeons Release the First Evidence-Based, Multidisciplinary Treatment Guidelines for Brain Metastases Patients
Recent Explosion in New Technology and Increased Treatment Options Led to Need for Uniform Guidance to Medical Providers. Click here to view the press release.

Congressional Budget Office Confirms Medical Liability Reform Will Save Billions
The nation’s neurosurgeons are urging lawmakers to pay close attention to the newly released findings of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), which confirm that medical liability reform does reduce the use of healthcare services and will save the system money. The AANS and the CNS weighed in on this issue in a press release, stating that these significant CBO findings provide more evidence that proven medical liability reforms are an essential component to healthcare reform legislation. Click here to view the press release.

The NREF Announces New Post-Residency Fellowship
Grant Program
The Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation is pleased to announce that it has reached an agreement with DePuy Spine, Inc. to provide funding to the NREF in support of the Foundation's new post-residency fellowship grant program. As a result of this agreement, DePuy Spine will provide funding for post-residency clinical fellowships with a focus on spine, for the 2010-2011 funding cycle. Click here for more information on this exciting, new initiative.

Introducing AANS Podcasts — a glimpse into the world of neurosurgery and the topics impacting the field today. These podcasts are created for the diverse audiences served by the association, neurosurgeons, the media, and the public.

The first in this series is an in-depth interview on sports-related head trauma presented by Joseph C. Maroon, MD, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and team neurosurgeon for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Gail L. Rosseau, MD, Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch (CINN) interviews Dr. Maroon about the latest in sports concussion developments.

Click here to listen to the podcast.