- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 15, 2026 - Contact
Milan Reed, MS
Manager, Communications
(202) 446-2028
mreed@neurosurgery.org
Neurosurgery Leader Welcomes Introduction of the Patients First Act
Washington, DC — Today, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) welcomed the introduction of the Patients First Act (H.R. 9693), a bipartisan effort developed through collaboration between clinician members of the Republican Doctors Caucus and Democratic Doctors Caucus to address longstanding structural challenges within the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) including physician payment updates, quality reporting requirements, and incentives for participation in alternative payment models.
Alexander A. Khalessi, MD, MBA, FAANS, Chair of the Washington Committee for the AANS and CNS, issued the following statement:
“We welcome the introduction of the Patients First Act and commend the physician members of Congress from both parties who have worked collaboratively to develop one of the most comprehensive Medicare Physician Fee Schedule reform packages introduced in recent years.”
“For too long, physicians and patients have operated under a Medicare payment system that relies on short-term fixes rather than durable solutions to the structural challenges facing medical practice. Independent physician practices continue to disappear, consolidation continues to accelerate, and patients are waiting longer for care. The willingness of Congress to engage in serious, bipartisan conversations about long-term reform represents an important and encouraging development.”
“We are especially grateful to our physician colleagues in Congress for their engagement with the AANS and CNS throughout this process and for creating an open and collaborative environment in which we could share the experiences of practicing neurosurgeons. Those perspectives are critical to understanding how Medicare policy affects patient access, practice sustainability, and the delivery of specialty care.”
“We look forward to continuing to work with Congress as the Patients First Act moves through the legislative process and to further refining these reforms to improve patient access and strengthen the delivery of neurosurgical care.”
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