Summary
Vaccines and Epilepsy Advocacy
The group discussed a letter of support for epilepsy transportation legislation, with Selim seeking additional organizational endorsements. Steven shared his experience with historical vaccines and their impact on life expectancy. Jeff proposed focusing on the neurologic aspects of vaccinations, including conditions like measles encephalitis and SSPE, and suggested exploring opportunities to present this information at the upcoming conference.
Epilepsy Transportation Legislation Support Initiative
Selim is leading an initiative to gather support for epilepsy transportation legislation following a CMA resolution. He is collecting endorsements from various organizations, including UCSF and epilepsy foundations, and has scheduled meetings with legislators for November. Jeff expressed interest in joining the legislative visits if his schedule allows. Selim is preparing a folder with research and support letters to present to lawmakers.
CTE and Legislative Updates
Selim provided updates on legislative activities and shared plans that will now take place in February. The group discussed the importance of creating and distributing a survey to gather input from CNS members on legislative priorities, with Jeff and Steven emphasizing the need to move away from decisions being made by a small group. Selim also mentioned ongoing work on research information for CTE education and epilepsy transportation, as well as tracking legislation at both federal and state levels, with Jeff highlighting the significance of amplifying CMA's efforts on prior authorization issues.
CNS Conference Advocacy Planning Meeting
Jeff and Selim discussed coordinating priorities and initiatives, with Jeff offering to connect Selim with more endorsements. They agreed to have a table at the San Francisco Neurological Society's dementia conference on October 4th to promote the upcoming CNS conference and advocacy efforts. Jeff requested that Robin and George be informed about staffing the table, and Selim mentioned that materials for advocacy and legislative efforts would be ready by then.
Opposing AI in Medical Decisions
The group discussed concerns about a new AI-based prior authorization model that will be implemented in several states for specific medical procedures, including neurologic treatments. Jeff expressed strong opposition, arguing that these complex medical decisions should only be made by expert neurologists rather than AI systems, and highlighted that the model could increase administrative burdens and delay patient care. The team agreed to prepare a public statement opposing the implementation, particularly focusing on neurologic conditions that require specialized expertise.
