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March 24, 2025

There’s a new chance to support neuroscience

We want to make sure you know we have your back. We’re actively responding, relentlessly pushing forward, and ensuring your voice is heard loud and clear on Capitol Hill. Please keep reading Capitol Hill Report—and tell your colleagues—for a rundown of how your AAN is in overdrive advocating on your behalf. We’re analyzing and monitoring all changes made by Congress and the administration to evaluate any impacts on neurology and the patients we serve. If your practice, research, or patients have been impacted by recent changes at the federal or state level, please let us know by emailing advocacy@aan.com.

Issue in focus

Congress passed a continuing resolution earlier this month that funded the government through September 30, which was then signed by the president. Unfortunately, this funding package included significant cuts to neuroscience research, including the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program at the Department of Defense and the CURES Innovation Fund at the National Institutes of Health. While this will have an impact on research opportunities for the remainder of fiscal year 2025, Congress is now moving on to negotiations over fiscal year 2026 funding—providing a new opportunity to support continued funding for neuroscience research. 

It’s crucial that the US government continues to invest in this lifesaving work. Write your member of Congress today and

Appropriations 101 
With fiscal year 2025 closing, Congress is beginning to discuss funding for fiscal year 2026. This means the so-called “appropriations” process begins. This is a slightly different process than passing a regular authorizing bill, and there are different ways to influence the process.  

The process begins with the appropriations committees in the House and Senate setting topline numbers for what can be spent in each jurisdiction. Once that happens, members of Congress open up their appropriations request forms. These forms allow constituents, and advocacy organizations like the AAN, to request that members of Congress support specific funding levels in the appropriations bill. From there, individual members of Congress are able to submit three to five requests to the appropriations committee, which will take the requests into account when constructing funding bills for each agency in the federal government. From there, the appropriations bills are considered by the committee and then each chamber of Congress before being signed into law.  

The AAN is working diligently to submit appropriations requests in support of neuroscience research programs for fiscal year 2026. AAN members have a unique opportunity to use the AAN’s to support two important priorities in appropriations.  

Two important opportunities 
Two important issues must be considered in fiscal year 2026 appropriations: funding for the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and the BRAIN Initiative, as well as continued protections for Facilities & Administrative cost reimbursements for NIH grantees.  

For NINDS, the AAN is working in concert with the broader research community at the NIH to ask for a 9% increase in funding. This will help offset funding that was lost in the fiscal year 2025 appropriations package and ensure that funding keeps up with the pace of research. For the BRAIN Initiative, we’re asking for Congress to reinstate funding from the 21st Century CURES Act. This will ensure that researchers can continue to better understand how the brain works and use that information to find novel therapies to treat neurological conditions.  

For Facilities & Administrative costs, protections included in past appropriations bills that would prohibit NIH from unilaterally changing indirect cost agreements must remain in the 2026 appropriations package. This language will help prevent unilateral decisions about research funding and protect the US research ecosystem from harmful disruptions. 

You can ask Congress to work on all of these issues by using our AAN today—it only takes one minute! 

If you have any questions about these issues or what the AAN is doing to stand up for neuroscience research, please contact us at advocacy@aan.com.  

Latest advocacy news

AAN responds to proposed framework for remote prescribing of controlled substances 
The AAN submitted comments this month in response to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA’s) proposed framework for telemedicine registrations to allow for remote prescribing of controlled substances. The comments address proposed requirements for the three different types of special registrations, state telemedicine registration, the application process, and practice standards. It also makes recommendations to reduce the burden on practitioners. 

AAN submits introductory letter to HHS Secretary Kennedy 
The AAN submitted a letter this month to the recently confirmed Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. The letter shares an overview of the AAN and our mission of promoting brain health, and it connects treating neurological diseases with the administration’s stated goal of addressing chronic disease.  

AAN active in supporting prior authorization reform at the state level 
With most state legislatures in session, the AAN has been actively advocating for its top priorities, including prior authorization reform. This month, the AAN submitted support letters for legislation in Georgia, Missouri, Nebraska, and Massachusetts, working to streamline processes, reduce administrative burdens, and ensure patients have timely access to neurological care. 

Telehealth flexibilities are extended 
The recently passed government funding package extended telehealth flexibilities through September 30, 2025. The AAN will continue advocating for a permanent extension to these important provisions.

What we're reading

• Lilly, J&J, Pfizer and Sanofi back Teva fight against IRA drug negotiation program ()
• Democratic Physician House Members Launch Congressional Doctors Caucus ()
• Optum to drop prior authorization requirements for dozens of drugs ()