Welcome to episode one of Beyond the Brain: The Texas Neurology Society Podcast.
Neurologist and TNS Board Member Dr. Ethan Meltzer joins host Dr. Eddie Patton to discuss his advocacy work in Washington and Austin, including telehealth, Medicare reimbursement, and research funding. This inaugural episode highlights how neurologists can influence policy and improve access to care for patients across Texas and beyond.
Learn more about The Texas Neurological Society: https://www.texasneurologist.org/
Key takeaways
1. Neurologists can achieve meaningful change quickly at the state level, with TNS already helping pass 10 neurology‑related bills in one Texas legislative session. Local events like TNS Advocacy Day in Austin let neurologists connect directly with representatives on issues affecting Texans.
2. Work on federal policy, such as fixing Medicare reimbursement and extending telehealth flexibilities, often takes years of consistent pressure. Long‑term engagement with Congress and staff helps build relationships that eventually lead to breakthroughs in healthcare policy.
3. When advocating on the Hill, concrete patient experiences—like a disabled patient traveling hours to clinic—make abstract policy issues tangible. These stories help lawmakers see how telehealth, prior authorizations, and reimbursement changes directly affect their constituents.
4. The Connect for Health Act aims to make telehealth flexibilities permanent in the post‑COVID era, which is critical for Texans living in rural or underserved areas. Broad bipartisan support in both the House and Senate reflects how widely this benefit is understood.
5. Flat Medicare reimbursement and shrinking practice revenue threaten neurologist retention and practice viability, especially in a specialty with already long wait times. Meanwhile, sustained federal research funding—such as for the BRAIN Initiative—is key to developing new treatments for diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and ALS.
Timestamped overview
00:00 Start of episode
00:13 Dr. Eddie Patton introduces himself and the topic: Advocacy in Action
00:53 Introduction of Dr. Ethan Meltzer, TNS board member and advocate
02:19 Background on Dr. Meltzer’s work and advocacy roles
03:27 How he entered advocacy after residency and Neurology on the Hill 2019
04:41 Discussion of state‑level advocacy in Texas, including Deeper funding for dementia
06:23 Comparing federal vs. state advocacy speeds and opportunities
07:50 Importance of sharing patient‑level impact when talking to lawmakers
08:42 Telehealth stories and the impact of flexibilities lapsing
10:38 Shift to telehealth as a core advocacy ask
11:41 Connect for Health Act and bipartisan co‑sponsor numbers
13:17 Successes from the visit, including new co‑sponsors in Texas
14:10 Shift to physician reimbursement and Medicare “flatline”
15:11 Reimbursement impact on trainee interest and practice sustainability
18:05 How physician pay affects practice consolidation and access
19:56 Link between federal advocacy and Medicare‑driven reimbursement
21:26 Research funding and the BRAIN Initiative
23:46 Ask on BRAIN Initiative funding ramp‑down and economic impact
24:51 Examples of how research turns into better treatments for MS and other diseases
26:08 Ethan’s personal highlights from Neurology on the Hill
27:39 Closing remarks and call to keep advocating for neurology and patients
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27 min