ALABAMA ACADEMY OF NEUROLOGY E-NEWS Issue 8| October 16, 2020

AAN News & Notes Photo by Alex on Unsplash SUPPORTING EXCELLENCE IN THE PRACTICE OF NEUROLOGY WWW.ALNEUROLOGY.COM

Alabama Legislature: Executive Order 2021 session begins February 2 provides physicians The 2021 Regular Session of the liability protections will convene on February 2. The length of the regular from COVID-19 session is limited to 30 In May, Gov. Kay Ivey issued an Ex- meeting days within a period ecutive Order protecting physicians, their of 105 calendar days. Special staff, and their practices from lawsuits sessions of the Legislature may related to COVID-19. The order provides be called by the Governor, with the Proclamation immunity for treatment that resulted from, listing the subjects which the was negatively affected by or was done in Governor wishes considered. These sessions are limited to 12 legislative days within response to the COVID-19 pandemic or a 30 calendar day span. In a regular session, bills may be enacted on any subject. the state’s response to the pandemic unless In a special session, legislation must be enacted only on those subjects which the proven by clear and convincing evidence Governor announces in his proclamation or “call.” Anything not in the “call” requires that a health professional acted with a two-thirds vote of each house to be enacted. wanton, reckless, willful, or intentional Where is the Alabama State House Located? misconduct – a standard significantly The Alabama State House is located at 11 South Union Street in Montgomery. higher than simple negligence. Impor- The House of Representatives chamber is on the 5th floor and the public viewing tantly, the liability protections in the order gallery for the House is located on the 6th floor. The chamber is on apply retroactively to March 13, 2020, and the 7th floor and the public viewing gallery for the Senate is located on the 8th floor. will remain in place until the COVID-19 Who Can I Call to Find Out what Time the Legislature Meets During a public health emergency is terminated. Session? In response to the executive order, To find out the times the House and Senate will convene on any given legislative day during the session, you can reach the House of Representatives at (334) 261- AAN President Amit Arora, MD, sent 0500 and the Alabama Senate at (334) 261-0800. a letter to the Governor thanking her for her work in protecting physicians, their continued on page 3 staff and patients. ALABAMA ACADEMY OF NEUROLOGY E-NEWS Issue 8| October 16, 2020| Page 2

Alabama Academy of Neurology PRESIDENT Amit Arora, MD, Huntsville

BOARD OF DIRECTORS David Standaert, MD, PhD, Birmingham James Strong, MD, Birmingham Medical Association delivers EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR advocacy during COVID-19 Meghan Martin Editor’s note: The Medical Association of the State of Alabama, through its wholly owned subsidiary, MASA Services, Inc., provides management services for the Alabama Academy of Neurology. Those services include ABOUT AAN providing updates on legislative activities that affect the practice of neurosurgery in Alabama. The Alabama Academy of by Niko Corley, Director, Legislative Affairs, Medical Association of the State of Alabama Neurology is the professional association representing neurologists While Alabama’s neurologists were busy caring for patients during COVID-19, the in Alabama. Medical Association was and remains hard at work advocating for the house of medicine. Time and again, the Association’s advocacy efforts have delivered for physicians. AAN is dedicated to: Specifically, early on during the pandemic, the Medical Association: • Supporting the highest standards 1. Worked with various stakeholders and Governor Ivey to secure liability protections via of excellence in the practice of an Executive Order for physicians, their staff and their practices against frivolous neurology COVID-19 lawsuits (summary available here); • Improving patient access to quality neurological care; 2. Successfully advocated against multiple dangerous scope of practice expansions proposed by both state and national organizations, which, would have eliminated • Advancing the profession of physician supervision and destroyed the team-based care model, and allowed a neurology by supporting principals, patient’s prescriptions to be switched without physician authorization and without policies and practices that seek to any notification to the physician or the patient; and improve patient care, and 3. Successfully advocated against a proposal to give out-of-state telehealth corporations • Supporting education and advocacy for our profession, our special treatment that physicians currently living, working, and paying taxes in patients and their families. Alabama do not enjoy. Currently, the Medical Association’s COVID-19-related advocacy is focused on four key areas, identified through the Association’s COVID-19 Impact Survey: 1. COVID-19 grant program for medical practices – the Association worked successfully with the Ivey Administration and the Alabama Department of Finance to create a simple process for medical practices to be reimbursed for COVID-19 related expenses. 2. Expanding PPE and testing availability – the Association secured PPE sources and American Academy created a straightforward program for medical practices to purchase much-needed of Neurology Annual medical supplies. The Association continues to monitor availability of PPE and Meeting cleaning supplies. Regarding testing, while result backlogs continue in some areas, the Association is working toward solutions on the issue with state stakeholders. April 17-22, 2021 3. Ensuring telemedicine access remains – the Association has long advocated for San Francisco, CA payment parity for telemedicine services provided by physicians. The Association, through its Third Party Task Force, has petitioned Blue Cross Blue Shield and The agenda and format are being others to keep these policies in place. As well, the Association is engaged with other finalized and more information will stakeholders in advocating for expanding broadband availability across Alabama to be provided as it becomes available. increase access to telemedicine for patients. Given the COVID-19 pandemic, the AAN Annual Meeting is currently 4. Enacting “Safe Harbor” legislation – the Association worked with various planned to be in person with a stakeholders to craft critical legislation to protect medical practices from COVID-19- corresponding virtual component. era frivolous lawsuits. At present, the Association is advocating for its passage before Registration information will the Legislature and has asked Gov. Ivey’s Administration to maintain the State of be available soon at www.aan.com/ Emergency (and thereby the existing executive order liability protection) in place until conferences/annualmeeting. the legislation is enacted. For more information, visit www.alabamamedicine.org. ALABAMA ACADEMY OF NEUROLOGY E-NEWS Issue 8| October 16, 2020| Page 3

AAN 2020 Members Regular Members John A. Just, MD, The Neurology Center, Sara Shashy, MD, Neurology Consultants of Amit Arora, MD, Neurology Consultants of Gadsden Montgomery, Montgomery Huntsville, PC, Huntsville Wesley King, MD, Newton Neurology Seth Spotnitz, MD, Neurological Specialists, Associates, PC, Birmingham PC, Gadsden Aruna Arora, MD, Neurology Consultants u of Huntsville, PC, Huntsville Kathryn Bowdoin Lalor, MD, Birmingham David Standaert, MD, PhD, UAB Kasha Elizabeth Benton, MD, Huntsville William E. Lievens, MD, Floyd Medical Department of Neurology, Birmingham Olga Bogdanova, MD, Neurological Center, Rome, Ga. James Strong, MD, Grandview Medical Specialists, PC, Gadsden Sriniuas Mallempati, MD, Alabama Group Neurology, Birmingham Larry Epperson, MD, Neurology Orthopedic Spine & Sports, Birmingham Stephen Suggs, MD, FAAN, Baptist Health Consultants of Montgomery, PC, C. Markle, MD, Coastal Neurological Neurological Clinic, Montgomery Institute, Mobile u Frank Thomas, MD, Simon Williamson Montgomery u Charles Fagan, MD, BBH Neurology Matthew S. McLean, MD, Mobile Clinic, Birmingham Princeton, Brimingham Caudill Miller, MD, Neurology Consultants Ashish Vyas, MD, Baptist Health of Montgomery, PC, Montgomery Neurological Clinic, Montgomery Walid Freij, MD, Neurology Consultants of u Central Alabama, Selma Robins “Rob” Newton, MD, Newton Ray Watts, MD, UAB Department of James Geyer, MD, Alabama Neurology and Neurology Associates, PC, Birmingham Neurology, Birmingham Sleep Medicine, Tuscaloosa Arturo Otero, MD, Alabama Neurology and Retired Members David Greer, MD, Clinic for Neurology, PA, Sleep Medicine, Tuscaloosa Susan Boston, MD, Montevallo Huntsville Ozgur Oztas, MD, Coastal Neurological Stephen Bryan, MD, Eclectic Lindy E. Harrell, MD, UAB Department of Institute, Mobile Samuel Harvey Chastain, MD, Birmingham Neurology, Birmingham Jane Pearson, MD, Jane Pearson, MD, PA, Fernando Franco, MD, Hoover John Hinton, MD, Diagnostic and Medical Birmingham Alexandre Todorov, MD, FAAN, Neurology Clinic, Mobile Smitha Persaud, MD, Huntsville Headache Clinic, PC, Northport Scott Hitchcock, DO, The Clinic for and Neurology Clinic, Huntsville u Richard Hull, MD, Huntsville Neurology, PA, Huntsville Daniel C. Potts, MD, FAAN, Tuscaloosa VA u New Member Brian Hogan, MD, Alabama Neurology and Medical Center, Tuscaloosa Sleep Medicine, Tuscaloosa Leah Sanchez, MD, Central Alabama Child Renew online at www. Decontee Musuba Jimmeh, MD, Dr. Dee Neurology, PC, Montgomery Neurology Consulting LLC, Birmingham Sharman R. Sanders, MD, Anniston tinyurl.com/AAN2021 Orthopedic Associates, Anniston

Alabama Legislature, continued AAN House Health Committee Members 20), Ranking Minority Leader News & Notes Rep. Paul W. Lee (R-District 86) Chairman Sen. William Beasley (D-District 28) Alabama Academy of Rep. (D-District 19), Ranking Sen. Tom Butler (R-District 2) Neurology Minority Member Sen. Donnie Chesteen (R-District 29) 19 S. Jackson Street Rep. (R-District 73) Sen. (R-District 1) Montgomery, AL 36104 Rep. Jeremy Gray (D-District 83) Sen. (R-District 5) (334) 954-2500 Rep. Wes Kitchens (R-District 27) Sen. Dan Roberts (R-District 15) Fax (334) 269-5200 Rep. Craig Lipscomb (R-District 30) Sen. Cam Ward (R-District 14) www.alneurology.com Rep. Joe Lovvorn (R-District 79) Sen. Tom Whatley (R-District 27) Rep. Rhett Marques (R-District 91) Sen. Jack W. Williams (R-District 34) Amit Arora, MD, Publisher Rep. Arnold Mooney (R-District 43) For more information on members Meghan Martin, Executive Editor Rep. Becky Nordgren (R-District 29) of the Health and Human Services Charlotte H. Morris, Senior Editor Rep. Ed Oliver (R-District 81) Committee visit the Alabama State Senate Rep. Neil Rafferty (D-District 54) website. Articles should be sent to Rep. (R-District 90) Charlotte H. Morris, Rep. (D-District 82) at [email protected] two weeks in advance of printing. For more information on the Health Committee visit the Alabama House of AAN News & Notes is published Representatives website. quarterly. The articles are meant to Senate Healthcare Committee provoke thought and comment Members and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the members, Sen. Jim McClendon (R-District 11), Board of Directors or staff Chairman of the Alabama Academy of Sen. Larry Stutts (R-District 6), Vice Neurology. Comments and letters Chairman to the editor are welcome. Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison (D-District