Advocacy in Action: How Neurologists Shape Policy in Washington and Austin

DPRIT Unpacked: Texas’s New Era of Dementia and Neurodegenerative Disease Research

Welcome to episode three of Beyond the Brain: The Texas Neurological Society Podcast. Texas has just approved a groundbreaking three-billion-dollar investment in dementia and neurodegenerative disease research, but that funding is temporarily tied up in court. In this solo episode, host Dr. Eddie Patton explains what the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (DPRIT) is, how it came to be, and why it could transform brain health research, care, and innovation for Texans over the next decade. Learn more about The Texas Neurological Society: https://www.texasneurologist.org/ [https://www.texasneurologist.org/] Key Takeaways 1. Dementia and related neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia affect hundreds of thousands of Texans and place a heavy burden on families and caregivers. 2. DPRIT was created as a voter-approved, three-billion-dollar, ten-year initiative (approximately 300 million dollars per year) to accelerate prevention, treatment, and potential cures for dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases. 3. The program is designed not only to fund basic science but also to support early-stage, innovative neuroscience research, translational work, and commercialization that strengthens Texas’s neuroscience ecosystem. 4. DPRIT builds on the successful model of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), signaling a broad public and legislative commitment to brain health similar to Texas’s investment in cancer research. 5. Although the proposition passed with strong voter support, a pending lawsuit over voting machine testing has delayed implementation of DPRIT, leaving the institute in a legal holding pattern before funds can be distributed to researchers and institutions. Timestamped Overview 00:13 Dr. Eddie Patton introduces DPRIT and frames it as a major dementia research initiative in Texas 01:00 Scope of dementia and neurodegenerative disease in the U.S. and Texas, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia 02:18 Texas’s strong research and academic ecosystem and the need for more resources to advance Alzheimer’s and neurodegenerative disorder care 03:20 Brief history of Alzheimer’s treatments and the recent impact of anti‑amyloid therapies in shifting attention and investment 04:49 Legislative story of DPRIT: Proposition 14 goes to Texas voters and becomes the largest state‑funded dementia research program after strong approval 06:30 What DPRIT is designed to do: fund prevention, treatment, innovation, and research for dementia and related neurodegenerative disorders 07:30 How DPRIT supports early‑stage neuroscience, translational research, and commercialization while strengthening the Texas neuroscience ecosystem 09:27 Overview of the three‑billion‑dollar, ten‑year funding structure (about three hundred million dollars per year) and how it complements federal research efforts 11:42 Economic and caregiver burden of dementia in Texas and the rationale for major state investment 13:28 What DPRIT could mean for neurologists and researchers: new grants, studies, and collaborative opportunities beyond federal funding 14:54 Potential impact on the entire research pipeline, from basic science to clinical trials and improved models of care 16:15 Current status of DPRIT funding and explanation of lawsuits challenging voting machine testing that have delayed implementation 17:57 Looking ahead: resolving legal challenges, building oversight and review structures, and responsibly deploying the three‑billion‑dollar fund 18:30 Closing remarks from Dr. Patton, emphasizing DPRIT as a major step forward in Texas’s commitment to brain health and inviting listeners to future updates on DPRIT and other neurology advocacy issues See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Mobile Stroke Units: Bringing the ER to You

Welcome to episode two of Beyond the Brain: The Texas Neurological Society Podcast. Every minute after a stroke, two million brain cells die — and mobile stroke units are racing to close that gap. Stroke pioneer Dr. James Grotta joins host Dr. Eddie Patton to break down how these "emergency rooms on wheels" are transforming acute stroke care in Texas and beyond, from the science of clot-busting drugs to the legislative battles required to fund and sustain them. Learn more about The Texas Neurological Society: texasneurologist.org Key Takeaways 1. Mobile stroke units function as emergency rooms on wheels, arriving on scene with a CT scanner and clot-busting medications, cutting treatment time by 30–45 minutes compared to traditional ambulance transport. 2. Time is the critical factor in stroke treatment. Patients treated within the first hour with TPA or TNK have a 70–80% chance of full recovery, compared to only ~30% if treated 3–4.5 hours later. 3. Recognizing stroke symptoms fast matters: use the F.A.S.T. acronym — Face drooping, Arm drift, Speech slurred, Time to call 911. 4. Texas secured a $5 million state fund in the most recent legislative session to expand mobile stroke units, with Houston, El Paso, and Austin set to receive new units. Geo-mapping research suggests just 14–30 strategically placed units could cover the entire state. 5. The biggest barrier to expansion is reimbursement. Medicare currently has no billing pathway for mobile stroke units. Texas took a first step by allowing units to bill as part of a hospital system, the model that federal policy must now follow. Timestamped Overview 00:00 Start of episode 00:31 Dr. Eddie Patton introduces the topic: Mobile Stroke Units 02:35 Introduction of Dr. James Grotta, stroke pioneer and founder of the nation's first mobile stroke unit at Memorial Hermann 03:00 What is a mobile stroke unit and how does it differ from a standard EMS response? 05:21 Two million brain cells die per minute  05:58 How clot-busting drugs TPA and TNK work and their time-sensitive effectiveness 08:24 Real patient stories illustrating delays that cost treatment windows 10:08 The F.A.S.T. acronym and recognizing stroke symptoms 12:39 Legislative victories: Texas's $5 million mobile stroke unit fund 13:26 The cost structure of mobile stroke units and the reimbursement gap 16:51 Plans for new units in Houston, El Paso, and Austin 17:50 Geospatial analysis: 14–30 units could cover all of Texas 19:46 The "rendezvous" model for serving rural Texas 23:06 New Texas legislation creating a hospital-system billing pathway for mobile stroke units 25:47 American Heart Association's new Level 1A recommendation for mobile stroke units 27:04 Dr. Grotta's call to action for policymakers and hospital administrators 28:34 Closing remarks and encouragement to neurologists to advocate for expanded funding See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Advocacy in Action: How Neurologists Shape Policy in Washington and Austin

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/ [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 See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Beyond The Brain: The Texas Neurological Society Podcast

Every neurologist has stories that stay with them. Stories about patients. Families. Tough calls in the middle of the night. Beyond the Brain: The Texas Neurological Society Podcast, is where those stories meet the science, the systems, and the people driving change. In this podcast, you’ll hear from clinicians, researchers, and innovators about what is working in neurology today and what still needs to change. From stroke care in the field to complex autoimmune disease, from practice management to physician wellness, each episode delivers clear, useful insight you can bring back to your team. Some conversations are intimate and personal. Others zoom out to the statewide view. All of them aim at better care for people with neurologic disease across Texas. Follow Beyond the Brain on your favorite listening app, and join us as we keep pushing neurology forward, one conversation at a time. Learn more about The Texas Neurological Society:  https://www.texasneurologist.org/ See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.