NEWSLETTER BNS and BBVN/UPBN SPRING 2026

Dear Member We are eager to send you the very first edition of our newsletter, which we aim to send you every two months from now on. You will find a curated selection of the latest information, insights regarding our profession and practice-relevant developments from the field of neurology. Enjoy the read!   The new board is working on some interesting projects, for instance a new member’s platform that will allow easy registration for conferences and seamless follow-up of your membership status. Stay tuned!   We welcome your feedback and case contributions.   Kind regards   Miguel D’Haeseleer – President BNS Alexandra Boogers – Secretary General BNS Laurens Dobbels – President BBVN/UPBN

IN THIS EDITION:

→ Who is the BNS?Who is the BBVN/UPBN? → What does the BBVN/UPBN do for you? → Scientific work by our members → Submission for 2026 awards → Practice variations → Ultrasound → Meetings – events – congresses

Who is the BNS? Who is the BBVN/UPBN? The Belgian Neurological Society (BNS) is the scientific society for Belgian neurologists. The BNS organizes two scientific symposia (a Saturday morning in Spring and one in Autumn) focused on topics of interest for neurologists.   The Belgische beroepsvereniging van artsen-specialisten in de neurologie (BBVN) or Union professionnelle belge des médecins spécialistes en neurologie (UPBN) is the organization that advocates for the professional interests of Belgian neurologists (i.e. nomenclature, reimbursement procedures, discussion with the different regulatory commissions/boards).   The BBVN/UPBN is part of the Federation of Medical Specialists (FMS, formerly known as VBS-GBS). The FMS is the organizing representing nearly all specialists at the different regulatory commissions/boards.

What does the BBVN/UPBN do for you? As mentioned, the BBVN/UPBN advocates on behalf of the neurologists. Some examples of the endeavors we are committed are listed below.   The nomenclature is being reformed, including the billing number of the consultation (102675). Every specialist consultation, will get an RVU (relative value unit). An RVU of one will be likely be between €30-40, depending on how many RVU’s are attibuted. At current there is a position statement of the BVAS/AbSym to have a maximal spread of consultation fee between specialists/family physicians of 1.5. That would probably mean that neurology get a RVU of 1.5 compared to 1.25 for surgeons and 1 for family physicians. This would mean there is a considerable reduction of our fee. Initially a RVU of 2.25 was proposed for the neurology consultation, this means if this has to be again negotiated, it will be less than 2.25 and at least a slight reduction of our income. Your membership, and hence our representation, will allow us to put more weight in these discussions to defend/improve our position.   Hot off the press: reimbursement of lacosamide (Vimpat) will be ad vitam starting July 1, 2026. This simplification of reimbursement procedure is a result of lobbying by the BBVN/UPBN. Right now, neurologists don’t have access to level 3 training/recognition for intensive care in Belgium so cannot practice as a staff neurologist at an ICU. There is progress in the High Council to correct this historical mistake.   Some neurologists have shown interest in interventional neuroradiology. However, currently, a neurologist is not allowed to become an interventional neuroradiologist. This option is currently only available for radiologists. We want to convince the High Council and the FMS that this procedure needs to change.   Despite the ageing population and the increasing waiting times for a neurological consultation, less junior doctors will be allowed to enter neurology residency. 20 places for Fédération Wallonie Bruxelles and 16 places for Vlaamse Gemeenschap in 2026. This decision of the ‘planningscommissie’ is unacceptable for us. We strive to have the commission reconsidering their quota from 2029 on.   We all spend too much time on administration, e.g. reimbursement procedures for antiepileptics or for levodopa pumps. The BBVN/UPBN advocates to simplify these procedures.   Do you have any other burning issues we could help resolve? We warmly welcome your input and your help!

Why be a member of the BNS and the professional union? MEMBERSHIP FEES 2026 Full member: € 295 RRFS member: € 55 RRFS Babinski/Hoffmann: € 45 Associate member: € 100 Honorary (retired) member: € 0 Register here

Membership advantages Get return on your joint BNS-BBVN/UPBN-FMS membership fee, do you know all advantages yet?   For every member: Free access to Spring and Autumn symposium (value of € 240) Free access to the slides that we shown at the Spring and Autumn symposium Free access to Acta Neurologica Belgica (> € 37.7/article) You are automatically an associate member of the EAN, allowing you access to the EAN Campus (online learning platform), European Journal of Neurology, reduction of the EAN congress fee. BNS BBVN/UPBN member newsletters Representation at different commissions/board (FMS, syndicats, UEMS …), which is highly relevant, cfr. savings evoked potentials.   For RRFS members: Reimbursement of EAN exam fee (€ 600) RRFS research and fellowship prizes (€ 500 – 10.000): annual call with ceremony during the Autumn meeting Free insurance and legal support in case of disputes concerning your residency training   Via the FMS (Federation of Medical Specialists): € 148,50 of your membership fee will be forwarded to the FMS of which you are automatically a member. This allows the FMS to represent neurologists at different levels (e.g. High Council, RIZIV/INAMI, planification committee). Reduction meetings/webinar FMS (€ 60/meeting) Reduction Teach the teacher/ Radioprotection sessions FMS (€ 20/meeting) Weekly FMS Newsletter Reduction Maes station network (Maes, ESSO, Octa +, Texaco, Bruno, PMO, G&V; reductions <13c€/l)) and electric charge card fee (€ 1,5 €/month) Reduction Concordia insurance Possibility to make free e-learnings with accreditation   If you didn’t prolong your membership for 2026, please complete by www.neuro.be/shop Please invite your colleagues to become members, to allow us a stronger representation! Register here

Scientific work by our members   The BNS would like to showcase scientific work of the Belgian neurological community, especially from its junior members.    Therefore, we invite you to share your work with us. Keep us posted about your scientific work so we can showcase it in our next newsletter.   Submit your scientific work   Submission for 2026 awards   Every year, we award BNS research prizes and travel grants to eligible members (max 35 years old on September 30, 2026). The call will be sent out in July 2026 and submission deadline will be September 2026.    Are you likely to submit your application? You can find all the requirements for participation via the link below. Read more

Practice variations There is a variation between regions/hospitals in the number of times a certain code is being billed (e.g. the number of evoked potentials that are being performed). This practice variation is our Achilles heel in the budget negotiations. January 1, 2026, are reduction of the billing codes for evoked potentials was made (-€30 per code).   The NRKP-CNPQ (Nationale Raad voor Kwaliteitspromoties – Conseil National de la Promotion de la Qualité) asked the different professional unions to explain practice variations. To avoid savings next year we ask you to study the practice variations (link below) and if could offer explanations, please contact Laurens Dobbels. We are required to respond no later than June 30th. Contact Laurens Dobbels

Practice Variation NL

Practice Variation FR

Ultrasound Some of the neurologists use ultrasound in their practice. Currently, there is no billing number for neurologists for ultrasound.    In the past, it was unsuccessfully attempted to obtain this, as radiologists stated there was insufficient evidence. However, we now have data to support the use of ultrasound for botulinum toxin injections or nerve/muscle echography.   Because of the ongoing reimbursement debates, a new attempt can only be done in 2030 or later. We encourage you strongly to bill the transparency code 384215 in every patient who you use ultrasound for, to inform the RIZIV/INAMI indirectly about the need and make our case stronger.

Meetings – events – congresses

June 27-30, 2026 EAN Congress – Geneva, Switserland The European Academy of Neurology is the overarching organisation of national organisations, such a the BNS. The EAN Congress is one of the leading neurology events worldwide, a hybrid annual meeting uniting clinicians, researchers, educators, industry partners, residents, students, and patient representatives for four days of science and education. About the congress

June 29th, 2026 EAN Pop-up bar – Geneva, Switzerland An EAN pop up bar, organized by Babinski, takes place on Monday, June 29th starting at 9pm at bar Jacques – Grand-Rue 22, 1204 Geneva.   Registration closes on Monday at 13:00 (max. 50 participants)

Register here before June 29th, 13H00 →

October 4-8, 2026 International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders – Seoul, South Korea Interested in Movement Disorders? Delve into cutting-edge topics from across the field, including hands-on skill workshops, real patient and case presentations, leading expert discussions, and more. About the congress

December 12th, 2026 BeDeCo – Kortrijk The BeDeCo (Belgian Dementia Council) symposium will occur on Saturday 12 December 2026 in AZ Groeninge in Kortrijk. More information will be available in June.

December 5th, 2026 BNS Autumn Symposium – Leuven Save the date! We look forward to welcoming you for the joint meeting with the Belgian Stroke Council on December 5, 2026 in the Provinciehuis, Leuven. More details will follow soon.

March 20th, 2027 BNS Spring Symposium – TBD Save the date!