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The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) have come out strongly against the health reform legislation currently under consideration in the House. “America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009” (H.R. 3200), which includes a public health insurance option, goes too far, according to the groups. AANS and CNS said the public plan could lead the United States to a single-payer, government-run health care system. They also voiced concerns about the high cost of the proposals in the bill and the failure to include medical liability reform. “America's neurosurgeons strongly support improving our nation's health care system by ensuring insurance coverage for all our citizens,” Dr. Troy M. Tippett, president of the AANS, said in a statement. “Unfortunately, as it is currently constructed, this bill goes far beyond what is necessary to fix what is broken with our health care system.” The AANS and CNS are supporting a Republican alternative, the “Empowering Patients First Act” (H.R. 3400). It advocates tax incentives as the way to expand health coverage and would limit noneconomic damages and attorneys' contingency fees in medical malpractice cases.