2009-03-01

Obama Administration Continues to Take Shape

Although Barack Obama has officially taken office as president of the United States, a number of key positions within his administration had not yet been announced as this issue of The Hematologist went to press. Former Senator and Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) withdrew from consideration as secretary of the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) on February 3, leaving who would fill the position in question as of press time. Daschle had also been expected to lead the administration’s efforts to reform the nation’s health-care system by serving as director of the newly created White House Office of Health Reform. However, health-care reform is expected to remain near the top of President Obama’s agenda.

Several other key appointments within HHS have also yet to be named and will likely not be chosen until after the Senate has confirmed an HHS secretary. Among the other positions yet to be named are director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), commissioner of the Food and Drug administration, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Interim personnel are in place for these positions and will remain until the Obama administration appoints individuals to these leadership positions and the Senate confirms them. For a final listing of these appointments, please visit the Policy and Practice section of the ASH Web site.

Congress Considers Health Provisions in Economic Recovery Legislation

As this issue of The Hematologist went to press, Congress was in the midst of finalizing economic recovery legislation. Conferees from the House and Senate agreed to provide $10 billion in total additional funding for NIH to fund extramural research grants and improve facilities at NIH and research facilities across the nation. Additionally, each bill contained significant funding for a variety of health-care programs, including helping states cope with rising Medicaid costs, helping people who have lost their jobs keep their employer-provided health insurance under a program known as COBRA, and facilitating universal adoption of electronic medical records. 

Congressional leaders hoped to have an economic stimulus bill finalized and ready to be signed into law by President Obama before President’s Day in mid-February.

NIH Unveils New Research, Condition, and Disease Categorization System

NIH unveiled the new Research, Condition, and Disease Categorization (RCDC) system, which offers scientists and the public a quick and easy way to get a complete list of research projects funded in 215 specific research areas, diseases, or conditions. Established as part of a mandate set forth in the NIH Reform Act to improve how NIH presents information to the public, RCDC is a computerized process that NIH will use at the end of each fiscal year (beginning with fiscal year 2008) to sort and report the amount of research it funded. RCDC reports will provide detailed information within each category, including the total dollar amount for research projects, the name(s) of the principal investigator(s) and institution conducting the research, and the NIH Institute or Center supporting the research.

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