George Weiner, MD
2010-04-27
Chair, ASH Committee on Government
Affairs
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In early March, with Washington still
abuzz with the uncertainty surrounding health reform, ASH Committee on
Government Affairs members met with Representatives, Senators, and senior staff
from more than 25 congressional offices to share ASH’s legislative priorities
as part of the Committee’s annual Capitol Hill Day.
Committee members shared ASH’s
“Principles for Health-Care Reform” and the Society’s support for increasing
coverage to the uninsured and under-insured, improving Medicare physician payment,
maintaining access to specialists, and increasing access to preventive
services. They also expressed concern about the instability in Medicare
physician payment and urged congressional support for legislation that will
provide a positive update in fees as well as a permanent replacement for the flawed
formula currently used to calculate Medicare physician fees.
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The Committee also focused on
advocating for increased funding for biomedical research, which was a
challenging task given the tight federal budget situation. ASH Committee
members described the many advances made possible through federally funded
hematology research. They urged Congress to maintain the commitment it made to
NIH with the short-term funding provided recently through the American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act and urged Congress to provide predictable and sustained long-term
growth in NIH funding in the fiscal year 2011 budget and beyond. To further
support NIH-funded research, the Committee shared ASH recommendations for language
that accompanies the annual funding bill that would encourage research in the field
of regenerative medicine and propose simplifying clinical trials oversight.
One of the highlights of this year’s
Capitol Hill Day was meeting with Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA) to present her with
the 2009 ASH Award for Public Service. Rep. Matsui has been a champion of
issues related to bone marrow failures and hematologic malignancies since taking
office in 2005 following the death of her husband, Rep. Robert Matsui, from
complications related to myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
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Rep. Matsui thanked the Committee for
the award and for all of the Society’s advocacy efforts. She was particularly
appreciative of ASH’s efforts to gain congressional support for the Bone Marrow
Failure Disease Research and Treatment Act (HR 1230), legislation Rep. Matsui introduced to increase the
federal government’s commitment to researching and treating acquired bone
marrow failure diseases.
Members of the ASH Government Affairs
Committee participate in Hill Day, congressional visits, and ASH grassroots
activities because they know such efforts make a difference. Our legislative
representatives want to hear from us. Every ASH member can play an important
role in the Society’s advocacy efforts. You can also have your voice heard in the
halls of Congress by participating in the ASH Grassroots Network and visiting
the ASH Advocacy Center. For more information about ASH advocacy efforts and
the ASH
Grassroots Network, visit www.hematology.org/takeaction,
or contact the ASH Policy & Practice Department at 202-776-0544.
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