Democrats Retake the Hill: Will it be Good for Hematologists or Will it Turn Bloody?
Roy Silverstein, MD
Dr. Silverstein is Chairman of the Department of Cell Biology and Vice-Chairman for Translational Research at the Lerner Research Institute of Cleveland Clinic. He is also Chair of the ASH Committee on Government Affairs.
As most of us are now aware, the November elections have drastically changed the political landscape in Washington. After more than a decade with the Republican Party in control of Congress, the Democrats have gained control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. However, in addition to changing the face of power in Washington, these elections also stand to impact a number of issues of concern to ASH membership, including NIH research funding, Medicare payments to physicians, and stem cell research.
This month, as Congress reconvenes, the Democratic Party will be setting the congressional agenda in both the House and Senate for the first time since 1995. This change in leadership will have the impact of establishing a new set of priorities. Already, several incoming congressional committee chairs and Democratic leaders have indicated that a number of health-related issues will top their agendas for the upcoming year.
With health and research advocates such as Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Representative John Dingell (D-MI) ascending to the chairmanships of some of the most influential committees in Congress, issues of importance to hematologists stand ready to fare better than they have in the recent past. However, though the Democratic Party has traditionally been viewed as a stronger advocate of health-related issues, it is important to remember that these issues will compete against a large list of Democratic priorities, such as education and the minimum wage. In addition, Congress will continue to face pressure to curb federal spending in many areas, including biomedical research, and issues such as the war in Iraq and homeland security will also compete for attention in what will still be a limited legislative calendar.
Perhaps the issue reaping the greatest amount of attention in the wake of the congressional elections is that of stem cell research. A deciding factor in several congressional races across the nation, the issue of expanding federal funding of stem cell research will likely once again be at the forefront of the congressional agenda. In her plan for the first 100 hours of the 110th Congress, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) promises that Congress will “promote stem cell research to offer real hope to the millions of American families who suffer from devastating diseases.” While the expansion of federally funded stem cell research enjoys bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate and easily passed both chambers in the 109th Congress, the Bush Administration remains opposed to such an expansion and has vowed to veto any such legislation. At this point, it appears that there are not enough congressional votes to override a veto, but the leadership believes it is within only a few votes and is counting on constituent pressure to change this.
As for Medicare, Congress staved off scheduled physician payment cuts this year, but it is unclear if it will be able to fix the problem permanently. While the Democrats have been sympathetic to repealing the Medicare payment cuts for doctors, the new leadership has focused more on the Medicare drug benefit, and it is not clear how the Democrats will find enough money to resolve all of these expensive problems.
With key congressional committees undergoing changes in membership and leadership, it is important for ASH members to know on which committees their own Representatives and Senators serve and to continue their advocacy efforts locally and in Washington. The ASH Government Affairs Committee will continue to promote the ASH legislative agenda and we encourage all ASH members to participate in the Grassroots Network and ASH advocacy campaigns to ensure that the new Congress listens and responds to our concerns. For more information about the Grassroots Network, visit the ASH™ Advocacy Center.
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News Headlines from Washington
Congress Repeals Medicare Physician Payment Cut for 2007
As one of the final acts of the 109th Congress, the House and Senate passed legislation that would freeze Medicare physician reimbursements at the 2006 level and avert a 5.1 percent cut scheduled to begin January 1, 2007. The legislation also includes a 1.5 percent increase in reimbursements to physicians who agree to report data on certain quality measures. ASH was extremely active in advocating for increased physician payments and has developed quality measures for hematology to be used in a future pay-for-performance program.
A detailed analysis of the new legislation
New Congress to Address NIH Funding
The new Congress must take up deliberations on the fiscal year 2007 Labor-HHS appropriations bill — the bill that funds the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other unfinished spending bills — when it convenes this month. Deliberations on the Labor-HHS bill, known as one of the “thorniest appropriations measures” have been extended into 2007 because the Congress could not complete action on the bill before the end of the last Congress. Until the bill is completed, NIH and other agencies funded by the bill are held at their FY 2006 funding levels.
NIH funding and ASH’s advocacy efforts
Von Eschenbach Approved as New FDA Administrator
The Senate approved President Bush's nomination of acting FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach, MD, to permanently head the agency. Dr. von Eschenbach, a urologist and former director of the National Cancer Institute, had been acting commissioner since September 2005. But his nomination to take over the job permanently had been bogged down in Congress for nine months, with at least five senators holding up a vote at various times.
This year is expected to be challenging for the FDA. Democratic leaders in Congress have complained that the agency has fallen short in monitoring the safety of medicines. The law that allows the FDA to collect fees from companies to speed the new drug-approval process expires in 2007, and Democrats are expected to use the reauthorization of the legislation as a vehicle to push for changes at the agency.
John Leonard, MD, Elected to the NCCR Board of Directors
ASH member Dr. John P. Leonard has been elected to serve on the Board of Directors of The National Coalition for Cancer Research, a nonprofit organization comprising 26 national organizations dedicated to the eradication of cancer through a vigorous public and privately supported research effort. Dr. Leonard is the Medical Director of the Oncology Unit and Assistant Attending Physician at the New York Presbyterian Hospital. He is also Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University and Medical Director of the Center for Lymphoma and Melanoma at NYPH-Cornell. His clinical practice consists of the treatment of patients with cancer and blood disorders, and his research focus is in the development of new treatment strategies for malignancies and hematologic diseases.
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Take Action
This year, ASH will continue its advocacy efforts on several important research and practice-related issues, such as:
- Responding to changes in physician reimbursement
- Seeking increased federal funding for research
- Urging support of legislation concerning embryonic stem cell research
- Supporting legislative initiatives concerning sickle cell treatment and research
- Advocating for genetic information nondiscrimination legislation
The Society needs the help of all ASH members to bring issues important to the future of hematology to the attention of the U.S. Congress and other U.S. governmental agencies. Members of the Grassroots Network receive action alerts and information about issues in which you indicate an interest. At times, the Grassroots Network members are also invited to represent hematology in Washington activities, such as visits with the Congress, NIH leadership, and other regulatory agencies. Visit the ASH™ Advocacy Center to take action on the Society’s advocacy campaigns and join the ASH Grassroots Network.
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