June 2025
Trump Administration’s Full Budget Request Seeks to Slash NIH Funding
On May 30, the Trump Administration released its budget request for fiscal year (FY) 2026, which includes the president’s funding and policy recommendations across the federal government. In addition to the materials that the White House had released on May 2, which offered a preview of the president’s FY 2026 proposals, the White House Office of Management and Budget released the full budget appendix, and the Department of Health and Human Services released its Budget in Brief document, highlighting proposals at agencies across the department, including at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
NIH released additional materials as part of the agency’s FY 2026 budget request on June 5. The NIH’s congressional justification budget overview provides detailed information on funding estimates and justifications for the administration’s proposals related to research and research support activities. In addition, the agency released institute-specific budget justifications. According to the overview, the NIH would request a total program level of $27.9 billion in FY 2026, which would represent an $18.1 billion (-39.3%) decrease compared to the FY 2025 full-year continuing resolution (CR).
In addition, the budget request would propose restructuring NIH into eight Institutes and Centers, which would include five new consolidated institutes (including the consolidation of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute with the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases), eliminate four institutes, and maintain the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the National Institute on Aging (NIA), and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).
ASH issued a statement in response to the release of the NIH budget over view, noting that a nearly 40 percent reduction in funding would devastate essential progress in hematology research and unnecessarily endanger patients living with blood disorders. ASH also recently joined 500 organizations in a letter to congressional appropriators in support of FY 2026 funding for the NIH. Meanwhile, a bipartisan group of over 50 senators and 160 members of the House of Representatives submitted letters to Senate and House Appropriations Committee leadership urging support for NIH funding as part of the FY 2026 appropriations process.
Additionally, on June 13, ASH submitted a statement to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS) urging support for funding for NIH and other federal public health programs, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and its Sickle Cell Data Collection program, in fiscal year (FY) 2026.
Join ASH’s advocacy efforts and take action to support NIH. Your elected officials need to hear from you about the importance of sustained funding for NIH and other federal health programs. Please take a moment to visit the ASH website to quickly send a message to your elected officials in support of NIH.
ASH Holds Advocacy Training Webinar – Recording Available Online
Your voice matters now more than ever as the Administration and Congress continue to consider the future of federal funding and programs that impact hematologic care and research. ASH continues to lead advocacy on behalf of hematologists in Washington, but we need your help to amplify the messages and share how these policies will affect your research and patient care.
The Society held a virtual advocacy training on June 18, where participants heard about ASH’s #Fight4Hematology campaign; learned how to effectively engage with elected officials; learned about ASH’s top policy priorities; and received the tools to help influence real change for hematologists and patients. Speakers included ASH President, Dr. Belinda Avalos, ASH Chief Policy Officer, Suzanne Leous, and ASH’s policy consultants Michaela Hollis and Grace Kranstover from CRD Associates.
The session was recorded for those unable to attend and is available online.
ASH Sends Letter to Senate Leadership to Reject Potential Cuts to Medicaid
On June 5, ASH sent a letter to Senate Leadership to express concern regarding the budget reconciliation package that passed the House of Representatives on May 22 by a vote of 215-214. The Society believes that the changes to the Medicaid program outlined in both the House-passed bill and the current version of the Senate bill, including work reporting requirements and more frequent eligibility verification, would be devastating for individuals with hematologic conditions that rely upon Medicaid coverage by impeding access to preventative and routine care necessary to manage their conditions. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the House-passed bill would lead to 10.3 million people losing some form of Medicaid coverage, and 7.8 million people becoming uninsured.
Take action in support of access to care by opposing funding cuts to Medicaid:
- Share your story: ASH would like to better understand how potential cuts to Medicaid funding may impact hematology practice and the patients you serve. Please fill out the 6-question survey to share your insights about Medicaid beneficiaries in your practice here. Please note that you can choose to fill out the survey anonymously.
- Contact your elected officials: lawmakers need to hear from constituents on the impact of Medicaid cuts will have on access to care for those with hematologic conditions. Please take a moment and enter your information below to quickly send a message to your elected officials about the importance of opposing funding cuts to Medicaid.
ASH-Supported Legislation to Enhance Access to Palliative Blood Transfusions Reintroduced in Senate
On June 3, the Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act (S.1936) was reintroduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), John Barrasso (R-WY), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI). This bipartisan bill aims to increase access to palliative blood transfusions for patients receiving end-of-life care through the Medicare hospice benefit by establishing a demonstration program to provide a separate payment for blood transfusions in addition to the daily reimbursement rate for hospice care services. ASH strongly supports this legislation and a quote from ASH President Belinda R. Avalos, MD was included in the press statement Senator Rosen issued upon the bill’s introduction; the creation of innovative reimbursement models such as this is one of the recommendations of the ASH Statement in Support of Palliative Blood Transfusions in Hospice Setting. Visit the ASH Advocacy Center to contact your Senators and encourage them to cosponsor S. 1936.
Potential Changes to Medicare Physician Fee Schedule in House-Passed Reconciliation Package
The House-passed budget reconciliation package includes an update to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule conversion factor. In 2026, the House-passed legislation provides for an update equal to 75% of the Medicare Economic Index (MEI). Each year thereafter, the conversion factor update will equal 10% of MEI. The American Medical Association strongly supports this provision because it incorporates an MEI-based update in statute. However, the House-passed legislation does not address the 2.83% cut that was implemented on January 1 of this year, and the 2026 update would not be large enough to offset that cut leaving the 2026 conversion factor lower than that in 2024. Additionally, there are concerns that the noted updates equal to 10% of MEI will not keep pace with inflation or address the stagnation in physician reimbursement that has occurred over the last two decades.
The Medicare Physician Fee Schedule provisions were removed from the text of the Senate version of the bill that was unveiled earlier this week and is expected to be considered by the Senate before the end of the month. This and other differences between the House and Senate bills will need to be negotiated before a final bill is enacted.
ASH supports the efforts to reform physician payment and address the cyclical costs that have been a strain on physician practice, and the Society will continue to advocate and work with policy makers to address the pressures physicians are currently under.
ASH Submits Comments to CMS on FY 2026 Inpatient Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule
On June 4, ASH submitted comments on the CY 2026 Inpatient Prospective Payment System proposed rule. The Society commented on several provisions in the proposed rule, including the MS-DRG for CAR T-cell and other immune therapies, new technology add-on payment applications, an RFI for measure concepts for nutrition and well-being, and proposed removals in the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting program measure set.
ASH Responds to CMS RFI on Regulatory Relief
Recently, ASH submitted comments responding to an RFI issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services about Unleashing Prosperity through Deregulation of the Medicare Program. The RFI included several questions related to regulatory relief and the impact of administrative burden on physicians and their patients. The Society commented on the administrative burden of the Medicare Laboratory Date of Service Rule, or 14-day rule, the importance of extending telehealth flexibilities to support access to care, and the notable time and resources needed to adequately handle prior authorization and step therapy processes.