AST Running at Full-Tilt on Capitol Hill & within Agencies During Spring-Summer Season
As you may be aware, there is A LOT going on in the AST public policy arena. The Society’s Wash, DC team have been running at full tilt over the last few months and have had a variety of positive outcomes in terms of the Society leading the way on multiple legislative and regulatory fronts. We also have quite a few initiatives coming up in the Fall. Below is a quick hit list of recent key AST public policy activities during the last 8 weeks:
AST Selected as Congressional Witness to Represent Transplant Community in U.S. House of Representatives Hearing on Medicare Part B Drugs
On June 28, 2013, AST Board member Dr. Larry Melton traveled to Capitol Hill to testify before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy & Commerce (Public Health). The focus of the Congressional hearing was the Medicare Part B Drug Benefit. Congressman Dr. Michael Burgess (R-TX), Vice Chair of the Subcommittee on Health and Chairman of the Congressional Physician’s Caucus, requested AST’s presence at the hearing to focus attention on and raise the visibility of the “Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act”. Dr. Melton’s testimony was very well received by Republican and Democratic members of the House Energy & Commerce Committee. AST was the only transplant organization to testify before the Committee….and the only transplant organization to testify before Congress in quite a few years.
The hearing is significant in that it separates and distinguishes the “Immuno Bill” from other bills that are also seeking to advance and secure passage in the 113th Congress. In terms of “Congressional Speak”, the bill “received a hearing”….which is a very positive step forward. AST continues to lead efforts to have the immuno bill included into a larger “must-pass” legislative package during this Congress. The Society continues to work closely with its House and Senate sponsors and committee leaders to identify and engage any and all opportunities for the legislation.
AST President Recognized by Congressional Bill Sponsor as HIV Organ Policy Equity Act (HOPE) Passes the House Energy & Commerce Committee
On July 17, 2013, the HOPE Act was approved and passed by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy & Commerce. The bill passed the U.S. Senate in June and now awaits final action on the floor of the House. The bill author and chief sponsor Congresswoman Lois Capps (D-CA) issued a press release applauding the passage of the bill and included a quote from AST President Dr. Dan Salomon. AST was the only organization quoted in the Congresswoman’s official floor statement and press release. Dr. Salomon stated, “The transplant community is grateful for the work of Congresswoman Lois Capps to develop and introduce the HOPE Act, along with the key support of E&C Health Subcommittee Vice Chair Dr. Michael Burgess (R-TX) and others that have worked to develop this straight forward and simple policy that will better utilize life-saving donor organs.”
AST is recognized as being instrumental in securing additional House Majority support and the involvement/co-sponsorship of Congressman Dr. Michael Burgess (Vice Chair of the health care subcommittee). This effort was key to advancing the HOPE Act through Full Committee Mark-Up.
Society’s Public Policy Committee on Capitol Hill in September
On September 24th & 25th, the AST Public Policy Committee will be traveling to Washington, DC to personally deliver and advocate for the organization’s legislative and regulatory agenda. The meeting will involve an advocacy training session followed by a full day of meetings with Members of Congress and senior legislative aides. Meetings will also include HRSA Div on Transplantation (DoT), Office of the HHS Assistant Secretary of Health and other Administration decision-makers. The AST advocacy agenda will focus on both clinical and research priorities.
AST Continuing to Lead and Direct Coalition Activities
The Society continues to host regular meetings in Washington, DC of the Transplant Roundtable, Immuno Coalition, and HOPE Act Stakeholders. AST has recently hosted multiple meetings of all of the transplant stakeholder communities to harness, organize, and maximize joint efforts in support of issues including:
- NIH Federal Appropriations / Funding – medical research and transplant funding for HRSA-DoT, OPTN, etc;
- Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act;
- HIV Organ Policy Equity Act;
- ACA and physician payment reform efforts that impact transplant patient care and coverage issues.
Society Efforts Continue to Be Non Stop on Federal Funding and Medical Research Support
As you may be aware, the FY 2014 Labor-HHS spending bill remains in “deadlock” between an unformed House plan that calls for a 23 percent reduction in current spending and a Senate Committee-approved measure that offers an increase in HHS and NIH spending. Once details of the House plan emerge, it is likely to involve cuts to medical research and a possible de-funding of AHRQ (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality). AST has continued the “GOOD FIGHT” in terms of working collaboratively through coalitions such as the Ad Hoc Coalition for Medical Research, FASEB, Research America, United for Medical Research, and the more recent efforts of the Rally for Medical Research (led by American Association for Cancer Research). Both independently and through coalitions AST has been on Capitol Hill weekly meeting with House and Senate NIH Appropriations Committee leaders and appropriations staff. Efforts have included direct lobbying, joint letter endorsement, etc.
Additionally, AST will be focusing significant attention to NIH medical research funding during the Public Policy Committee’s fly-in to Capitol Hill in late September.
Monitoring Federal Regulatory Activity for Impact and Possible Unintended Consequences for AST and Transplant Community
As you know, AST’s Washington, DC office monitors daily the Federal Register for proposals and new rules being promulgated by HHS, FDA, CMS, NIH and all related healthcare Agencies. Recently, AST reviewed and prepared summaries of the following rules (as well as legislative proposals) that may have a direct and/or indirect impact on the field of transplantation:
- CMS Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Proposed Rule for CY 2014;
- CMS OPPS and ASC Payment Systems Proposed Rule for CY 2014; and
- SGR Proposed House Legislation, H.R. 2810, “Medicare Patient Access and Quality Improvement Act of 2013.”
NOTE: The CMS OPPS and ASC Payment proposed rule includes a section on “Changes to the conditions for coverage for organ procurement organizations”.
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