Dear colleagues:
Legislative concerns are typically not top-of-mind awareness for physicians, making essential the AAAAI’s public policy work in Washington. Our agenda is set by the Board of Directors in consultation with the AAAAI Advocacy Task Force, chaired by William Busse, MD, FAAAAI, and in cooperation with Washington Health Advocates. The main goal of this year’s effort is increased NIH funding for allergy research.
The FY 2008 budget cycle began in early February with the submission of the President’s budget request. The budget proposal for NIH entails substantial reductions. A $300 million cut in NIH spending below the current year would be exacerbated by the administration’s proposal to increase the NIH contribution to the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria by $200 million, effectively reducing NIH spending by over $500 million. Adjusted for inflation, the President’s proposal is a 12% cut for NIH. The House is expected to take up the NIH funding bill early this summer, and I recently sent a broadcast e-mail urging interested members to contact their Representatives. The Academy will provide information about House action and send timely alerts prior to Senate action as well as the House/Senate conference in the fall.
Throughout this year, there has been favorable congressional response to the AAAAI’s arguments for expanded research on food allergy, and the NIAID is expected to release an RFA on food allergy in June. In addition, the Academy has argued for increased support for research on anaphylaxis.
This past April, Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Representative Nita Lowey (D-NY) reintroduced the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Act (S. 1232/H.R. 2063). This bill would establish voluntary guidelines for preventing exposure to food allergens in schools and assuring prompt emergency response in the event of a severe reaction. The Academy sent a letter of support for the legislation, and this was included in the Congressional Record at the time the bill was introduced.
The Academy, under the leadership of Michael Schatz, MD, MS, FAAAAI, has developed the Asthma and Allergy Medications in Pregnancy Surveillance System (AAMPSS) to provide systematic and comprehensive information on the safety of asthma and allergy medications used by pregnant women. The AAMPSS task force has made several trips to Washington for productive meetings with congressional staff and FDA officials. As a result of discussions with Senator Edward Kennedy’s (D-MA) staff, Senate-passed drug safety legislation includes provisions to provide the FDA with the authority to require companies to conduct post-approval studies of drugs to identify unexpected serious risks in specific populations including pregnant women.
Finally, the Academy along with the College and Joint Council, has been lobbying for appropriate reimbursement for diagnostic procedures and treatments for our members’ efforts. We are also working with other larger groups to address Medicare issues, an ongoing continuous battle.
I would like to thank all of our members for bringing important legislative and reimbursement issues to our attention so that we might help to address problematic areas.
Thomas B. Casale, MD, FAAAAI
AAAAI President
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