The House and Senate appropriators are finding it difficult to reach an agreement on Fiscal Year (FY) 2004 spending limits. The lack of agreement leaves the appropriations subcommittees with no 302 (b) allocations, which determine how much money each appropriations subcommittee will have to spend in the coming year. The lack of an agreement in FY 2003 led to an appropriations deadlock that resulted in a four-month delay in passage of spending programs.

The situation is particularly troublesome for the Labor, HHS, and Education (LHHS) subcommittee because they have to settle advanced funding obligations made in the FY 2003 budget. As a result, FY 2004 LHHS appropriations funding increases could be as small as $1.5 billion. The ASN is working closely with the Ad-Hoc Group on Medical Research and the Coalition for Health Funding to advance the case for an appropriate 302 (b) allocation for health research funding, specifically to fund the National Institutes of Health.

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The ASN recently co-signed two letters to the Appropriations Committee requesting that the Committee recommend the highest possible 302b allocation for the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee.

One letter addresses the significance of NIH funding by stating, "The diagnosis and treatment of many diseases have undergone fundamental transformations thanks to NIH-funded research. These innovations are relieving pain and suffering and enhancing the quality of life of every American family touched by disease and disability. They also are helping to reduce the cost of health care and to fuel economic growth. Only continued, sustained investment in life-saving medical science today will provide cures and therapies tomorrow."

The other letter addresses the importance of funding activities and programs supported by the U.S. Public Health Service, which "are essential to protect the health of the American people, whether from newly emerging diseases such as SARS or the consequences of terrorist attacks. These activities encompass a connected continuum where biomedical, behavioral and health services research guides community-based prevention, health promotion and treatment strategies."

Read the letters regarding NIH and U.S. Public Health Service funding.

allow organizations experienced with treating ESRD patients to develop financing and delivery approaches to meet the needs of beneficiaries with the disease.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Tom Scully is seeking a variety of health care organizations to participate in the new ESRD demonstration program, which will last four years, to coordinate care to patients with ESRD, encourage the provision of disease-management services for these patients, provide incentives for more effective care, and collect clinical performance data. CMS suggests that qualified candidates or organizations experienced with providing services to ESRD patients and in particular, dialysis providers and integrated health care systems, volunteer to participate.

“Medicare can do a better job in meeting the needs of dialysis patients, and this demonstration will help us identify new approaches to improve their quality of care,” Secretary Thompson said. A notice soliciting applications from organizations interested in the new demonstration will be published in the June 4 Federal Register. Applications to participate are due by August 28, 2003. More information is available on CMS’ website.

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The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) recently published "The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure." Visit JAMA's website to read the report.

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The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) is accepting electronic reports to monitor and document the effects of HIPAA on research. AAMC believes it is critically important to build a comprehensive database of case reports that reflect the impact of HIPAA on the various disciplines of medical and health research. The data received by the AAMC will serve as the basis of future policy recommendations. Please visit the AAMC website for more details.

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The ASN will co-sponsor a reception to be held Wednesday, June 4 on Capitol Hill hosted by Friends of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to honor the appointment of the new ARHQ director, Dr. Carolyn Clancy. AHRQ’s mission, “to support, conduct, and disseminate research that improves access to care and the outcomes, quality, cost, and utilization of health care services,” is one the ASN recognizes as a key component in providing quality patient care. Learn more about AHRQ.