Endocrine Insider
October 25, 2007

On October 20, the Society’s Council approved three new position statements—on biomedical research funding, access to diabetes supplies, and monitoring drug shortages. Position statements outline the Society’s position on current and salient topics in science and medicine and are developed to support the Society in its advocacy on behalf of all members. The Society’s summary positions on the issues as outlined in the statements are included below, and the documents can be viewed in their entirety by clicking on the link at the bottom of the page.

Biomedical Research Funding
The Endocrine Society remains deeply concerned about the future of biomedical research in the United States without sustained support from the federal government. The Society strongly supports the continued increase in federal funding for biomedical research in order to provide the additional resources needed to enable American scientists to address the burgeoning scientific opportunities and new health challenges that continue to confront us. Therefore:

• The federal government should continue to increase funding levels for NIH, DOE, NASA, and VA annually by sums necessary to keep pace with inflation and maintain the growth experienced during the NIH doubling period.
• For FY2008, The Endocrine Society recommends that the agencies that support biomedical research receive the following appropriations in order to recoup the losses caused by biomedical inflation, fund necessary new research programs, and build on the discoveries made during the doubling period:
  • National Institutes of Health - $30.8 billion
  • Department of Energy’s Office of Science - $4.36 billion
  • National Aeronautics and Space Agency - $39.5 million for biological sciences research
  • Department of Veterans Affairs - $480 million for VA Medical and Prosthetics Research Program and an increase in research infrastructure support to $45 million

Access to Diabetes Supplies
The Endocrine Society strongly supports efforts to ensure the accessibility, affordability, and adequacy of blood glucose test strips and other related supplies for the millions of Americans who require this care. As such:

• Federal and state governments must determine ways to ensure the affordability of blood glucose test strips and related supplies that are not hindered by the high cost of co-pays or deductibles.
• Federal and state governments must ensure that health care coverage options provide access to an adequate number of blood glucose test strips – as determined or prescribed by a physician – to maintain optimal glucose control.
• The Society encourages medical device manufacturers to adopt policies that provide broader access to free or low-cost diabetes supplies such as blood glucose test strips.
• The Society encourages insurers and health plans to classify blood glucose test strips as a pharmaceutical product, not durable medical equipment, so as not to inflict separate and costly deductibles on patients.

Monitoring Drug Shortages
The Endocrine Society is concerned that access to important medications may be limited without prior notice to the FDA, providers, and patients. Therefore, the Society supports:

• Mandatory reporting to the FDA by drug manufacturers when a brand name or generic drug shortage or discontinuation occurs, regardless of the availability of alternative medications.
• Strict enforcement and expansion of U.S. Code requiring the FDA to distribute information to appropriate physician, healthcare provider, and patient organizations when a brand or generic drug shortage or discontinuation occurs, regardless of the availability of alternative medications.

All position statements are developed through an exhaustive internal review process. Position statements on access to diabetes supplies and monitoring drug shortages were developed and approved by the Clinical Affairs Core Committee (CACC) with further approval by the Advocacy and Public Outreach Core Committee (APOCC). The position statement on biomedical research funding was developed and approved by the APOCC. All three statements were posted on the Society’s web site for Society member comment prior to final approval by Council.

To view these, and all of the Society’s position statements, please go to http://www.endo-society.org/publicpolicy/policy/index.cfm.