Endocrine Insider
May 13, 2010

(See Full Issue)

Members of The Endocrine Society's Advocacy and Public Outreach Core Committee (APOCC) visited Capitol Hill on April 29, 2010 to discuss issues of concern to the Society's membership with key House and Senate offices. Committee members focused on five main issues: biomedical research funding, diabetes prevention and research funding, regulation of endocrine disrupting chemicals, Medicare physician payment cuts, and endocrinologist workforce issues.

APOCC members presented the 2009 Endocrine Society Congressional Leadership Award to Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA) for his strong support of biomedical research funding. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Representative Diana DeGette (D-CO) were also given the 2009 award for their support of biomedical research and diabetes. Additional information on the winners can be found here.

Society members discussed the need for increased funding for biomedical research with Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE); Representatives John Shimkus (R-IL), Michael Burgess (R-TX), and Jim Matheson (D-UT); and staff from Representative Brian Bilbray’s (R-CA) office. The Endocrine Society recognizes the commitment of President Obama and members of Congress to biomedical research, as illustrated by the $10 billion allocated to the NIH in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, but remains concerned about the future of that research without sustained support from the federal government. The Endocrine Society recommends that NIH receive at least $37 billion in FY 2011 to prepare for the post-stimulus era and ensure the steady and sustainable growth necessary to continue building on the advances made by scientists during the past decade.

The Endocrine Society has been actively working to ensure that federal funds are also allocated to diabetes prevention and research. APOCC members discussed these issues with staff from the offices of Representative DeGette and Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND), specifically asking that they support providing $5 billion of the recently authorized Prevention and Public Health Fund to diabetes prevention and thanking them for their support of the reauthorization of the Type 1 Diabetes Strategic Plan Fund.

The Society has served as a resource to a number of offices on Capitol Hill that have introduced legislation on endocrine-disrupting chemicals, and committee members used these Hill visits to broaden the awareness among other members of Congress. Society members asked that Representatives Shimkus and Matheson support greater regulation of these chemicals. The issue was also discussed with the staff of Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ).

Issues related to endocrinologist workforce shortages and physician payment are a top concern for the Society, and committee members discussed these issues with Senator Nelson and Representatives DeGette, Shimkus, Burgess, Matheson, Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), and the staff of Representatives Pallone and Pete Stark (D-NJ). Committee members emphasized the need to find a permanent solution to the flawed Sustainable Growth Rate formula, which results in the annual Medicare payment cuts, and for policy solutions to the shortage of endocrinologists in the country.