During the past few months, the Society has raised its profile on Capitol Hill through a number of targeted activities on DXA payment cuts, human growth hormone regulation, and obesity in order to advance its advocacy agenda.

Society Briefs Congress on Obesity

On October 29, Gilbert August, MD, representing The Endocrine Society, spoke to a near-capacity crowd of congressional staffers, association leaders, and industry executives at a luncheon briefing on Capitol Hill. The event, “The Importance of Biotechnology in Addressing the Obesity Epidemic,” was organized by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) to highlight the current treatment options for obesity, as well as the needs and hopes of both patients and physicians to better address this growing epidemic. Dr. August’s remarks centered on many of the recommendations contained in The Endocrine Society’s new clinical guideline, “Prevention and Treatment of Pediatric Obesity,” which will be available to the public soon. The Society will also be hosting a briefing on Capitol Hill this summer, likely in cooperation with Research!America, which will focus on the topic of obesity, including research, treatment options (lifestyle, physician support, and medications), related conditions, and potential policy approaches to the problem. Poll data from the 2006 national opinion poll conducted by the Society and Research!America will be featured prominently during the briefing.

Society Secures Sponsor for Companion Bill

After several months of discussions with Senate Finance Committee offices, The Endocrine Society, in cooperation with a coalition of concerned societies, has helped to secure a sponsor for a Senate companion bill to HR 4206, the “Medicare Fracture Prevention and Osteoporosis Testing Act of 2007.” The coalition has been working closely with Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO) and Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME), who introduced a companion bill on March 5, 2008. The bill, S. 2702, will halt the scheduled cuts to DXA reimbursement under Medicare over the next several years. The cuts went into effect on January 1, 2007, and were a result of both the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 and changes to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. These cuts will result in a reduction of payments to physicians of approximately 64 percent when fully implemented in 2010. Like its companion bill in the House, HR 4206, the Senate bill will restore Medicare reimbursement rates to 2006 levels. The House bill, introduced by Representative Shelley Berkley (D-NV), currently has 57 co-sponsors, and Senators Salazar and Snowe will be eager to add co-sponsors to this bill as well.

Society Weighs in on Human Growth Hormone Debate

On February 12, 2008, Alan Rogol, MD, an Endocrine Society member and professor of clinical pediatrics at the University of Virginia and the Indiana University School of Medicine, testified on behalf of the Society before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Dr. Rogol’s testimony focused on clinically acceptable uses for human growth hormone (HGH) and the potential risks of off-label use. The hearing concentrated on the myths and facts surrounding HGH, vitamin B12, and other substances, and was a continuation of a series of hearings that the committee has held across the past three years on the use of these substances by athletes and consumers to improve performance and slow down the aging process. The committee’s primary focus during the hearing was to understand the medical uses for HGH and vitamin B12 and any potential risks of off-label uses of these substances. Click here to read Dr. Rogol’s testimony in its entirety.

The Society has also been working with Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) to provide input on his bill, S. 877, “Controlling the Abuse of Prescriptions Act of 2007,” which would add HGH to the list of schedule III controlled substances. Although the Society believes that HGH should only be used for clinically-approved treatments, concerns remain that a change to a schedule III controlled substance may result in unintended consequences for patient access to the drug and physicians’ ability to prescribe the drug. The Senator is currently weighing the concerns of patient and provider groups, and will attempt to address many of those concerns in the bill. If you have any questions, please contact Stephanie Kutler at 301-941-0254 or skutler@endo-society.org.