On Monday, March 11, President Biden released his Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget request. President Biden’s request is a starting point for the appropriations process and reveals what his top priorities are for the next fiscal year. In this request, he details his goals to expand access to quality and affordable healthcare. The President’s proposed budget includes several Endocrine Society policy priorities such as insulin affordability, increased funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and coverage of intensive behavioral therapy as treatment for obesity. Here are some of the highlights:
The Society continues to advocate to the Administration and Members of Congress on these health priorities. We applaud the Administration for including our priorities, but our work is not done. FY24 funding for NIH is set to expire March 22 and is in serious jeopardy, with some in Congress asking for deep spending cuts (up to $3.8 billion for NIH). We urge Endocrine Society members to amplify our message to protect NIH funding in FY24 and increase support in FY25 by joining our online campaign. It is critical that all members of Congress hear this message from researchers funded by NIH now.
On March 13, the European Parliament voted in favor of a resolution to amend the European Union’s Toy Safety Regulation, including a ban on endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) using the hazard classes and categories that our members argued in favor of. The European Parliament amended the final proposal to strengthen regulations, consistent with the Endocrine Society’s recommendations. First, the Parliament introduced a ban on PFAS and bisphenols specifically, building on efforts in other sectors such as food packaging. Second, the criteria for exemptions were narrowed, decreasing the likelihood that hazardous chemicals will be permitted in the future. The Endocrine Society welcomes the resolution and commends the Commission and Parliament for advancing this important health-protective measure. We look forward to working with policymakers in the EU on swift implementation of the new regulation and efforts to reduce exposure to EDCs in other sectors of the economy.
On Friday March 8, Congress passed legislation reauthorizing the Special Diabetes Program (SDP). The legislation, which was signed into law by President Biden, extended funding for SDP through the end of the year. SDP is made up of two components. SDP funds type 1 diabetes research through the NIDDK, and SDPI, which is administered through the Indian Health Service, supports prevention, education, and treatment programs for Type 2 diabetes for indigenous communities across the nation. Thanks to the advocacy efforts of Endocrine Society members and our partnership with JDRF, SDP received its first funding increase in 20 years, from $150 million per program per year to $160 million per program per year.
The Endocrine Society has led efforts to advocate for SDP. We have worked closely with the co-chairs of the Diabetes Caucus to advocate for increased funding of SDP, and just days before Congress passed this legislation, we brought members to Washington, DC to meet with congressional offices to discuss the importance of reauthorizing the program. After the legislation was signed into law, Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), co-chair of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, posted a press release on her website celebrating the passage of the legislation featuring a quote from the Society’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Robert W. Lash. We also posted a release on our website. The Society will continue to advocate for sustainable long-term funding for SDP. The funding approved last week will expire at the end of 2024 and we will continue to urge Congress to pass a long-term extension of this critical program.
Last week, Congress passed legislation to provide some relief from the Medicare physician payment cuts that took effect earlier this year. On January 1, CMS instituted a 3.37% cut to all Medicare physician payments. The legislation passed by Congress will reduce this cut by about half (1.68%), which will provide some relief. The Endocrine Society continues to urge Congress to pass comprehensive physician payment reform legislation to provide physicians with adequate reimbursement. We have urged Congress to pass legislation providing an inflation-based payment update based on the full Medicare Economic Index.
On January 1, CMS also finalized the implementation of G2211, a complex add-on code that can be used by endocrinologists to pay for complex care services delivered by a provider with an ongoing relationship with the patient. This new code may result in increased reimbursement for complex care delivery in practices. The Endocrine Society hosted a webinar on how endocrinologists can properly use this code. The recording and additional information can be found on the physician payment page of our website.
We rely on your voice to advocate for our policy priorities. Join us to show our strength as a community that cares about endocrinology. Contact your U.S representatives or European Members of Parliament through our online platform. Take action and make a difference today.