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UrduThe American Cancer Society releasesan update of its lung cancer screening guideline to help reduce the number of people dying from the disease due to smoking history.
Category: Policy
Cancer drug shows promise targeting genetic weakness in some tumors, comments Virginia Tech expert
In an invited commentary, Kathleen Mulvaney, assistant professor with the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, talks about the potential of a new drug that has shown early promise in clinical trials for solid tumors by killing cancer cells that lack specific tumor suppressor genes.
New ACP position paper addresses the ethical concepts related to health as a human right
The American College of Physicians (ACP) today issued a new position paper addressing health as a human right and examining the intersection of human rights, ethical obligations, and health reform in recognizing health as a human right. The position paper is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Institute for International Crop Improvement: Early Promise, Long Journey Ahead
The challenges facing global food security and the livelihoods of smallholder farmers over the last year may at first appear insurmountable, yet IICI’s vital work continues to advance impactful agricultural innovations where they are needed most.
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEPHROLOGY APPALUDS THE INTRODUCTION OF THE HONOR OUR LIVING DONORS (HOLD) ACT, H.R. 6020
The American Society of Nephrology, representing 21,000 nephrologists, scientists and other kidney care professionals, today voiced its support for the Honor Our Living Donors (HOLD) Act (H.R. 6020), new legislation introduced by U.S. Representatives Jay Obernolte (R-CA-23) and Suzanne DelBene (D-WA-1) to qualify federal support for living organ donors based on donor income as opposed to current requirements that base support on the organ recipient’s income.
AANA Updates, Publishes Analgesia and Anesthesia Practice Considerations for The Substance Use Disorder Patient
To help ensure that patients with active substance use disorder, on medication-assisted treatment, or in abstinent recovery continue to receive high-quality, safe pain management and anesthesia care, the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) has published its updated analgesia and anesthesia practice considerations.
ACP says ‘Enough is enough,’ vows to continue to fight for lower drug prices for patients
ACP leaders have strong words for pharmaceutical and other health care companies that are challenging the implementation of the Medicare prescription drug price negotiation program. So far, these businesses have spent approximately $400 million challenging the program in U.S. courts. ACP, along with other medical societies, is pushing back.
AACI Statement on NIH Director Confirmation
The Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI) joins nonprofit health advocacy organizations nationwide in calling for the swift confirmation of Monica Bertagnolli, MD, as director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Bristol unites international gambling harms experts and people suffering from gambling addiction to highlight urgent need for reform
With the explosion of online platforms and advertising, the scourge of gambling is a growing problem affecting people of all ages.
Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine (formerly AACC) Statement on Proposed FDA Rule on Laboratory Developed Tests
We at the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine were disappointed to see the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) attempt to circumvent Congress with its new proposed rule to duplicate the regulation of laboratory developed tests by placing these tests under FDA authority, in addition to their current regulation under the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Cleaning Product Ingredient Transparency Gets a Hearing on Capitol Hill
The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce is discussing a legislative proposal that would establish – for the first time – a federal standard for ingredient communication in cleaning products.
American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology Urges VA to Issue Evidence-Based National Practice Standards
Dru Riddle, PhD, DNP, CRNA, FAAN, president of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) urged the Veterans Health Administration (VA) to develop National Standards of Practice for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) that are grounded in evidence-based education and training standards, not politics, during a listening session on September 21.
Leave No One Behind: The Forum of International Respiratory Societies Calls for Equitable Access to Prevention and Treatment on World Lung Day 2023
This World Lung Day, Sept. 25, the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) and its founding member the American Thoracic Society, is calling on governments and health care providers worldwide to give equitable access to preventative services and treatments for respiratory conditions, and lifesaving pneumonia vaccines for children.
America’s Veterans Deserve High Quality Anesthesia Care
During Congressional testimony today, the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) urged the Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system to provide the same anesthesia care and services to our veterans as is in place in healthcare systems in 49 states. AANA President-Elect Jan Setnor, MSN, CRNA, Col. (Ret), USAFR, NC, in testimony before the House VA Committee Subcommittee on Health, defended Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists’ (CRNAs’) ability to deliver high-quality anesthesia care to all populations, including the complex needs of our nation’s veterans, as a result of their specialized and detailed anesthesia training.
American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Urges Congress to Block VA Nurses’ Efforts to Remove Anesthesiologists from Veterans’ Care
The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) testified today before the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health and urged Congress to block a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Nursing Services’ proposal to remove physician anesthesiologists from the surgical care of Veterans. The nurses’ proposal would lower the standard of care for Veterans by dismantling the team-based model of anesthesia care and move VA to a rarely used nurse-only model.
Ahead of UN General Assembly, pharmaceutical industry underscores need for pandemic preparedness plans to support innovation and equity
Ahead of discussions at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA78), the trade association representing the innovative pharmaceutical industry, the IFPMA, has warned that current pandemic preparedness plans should not undermine what worked well in response to COVID-19 and must support both “innovation and equity.”
Anesthesiologist, Emergency Physician and Radiologist Groups Laud Court Decision, Urge HHS Action to Unfreeze Arbitration Process
In its fourth ruling regarding the flawed implementation of the No Surprises Act, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas agreed with the plaintiffs, the Texas Medical Association, that the government was incorrectly permitting insurers to use a faulty methodology when calculating their median in-network rate, also known as the qualifying payment amount (QPA). This TMA III ruling does not impact the patient protections included in the No Surprises Act that the American College of Radiology® (ACR®), (ACR), American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) advocated for and continue to fully support, nor does it raise patient out-of-pocket costs.
Lung Disease Physicians and Researchers Disappointed by Environmental Protection Agency’s Slow-Motion Action to Curb Smog Ozone Air Pollution
In response to the Aug 21 announcement by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that the agency will delay action on lowering the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ozone pollution, American Thoracic Society President M. Patricia Rivera, MD, ATSF, issued the following statement
Scenarios for proactive measures and inclusive policies on migration in Europe
Migration is a complex and unpredictable phenomenon, often triggered by political crises, economic downturns, and natural or human-made disasters. A new policy brief and a White Paper authored by IIASA researchers and UK colleagues provides valuable insights and recommendations to support policymaking and increase understanding around the realistic implications of high-migration events.
Medical associations commend Texas federal court Surprise Billing ruling—a win for patients and physicians
The American College of Radiology® (ACR®), American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) applaud the Aug. 3 U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas’ ruling that the government’s exorbitant 600% fee increase to access the independent dispute resolution (IDR) process and its overly-restrictive “batching” limitations violate federal law. The ruling does not impact the patient protections included in the No Surprises Act, which ACR, ACEP and ASA advocated for and continue to support, nor does it raise patient out-of-pocket costs.
ASBMB calls for student loan relief
In public hearing testimony to the Department of Education, ASBMB calls for student loan relief programs and expresses concern about how student loans disadvantage the scientific workforce.
Georgia’s Medicare Advantage Beneficiaries Get Relief from Abusive Prior Authorization Policy
The American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), and the Georgia Society of Ophthalmology applaud Humana for rolling back its prior authorization requirement for cataract surgery for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries in Georgia.
American College of Surgeons Supports Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Access to STOP THE BLEED® Kits
The American College of Surgeons (ACS) strongly supports bipartisan legislation introduced today in the U.S. Senate that would expand access to STOP THE BLEED® kits for states, tribal territories, and local governments.
American Society of Nephrology Applauds Senate Passage of the Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Act (S. 1668)
The United States Senate unanimously passed the Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement Transplantation Network (OPTN) Act (S. 1668), following House passage earlier this week, marking a new era for the United States transplant system.
Susan G. Komen® Commends Introduction of Legislation to Remove Financial Barriers to Diagnostic Imaging
Susan G. Komen commends commends the introduction of the Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD) Act of 2023 in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. The legislation would remove a significant financial barrier to people receiving medically necessary diagnostic and supplemental breast imaging.
Nineteen Surgical Organizations Strongly Oppose CMS’ Plan to Implement the G2211 Code
The American College of Surgeons (ACS), with 18 other surgical organizations, has expressed strong opposition to the implementation of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) code G2211.
Experts call for urgent mental health support for people living with long term autoimmune diseases
Study finds ‘startling’ levels of hidden mental health symptoms among autoimmune disease patients.
Calling for Cancer Centers to Lead on Climate Disaster Preparedness
Cancer centers are uniquely positioned to protect cancer patients from climate-driven disasters, but researchers identified significant shortcomings in emergency preparedness when it came to climate-related disasters.
House appropriations bill would slash life-saving medical research, disease prevention and treatment
The Endocrine Society opposes severe funding cuts proposed in the House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS) funding bill that would put life-saving endocrine research, disease prevention, and treatment at risk.
ICAN Act Increases Patient Access to High-Quality Healthcare
A Senate Bill was introduced by U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), joining more than a dozen Representatives who are sponsoring the House version of the ICAN Act. If passed, the ICAN Act would remove practice barriers for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) by allowing them to provide more comprehensive healthcare services to patients across the country.
RUSH and UChicago Medicine Expand Racial Health Equity Reporting Tool Nationally
Chicago health systems RUSH and UChicago Medicine are making available a free self-assessment tool that uses a race-conscious approach to help hospitals benchmark health equity efforts for all patients. Created after the COVID 19 pandemic revealed disproportionate racial and ethnic mortality rates, the effort is supported by a Commonwealth Fund grant and was piloted at hospitals across Illinois.
Anesthesiologists Denounce Another Year of Medicare Payment Cuts, Urge Immediate Reforms
The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) condemned yet another year of cuts to Medicare payments for critically important anesthesia and pain medicine services. The proposed cuts, announced in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) 2024 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS), represent the fifth consecutive year of either a pay freeze or payment cut for the services anesthesiologists provide to their patients as shown in the table below. The CMS-proposed Medicare payment cuts will compound the financial strain anesthesia practices are already facing.
New proposed rule continues cuts to Medicare reimbursement; Legislative remedies needed to protect patients’ access to care
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) issued the following statement from Geraldine M. Jacobson, MD, MBA, MPH, FASTRO, Chair of the ASTRO Board of Directors, in response to the proposed 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) released today: “Another year brings another round of cuts to radiation therapy services for people with cancer under the proposed Medicare fee schedule.”
ASBMB raises concerns about proposed NIH subaward policy
The society is concerned that new NIH subaward policy, if adopted, will harm the global scientific enterprise by disrupting collaboration and heighten administrative burden on scientists.
Susan G. Komen® Urges Fifth Circuit to Protect Access to Preventive Services
Susan G. Komen® filed an amicus brief supporting the U.S. Department of Justice’s request that the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issue a stay in Braidwood v. Becerra.
ASA Urges Congress To Fix Broken Medicare Payment System: Physicians Deserve Better
The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) urged Congress to take steps to address the broken Medicare physician payment system. The formal request came as part of a House Energy and Commerce Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee hearing held yesterday on the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA).
Neurosurgeons Join Congress in Calling on CMS to Swiftly Finalize Prior Authorization Rules
Today, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) joined 61 bipartisan senators and 233 members of the House of Representatives in urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to swiftly finalize rules to increase transparency, streamline and standardize prior authorization (PA), including modifying the final rules to more closely align with the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act.
ASA and APSF Release Updated Recommendations for Elective Surgery After COVID-19 Infection
Driven by recent studies, the evolving nature of the disease and the widespread vaccination of Americans against COVID-19, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) and Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF) today released a joint statement providing updated recommendations for the timing of elective surgeries and anesthesia for patients after a COVID-19 infection.
CSU Report Calls for Bold Actions to Improve Black Student Success and Elevate Black Excellence
The California State University today released a plan designed to both elevate Black excellence and address the continuing decline in Black student enrollment, retention and graduation rates across the 23 CSU universities.
AANA Denounces AMA’s Action to Regulate Advanced Practice Registered Nurses through State Boards of Medicine
Angela Mund, DNP, CRNA, president of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) issued the following statement in response to the American Medical Association’s (AMA) adopted policy recommending that Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and other advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) be regulated on the state level by both the board of medicine and the board of nursing.
Delaware Opts Out Of Physician Supervision of CRNAs
Delaware patients now have increased access to safe, affordable anesthesia care. The state is the latest to opt out from federal regulations that require physician supervision of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs).
AMA strengthens its policy on protecting access to gender-affirming care
The American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates today passed the Endocrine Society’s resolution to protect access to evidence-based gender-affirming care for transgender and gender-diverse individuals.
Nevada Governor Signs Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant Licensure Bill
Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo signed into law Assembly Bill 270, which authorizes licensure of certified anesthesiologist assistants (CAAs) to provide anesthesia care in the state. The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) and the Nevada State Society of Anesthesiologists (NSSA) applaud this action, which will make the services of CAAs available to Nevada patients.
Joint Statement on Behalf of Health Policy Deans, Scholars, and the American Public Health Association
On June 8, in a 7-2 decision authored by Justice Jackson, the US Supreme Court upheld the legal rights of millions of Medicaid beneficiaries, preserving those rights against unlawful action by state officials and thereby preserving access to health care for millions of vulnerable Americans. The nation’s largest public insurer, Medicaid entitles the poorest and most vulnerable children and adults to comprehensive health coverage and represents the nation’s single largest health care investment in public health.
NCCN Releases Statement Addressing Ongoing Chemotherapy Shortages; Shares Survey Results Finding More than 90% of Cancer Centers are Impacted
National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s Department of Policy and Advocacy calls on Federal Government, pharmaceutical industry, providers, and payers to work together on solutions, as 93% of cancer centers surveyed report a shortage of carboplatin and 70% report shortages for cisplatin; two medications that are used in combination to cure many types of cancer.
Advanced Practice Nurses Stand Ready to Care for America’s Most Vulnerable Populations
Today the U.S. healthcare system faces workforce shortages and expanding costs, but new legislation will allow advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to work at the top of their education and training to give patients across the country access to vital healthcare services.
FIRS Calls for Action to Prevent Young People from Taking Up Smoking
On World No Tobacco Day, May 31, 2023, the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS), of which The American Thoracic Society is a founding member, is encouraging policy makers to take steps to prevent young people from taking up smoking.
Access To Quality Anesthesia Care Increased for Indiana Dental Patients
Indiana dental patients now have increased access to safe anesthesia care with the enacting of Indiana Senate Bill 273. The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) applauds the new law, as it expands the scope of practice for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), allowing CRNAs to administer moderate sedation, deep sedation, or general anesthesia to a patient in a dental office, under the direction of and in the immediate presence of a physician.
Statement on Passage of Diagnostic Imaging Legislation in Minnesota
Susan G. Komen thanked lawmakers in Minnesota for passing and Gov. Tim Walz for signing legislation that eliminates out-of-pocket costs for diagnostic and supplemental breast imaging.
Widespread staff shortages exacerbate pressures facing radiation oncology clinics; ASTRO Advocacy Day calls for action
More than 9 in 10 radiation oncologists report that their practices face clinical staff shortages, according to a new national survey from the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). More than half (53%) of the doctors said the shortages are creating treatment delays for patients, and 44% say they are causing increased patient anxiety.