Endocrine Society Fights to Protect Research from Proposed OMB Rule & Calls on Members to Join our Advocacy
On May 29, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) proposed sweeping changes to the rules governing all federal grant funding.
If finalized, this rule would fundamentally reshape how biomedical research, including endocrine science, is funded in the U.S. The proposed rule would give political appointees the power to block grant awards that do not align with current administration priorities, allow federal agencies to terminate grants at any time without a formal appeals process, and impose restrictions on publication costs and international collaborations, among other disruptions. Taken together, the proposed rule directly threatens the foundational principles of merit-based science.
The OMB is seeking to implement its proposed changes this year, and the Endocrine Society is opposing the rule, calling for its withdrawal, and urging Congress to intervene.
The proposed rule would give political appointees the power to block grant awards that do not align with current administration priorities, allow federal agencies to terminate grants at any time without a formal appeals process, and impose restrictions on publication costs and international collaborations, among other disruptions.
There are three ways you can make a difference:
- Contact Congress: Your representative and senators need to hear from you about the threat to research posed by the proposed rule. The Endocrine Society has created a new advocacy campaign where you can send a message to your elected representatives urging them to intervene and protect federal research funding. This is the quickest and most effective way to make an impact now.
- Submit Comments to Regulations.gov: Comments submitted to regulations.gov will have an impact as part of the public record. Substantive, original, and specific comments carry real weight in the rulemaking process, but it is critical that you personalize your submission. The Endocrine Society has prepared detailed guidance to help you submit a comment before the Monday, July 13 deadline.
- Join Our Virtual Hill Day this Summer: We are organizing virtual meetings for our members and their Representative & Senators to give you the opportunity to share how federal research funding has advanced endocrine health and patient care—and what is at stake if this rule is finalized. Training and talking points will be provided. If you are interested in participating, please contact [email protected].
We have developed comments on behalf of the Society urging the withdrawal of the rule but it is also essential that policymakers hear from you — the scientific and medical professional community.
INSULIN Act Gains Momentum; Society Leads Effort to Urge Senate HELP Committee to Advance the Legislation
Increasing access to affordable insulin is a top policy priority of the Endocrine Society and we continue to urge Congress to pass the INSULIN Act, bipartisan legislation that would cap out-of-pocket costs for insulin at $35 a month for people with private insurance and create a pilot program for the uninsured in 10 states. Although the likelihood for passing the INSULIN Act this year originally was small, our advocacy is helping build momentum for the legislation in the Senate and now there are 28 bipartisan senators supporting the legislation introduced by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Susan Collins (R-ME).
The Society will continue working with the bipartisan co-chairs of the Senate Diabetes Caucus to pass the legislation out of the HELP Committee this summer.
Last week, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee considered several pieces of health-related legislation. Prior to the markup, the Endocrine Society sent a letter to the HELP Committee urging the committee to consider and pass the INSULIN Act. The Society developed the letter and invited other diabetes advocacy organizations to sign. As a result of increasing interest in insulin affordability, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) introduced an amendment that would have added the INSULIN Act to another bill under consideration. Although the Sanders amendment was approved by the HELP Committee in a bipartisan vote, Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Chairman of the Senate HELP Committee, canceled a final vote on the overall bill, saying he needed more information about the cost of the legislation. Chairman Cassidy indicated that he is open to considering the legislation at a future markup in July.
The Society will continue working with the bipartisan co-chairs of the Senate Diabetes Caucus to pass the legislation out of the HELP Committee this summer. We urge all Endocrine Society members to take action through our online advocacy campaign and ask your Senators to cosponsor and pass the INSULIN Act.
Medicare Bridge Program To Expand Access to GLP-1 Medications Launches July 1
On July 1, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will launch the Medicare Bridge Program to provide eligible Medicare Part D beneficiaries with access to certain GLP-1 medications for weight loss for a $50 co-pay. To qualify for the program, Medicare beneficiaries must meet certain clinical criteria, and the provider must submit a prior authorization request attesting that the beneficiary has met these criteria. More information about the Bridge Program, including the clinical criteria, information on submitting a prior authorization request, and other FAQs for providers can be found on the CMS website.
The Endocrine Society has urged Congress and the Administration to expand access to GLP-1 medications for people living with obesity, and we are pleased that CMS is initiating this program. We will continue to provide information as the Bridge Program is implemented in the coming months. We will also share additional educational information about the Bridge Program during our advocacy session to be held at the Clinical Endocrinology Update (CEU) meeting later this year.
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