Congress Returns to Washington for “Lame Duck” Session and to Complete Work for 2024
Following the November elections, Congress will return to Washington, D.C., to complete work on federal funding and a package of several pieces of health legislation including many priorities of the Endocrine Society.
Federal funding for the government expires December 20, 2024, and Congress must either complete a funding bill by that date that includes funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other health programs or pass another short-term funding bill that will allow the government to continue operating until some point in 2025. The outcome of the elections and which party holds a majority in the Senate and House will determine how it responds.
In addition, there are several pieces of health-related legislation that are set to expire or require action before January 1 that Congress will need to complete and pass. This includes legislation to reauthorize the Special Diabetes Program, legislation to extend waivers for telehealth, and legislation to avert Medicare physician payments scheduled to begin January 1, 2025. We expect Congress will complete its work by December 20 and adjourn.
Consequently, for the remainder of 2024 the Endocrine Society will conduct meetings with congressional offices to explain why it is crucial for Congress to pass a final appropriations bill and protect the NIH from funding cuts in addition to working with the Congressional Diabetes Caucus to pass reauthorization of the Special Diabetes Program with increases, and launch grassroots campaigns to urge Congress to extend telehealth waivers and avert the scheduled Medicare physician payment cuts.
For the latest information on these issues and how you can join the Society’s advocacy activities, please visit: www.endocrine.org/advocacy/take-action.
CBO Releases Cost Estimate to Cover Anti-Obesity Medications Under Medicare
On October 8, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a report with a cost estimate of covering anti-obesity medications (AOM) under the Medicare program.
The Medicare statute currently prohibits coverage of AOMs. Consequently, the Medicare law must be changed to allow coverage. For Congress to pass a law, it relies on CBO cost estimates so it can appreciate the impact to the federal budget. The CBO, which provides non-partisan cost analysis of legislation considered by Congress, estimates that authorizing coverage of AOMs in Medicare would increase federal spending by $35 billion from 2026 to 2034. CBO estimates that covering these medications would save around $1 billion over the same time because of improved health.
The Society supports the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA) originally introduced in the House and Senate, which would allow Medicare to cover anti-obesity medications and would make it easier for primary care providers to refer IBT for obesity to other qualified healthcare providers.
Unfortunately, CBO’s cost analysis did not include an estimate of the likely savings that would result from expanding access to Intensive Behavioral Therapy (IBT) for obesity. Medicare Part B currently covers IBT for obesity, but there are restrictions in the referral process which have resulted in low utilization. We are disappointed that CBO did not include this in their analysis.
The Society supports the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA) originally introduced in the House and Senate, which would allow Medicare to cover anti-obesity medications and would make it easier for primary care providers to refer IBT for obesity to other qualified healthcare providers. We expect debate over coverage of AOMs will continue next year and with the new Congress, and we will continue to advocate for expanded coverage of obesity treatment and care.
Society Members Work to Advance Plastics Treaty
The United Nations (UN) is in the process of trying to develop a treaty to reduce plastic pollution. The Endocrine Society has served as the only professional medical organization contributing to this process by providing scientific evidence and explanation about how plastics harm not only the environment but also human health. As delegations from UN member states and participants from various international organizations prepare to travel to South Korea for the next meeting to negotiate the treaty, the Endocrine Society and our members have continued to share the latest science on the impact of chemicals on public health.
In September, scientists, policy experts, and community members gathered at a symposium in New York convened by Endocrine Society member Leonardo Trasande, MD, MPP, and the NYU Langone Center for the Investigation of Environmental Hazards (CIEH) to discuss the scientific evidence linking chemicals in plastic to human and environmental harms, as well as policy solutions at the state, federal, and international level. The meeting featured many members of the Endocrine Society as scientific contributors, including Drs. Lindsey Trevino, Angel Nadal, Pete Myers, and Rob Sargis. The event also included powerful remarks by leading policymakers including California Attorney General Rob Bonta and the Minister of Climate and Environment of Norway, Tore O. Sandvik about the need to address plastic pollution and why recycling alone will not address this complex issue. Importantly, representatives from communities impacted directly by plastic pollution such as Jo Banner, co-founder and co-director of The Descendants Project, and Barbra Weber, co-founder and co-executive Director of the Ground Score Association, shared their perspectives and identified key questions and needs from the people they represent.
The symposium took place during the UN General Assembly meeting to debate and discuss “acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development, and human dignity for present and future generations.” In conjunction with the Assembly, a high-level side event to “showcase and promote best practices, innovative solutions, and collaborative efforts aimed at addressing plastic pollution” took place to further build momentum for the upcoming meeting to negotiate the plastics treaty.
Regional work to determine negotiating positions are also taking place, and Dr. Marina Fernandez, a member of the Endocrine Society’s delegation to the UN negotiating meeting, participated in a regional meeting of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries (GRULAC) to have a discussion and exchange on general positions.
Our overarching vision is to advance a comprehensive and ambitious treaty to address plastic pollution that includes limits on production of new plastic combined with efforts to restrict the use of hazardous EDCs and other chemicals in plastic.
The Endocrine Society’s delegation of Drs. Fernandez and Trasande will participate in the negotiating meeting from November 25 through December 1 and plan to build on recent progress to ensure a health-protective treaty that reduces exposure from endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in plastic. Since the last meeting earlier this year, member states have worked on measures to include in the treaty to address so-called chemicals of concern, and we will continue to advocate for inclusion of such measures in the treaty, alongside production limits and other health-focused provisions. Our overarching vision is to advance a comprehensive and ambitious treaty to address plastic pollution that includes limits on production of new plastic combined with efforts to restrict the use of hazardous EDCs and other chemicals in plastic.
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