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IBD-RELATED BILL AWAITS SENATE
On October 7, the House of Representatives passed an IBD-related bill containing many of the provisions of the IBD Act. The Research Review Act (RRA) could represent important progress for the IBD community, but awaits Senate consideration. The Senate reconvenes November 16 for a "lame duck" session and we must do everything in our power to make sure it is considered in this session.
What YOU can do is call both your Senators and urge them to get the bill passed during the upcoming session. Please use the 'talking points' we have prepared as a guide to ensure we all deliver a consistent message.
The RRA (H.R. 5213) requires that:
• The General Accounting Office (GAO) submit a report to Congress on the coverage standards of Medicare and Medicaid for therapies that IBD patients need to maintain their health (i.e., ostomy supplies, parenteral nutrition, enteral nutrition, medically necessary food products, and FDA approved therapies for Crohn's and ulcerative colitis).
• The GAO report to Congress on the challenges IBD patients encounter when applying for Social Security Disability coverage, including recommendations for improving the application process for IBD patients.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report to Congress on the status of its epidemiological research activities, with a specific focus on IBD.
(These first three provisions are derived directly from the IBD Act.)
• The Secretary of Health and Human Services report to Congress on how the "Roadmap for Biomedical Research" initiative recently undertaken by the National Institutes of Health will further translational research, with a particular focus on spinal cord injury and paralysis research. (This provision is being championed by the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation.)
The RRA does not include all of the provisions of the IBD Act, but it does represent important progress for the IBD community. Collectively, CCFA should be very proud that the House of Representatives has spoken out in support of our patients with this legislation. No other bill that addresses the concerns of a specific disease population is moving forward on Capitol Hill.
As importantly, CCFA has established partnerships with key lawmakers during this process that will help us in our continued efforts to improve the quality of life for IBD patients and their families. Our focus must now turn to the Senate, where we are hopeful that members will pass the bill during the "lame duck" session that convenes on November 16.
Many thanks to all of you for the phone calls, the e-mails, the faxes, the letters, the visits — for everything you have done to advocate for these important legislative initiatives.
To stay at the forefront of all our advocacy efforts, join the National IBD Advocacy Network.
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