2011-09-15
New “Super Committee” Meets; Begins Work on Deficit Reduction
The Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, known as the “Super Committee,” conducted its first meeting September 8 and begins its work to develop legislation that achieves at least $1.2 trillion in budgetary savings over 10 years. Because the Super Committee's failure to achieve its task would trigger an automatic Medicare cut, just about every sector of the health industry is anxious about this process. Read more.
FY 2012 Appropriations Update: Short Term Funding Extension Expected As Congress Works to Finalize FY 2012 Spending
For the 15th straight time, Congress will allow a new fiscal year to begin on October 1 without having enacted all of the regular appropriations bills needed to keep the government running. Last night, the House Appropriations Committee filed a continuing resolution (CR, H.J.Res. 79) to provide federal funding past September 30. Read more.
30 Percent Medicare Physician Payment Cut Scheduled to Begin January 1
Physicians are scheduled to receive a 29.5 percent cut from Medicare beginning January 1, 2012, unless Congress takes legislative action to prevent it. ASH strongly opposes the proposed draconian cuts to physicians and has long advocated for repeal of the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula and the need for an adequate and stable physician payment system. Most recently, in ASH’s comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the proposed changes to the 2012 physician fee schedule, the Society shared its deep concerns and urged the agency to actively support legislative efforts to change the payment system. ASH also has urged the new “super committee” on deficit reduction to include physician payment reform in its deficit reduction plan. Read more.
FDA Reorganizes Approval of Cancer Therapies
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced September 12 that it is realigning the offices that review and approve all drug and biologic applications for cancer therapies. The new structure contains four divisions: Hematology Products, Oncology Products 1, Oncology Products 2, and Hematology Oncology Toxicology. Senior officials at FDA believe changes from the reorganization will not slow down pending applications, and will better support the agency’s work to get cancer treatments to patients. Read more.
NIH Examines Biomedical Research Workforce Issues
The Advisory Committee to the NIH Director (ACD) has established a working group to examine the future of the biomedical research workforce in the U.S. The model will help inform decisions about how to train the optimal number of people for the appropriate types of positions that will advance science and promote health. The working group has released a request for information (RFI) that asks the scientific community to comment on the several issues the group identified as important to consider when developing a model of the future biomedical research workforce. Read more.
ASH is planning to submit comments in response to this RFI and solicits feedback from the membership on this issue. Please contact ASH Senior Manager for Scientific Affairs Ulyana Desiderio, PhD at udesiderio@hematology.org or 202-776-0544.
NIH Finalizes Conflict of Interest Rules
The National Institutes of Health has finalized rules to reduce financial conflicts of interests among federally funded researchers who also receive payments or stock from drug and medical device companies. The rules, which will affect more than 40,000 researchers, come after a string of high- profile cases in which federally funded researchers failed to disclose millions of dollars from companies with a financial interest in the outcome of their work. Read more.
NIH Launches Medical Research Scholars Program
A new Medical Research Scholars Program for medical and dental students will begin in September 2012 in Bethesda, Maryland, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced. The program will offer research experiences with intramural investigators from across NIH in basic science laboratories, and in clinical and translational research conducted at the NIH Clinical Center, the world's largest hospital dedicated to patient-oriented research. Read more.
Find the Latest on NIH Grants Policies and Activities in the NIH Extramural Nexus
The NIH Extramural Nexus provides regular updates on NIH grants policies and activities that impact the entire research community. Recent posts include updates on efforts to foster the next generation of researchers, appealing the review of grant applications, a reminder to update Central Contractor Registry (CCR) registrations, and information on applying for an NIH Director’s Pioneer Award or New Innovator Award. Read more.
Advance Registration Open for 2011 Annual Meeting in San Diego
Advance registration and housing for the 53nd ASH Annual Meeting, in San Diego on December 10-13, 2011, is now open. Register online today. If you have questions, contact the ASH Meetings Department at meetings@hematology.org or 202-776-0544.
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