Policy & Advocacy News

Emergency Supplemental Update

As I mentioned last week, the FY08 emergency supplemental appropriations bill passed in the U.S. House of Representatives. Included in the bill was an additional $150 million for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The package will now be sent to the Senate where it is expected to be greeted with similar support. It is also important to note that White House Budget Director Jim Nussle went on record last Thursday to express the administration’s approval of the final package.

Stay tuned…

Posted by Joe Arite on June 23rd, 2008
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Tags: Congress, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill, NIH

Victory for the FDA

The fate of the FY 08 emergency supplemental appropriations bill in the House was finally decided last night. Leaders on both sides negotiated a deal and came up with a bill that will likely be signed by the President.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was one of the big winners, snagging an additional $150 million. A much lower number than we had hoped for, but a victory nonetheless.

Posted by Joe Arite on June 20th, 2008
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Tags: Bush Administration, Congress, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill, FDA

House Subcommittee Marks-Up FY 09 Spending Bill

The House Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee is currently marking-up its fiscal year 2009 spending bill. This bill will provide funding for federal health and education programs during the upcoming fiscal year.

Posted by Joe Arite on June 19th, 2008
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Tags: Appropriations, Congress, LHHS

C3 Comments Publicly on CT-Colonography

C3 commented publicly this week to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the reimbursement of CT-Colonography (CTC), also known as Virtual Colonoscopies. CMS offered the opportunity to comment during their National Coverage Analysis (NCA).

Posted by Joe Arite on June 18th, 2008
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Tags: CMS, Congress, CTC, HR 4879, Medicare, Screenings

Senator Kennedy Recuperating After Surgery

Longtime friend of C3, Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA), is back at home in Massachusetts after recently undergoing aggressive surgery for a brain tumor. Because his tumor was operable, the 76-year-old is a candidate for the most promising treatments.

Posted by Joe Arite on June 17th, 2008
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Tags: HR 1738, Senator Kennedy