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Public Policy News & Resources
News:
NOF Support Group Leader Dana Kurland (right) with her father, Gil Kurland, and Roberta Biegel of NOF (left)
Strong Voices for Strong Bones Advocacy Training in Arizona
On June 6th the National Osteoporosis Foundation and the Arizona Osteoporosis Coalition hosted a “Strong Voices for Strong Bones Advocacy Training Meeting” in Tempe, Arizona. This forum aimed to educate attendees about advocating for better bone health and osteoporosis prevention and treatment with local, state and federal government officials. Participants included healthcare professionals, including those in the areas of exercise and nutrition, volunteers, educators, patients and their families.
The U.S. House of Representatives Approves the Mother’s Day Centennial Commemorative Coin Act To Support Osteoporosis Research
On Tuesday, June 10th, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass the “Mother’s Day Centennial Commemorative Coin Act” (HR 2268), which, would authorize the U.S. Mint to produce a commemorative coin in 2014 in honor of the centennial of the Mother’s Day holiday. The proceeds from the sale of the coin will be shared by the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) and the Susan G. Komen for the Cure to further their research grant programs. NOF applauds Representatives Shelley Moore Capito (WV) and Carolyn Maloney (NY) who introduced the bill, as well as the 297 cosponsors.
US House of Representatives Passes Resolution to Support the Goals and Ideals of National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month
On Thursday, May 21st the US House of Representatives passed a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month, which takes place in May. The bill, H. Res. 369, was introduced by Congresswoman Shelley Berkley of Nevada and helps bring attention to a major public health threat for an estimated 44 million Americans, osteoporosis.
SPRING 2008- Bone Health Advocacy E-News
Patient Access to Osteoporosis Testing
During the past year, NOF and its advocates urged Congress to remedy the drastic reductions in Medicare reimbursement for specialized osteoporosis tests so vital to osteoporosis prevention, diagnosis and treatment. As a result of these cuts, slated to continue through 2010, many physicians say that they will be unable to continue offering dual energy x-ray absorptiomety (DXA) tests for osteoporosis, threatening access to quality healthcare for osteoporosis patients.
As you may be aware, Representative Shelley Berkley introduced the “Medicare Fracture Prevention and Osteoporosis Testing Act of 2007” (H.R. 4206) in the US House of Representatives and Senator Ken Salazar introduced the same legislation (S. 2702) in the Senate. H.R. 4206/S. 2702 would roll back Medicare reimbursement for DXA testing to the 2006 level and require the Institute of Medicine to report on the consequences of reduced reimbursement and provide recommendations for increasing osteoporosis testing, which currently is severely under-utilized.
We thank everyone in the Bone Health Advocacy Network who has contacted their Representatives and Senators and asked them to cosponsor HR 4206/S. 2702! But we still need your help!
We urge you to ask your Members of Congress to protect patient access to quality osteoporosis healthcare. Please tell your family, friends and colleagues to join us. For additional information and to contact your Members of Congress automatically, click here.
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Commemorative Coin Bill Proposes to Support
Osteoporosis Research
Last year, Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito introduced the “Mother’s Day Centennial Commemorative Coin Act” (H.R. 2268), which would fund osteoporosis and breast cancer research and recently Senator John D. Rockefeller IV introduced the same legislation in the Senate (S. 2883).
H.R. 2268/S. 2883 would authorize the United States Mint to produce a commemorative coin in honor of the centennial of the Mother’s Day holiday. Each coin would carry a $10.00 surcharge that would be divided evenly between the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) and Susan G. Komen for the Cure for furthering their research grant programs.
Funds raised from the sale of the coin would further support NOF’s Research Grants Program, which provides peer-reviewed grants to scientists at the beginning their research careers so that they have the opportunity to become the next generation of leading bone scientists who will make the future breakthroughs in osteoporosis research.
In honor of Mother’s Day this month, this is the perfect opportunity to ask your Members of Congress to cosponsor this legislation!
We urge you to ask your Members of Congress to cosponsor the “Mother’s Day Centennial Commemorative Coin Act” (H.R. 2268/S. 2883). Please tell your family, friends and colleagues to join us. For additional information and to contact your Members, click here.
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Update on National Institutes of Health Funding
One of the National Osteoporosis Foundation’s highest advocacy priorities is funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), supporting the federal research effort to find a cure for osteoporosis and improve the quality of life for those with the disease.
This year, the President’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2009 proposes $29.2 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the same level of funding Congress allocated for NIH in fiscal year 2008.
NOF believes that in order to find a cure and increase the treatment options for osteoporosis at our nation’s premier biomedical research institution, Congress must provide sufficient funding to NIH. Without an increase in funding, the NIH budget would fail to keep up with inflation and the growth of research. NOF, along with many organizations, supports a 6.5% increase of funding for the NIH, which is necessary in order to keep up with biomedical research inflation.
As Congress drafts the appropriations bills for fiscal year 2009, NOF is working to voice our support for increased funding for the NIH. NOF will continue to keep you apprised of the federal funding of NIH and how you can help in the future as Congress continues to discuss appropriations for the next fiscal year.
May is National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month
To recognize National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month, NOF has developed a Bone Tool Kit. The Kit is a great resource for basic, easy-to-read information on bone health and osteoporosis, as well as specific information for diverse target audiences. Take action to protect your bone health and prevent osteoporosis!
Click here to download the Bone Tool Kit.
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New NOF Public Policy Staff
NOF has welcomed two new staffers to the Public Policy and Government Relations Department. Shannon von Felden joined NOF in March as Public Policy Associate. Previously she worked on Capitol Hill for a Member of Congress and for a nonprofit organization. Beatriz Duque Long joined NOF in April as Grassroots Policy Associate. Previously she worked for a State Senator in the California State Senate and for two trade associations. Please welcome Shannon and Beatriz!
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