Public Policy Report (September 1998) The second session of the 105th Congress is winding down with an anticipated adjournment date of October 9th. Despite several critical issues that Congress initially indicated its intention to tackle, such as tobacco control legislation, in the final analysis politics won out. At the time this newsletter is going to press the 105th Congress may be behind us with members of Congress looking toward both the 1998 mid-term election and the presidential election in 2000. RESEARCH National Institutes of Health Funding: Throughout the 105th Congress, the concept of doubling the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget over the next five years has had strong support both in Congress and the research advocacy community. The Public Policy Council joined almost 200 organizations in the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research Funding in recommending a 15% increase above current year funding in FY 1999 for the NIH. This support, however, was predicated on encouraging Congress to explore all possible options to identify additional sources of funding to support this increase without harming other public health service programs e.g., immunizations, health services research, health professions education and MCH Block Grant. President Clinton's FY 1999 budget proposed an 8.4% increase for NIH. The House Appropriations Committee recommended an increase of 9.1% and the Senate Appropriations Committee recommended a 14.7% increase in FY 1999. At the time of this writing the appropriations process has not yet been completed. However, there is every indication that in FY 1999 the NIH will receive the largest increase in its history. NIH Pediatric Research Initiative: For the past two years, the PPC and others in the pediatric community have worked closely with the offices of Senators Mike DeWine (R-OH) and Kit Bond (R-MO) to obtain funding for a pediatric research initiative in the Labor/HHS/Education appropriations bill. Working with the National Association of Children's Hospitals (NACH), the March of Dimes and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and other child health research advocates, the PPC requested $50 million in FY 1999. In FY 1998, the PPC was successful in obtaining $38.5 million for this initiative. In addition, throughout this Congress the PPC continued to urge passage of S.484/H.R.1883, legislation to mandate the establishment of a pediatric research initiative at the NIH. WORKFORCE GME/Children’s Hospitals: Freestanding children’s hospitals, those that do not share a Medicare provider number with an adult health care institution, do not qualify for the substantial GME support afforded to teaching institutions through the Medicare program. Until comprehensive GME reform efforts are completed by both the MedPAC and the Bipartisan Commission, the pediatric community has joined the National Association of Children’s Hospitals’ recommendation to seek interim federal support for GME programs for freestanding, independent children’s hospitals. In May 1998, the Senate and House introduced the bipartisan Children’s Hospitals Education and Research Act of 1998 (S.2049/H.R.3855) to provide direct and indirect payments to children’s hospitals beginning in FY 1999. The Senate version of the bill would make payments from appropriations of $100 million in FY 1999, increasing to $285 million annually in FY 2000 through FY 2002. The House version would authorize $285 million in payments until FY 2000. The Senate bill had 19 cosponsors and the House bill had over 70 cosponsors. At the time this newsletter is going to press it is uncertain whether or not the budget reconciliation process will include this provision. However, if it does not, a significant foundation has been laid for next year with several key and critically important members of the House and Senate supporting this legislation. SNEAK PREVIEW -- PUBLIC POLICY COUNCIL SESSIONS AT THE 1999 PAS ANNUAL MEETING: PUBLIC POLICY PLENARY SESSION – Monday, May 3, 1999, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.: As pediatrics and pediatricians look forward to the 21st century, the 1999 PAS meeting will provide a unique opportunity to review, to discuss and to ask questions about the almost final report and recommendations of the Task Force on the Future of Pediatric Education II. The Ambulatory Pediatric Association and the Public Policy Council sponsor this annual Public Policy Plenary Session. PUBLIC POLICY FORUM LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST – Monday, May 3, 1999, 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.: The tentative topic for the 13th annual Public Policy Forum Legislative breakfast sponsored by the Public Policy Council is managed cared. EDUCATIONAL SEMINAR-- RESEARCH AND CHILD HEALTH ADVOCACY:FROM COMMUNITY TO CONGRESS – Saturday, May 1, 1999, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.: This educational seminar session – Research and Child Health Advocacy: From Community to Congress -- is an especially timely session with the new RRC advocacy requirement. Educational Seminars are designed to be an interactive session to address practical topics for trainees and young family. This session is enhanced by the invited speakers: Myron Genel, MD, Associate Dean, Office of Government & Community Affairs, Yale University School of Medicine, a former Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellow and chair of the Public Policy Council and pediatrician and child health care community activist Abraham Bergman, MD, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington. ***************************************************************************** Additional information and resource materials on these or other issues related to child health care are available from the Washington Coordinator for the Societies: Karen M. Hendricks, JD (khendricks@aap.org) or Jennifer Stevens (jstevens@aap.org), Legislative Assistant, at 601 13th Street, NW, Suite 400 North, Washington, DC 20005; phone 800-336-5475 |