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Dr. Eugenio Najera joined members of ASCO (American Society of Clinical Oncology) for an ASCO advocacy day in Capitol Hill. The purpose of the meeting was to ask congress to address drug shortages, increase funding for research and make telemedicine expansion permanent. See below the details of the requests.
As discussed, I hope you will work with your colleagues to pass comprehensive legislation to mitigate and prevent drug shortages.
Legislation should address the economic factors of shortages, reward reliable US manufacturing, recognize potential shortages earlier, and relay information about potential shortages to help prepare for supply challenges.
Additionally, we ask that Congress support cancer research by providing $51.3 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), $7.934 billion for the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and $1.5 billion for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) in fiscal year 2025. Funding for ARPA-H should supplement, not supplant, funding for NIH and NCI.
Finally, please cosponsor the CONNECT for Health Act (H.R. 4189) which would permanently removing geographic and originating site restrictions to ensure that Medicare patients are able to access tele-health services regardless of their location. Without action, these flexibilities will expire at the end of this year.I welcome the opportunity to serve as a resource to you and your office on any issues related to cancer and look forward to continued dialogue in the future.
Thank you again for your time.
Sincerely,J Eugenio Najera MD
Hematology/oncology Cancer Centers of Southwest Oklahoma
President Oklahoma Society of Clinical Oncology
