Update: Medical Research Funding Cuts in the U.S. Department of Defense
Despite advocacy efforts, Congress approved cuts to the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) by 57% as part of the Continuing Resolution to appropriate funds for the remaining 6 months of Fiscal Year 2025. That includes funding for liver cancer and liver disease. Each year as part of Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, the U.S. Department of Defense supports medical research that will benefit Service members, their families, and the American public. These programs have funded innovative basic, applied, translational, and clinical research on several topics related to liver disease. The Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program, for instance, supports research into all cancers, including liver cancer. We will be monitoring the implications for liver-related DOD research.
House Budget Resolution Passed, Medicaid Cuts May be on Agenda
The House adopted their budget resolution on a mostly party-line vote. It tasked the committee that oversees Medicaid and Medicare, the Energy and Commerce Committee, with cutting $880 billion, meaning Republicans will almost certainly have to find ways to curtail federal spending on those programs. One option supported by Republicans would be to require approximately 36 million Medicaid adults to prove they work or file paperwork for exemptions. According to Kaiser Family Foundation, of non-disabled adults under 65 who rely on Medicaid, 92% are either working, caring for a family member, managing an illness or disability or attending school. Nearly half of Medicaid beneficiaries who are employed work for small companies and are not eligible for employer-sponsored health insurance at their job, leaving Medicaid as one of their only coverage options. It is not clear where the committee will find $880 billion in savings without cutting Medicaid benefits. The Senate will take up its own budget reconciliation bill soon, though it is not clear yet whether its version will require the House to agree to changes. GLI is urging Congress to protect Medicaid and Medicare. View more information here from our partners at Modern Medicaid Alliance.
Tracking Trump 2.0 Administration Appointees
President Donald Trump has selected Cabinet-level officials for his administration. GLI is monitoring the Senate’s confirmation process closely. Here are his picks in the healthcare arena:
- HHS: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (Confirmed)
- CMS: Dr. Mehmet Oz (Confirmed)
- CDC: Dr. Susan Monarez (TBD, Dr. Dave Weldon nomination withdrawn)
- FDA: Dr. Martin Mackary (Confirmed)
- NIH: Dr. Jay Bhattacharya (Confirmed)
- Surgeon General: Dr. Janette Nesheiwat (TBD)
- VA: Former Rep. Doug Collins (Confirmed)
- Attorney General: Pam Bondi (Confirmed)
GLI Highly Concerned about the Fate of Health Programs as Agencies Lose Expert Public Servants and Programs Close
The administration has eliminated the staff of several CDC offices, including entire offices conducting public health communication campaigns, modeling and behavioral surveillance, capacity building, and non-lab research. Dr. Peter Marks, director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research and a central figure in advancing rare disease innovation through the FDA, resigned from his position, stating that undermining confidence in vaccines is irresponsible and a danger to public health. We have learned Dr. Jonathan Mermin, the highly respected director of the National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, was “reassigned” to the Indian Health Service. Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, the Director of the NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, also has been “reassigned” to the Indian Health Service. The entire staff of the HHS Office of Infectious Diseases & HIV Policy and the HHS Office of Minority Health have been terminated.
Senators Cassidy and Sanders have invited the new HHS Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, to participate in a hearing about HHS reorganization on April 10, 2025. GLI will monitor the situation closely and continue sharing with Congress our significant concerns about the impact of these cuts on so many programs that liver disease patients rely on.
More Reasons to Support High-Quality Access to Anti-Obesity Medications
A new white paper from the University of Southern California argues obesity medications provide increased life expectancy. In a national poll of older adults, interest in using weight management medications was high, and most thought Medicare should cover these drugs. We have also learned that a two-day webinar called “Leveraging Real-World Evidence to Assess Benefits and Risks of GLP-1-Based Therapies” will be hosted by NIDDK on May 7-8, 2025, with registration closing on May 1.
Joe Nadglowski from Obesity Action Coalition published an opinion stating “President Trump can make Americans healthier, cut significant waste and costs in our health system, and reward innovations that are safe and effective” by covering obesity medications. GLI strongly supports the CMS-proposed rule to permit coverage of anti-obesity medications (AOMs) for weight loss when treating obesity. View GLI’s comments here. Additionally, GLI looks forward to the reintroduction of the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA), which would advance coverage of drugs treating obesity as well as improved access to intensive behavioral therapy.
GLI Urges FDA to Enforce Compounding Regulations
GLI sent a letter alongside other organizations urging the FDA to protect patients from potential risks associated with unapproved and unregulated drug formulations. The letter urged the FDA to enforce existing regulation to ensure that compounding pharmacies adhere to federal regulations by discontinuing the production of GLP-1 medications now that the shortage has been resolved, as well as to monitor compliance and implement measures to monitor and enforce compliance during and after the grace period to prevent unauthorized compounding of these medications. It will be essential to educate stakeholders and enforce existing rules against misleading information as part of the process. View the letter here.
GLI Continues to Push Congress and the Administration for Veteran Access to Care for MASH/NASH
U.S. Veterans continue to be denied coverage for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), formerly known as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), treatment without a biopsy. GLI has also expressed concerns that Veterans’ care is delayed due to the VA’s Criteria for Use to receive “comprehensive lifestyle intervention” for 6 months before being eligible for treatment. The VA’s decision is contrary to the label from the Food and Drug Administration and clinical guidelines.
As part of GLI’s Beyond the Biopsy initiative, GLI and its partners sent a letter to the VA. Most recently, GLI and AASLD sent a follow-up letter to the VA calling for coverage consistent with clinical guidelines. We continue to encourage signatures here on a petition to all payers calling for coverage without biopsy! GLI also urges advocates to reach out to Congress to call on the VA to take steps to increase efforts to screen, diagnose and treat veterans with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis or MASH, formerly known as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH, using non-invasive diagnostics and FDA-approved treatments, similar to Tricare for active-duty military and provide a briefing to the Committee on these efforts.
Bills Helping Patients Reintroduced in 119th Congress
GLI is closely monitoring the reintroduction of legislation that helps patients access and afford the health care they need. We will continue to update this list. A few bills reintroduced so far include:
- Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection and Screening Act (H.R.842/S.339)
- Allows Medicare to cover simple blood tests to screen patients for cancer, leading to early diagnosis and treatment.
- HELP Copays Act (S.864)
- Requires health care insurers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to count payments they receive on a patient’s behalf — including payments from nonprofit organizations or drug manufacturers — toward the patient’s annual deductibles and out-of-pocket limit.
- Seniors’ Access to Critical Medications Act (H.R.2484)
- Allows Medicare patients to receive essential medications by mail or have caregivers and family members pick them up on their behalf. A hearing is expected April 8 in the House Energy and Commerce Committee!
- Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Transparency Act (S.526)
- Bans deceptive and unfair pricing schemes, prohibits arbitrary claw backs of payments made to pharmacies, and requires PBMs to report to the FTC on how much money they make through spread pricing and pharmacy fees.
- ORPHAN Cures Act (H.R.946)
- Expands the Orphan Drug Exclusion in the Medicare Drug Negotiation Program to allow for the research and development of existing products that could help find treatments for the more than 95 percent of rare diseases without approved therapies.
- Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act (H.R.1520)
