Congress temporarily averted a government shutdown through the passage of a Continuing Resolution (CR) for funding the government into early 2024, specifically through February 2, 2024. For health care programs, this includes a provision to avert cuts in clinical lab services for Fiscal Year 2024. Join Global Liver Institute’s Continued Push for Congress to Advance Priority Bills and Support Agency Efforts.
The government averted a shutdown, but work continues to advance FY 2024 appropriations bills to keep the government funded throughout the Fiscal Year.
The Continuing Resolution keeps certain elements of the U.S. government funded through January 19, with federal health programs funded through February 2, 2024. Still, Congress will need to pass another Continuing Resolution or pass the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations bills. GLI continues to support funding levels reflected in the Senate appropriations bills, providing modest increases to key healthcare programs and activities and directing funds for a NAFLD study. Please join us by reaching out to your legislators!
Funding challenges put modernization of the organ transplant system at risk.
As Congress debates funding for the government through Fiscal Year 2024, none of the proposals would provide funding to implement the recently passed Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act, signed into law by the President
in September. The administration has asked for $67 million from Congress to advance the contracts needed for modernization. The Senate provides only a modest increase in funding, providing $33 million, or half of the President’s funding request. GLI is working closely with Congress and the administration to ensure HRSA advances organ transplant modernization has the funding and tools to do so effectively.
GLI Advanced Advocacy Academy’s (A3) Graduates Speak at AASLD Conference.
GLI is proud to see so many Advanced Advocacy Advocacy (A3) graduates profiled to speak at the recent AASLD The Liver Meeting® in Boston. A3 graduate speakers included Karen Hoyt, Wendy Lo, Tony Villiotti, Lorrinda Gray Davis, Jess Schnur, and Terri Milton. They brought their patient voice to an audience of clinicians and innovators about the need for access to innovative health treatments.
GLI applauds Congress for passing a one-year delay in clinical laboratory cuts!
During GLI’s Capitol Hill Day visits with liver patients as a part of ourA3 on October 2, 2023, liver health advocates strongly urged Congress to pass a permanent fix to prevent cuts in clinical lab reimbursement. While not a permanent fix, GLI is relieved Congress included a one-year delay in Medicare reimbursement cuts to clinical laboratories as part of its CR to keep the government funded past November 17. With the passage of the CR, Congress has successfully delayed implementation of cuts for the fifth year in a row and advocates will continue working to abolish these life-threatening cuts through passage of the Support the Saving Access to Laboratory Services Act.
Momentum Grows for Policymakers to Cover Obesity Treatments
A new study makes it undeniable that obesity is a chronic, treatable disease that should be covered by insurers. GLI is pleased to support the Obesity Care Advocacy Network statement referencing the New England Journal of Medicine’s publication of the full results from the SELECT study of semaglutide to prevent cardiovascular deaths, strokes, and heart attacks in people with obesity. Support for coverage of obesity treatments is broad across communities that prioritize health equity, including the Health Equity Coalition for Chronic Disease which is calling on the administration to advance coverage. GLI continues to strongly advocate for passage of the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act, sending a letter on November 14, 2023, to lawmakers making the case for passage.
GLI comments on HHS Office for Civil Rights proposed changes to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act impacting access to liver transplants for people with disabilities.
The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has proposed a rule to remove barriers to organ transplant for people with disabilities, based on recommendations from a 2019 study from the National Council on Disability. With GLI’s long history supporting organ transplant system reforms, GLI provided comments to the agency supporting its work and recommending that the final rule acknowledge not only the discrimination experienced by those seeking an organ transplant but also those seeking to be donors.
GLI Supports Reintroduction of the Medical Nutrition Therapy Act.
GLI is pleased to be among the 40 expert national organizations endorsing the Medical Nutrition Therapy Act, recently reintroduced in Congress (H.R. 6407, S. 3297). The bill will provide Medicare beneficiaries with greater access to registered dietitian nutritionists by expanding the availability of nutrition services under Medicare Part B.
