RESEARCH!AMERICA unveiled its policy wish list for 2016, urging Congress to take action on several research priorities.
“Congress should act this year to sustain robust funding for federal health agencies, advance medical innovation and mental health legislation, and permanently repeal the medical device tax,” they said in a statement.
The advocacy group said that additional funds for NIH and FDA will support innovative projects including precision medicine, Alzheimer’s research and efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance, however “the budget for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality was cut by eight percent in the spending bill, further limiting the agency’s ability to address costly errors and inefficiencies in health care delivery. Sustainable and predictable investments for AHRQ and other health agencies are critical to accelerating medical progress.”
The group also called attention to a bill being drafted by a Senate committee, called the Innovations for Healthier Americans Initiative, which is companion legislation for the 21st Century Cures bill, which passed in the House last year.
“Research!America urges Senate action early this year on legislation that responsibly modernizes regulatory pathways for new drugs and medical devices, and includes mandatory funding for the NIH and FDA. The goal must be to enact meaningful legislation this year.”
