The Trump Administration has proposed a new rule that applies to all federal agencies and would dramatically reshape the federal grant-making process. The changes proposed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which include limiting scientific dissemination and allowing federal agencies to terminate grants at will, threaten to undermine hematology research and patient care.

ASH has been working with congressional sickle cell disease (SCD) champions on bipartisan legislation to improve care for individuals with SCD. The Sickle Cell Disease Comprehensive Care Act (S. 721 / H.R. 5178) expands the existing Medicaid Health Home program. We need your help in getting your elected officials to cosponsor this legislation.

ASH is the leading advocate for hematologists in Washington, even in light of repeated attempts to cut federal research funding. ASH is calling on you to help support our mission by using your voice. Urge your lawmakers to reject NIH cuts and support strong, sustained research funding.

As Congress explores options to offset the current administration’s budget priorities through the Congressional budget reconciliation process, one area under consideration is Medicaid funding. Medicaid provides health care coverage to one in five Americans – more than 79 million people.

ASH is extremely concerned about the steps the Administration continues to take to radically restructure the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), eliminate critical programs, and significantly reduce the federal workforce. This includes devastating changes to agencies with programs critical to hematology, including the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and more. The Society is continuing to try to understand the impact that these changes have had and will have on hematology-related research, public health programs, and patient care.

The Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act (S. 1936) has been introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), John Barrasso (R-WY), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI). This bipartisan bill aims to increase access to palliative blood transfusions for patients receiving end-of-life care through the Medicare hospice benefit by establishing a demonstration program to provide a separate payment for blood transfusions in addition to the daily reimbursement rate for hospice care services.