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Washington Update June 2009
In this Issue:
Topics of Interest
Capitol Hill Progress
Congress Is Considering Health Reform
Allergists, Congressman Lead Forum on Health, Environment and Policy
Administrative/Regulatory Watch
Obama Nominates FDA, HHS Leaders
Transition to Non-CFC propelled Inhalers Continues
Social Networking Sites
AAFA's Care2 Community
AAFA's MySpace Community
AAFA's Facebook Community
Asthma and Allergy Foundation Advocacy Blog
Full Articles:
Topics of Interest
Capitol Hill Progress
Congress Is Considering Health Reform
The President's outline for the upcoming fiscal year includes more details on his plan to reform health care. Congressional leaders of have expressed commitment to health reform, but others caution that the projected costs may force the President to scale back his vision. Mr. Obama is budgeting $634 billion over 10 years to extend health coverage to 46 million uninsured. Meanwhile, Republicans have released an alternative budget proposal that also extends coverage but attacks the long-term costs of the President's plan as well as the proposed government-run alternative health plan on ideological grounds. The relevant Congressional committees are writing the details of health reform now, and Congressional leaders expect to have it ready for a vote by summer.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America supports affordable quality health care for all. Health reform offers the best chance for achieving our coverage goal. AAFA, a member of the National Health Council, urges your support of its Five Principles of Health Reform:
- Cover Everyone
- Curb Costs Responsibly
- Abolish Exclusions of Pre-Existing Conditions
- Eliminate Lifetime Caps
- Ensure Respect at the End of Life
YOU CAN HELP! Please join AAFA and thousands of asthma and allergic disease advocates by
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Allergists, Congressman Lead Forum on Health, Environment and Policy
Linking the environment and people's health, Steve Kagen, MD, the only allergist serving in the US Congress, led a forum exploring the link between the nation's health and climate change. "The Environment, Public Policy and Human Health Emerging Trends" was a landmark gathering of experts, allergist and patient advocates that presented the impact of environmental policy and the role of allergist/immunologists in shaping environmental medicine.
Other expert speakers were Paul Epstein MD, MPH of Harvard Medical School and David Peden MD, FAAAAI of the University of the North Carolina School of Medicine and Jeffrey Demain, MD, FAAAAI. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology's Regional State and Local Society sponsored the event.
Dr. Demain presented the climate change experience n his home state of Alaska with breathtaking photos and shocking stories. According to Dr. Demain, "Schools had to cancel field trips because of yellowjackets". He said the thawing permafrost is already destabilizing land beneath homes, threatening entire towns and challenging the subsistence way of living in the 49th state. Dr. Epstein explained the impact of carbon dioxide increases on mold and pollen, and how urban heat "domes" worsen ozone levels. Dr. Pedan associated ozone levels with increased exacerbations of asthma, and cited Atlanta's traffic controls during the 1996 Olympic Games as proof that public policy can work to lower ozone levels in cities.
Representative Steve Kagen, MD, who followed his father's path both in becoming a physician and in running for Congress, linked the importance of the environment and health policy. The Appleton, Wisconsin native told his physician colleagues and advocates that it is a "moral shame that we cannot come up with access to affordable care." He invoked the battle for civil rights in the US, saying that we "need to apply civil rights to the health care industry."
Rep. Kagen's statements recalled a recent interview with AAFA in which he offered this advice to advocates: patients should augment their efforts to remain healthy with activities designed to improve public policy for asthma and allergy sufferers. "Patients have to be actively involved with their elected officials in Washington and at the state and local level to make sure they understand the relationship between environment and health." Representative Kagen further advised patients to call their representatives to demand increased funding for the National Institutes of Health and other research agencies to ensure more effective medical treatments will be available, and to use their power as voters and constituents to demand their representatives prioritize affordable healthcare.
In light of President Obama's personal experience with asthma and allergic disease, Representative Kagen believes that now is the time to push for change and for access to quality and affordable healthcare for all. Representative Kagen also wants to end discrimination based on pre-existing conditions, recognizing that many families cannot afford adequate coverage now, but must be included when affordable coverage becomes available. Ultimately, while he sees education, health and energy as crucial issues facing the new Congress, he emphasizes that no single issue is more important at present than fixing the economy and, as he declared, "Jobs, jobs, jobs!"
For more information about Representative Steve Kagen, or to contact your Congressman or Senator to demand healthcare reform now, please visit www.house.gov or www.senate.gov.
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Administrative/Regulatory Watch
Obama Nominates FDA, HHS Leaders
President Barack Obama nominated Governor Kathleen Sebelius as Secretary of Health and Human Services. He also nominated the former health commissioner of NY City, Margaret Hamburg, as Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, and Baltimore health commissioner Joshua Sharfstein as Hamburg's deputy. He also nominated Yvette Roubideaux, of the University of Arizona's College of Medicine, as director of Indian Health Service. These nominations have now been confirmed by the US Senate.
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Transition to Non-CFC propelled Inhalers Continues
As the ban on the distribution and production of CFC albuterol inhalers approaches its first 100 days, some patients are sharing complaints that are being reported in the news media. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urges patients to talk with their health care professionals now about any questions related to the new HFA-propelled albuterol inhalers. AAFA continues to urge patients to view our materials on this transition at www.transitionnow.org, as well as to reach out to your physician for additional advice. In addition, AAFA has added new information on www.aafa.org that explains in detail, how to use, prep, and clean each of the 4 HFA inhalers.
In addition, the US has announced that it is banning the epinephrine inhalers that are sold over the counter as Primatene Mist™ and private label store brands. If you rely on these inhalers, act now. The Primatene ban will take effect in 3 years (12/31/2011). This ban will not affect the availability of epinephrine auto injectors, like the EpiPen®.
For more information, contact AAFA's Director of Public Policy & Advocacy, Charlotte W. Collins, at charlotte@aafa.org.
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Social Networking Sites
AAFA has recently created three social networking sites for asthma and allergy patients. For more information about AAFA, you can go to www.aafa.org after you join our online community on any of the following sites:
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AAFA's Care2 Community
AAFA continues to reach out to the Social Networking phenomenon, hoping to reach as many advocates as we can to join our cause. Come join the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America's online Care2 community, by going to http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/AAFAAdvocates.
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AAFA's MySpace Community
Come join the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America's online MySpace community, or by clicking here: http://www.myspace.com/aafanational.
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AAFA's Facebook Community
Come join the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America's online Facebook community, by going to the Causes application on Facebook and joining, or by clicking here:
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/47041?recruiter_id=11753112.
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Asthma and Allergy Foundation Advocacy Blog
Check out AAFA's Advocacy Blog, http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/2646/aafa/. Each month the blog explores asthma and allergy related policies and issues that directly impact our patients. Please leave comments so that you can join the discussion, voice your opinion on issues that really matter to patients, and let AAFA hear all aspects of these issues.
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