AACOM Continues to Advocate for NIH Osteopathic Funding
Published July 10, 2024
By AACOM Government Relations
Advocacy Federal Policy OME Advocate
House and Senate members are taking a closer look at National Institutes of Health (NIH) reform. On Thursday, July 10, the House Appropriations Committee will mark up its FY25 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies appropriations bill. Although the bill would maintain level funding for NIH at $48 billion, it would restructure NIH from 27 to 15 centers. The House Energy and Commerce Committee is seeking stakeholder feedback on its corresponding Framework for Discussion to reform the NIH. AACOM is reviewing this framework and will consider commenting before the August 16 deadline. Last October, AACOM responded to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee ranking member’s request for information on NIH Reform, and Senator Cassidy recently released a white paper that emphasized the need for a more balanced research portfolio. Amid these proposals, AACOM continues to advocate for increased osteopathic research funding and representation. Although colleges of osteopathic medicine (COMs) comprise one-quarter of all medical schools, osteopathic scientists are severely underutilized in NIH research and underrepresented on NIH Advisory Councils and study sections. AACOM has secured Report Language in FYs 2022, 2023 and 2024 funding bills, along with a bipartisan, bicameral congressional letter that recognizes the importance and benefits of osteopathic medicine and urges the NIH to do more to incorporate COMs into research activities. Yet the NIH has taken no overt action to address these concerns raised by Congress. AACOM is engaged in a comprehensive plan to reverse this disparity and ensure that the NIH is effectively utilizing osteopathic researchers to bolster its capacity to address some of the Nation’s most pressing healthcare needs, particularly in primary care and rural health. Please contact aacomgr@aacom.org if you wish to participate in and provide any feedback to help inform our future comments and activities on NIH. |