Senate Committee Approves AACOM-Requested Language Advancing Osteopathic Research and Clinical Rotations
Published August 06, 2024
By AACOM Government Relations
Federal Policy
OME Advocate
On August 1, 2024, the Senate Appropriations Committee held a markup of its fiscal year (FY) 2025 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHSE) and Department of Defense (DoD) funding bills. The bill and accompanying report include many osteopathic priorities including support for more osteopathic research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the expansion of community-based clinical rotations and the use of osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) with servicemembers.
AACOM is pleased that the Committee continues to urge the NIH to increase osteopathic research funding and representation, stating: Osteopathic Medical Schools.—Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine educate 25 percent of all the Nation’s medical students and prioritize research and training in primary care and rural and underserved healthcare ... The Committee encourages NIH continue engaging with researchers from Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, encouraging them to apply for available funding opportunities across NIH Institutes and Centers, and requests an update in the fiscal year 2026 CJ of how Institutes and Centers are expanding research and representation opportunities for Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine. |
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The Committee also included language spearheaded by AACOM that calls to expand clinical rotations in rural and underserved communities. The report language aligns with the Community TEAMS Act (H.R. 7258 / S. 3968) and says: |
Community-based Clinical Rotations for Medical Students —The Committee recognizes that patient care is frequently provided in a range of community-based settings and that providing outpatient training opportunities in underserved areas encourages long-term, sustainable physician practice in high-need areas. The Committee encourages HRSA to evaluate and facilitate opportunities for medical schools to partner with FQHCs, Rural Health Clinics or other healthcare facilities located in medically underserved communities to increase medical school clinical rotations in rural and underserved areas. |
Additionally, the report notes the need to expand non-pharmacologic treatments for pain and highlights osteopathic manipulative treatment’s role in reducing pain and reliance on prescription opioids: Non-Pharmacologic Treatments for Pain —Non-pharmacologic treatments for pain management have shown to be effective in reducing pain and reliance on prescription opioids. The Committee encourages CMS to consider ways to expand the use and coverage of non-pharmacologic treatments, such as osteopathic manipulative treatment and other alternative treatments as appropriate, for back and other pain. |
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The DoD report includes AACOM-requested language to support research on the use OMM in military service members: Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine —The Committee is aware of research regarding the effectiveness of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine [OMM] in reducing acute low back pain in active duty military personnel. This medicine is a non-invasive, drug free treatment that can accelerate the recovery time and reduce the need for opioid pain medication of servicemembers, often at a cheaper cost burden to the Military Health System. While the Committee understands that OMM has been used to a limited degree in the Military Health System, the Committee remains concerned that not enough is being done to incorporate all methods of care to the armed forces. Therefore, the Committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a report to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate not later than 180 days after enactment of this act, detailing how the Department of Defense can enhance research into the efficacy of OMM in treating servicemember pain and other combat-related injuries and integrate OMM into the Military Health System. |
AACOM celebrates the inclusion of osteopathic priorities in the Senate LHHSE and DoD reports and will continue to engage as the FY25 appropriations process moves forward. Further AACOM analysis of these funding bills is forthcoming. |
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