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ACR releases statement opposing health care cuts in Trump’s 2018 budget proposal
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The American College of Rheumatology has released a statement about Trump’s 2018 budget proposal, which would cut NIH funding by $6 billion, cut FDA funding by $854 million and cut Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funding by $4.8 billion.
“Unfortunately, the administration’s proposed 2018 budget would slash vital funding for institutions and agencies that, together with rheumatology providers, are on the frontlines of rheumatic disease prevention and care,” Sharad Lakhanpal, MBBS, MD, president of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), said in the statement.
In addition, Lakhanpal mentioned that lack of funding would slow advancement of new biosimilars and would thus make biologic therapy less affordable for patients.
“The ACR supports increased FDA funding to bolster the agency’s biosimilar drug review and approval process, which we believe is key to improving competition and lowering the cost of effective but expensive biologic therapies,” he said. “While we recognize the proposal to replace nearly a billion dollars in cuts to the taxpayer-funded FDA budget by increasing industry user fees, we are concerned that this funding may not materialize given that this year’s user fee agreements have already been negotiated. Overall, we fear that the proposed reduction in taxpayer funding for FDA activities could slow the regulation and advancement of new biosimilars and hamper efforts to make these therapies more affordable for our patients.”
However, the ACR showed support for a provision in the budget recommending a repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB).
“An appointed panel with sweeping authority to impose arbitrary payment cuts is not the appropriate way to curb health care spending,” Lakhanpal said. “The risk of harm is too great when responsibility for Medicare decisions is mired in additional levels of bureaucracy, particularly one that is immune from Congressional oversight and not accountable to all stakeholders. Therefore, the ACR applauds the budget recommendation to repeal IPAB once and for all.”
The ACR also showed support for increased funding for graduate medical education called for by the budget, but criticized the elimination of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which could reduce the supply of doctors in needed areas.
Overall, Lakhanpal encouraged the government to provide more stable funding so that patients with rheumatic disease can receive effective treatment.
“At a time when one in four U.S. adults now live with painful and debilitating rheumatic diseases, it is imperative that the federal government provide stable, predictable funding for the medical research and regulatory activities that lead to more affordable and effective treatments for Americans living with these diseases,” Lakhanpal said.
He added, “The ACR will continue to provide feedback to the administration and Congressional leaders as they work to craft a budget that meets the health care needs of all Americans, including the 54 million individuals who live with arthritis and other rheumatic diseases.”
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