This week, the Endocrine Society urged Congress to address the obesity epidemic. We coordinated a group of national organizations representing patients, health professionals, clinicians, researchers, and community-based providers to join together to send a letter to congressional leaders. The letter urged Congress to take action on obesity now because it is a nationwide public health crisis that has impacted our economy and national security. Given the new developments in treatment, including pharmacotherapy and lifestyle behavioral therapies, it is time for Congress to address this issue.
Funding uncertainties remain for researchers supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Several recent executive actions have resulted in severely restricted communications and have prevented timely awards of research grants. While the courts have temporarily blocked an executive order that set the indirect cost rate at 15% on NIH grants and an intended funding freeze, significant barriers remain for current grants. In addition, because NIH cannot submit study section meeting notices to the Federal Register, grant reviews and the issuing of new grants are on an indefinite hold.
Meanwhile, Congress continues negotiations to resolve the budget for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY 2025). If a spending bill or another continuing resolution is not passed by the March 14 deadline, a government shutdown will take effect on March 15. We are working with a broad coalition to advocate for the completion of the budget for FY 2025 and joined a letter urging Congress to increase funding for NIH and to introduce language into legislation to protect NIH grants from receiving cuts to indirect costs.
The Endocrine Society continues to share your stories about the impact of funding cuts with members of Congress. If you conduct research or administer a program, let us know what impact these actions are having on your research by emailing us at [email protected]. We also encourage our US based members to join our campaign to reach out to Congress directly.
This week, President Trump issued an executive order to develop policy recommendations to expand access to in vitro fertilization (IVF). The order states that within 90 days the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy will submit to the President “a list of policy recommendations on protecting IVF access and aggressively reduce out-of-pocket and health plan costs for IVF treatment.” This order does not change any current policies. The recommendations are set to focus on addressing any current policies that increase the cost of IVF treatments.
The Society has been a leader in advocating for access to IVF treatment. In June 2024, we endorsed the Right to IVF Act, introduced by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Patty Murray (D-WA) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), to protect and expand nationwide access to fertility treatment, including IVF. The Right to IVF Act would help individuals and families impacted by infertility by establishing a statutory right to access IVF for all Americans who need it to start or grow a family and expanding access to coverage for IVF and fertility treatments. On September 17, 2024, Senate Republicans voted to block the bill. Endocrinologists are essential to IVF care, and we support access for all families across the country seeking safe and effective IVF treatment. The Society will continue to urge Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle to address access to IVF and other assisted reproductive technologies and will continue to advocate for our members who treat and research infertility and other hormone health conditions.
We rely on your voice to advocate for our policy priorities. Join us to show our strength as a community that cares about endocrinology. Contact your US representatives or European Members of Parliament through our online platform. Take action and make a difference today.
