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ASM Public Affairs Board Meeting

The ASM Public and Scientific Affairs Board, chaired by Gail Cassell, met at ASM headquarters on 17-18 February 2000. Board members include Anne K. Vidaver, chair, Committee on Agricultural and Food Microbiology; Keith A. Bostian, chair, Committee on Culture Collections and Databases; James M. Tiedje, chair, Committee on Environmental Microbiology; Julius Youngner, chair, Committee on Ethics; David Pramer, chair, Committee on Industry and Biotechnology; Brian W. J. Mahy, chair, Committee on International Policies; Patrick R. Murray, chair, Committee on Laboratory Practices; Ann Progulske-Fox, chair, Committee on Personnel Planning; Alice Weissfeld, chair, Committee on Professional Affairs; Michael T. Osterholm, chair, Committee on Public Health; Carlos Del Rio, chair, Committee on the Status of Minority Microbiologists; Sara W. Rothman, chair, Committee on the Status of Women in Microbiology; Ronald M. Atlas, cochair, Task Force on Biological Weapons; and Kenneth I. Berns, cochair, Task Force on Biological Weapons.

The Board discussed current issues with and heard presentations from the heads of federal agencies, from the ASM 2000 Congressional Science Fellows, Carolyn Wong and Susan Zullo, and from PSAB committee chairs, who summarized key activities and priority public policy issues. Ruth Kirchstein, acting director, National Institutes of Health, Rita Colwell, director, National Science Foundation, and Jane Henney, commissioner, Food and Drug Administration discussed current issues for their respective agencies which impact the microbiological sciences. Jack Gibbons, past adviser to the president for science and technology, Office of Science and Technology Policy, and science consultant to the Department of State, gave a presentation on the Institute of Medicine recommendations to improve science advice at the State Department and discussed ways that the ASM can assist in this process. James Hughes, director, National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), discussed implementing the NCID's updated strategic plan for dealing with emerging infectious diseases. Scott Lillibridge, director, Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Activity, NCID, CDC, gave a presentation on the CDC's bioterrorism preparedness issues.

The Board identified a number of emerging issues to address this year, including legislation and regulations related to genetically modified organisms, nosocomial infections related to medical error, antimicrobial resistance regulatory and legislative efforts, improving science advice at the State Department, laboratory reimbursement issues, biological weapons and bioterrorism preparedness issues, research training, sustaining researchfunding increases, public health infrastructure needs, and intellectual property issues.

ASM Comments on Food Safety Strategic Plan

Government Food Saftey Information

ASM Comments on Draft Preliminary Food Safety Strategic Plan 

On 14 February, the ASM Public and Scientific Affairs Board submitted written comments to the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture on the draft preliminary food safety strategic plan prepared by the President's Council on Food Safety. The food safety strategic plan includes sections on sound science and risk assessment, risk management, and risk communication. The plan identifies the lack of research on and the inability to measure the impact of microbial pathogens on human health. To identify emerging and potential high-risk food safety threats, the development of rapid tests for pathogenic microorganisms is recommended. The draft plan would establish extramural programs that would conduct targeted research and develop training programs on food safety and public health. Information on the food safety plan is available on the Web.

ASM Attends White House Meeting on R&D Funding

ASM was invited 29 February to a meeting in the White House with Chief of Staff to the President John Podesta to discuss the President's unprecedented $3 billion increase in the 21st Century Research Fund, the largest increase in civilian research in a generation. Gail Cassell, chair of ASM's Public and Scientific Affairs Board, attended the meeting on behalf of ASM. High-level White House officials discussed strategic issues related to sustaining large budget increases for R&D for fiscal year 2001 and for the out-years with the ASM and other invited science organizations. The President's FY 2001 requested increase for the 21st Century Research Fund includes a $1 billion increase in biomedical research at the National Institutes of Health and an increase of $675 million for the National Science Foundation, double the largest dollar increase in its 50-year history.

ASM attends IOM Meeting on Lab Payment Structure

April 2000 ASM News Public Affairs Report

MEDICARE PAYMENT METHODOLOGY FOR 
CLINICAL LABORATORY SERVICES

Institute of Medicine Study on Medicare Payment Methodology for Clinical Laboratory Services

As previously reported in ASM News (April 2000, p. 202), the Institute of Medicine (IOM) is conducting a study of lab payment methodologies for Medicare Part B lab services. The study committee met for the second time on 13-14 March to hear further informational briefings from Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) and several Medicare Part B contractors. Kay Buchanan was in attendance on behalf of ASM.

The Committee will meet again on 5 May 2000. Additional information on the IOM study is available at the Committee's Web site.

ASM Involved in Proposed Rulemaking for Clinical Diagnostic Lab Services

National Archives and Records Administration

The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking entitled ``Medicare Program; Negotiated Rulemaking: Coverage and Administrative Policies for Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Services: Proposed Rule'' was published in the Federal Register Friday, March 10, 2000.  The proposed rule is now open for comments until 9 May 2000. There are several key areas in the document pertaining to diagnostic microbiology and immunology.

The proposed rule is the product of the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee (NRC) that was charged with developing uniform coverage and payment policies for clinical laboratory services and establishing national coverage policies for 23 frequently ordered tests. NRC was also charged with limiting the discretion of local carriers and other intermediaries who process Medicare lab claims.

ASM's Vickie Baselski and Alice Weissfeld were involved and instrumental in developing the negotiated rule.

ASM Supports the CDC Coalition

ASM joined members of the CDC Coalition in supporting increased funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2001. The Coalition requested $4.1 billion for the CDC, an increase of $600 million over the amount requested by the President, to continue worldwide stewardship of global health. The Coalition's request was addressed to the chairman of the Senate and House Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies. ASM is an active participant in the Coalition, which is a nonprofit alliance of professional associations and societies that work together to advance public health.

ASM Endorses CNSF Statement

The ASM endorsed the Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF) fiscal year 2001 budget statement for the National Science Foundation (NSF). The CNSF statement applauds the President's unprecedented 17.3% proposed increase for the NSF while at the same time calling for Congress to sustain expansion of the NSF budget over the next five years to an ultimate budget of $10 billion. It is hoped that significant enhancements to NSF budgets over the next five years will allow for continued investments in new initiatives and enable the agency to expand core disciplinary research across all areas of science.