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2005 Public Policy Highlights and
Accomplishments for Osteoporosis
Patients
NOF was instrumental in obtaining
congressional funding for the Department
of Defense bone research programs and
funding for osteoporosis and bone
research in the Department of Health and
Human Services.
Department of Defense (DOD) Bone
Research Program Funding:
For Fiscal Year 2006 the DOD Bone
Research program will be funded at $1
million.
Department of Defense Peer-Reviewed
Medical Research Program Funding:
The DOD Defense Peer-Reviewed Medical
Research program will be funded at $50
million for FY 2006. This program
includes research on osteoporosis and
other bone diseases.
Department of Health and Human Services
Funding:
For Fiscal Year 2006 the National
Institutes of Health will be funded at
$28.4 billion, after a 1%
across-the-board cut, which is the
smallest increase for NIH in more than 3
decades. Of this, NIH estimates that
$189 million will be spent on research
that benefits osteoporosis.
Congressional Briefings
The US Surgeon General's Report on Bone
Health and Osteoporosis:
A Call to Action- NOF
hosted a congressional briefing on
May 11, 2005,
to review Bone Health and
Osteoporosis: A Report of the Surgeon
General. The forum
highlighted the need to protect the bone
health of all Americans through the
creation of a national action plan for
bone health and osteoporosis. Joan
Rivers, entertainer, businesswoman and
an NOF Ambassador, shared her personal
experience with the disease. NOF
President-Elect Ethel S. Siris, MD,
discussed the scope and burden of
osteoporosis on individuals, families
and the nation’s health care system. She
focused on the consequences that
osteoporotic fractures can have on the
physical, mental and financial health of
osteoporosis patients and their
families. NOF Board of Trustees Member
and Scientific Editor of the Surgeon
General’s report Lawrence G. Raisz, MD,
addressed the critical need for health
care advocates and the federal
government to take a leadership role in
responding to the Surgeon General’s call
to action to develop a national action
plan for bone health and osteoporosis.
Advocacy Training Meetings
Strong Voices for Strong Bones Advocacy
Training Meetings-
NOF hosted the “Strong Voices for Strong
Bones Advocacy Training Meeting” on
December 16, 2005 in New Jersey, the
first in a series of four regional
meetings to educate individuals about
advocating for osteoporosis and bone
health with local, state and federal
government representatives. Despite an
ice storm, more than eighty people
attended the event. Speakers included
the assistant commissioner of health for
the New Jersey Department of Health and
Senior Services, the chair of the New
Jersey Interagency Council on
Osteoporosis and local health
professionals.
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