For Members
Statements and Testimony - 2007
- November 28, 2007 - ASM Sends Letter Regarding Antimicrobial Resistance Legislation
The ASM sent a letter to Representatives Jim Matheson (D-UT) and Mike Ferguson (R-NJ) and Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Richard Durbin (D-IL) regarding the legislation "Strategies to Address Antimicrobial Resistance Act (STAAR)" (HR 3697, S. 2313).
- October 4, 2007 – ASM Comments on Laboratory Biosafety
ASM sent a letter to the House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations commenting on biosafety and biocontainment laboratories in the United States.
- September 25, 2007 - ASM Comments on Publication of Medically Unlikely Edits (MUEs)
On September 25, the ASM sent a letter to Medicare contractor, Correct Coding Solutions, LLC to encourage the public release of Medically Unlikely Edits (MUEs).
- September 5, 2007 - ASM Files Amicus Brief on the Need and Safety of BSL 4 Laboratories in the US
The ASM filed an Amicus Curiae brief in August, which provided information about scientific matters related to the need and safety of Biosafety Level 4 laboratories.
- August 28, 2007 - ASM Comments on NIH Peer Review
The ASM submitted comments to the Peer Review Working Group of the Advisory Group to the Director of National Institutes of Health. The ASM comments are based on responses from ASM members.
- August 24, 2007 - ASM Submits Comments to FDA on Revised In Vitro Diagnostic Multivariate Index Assays Guidance Document
The ASM submitted comments to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding its revised Guidance for Industry, Clinical Laboratories, and FDA Staff on In Vitro Diagnostic Multivariate Index Assays (IVDMIAs). The revised Guidance Document was issued on July 26, 2007. - August 17, 2007 - ASM Comments on Phase V Implementation of Medically Unlikely Edits (MUEs)
The ASM submitted comments to Medicare contractor, Correct Coding Solutions (CCI) on Phase V, Medically Unlikely Edits, scheduled to be implemented on January 1, 2008. - August 1, 2007 - ASM Sends Comments to CMS on 2007 Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule
On August 1, 2007, the ASM sent comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding CMS Publication 100-04 (Change Request 5362), “2007 Annual Update for Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule and Laboratory Services Subject to Reasonable Charge Payment."
- July 25, 2007 - ASM Letter Regarding Laboratory Test Improvement Act
The ASM sent comments to Senator Edward Kennedy on the Laboratory Test Improvement Act, S 736.
- July 16, 2007 - Payment Determinations for Calendar Year 2008 for New Clinical Laboratory Tests
On July 16, the ASM presented recommendations to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services at its annual Laboratory Public Meeting regarding payment levels for new tests to be included in the 2008 Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule.
- June 26, 2007 - ASM Recommends Additional Funding to Combat Tuberculosis
The ASM sent a letter to Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), Representative David Obey (D-WI) and Representative James Walsh (R-NY) recommending additional funding to combat tuberculosis, including MDR/XDR TB.
- June 25, 2007 - ASM Sends Comments to OMB Regarding CMS's Draft Advanced Beneficiary Notice
On June 25, the ASM sent comments to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regarding the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) revised Advanced Beneficiary Notice (ABN).
- June 12, 2007 - ASM Submits Comments on CMS Proposed Rule Regarding Hospital Acquired Infections
The ASM submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding its proposed rule, "Medicare Program; Proposed Changes to the Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems and Fiscal Year 2008 Rates" which was published in the Federal Register on May 3, 2007. ASM focused its comments on the section in the proposed rule regarding hospital acquired infections.
- June 6, 2007 - ASM Comments on Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules
The ASM sent comments to the National Institutes of Health Office of Biotechnology Activities about the Federal Register Notice, "Recombinant DNA Research: Proposed Actions Under the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules (NIH Guidelines). - May 29, 2007 - ASM Comments on Phase IV Implementation of Medically Unlikely Edits (MUEs)
ASM submitted comments to Medicare contractor, Correct Coding Solutions (CCI) on Phase IV, Medically Unlikely Edits, scheduled to be implemented on October 1, 2007.
- May 8, 2007 - ASM Letter Supporting Antibiotic Access and Innovation Amendment
The ASM sent a letter to Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) supporting an amendment he offered during floor consideration of the Food and Drug Administration Revitalization Act (S 1082). The amendment, Antibiotic Access and Innovation, would encourage the development of new antibiotics and improve the treatment of patients with infectious diseases.
- April 16, 2007 - ASM Recommendations for the 2007 Farm Bill Research Provisions
The ASM sent a letter to the House and Senate Agriculture Committees providing recommendations as they consider the provisions for agricultural research in Title VII of the 2007 Farm Bill.
- April 1, 2007 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - FY 2008 Testimony
Appropriations statement regarding CDC funding for FY 2008.
- April 1, 2007 - National Institutes of Health - FY 2008 Testimony
Appropriations statement regarding NIH funding for FY 2008.
- April 1, 2007 - Food and Drug Administration - FY 2008 Testimony
Appropriations statement regarding FDA funding for FY 2008
- April 1, 2007 - U.S. Department of Agriculture - FY 2008 Testimony
Appropriations statement regarding USDA funding for FY 2008.
- April 1, 2007 - Environmental Protection Agency - FY 2008 Testimony
Appropriations statement regarding NSF funding for FY 2008.
- April 1, 2007 - Department of Energy - FY 2008 Testimony
Appropriations statement regarding DOE funding for FY 2008. - March 21, 2007 - ASM Comments on Phase III Implementation of Medically Unlikely Edits (MUEs)
ASM submitted comments to Medicare contractor, Correct Coding Solutions (CCI), on the Phase III of Medically Unlikely Edits (MUEs), scheduled to be implemented on July 1, 2007.
- March 20, 2007 - ASM Submits Comments to the NIGMS on Strategic Plan
The ASM commented on the National Institutes of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) Strategic Plan. The comments responded to the question "How can NIGMS more effectively promote and encourage greater diversity in the biomedical research workforce?" The comments were prepared by the ASM Committee on Microbiological Issues Impacting Minorities.
- March 5, 2007 - ASM Submits Comments to FDA on In Vitro Diagnostic Multivariate Index Assays Guidance Document
The ASM submitted comments to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding its draft Guidance for Industry, Clinical Laboratories, and FDA Staff on In Vitro Diagnostic Multivariate Index Assays (IVDMIAs). The Guidance Document was issued on September 7, 2006.
- February 12, 2007 - ASM Submits Comments to APHIS on Brucellosis Regulations
The ASM submitted comments in response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) request for comments on the proposed changes in the brucellosis regulations, providing an exception for brucellosis exposed or infected animals held within federally approved research facilities.
- February 6, 2007 - ASM Sends Thank You Letter to Congressional Leaders on FY 2007 Joint Funding Resolution
The ASM sent a letter to the House and Senate leadership and appropriations chairs and ranking members thanking them for providing additional funding in the FY 2007 Joint Funding Resolution for science, public health and research programs.
- February 5, 2007 - American Society for Microbiology Alarmed by Erosion of NIH Funding
The ASM released a statement regarding the President's FY 2008 proposed budget for the National Institutes of Health and biomedical research
- January 12, 2007 - ASM Urges Increased Funding for DOE, NSF and USDA
The ASM sent a letter to the House and Senate leadership and to the chairs and ranking minority members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees urging them to provide increased funding for the science research and education programs of the Department of Energy Office of Science, the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
- January 9, 2007 - ASM Urges Increased Funding for NIH and CDC in the Continuing Resolution
The ASM sent a letter to the House and Senate leadership and to the chairs and ranking minority members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees urging them to provide $7 billion in funding over the President’s budget request in order to increase funding for programs, including the NIH and CDC, in the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education (LHHS) appropriations bill when the final Continuing Resolution is considered for FY 2007. - January 8, 2007 - ASM Comments on Phase II Implementation of Medically Unlikely Edits (MUEs)
ASM submitted comments to Medicare contractor, Correct Coding Solutions (CCI), on the Phase II Implementation of Medically Unlikely Edits (MUEs), scheduled for April 1, 2007. ASM's statement reiterates comments previously submitted on June 19, 2006.
- January 5, 2007 - ASM Letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Regarding Antimicrobial Susceptibility Breakpoints
The ASM sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in support of a Citizen Petition filed by the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) regarding antimicrobial susceptibility breakpoints