During this busy political season, Presidential Candidates hold events regularly that NPAF supporters may be interested in attending.  Below please find a list of upcoming events.

Event Calendar

On October 3rd, 2007, President Bush vetoed the reauthorization of the state children's health insurance program (SCHIP) calling the bill "deeply flawed."  The compromise legislation would have provided an additional $35 billion for SCHIP over the next five years helping insure millions of poor and low-income children.  The House has scheduled its override vote for October 18th at which time they will need approximately 14 additional Republican votes to override the President's veto.

From Arent Fox LLP

On September 27, 2007, President George W. Bush signed into law the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007, significantly amending the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The new Amendments will have far-reaching effects, though some of the more controversial aspects of the proposed legislation – for example, provisions involving so-called follow-on biologics - were eliminated during the extensive compromise negotiations that occurred over the past several months.

On September 27th, Representatives Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Mike Rogers (R-MI) introduced legislation (HR Res 54) that would reverse a CMS decision limiting Medicare coverage for erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs).  In July, CMS issued a "national coverage determination" announcing that Medicare would cover the use of ESAs to treat anemia caused by chemotherapy but not anemia caused by cancer.  Earlier this year, 235 House members signed a letter to CMS citing concern that the recent decision would force more cancer patients to receive blood transfusions if access to ESAs is limited which could lead to shortages in the country's blood supply.  CMS has said they will not revise their decision without additional evidence.

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