Documents

January 26, 2016

MCC Working Group Comment Letter

January 12, 2016

Comment Letter on CDC Opioid Guidelines

The Alliance for Aging Research wrote a letter to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requesting modifications to the 2016 CDC Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain. Specifically, the Alliance recommended the CDC modify the guidelines by: 

Including a statement calling for further investment of federal resources into clinical research to assist providers in tailoring long-term opioid use.
Requiring Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide an updated clinical evidence review of the guidelines
Calling on public and private payers to broadly cover the cost of non-pharmacologic interventions for pain sufferers. 
Adding more resources to www.cdc.gov on the safe use of non-opioid pain treatment
Removing the non-evidenced based dosage recommendations
Removing the time/specific pill limit for acute pain treatment

January 5, 2016

Alzheimer’s Disease PCORI Priorities Letter

The Alliance for Aging Research submitted a letter to the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) suggesting possible research for the Institute to consider, aimed at improving outcomes for people with Alzheimer's disease. The Alliance encouraged the following topics:

Impact of non-pharmacologic interventions for Alzheimer’s disease on patient outcomes, caregiver burden and rates of institutionalization
Evaluation of screening methodologies, for relative ease/uptake and associated optimization across provider groups and settings of care;
Assessment of how Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis and treatment affects management of comorbidities;
Frequency of emergency room visits for Alzheimer’s disease patients and identification of
best practices for potential mitigation;
Comparisons of currently available tools used to assess cognition to identify which is most
effective for specific populations; and
Impact of knowing positive ApoE genotype status on patient, caregiver, and provider
behaviors/outcomes as compared to ApoE negative status.

December 18, 2015

MDUFA Reauthorization Stakeholder Meeting Statement

This is a statement presented by Alliance Vice President of Public Policy Cynthia Bens at the December 18, 2015, stakeholder meeting regarding reauthorization of the Medical Device User Fee Act (MDUFA).

December 17, 2015

PDUFA Reauthorization Stakeholder Meeting Statement

This is a statement presented by Alliance Vice President of Public Policy Cynthia Bens at the December 17, 2015, stakeholder meeting regarding reauthorization of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA).

December 10, 2015

U.S. Pain Foundation Comments Regarding Legislation on Opioid Management, Incorporating Medical Expertise Act

The Alliance and other organizations signed on with this December 10, 2015, letter produced by the U.S. Pain Foundation focused on Draft Legislation HR 4063, Promoting Responsible Opioid Management and Incorporating Medical Expertise Act.

December 7, 2015

S-FAR CARB Letter

The Alliance for Aging Research signed on to a U.S. Stakeholders Forum on Antimicrobial Resistance (S-FAR) letter in support of National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (CARB). 

November 13, 2015

DefeatMalnutrition Letter

The Alliance for Aging Research signed on to a letter from the DefeatMalnutrition coalition, regarding the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Healthy People 2020 Objectives. 

November 13, 2015

AFib Healthy People 2020 Letter

The Alliance for Aging Research led AFib Optimal Treatment Task Force submitted a letter to the CDC commenting on the agency's Healthy People 2020 goals. The letter recommended:

The CDC should add Afib as a modifiable risk factor for stroke
The CDC address the under anticoagulation of older AFib patients as an emerging issue in heart disease and stroke

October 29, 2015

Dr. Califf Nomination Support Letter

The Alliance for Aging Research signed on to a letter supporting the nomination of Dr. Robert Califf as Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

October 14, 2015

S-FAR LTCF Letter

The Alliance for Aging Research signed on to a U.S. Stakeholder Forum on Antimicrobial Resistance (S-FAR)  letter in support of the antibiotic stewardship provisions in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed rule revising the requirements long term care facilities (LTCFs) must meet to participate in Medicare and Medicaid programs.  

October 1, 2015

Alliance for Connected Care Chronic Conditions Letter

The Alliance for Aging Research signed on to a letter asking the Senate Finance Committee to create a transition mechanism by which the Secretary of Health and Human Services may lift originating site restrictions and allow payment for remote monitoring of Medicare beneficiaries suffering from chronic diseases. 

September 14, 2015

Letter to CMS on Proposed Rule Change regarding Infection Prevention and Control Programs in Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCFs)

This is a letter from the Alliance to Centers to the Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding its issuing of a proposed rule change regarding Infection Prevention and Control Programs (IPCP) in long-term care facilities (LTCFs).

September 14, 2015

CMS Proposed LTCF Rule

The Alliance for Aging Research commented on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed rule changes regarding Infection Prevention and Control Programs (IPCP) in long-term care facilities (LTCFs). The Alliance recommended:

A full implementation madate within two years of the final rule
Mandating the CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) for surveillance of Healthcare Associated Infections by LTCFs
CMS work directly with the CDC to outline specific programs that LTCFs should follow to fulfill mandates
CMS should mandate the CDC's CORE Elements for Antibiotic Stewardship in LTCFs
Contact information for an Infection Prevention and Control Officer (IPCO) be made publicly available for family members of LTCF patients
CMS should provide language mandating the use of influenza vaccinations among direct-contact health care workers in LTCFs and set targets for vaccination rates

August 14, 2015

Letter to NIH Director Collins Regarding RFI Inviting Comments and Suggestions on a Framework for the NIH-Wide Strategic Plan

This is a response from the Alliance to a Request for Information (RFI) Inviting Comments and Suggestions on a Framework for the NIH-wide Strategic Plan from NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins.

August 10, 2015

Letter to Sen. Coons and Schatz Regarding OMB M 12 M Memo

This letter from a group of organizations including the Alliance thanks U.S. Sens Chris Coons and Brian Schatz for “championing the amendment to provide the Office of Management and Budget the flexibility to update its M-12-12 memo during the recent markup of the FY 2016 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act.”

July 28, 2015

Our Best Shot: Expanding Prevention through Vaccination in Older Adults

Our Best Shot: Expanding Prevention through Vaccination in Older Adults reviews vaccination levels, trends and targets, incidence rates, relevant health insurance coverage policies, and the cost effectiveness literature and other reports that have evaluated vaccine utilization in the older adult population.

July 13, 2015

Friends of AHRQ FY16 Sign-On Letter

The Alliance for Aging Research signed on to a letter in support of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS) appropriations bill proposed reducing funding for the agency by 35 percent for FY2016. The support letter asked lawmakers to restore AHRQ's budget authority to $364 million in the final FY2016 appropriations legislation.

July 1, 2015

Letter to PCORI on Stakeholder Workshop on the Use of New Oral Anticoagulants

June 22, 2015

Letter to Senate Finance Committee Regarding Multiple Chronic Condition Legislation

This is a letter from the Alliance to the Senate Finance Committee applauding its “commitment to improving care for people living with multiple chronic conditions (MCC) and appreciate the opportunity to assist the Senate Finance Committee in developing comprehensive MCC legislation.”