Health Policy & Advocacy
ASPHO is committed to advocating and achieving one voice for pediatric hematology/oncology. The Society works in partnership with appropriate organizations to advance its advocacy priorities such as:
- Ensure adequate federal funding for research, surveillance and other legislation
- Improve access to drugs, devices and biologics for children and adolescents
- Promote adequate payment for care of children by subspecialists in pediatric hematology/oncology to support needed access and workforce
Be an #ASPHOAdvocate
Contact Your Representative Contact Your Senators
Be part of the advocacy conversation! Follow ASPHO on Twitter at @aspho_hq and look for #ASPHOadvocates for updates. When posting about advocacy, we encourage you to include #ASPHOadvocates.
ASPHO Advocacy Webinar
Register to watch a recording of the ASPHO Advocacy 2021 webinar to learn about the Society's commitment to advocacy and health policy for the pediatric hematology/oncology field. The webinar covers ASPHO's advocacy priorities and legislation and provides an overview of our work with coalitions, outreach to Congress, the White House, and relevant federal agencies.
Advocacy Brief
The Advocacy Brief is a quarterly e-newsletter informing members about legislative and regulatory issues that have an impact on the pediatric hematology/oncology profession and the patients we serve.
2022 Issues: March; June; September
2021 Issues: March; June; September; December
2020 Issues: March; June; September; December
2019 Issues: March; June; September; December
2018 Issues: March; June; September; December
Sign-On Letters
ASPHO participates in sign-on letters which are policy-oriented letters sent to members of Congress, congressional committees, or federal agencies expressing the viewpoint of the signatories. By participating in sign-on letters, ASPHO represents the views of the organization and its members on policy-related issues.
Sickle Cell Disease Comprehensive Care Act Letter of Support November 2022
Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act Endorsement Letter October 2022
Alliance for Childhood Cancer Clinical Trial Coverage Act Endorsement September 2022
Improving Children's Health via PRIs Letter to Congress March 2022
ASPHO Joins ACS CAN and NCCN in Enthusiastically Supporting the Cancer Moonshot February 2022
Pediatricians Accelerate Childhood Therapies Act Endorsement February 2022
Sickle Cell Disease Partner Letter to Champions in Congress September 2021
Senate Resolution on DIPG Awareness Day August 2021
Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0 Endorsement Letter to Senate July 2021
ASPHO and the Alliance Send Letters to Congress Supporting PRCRP at the DOD April 2021
ASPHO Endorses the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0 March 2021
ASPHO Urges Congress to Fund CDC and HRSA Sickle Cell Disease Programs March 2021
ASPHO Endorses the RISE Act March 2021
ASPHO Supports Funding for Pediatric Reference Intervals February 2021
ASPHO Urges House and Senate to Fund CDC Sickle Cell Disease Data Collection Program November 2020
ASPHO Supports the STAR Act and the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative November 2020
ASPHO Joins Congressional Endorsement Letter for the CLINICAL TREATMENT Act October 2020
ASPHO Supports Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0 June 2020
ASPHO Sends Letter to Congressional Leadership for Model CMS Sickle Cell Disease Program April 2020
ASPHO Sends Funding Letter to House for Pediatric Subspecialty Loan Repayment Program March 2020
ASPHO Sends Funding Letter to Senate for Pediatric Subspecialty Loan Repayment Program March 2020
ASPHO Supports Title VII and Pediatric Subspecialty Loan Repayment Program February 2019
ASPHO Supports Funding for Pediatric Reference Intervals February 2020
ASPHO Supports Inclusion of Pediatric Subspecialty Loan Repayment Program July 2019
ASPHO Supports Funding for Pediatric Reference Intervals March 2019
ASPHO Supports Establishing Pediatric Subspecialist Loan Repayment Program February 2019
ASPHO Supports the Sickle Cell Disease Research, Surveillance, Prevention and Treatment Act of 2018
ASPHO Joins Multiple Pediatric Groups in Support of Gun Control Research
ASPHO Supports Sickle Cell Bill
ASPHO urges the Senate HELP committee to support the STAR Act
ASPHO Endorses Ensuring Children’s Access to Specialty Care Act of 2017
ASPHO Supports Establishing Pediatric Subspecialist Loan Repayment Program
ASPHO Calls on Congress to Extend CHIP Funding
ASPHO Concerned with Proposed Changes to Medicaid
ASPHO Supports Expanded Access Principles
ASPHO Expresses Concern with Immigration Executive Order-February 2017.
COVID-19 Resources on Telehealth
Telehealth was broadened to address the COVID-19 public health emergency. Medicare coverage and payment for telemedicine services was expanded on a temporary and emergency basis. Please view updated information for providers surrounding telehealth:
Department of Health and Human Services
CMS State Medicaid & CHIP Telehealth Toolkit
Tracking Legislation
Keep track of movement on ASPHO’s priority legislation, including funding for the Childhood Cancer STAR Act, the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act, the Sickle Cell Disease Comprehensive Care Act and the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act . These are bills of importance to ASPHO concerning pediatric hematology/oncology and that we continue to monitor.
Coalitions
Many times, the best way to make an impact with a broad audience is to partner with a coalition that can help advance our priority issues. ASPHO belongs to the Alliance for Childhood Cancer and also the Sickle Cell Disease Coalition, the Emergency Department Sickle Cell Care Coalition, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Sickle Cell Disease Comprehensive Care Act Letter of Support November