Help IDSA Drive Antibiotic Stewardship and R&D Momentum on Capitol Hill

IDSA Treasurer Helen Boucher, MD, FIDSA, with House Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Stephen Lynch (D-MA)

IDSA Treasurer Helen Boucher, MD, FIDSA, testified before Congress today at a House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Reform hearing on antimicrobial resistance and national security. Dr. Boucher educated members of Congress on the threat AMR poses to patients, public health and national security and the need for US government action to advance implementation of stewardship programs, to incentivize the research and development of urgently needed new antibiotics, and to invest in AMR research and public health approaches.

IDSA AMR Committee Chair Vance Fowler, MD, FIDSA will deliver a similar message for the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on June 27.

Help amplify Dr. Boucher’s and Dr. Fowlers’ voices!  Click here to encourage your senators and representatives to cosponsor the DISARM Act—legislation that IDSA developed which would:

• Carve new antibiotics out of the Medicare bundled payment (diagnosis related group or DRG) to make these drugs more accessible to patients who truly need them and help stabilize the antibiotic market for small companies that are struggling to stay in business.
• Require hospitals to implement antibiotic stewardship programs
• Require hospitals to report antibiotic use and resistance data to CDC

While DISARM will not fully solve the AMR crisis, it would take many important steps forward and build momentum for more comprehensive solutions. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn for updates and share the message using the hashtag #DISARMsuperbugs.