According to a report from the Arthritis Foundation, Congress passed a new legislative funding package for the 2024 fiscal year including financial support for arthritis initiatives. The Department of Defense’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program received $10 million to back arthritis research and supply assistance for military and veteran service members with arthritis. The Pediatric Subspecialty Loan Repayment Program also received $10 million to encourage health professionals to practice in underserved areas for at least 2 years, bolster training in pediatric subspecialties, and enhance patients’ access to pediatric rheumatology services. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Arthritis Program received $11 million to provide resources for patients with arthritis, aid states in implementing self-management education and physical activity programs, and fund research into arthritis interventions and prevention strategies. Further, the National Institutes of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases’ $685 million in funding is expected to advance research in the disease’s prevention, etiology, and treatment. The Arthritis Foundation concluded that the funding is a result of continued advocacy efforts and represents the potential to make significant progress in the field of arthritis.
April 17, 2024