Source: United States Senator for Oklahoma James Inhofe
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) joined a bipartisan, bicameral group of 23 lawmakers, led by Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and U.S. Rep. Susie Lee (D-Nev.), in a letter urging Acting National Institute of Health (NIH) Director Dr. Lawrence A. Tabak to expand funding opportunities for research in osteopathic medicine.
Osteopathic physicians have expertise in the musculoskeletal system and receive additional training in osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), a hands-on technique and non-pharmacological solution to pain management. This type of treatment can serve as a non-addictive alternative to opioids.
Increasing this focus at the NIH would help to address health disparities in rural and medically underserved populations and advance research in primary care, prevention and treatment. This also helps address the nation’s doctor shortage – 58% of osteopathic medical schools are located in states with Health Professional Shortage Areas, including Oklahoma, New Mexico, Mississippi and Nevada.
In the letter to NIH Director Tabak, the lawmakers write, “We are concerned by the historic disparity in NIH funding and representation for [Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (COMs)].”
Osteopathic is the fastest growing medical field in the country and 38 osteopathic medical schools nationwide currently educate nearly 34,000 physicians – 25% of all U.S. medical students.
Unfortunately, osteopathic medical schools receive only 0.1% of NIH grants compared to 40% for allopathic schools.
In the letter, the lawmakers outlined critical steps for NIH to expand research funding for COMs. This includes guidance to:
- Establish a structured partnership with the osteopathic medical education community, including the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM), which creates and executes a plan to increase NIH funding for COMs.
- Establish a program to incentivize principal investigators from COMs.
- Consider opportunities to fund research projects that incorporate the osteopathic philosophy and OMT.
- Increase representation for the osteopathic profession on NIH National Advisory Councils and study selection reviewers.
In addition to Inhofe, the bipartisan letter is also signed by U.S. Sens. John Boozman (R-Ark.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.).
In the House, the letter is signed by U.S. Representatives Cynthia Axne (D-Iowa), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Ben Cline (R-Va.), Peter DeFazio (D-Mass.), Mike Doyle (D-Pa.), Yvette Herrell (R-N.M.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Frank Lucas (R-Okla.), Tom O’Halleran (D-Ariz.), Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), David Rouzer (R-N.C.), William Timmons (R-S.C.) and Grace Meng (D-N.Y.).
Read the full text of the letter here.