​​​​​​​​​Action Alerts

How to Contact Your Members of Congress
Call the Capitol Switchboard at 1-202-224-3121 and ask for your senator/representative or give your state if you do not know their name. When you are connected to an office, ask for the Health Legislative Assistant. If you leave a voicemail message, include your name, phone number, and email so that they can respond. See sample messages and actions below!

1. Ask your Senators to Write to the Head of CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)

A formal request to CMS for a national coverage determination (NCD) co-signed by more than 25 academic, medical, public health and community-based organizations was submitted to the CMS on January 31, 2024. Although the request was accepted, due to the current volume of requests and low staffing, no action is currently being taken.

Since 1996, the US Preventive Service Task Force (USPSTF) has recommended LTBI screening of adults with increased TB risk as part of primary care. Despite this, the CMS has never had an NCD for this important component of preventive care.

TB affects older Americans and Medicare beneficiaries; over 25% of new TB diagnoses occur among persons over the age of 65 years.

• An estimated 15 million Americans in the Medicare population would be eligible for screening under the USPSTF recommendations.
• Nearly 15% of Medicare recipients are born outside of the US, an important risk factor for TB infection and disease in the US.
  
• Medicare recipients also have other comorbidities that can increase the risk of developing active TB.
  
• Notably, the prevalence of diabetes is >30% among Medicare recipients over 67 years of age.
• A one-time screening of the Medicare-eligible population who meet the USPSTF criteria for LTBI testing is estimated to prevent over 9,000 cases of this devastating disease and over 2,000 TB deaths.
  

Therefore, ask your Senators to write to Administrator Brooks-LaSure of the National Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to ask they prioritize this NCD request and promptly issue a national coverage decision for LTBI testing.

See more background here.

2. Ask your Representatives and Senators to support the End Tuberculosis Now Act of 2023 (S. 288/H.R. 1776)

This bipartisan legislation encourages domestic agencies to align TB control efforts in the United States with global efforts and actions. The End TB Now Act will prioritize U.S. tuberculosis response to target the diagnosis and treatment of adults and children with TB and to prevent new TB infections in countries with high burdens of TB. TB anywhere is TB everywhere - domestic and international efforts must work collaboratively to #EndTB. View the full legislation and a fact sheet from RESULTS.org​. 

Background
On February 9, 2023, Senator Todd Young (R-IN) introduced introduced the End Tuberculosis Now Act of 2023 to strengthen U.S. efforts to eliminate tuberculosis (TB) worldwide. (S.288). On March 24, 2023, Representatives Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA) and María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) introduced companion legislation in the house (HR. 1776). Contact your two U.S. senators and one Representative now (three quick calls)!

Sample message: I am a constituent from (your town) and I am calling to urge Sen./Rep.___ to co-sponsor the End Tuberculosis Now Act of 2023. The bill outlines a plan and critical actions to align tuberculosis efforts in the U.S. with international efforts. TB, an airborne infectious disease, is once again the leading global infectious disease killer. In 2023, TB cases in the U.S. rose 16%, mirroring the pattern across the globe. The End TB Now Act will amplify our ability to end TB as a public health threat. I urge Sen./Rep. ___ to cosponsor this very important bill. Thank you for your consideration. 

Thank you for your action!

More action options to support domestic and global health
We need Congress to speak up. Even as we deal with the continuing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, we must enact longer-term funding of initiatives like global TB prevention and treatment as well as building basic public health infrastructure. Click here and scroll down to the "action" box that inspires you the most, and take an easy action from your home/desk! The American Public Health Association also has an easy online action option requesting Congress increase funding for public health infrastructure here.

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See more TB basics and advocacy toolkits from the Treatment Action Group (TAG)  here.

More Ways to Get Involved

First Step: 

1. Join the Friends of Stop TB USA and receive our TB Wire newsletter. 
2. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn @StopTBUSA
   

Next: 

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​Tuberculosis Elimination Caucus - U.S. House of Representatives

Send a letter to your Representative, or call and leave a voice message today, asking that they please join the TB Elimination Caucus in the House of Representatives.

Background
The Tuberculosis Elimination Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives was formed in March of 2012 by Representatives Engel (D-NJ), Green (D-TX) and Young (R-AK). A caucus is an informal grouping of legislators which can help rally interest and enthusiasm on an issue of mutual concern, by sponsoring briefings, initiating letters and inquiries, and more.  You can help to grow the membership of this caucus by sending a letter to your Representatives asking that they join this very important caucus.

Now, in 2023, it continues to be a bipartisan coalition, working on TB-related issues.  

First, check the list below to see if your Representative is already a member on the Caucus. If your Representative is on this list, then you can email them to thank them for joining and their service on such an important topic.

If your Representative is not on the list below, please email or call to request they join:

U.S. Capitol Switchboard (202) 224-3121

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Where we unite to #EndTB!

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