Government Relations
GR News
August 4, 2009
SNM asks for support with the American Medical Isotope Production Act of 2009
SNM is asking members to contact their Member of Congress to urge them to cosponsor the American Medical Isotope Production Act of 2009 (H.R.3276), recently introduced by Congressman Edward Markey (D-MA).
The recent supply interruptions of Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) from foreign vendors and the lack of a reliable supplier of Mo-99 in the United States is severely affecting patient access to safe and effective medical treatment. The supply of Mo-99 is essential to medical imaging as Technetium-99m (Tc-99m), the radioactive ingredient required for imaging, is made from Mo-99 as it decays. Patients rely on imaging for early detection of cancer, heart disease, stroke or debilitating neurological conditions. The Mo-99 shortage is putting patients' lives are at risk as numerous nuclear medicine professionals across the country are forced to delay or cancel imaging procedures.
If enacted, the American Medical Isotope Production Act of 2009 would ensure a domestic supply of the important isotope Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) within the US and would curtail the use of highly-enriched uranium (HEU) in radionuclide production as a non-proliferation strategy to deter terrorism. SNM has endorsed this legislation and believes that passage is critical to maintain patient access to imaging procedures.
Please click here to urge your Member of Congress to cosponsor this important legislation. It is essential that he/she hears from their hometown constituents that this issue is extremely important to the future of medical imaging and patient care.
