Focused Ultrasound Advocates Visit Capitol Hill

Recently, the Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA) joined with the Focused Ultrasound Foundation to host a group of patients, physicians, and industry professionals for a Congressional fly-in to meet with US senators and representatives about the value and potential of focused ultrasound technology. Focused ultrasound (FUS) is a noninvasive therapeutic technology with the potential to transform the management of many medical disorders. It has been FDA-cleared to treat essential tremor, prostate cancer, uterine fibroids and Parkinson’s tremor and dyskinesia, among other diseases.

Advocates met with 15 lawmakers, including Senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Jon Tester and Steve Daines of Montana. During the meetings, the group highlighted the importance of expanding patient access to focused ultrasound. Congress can help by supporting policies that reduce the delay between the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval and Medicare coverage, promoting focused ultrasound treatment access for veterans and service members, and allocating additional research dollars to focused ultrasound.

Patient voices are crucial to these fly-in events, so a special thank you is due to the four patients who participated this year: Beverly McGowan, Thomas Newell, Bobby Krause and Tom Donegan. The patients’ powerful stories went a long way toward demonstrating the life-changing potential of focused ultrasound technology!