Legislators applauded the recent landmark agreement between House and Senate leaders to spur medical innovation, fight addiction and improve social welfare programs through the 21st Century Cures Act.
The House is expected to vote this week on the final version of the vast $6.3 billion legislative package, which has gained bipartisan support, with the Senate following soon after.
The substantial legislation aims to speed up research and development of treatments for diseases and also expedite the process for bringing drugs and medical devices to the market.
U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH), the author of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), said he was pleased the medical innovation package would allocate an additional $1 billion to fight the nation’s prescription drug epidemic over the next two years.
“Coupled with the new CARA law and additional funding I’ve helped secure through the appropriations process, I believe this will make a real difference for those who are suffering from addiction, their families and all of our partners working to combat this disease,” Portman said. He also praised measures that were included in the legislation to strengthen Medicare and Medicaid, especially for seniors and those with low incomes.
The bill invests $5 billion in medical research and $500 million to speed up the Food and Drug Administration approval process for medicine.
The 21st Century Cures Act also includes provisions that would support hospitals serving rural and at-risk populations.
The measure would make hospital readmission penalties fairer for hospitals that serve a disproportionate number of sick or poor patients. It would also exempt designated cancer hospitals from Medicare payment reductions, and continue Medicare payments to outpatient hospital departments that are under development.
“We remain committed to ensuring access to quality health care,” U.S. Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY) said. “Driving innovation forward will help get costs in check and get better, faster treatments to those in need of care. This bill is a win-win.”
Meanwhile, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) and Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Human Resources Subcommittee chairman, praised provisions of the bill that would improve Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
It includes a measure sponsored by U.S. Rep. Todd Young (R-IN) to extend TANF for one year and to support innovative social programs that yield results.
The Cures legislation would help families in more ways than one. “I’m proud this historic legislation also includes solutions that will lift families out of poverty and ensure more children grow up in stable homes,” Brady said.
“These bills demonstrate our commitment to improving outcomes for children, their families and communities across America,” he added.