The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health advanced a bipartisan bill on Wednesday that was co-sponsored by Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) to help prevent prescription drug diversion and abuse.
The bipartisan Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act would take steps to enhance collaboration between those who work in the pharmaceutical supply chain and law enforcement agencies.
“Prescription drug abuse is an epidemic that’s greatly in need of a solution,” Blackburn, the vice chairwoman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said. “There needs to be a clear distinction between the legitimate pharmaceutical supply chain that directly serves patients and the criminals who are diverting and selling illegal drugs. Supply chain stakeholders need further guidance on how to collaborate more effectively with law enforcement. Stated simply, their obligation to prevent diversion is only achievable if the DEA and other regulators will work with them to get it done.”
The subcommittee also advanced two bills on Wednesday that would promote efforts to combat autism and increase transparency in approved medical therapies.
The subcommittee approved a bipartisan measure to amend the Controlled Substances Act to make the DEA’s process for scheduling new drugs that were approved by the FDA more transparent, consistent and efficient. It also approved a measure that would extend the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act to provide federal dollars for research, education and early intervention efforts related to autism.
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) commended Health Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.) and members of the subcommittee for working together on the bipartisan legislation.
“Our committee has had great bipartisan success on the public health front with more than a dozen committee bills already becoming law this Congress,” Upton said. “And today, we look to build on that success. I commend Chairman Pitts for his leadership as our work to improve the public health continues.”