U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL) on Feb. 7 introduced the Equal Access to Therapeutics Act, which seeks to deter practices that restrict access to potentially life-saving treatments for patients with COVID-19.
H.R. 6625 would prohibit the Secretary of Health and Human Services from issuing guidance intended to restrict access to COVID-19 monoclonal antibody therapies and other treatments based on an individual’s race or ethnicity, according the text of the bill.
“Life-saving care should not be denied to anyone because of their race or ethnicity, period,” Rep. Davis said. “This legislation will make sure that everyone has access to the COVID-19 treatments they need regardless of race or ethnicity. Discrimination is wrong and political and healthcare leaders have a responsibility to put a stop to this disturbing trend.”
The bill was introduced in response to several states issuing similar guidance and some hospitals using scoring systems that took into consideration the race and ethnicity of a patient, according to a statement from Rep. Davis’ office. Additionally, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently released guidance on Sotrovimab, a treatment for mild-to-moderate COVID-19, which stated that factors including race and ethnicity put patients at an increased risk of severe progression and alluded that such factors should contribute to the eligibility of treatment.
Rep. Davis introduced the legislation with nine Republican original cosponsors, including U.S. Reps. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), Sam Graves (R-MO) and Mike Bost (R-IL).
“It’s outrageous that, under federal guidelines, a doctor would be forced to take into account a person’s skin color when deciding whether to administer or withhold potentially lifesaving treatment,” Rep. Garbarino said. “The only thing that should be factored into the distribution of medical treatment is a person’s medical condition and the likelihood of the treatment to improve that condition. This bill would put a stop to this government sponsored discrimination and ensure that all patients, regardless of race, are treated equally.”
In addition to restrictions placed on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), H.R. 6625 would also hold the Secretary of HHS personally liable for the death of any individual denied access to treatments based on race or ethnicity, and prohibits federal funding to hospitals and healthcare providers who restrict access to these treatments on the same basis, according to Rep. Davis’ office.
It has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce for consideration.