Unfortunately, thanks to the so-called Inflation Reduction Act, Washington has taken more healthcare power away from patients and providers than ever before. If this law had regulated prices for prescription drugs in the past decade, many of the currently approved treatments may not have reached the market. As someone who has worked in medicine, I am deeply concerned about the real-world impact of this legislation on patients, especially those awaiting cure or enhanced treatment.
The Lower Costs More Cures Act of 2021 includes 36 bipartisan provisions that will reduce out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs and allow patients access to the best medical treatments, diagnostics and technologies without compromising new innovations. It is House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) is prioritizing her own agenda to keep the bill off the floor for a vote. We all want to reduce drug costs and we can get there. Innovation saves lives and long-term health care costs.
As co-chair of the GOP Doctors Caucus, I am always looking for ways to put patients at the center of policy discussions. The House of Representatives passed the Improve Access to Timely Care for Older Persons Act of 2022. This law will help ensure that older people get the care they need when they need it. By making the necessary adjustments and modernizing the Medicare Advantage “pre-approval” system, physicians can get back to their core business of caring for and treating patients without delay.
After a thorough examination, examination, and review of the individual’s medical history, the doctor recommends a care plan to the patient. Nonetheless, in our current system, many insurers require patients to adhere to a “step therapy” protocol, often called “fail fast,” resulting in time and unnecessary treatment delays. Instead of receiving what was originally prescribed by the doctor who knows the situation best, the patient is forced to try another treatment first. Fellow physician Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-California) and I introduced the bipartisan Safe Step Act. It provides a guardrail by requiring insurers to have a clear and expedited process for authorizing optimal medication or treatment coverage for patients. .
Other healthcare-related proposals have received broad bipartisan support, and we expect Congress to focus on this over the coming months, including taking decisive action to secure healthcare supply chains. I hope
In most circles, talking about “health care” focuses on insurance plans, not actual health. It says. We can all win by also focusing on ‘healthy lifespan’, keeping people healthy for as long as possible. Prolonging healthy life expectancy requires being proactive and passive. It is important to encourage prevention, early diagnosis and treatment. Being healthy saves lives and money.
Strengthening and empowering the doctor-patient relationship is better for our health, both individually and as a nation.
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