Cárdenas, Hudson, Craig, Fitzpatrick Introduce the Increasing Access to Biosimilars Act
WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, Congressmen Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), Richard Hudson (R-NC), Angie Craig (D-MN), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced the Increasing Access to Biosimilars Act of 2020. This bill would help reduce the cost of prescription drugs by encouraging competition and increasing access to biosimilars.
“We need to do everything we can to make sure Americans have access to the life-saving medicine they need,” said Congressmen Cárdenas. “My bill reduces the cost of expensive prescription drug prices while also encouraging healthy competition in the marketplace. It is unconscionable that in the greatest and wealthiest country in the world there are working families that are forced to choose between putting food on the table and potentially life-saving drugs.
“Prescriptions drug costs have been skyrocketing in recent years, adversely affecting every American. One of the most afflicted groups has been seniors, a majority of whom are on a fixed income and need medication to get through the day,” said Rep Fitzpatrick. “I’m proud of the work we have done in this bipartisan bill, and I look forward to continuing to fight for our seniors.”
“When I’m back home in North Carolina, I consistently hear from seniors about the high out-of-pocket costs of their prescription drugs. This bipartisan bill will deliver needed relief to those seniors on the most expensive and complex drugs offered by Medicare today,” said Rep. Hudson. “I came to Congress to deliver on common-sense solutions for North Carolina and our country, and I’m proud to partner with Reps. Cardenas, Fitzpatrick and Craig to do just that through this important drug pricing legislation.”
The Increasing Access to Biosimilars Act creates a new pilot program that will be administered and overseen by the Department of Health and Human Services to explore ways to encourage physicians to prescribe less-expensive biosimilars increasing patient access to more affordable, life-saving drugs.
Congressmen Tony Cárdenas is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health which oversees public health and quarantine; hospital construction; mental health; biomedical research and development; health information technology, privacy, and cybersecurity; public health insurance (Medicare, Medicaid) and private health insurance; medical malpractice and medical malpractice insurance; the regulation of food, drugs, devices, cosmetics, and tobacco (the Food and Drug Administration); drug abuse; the Department of Health and Human Services; the National Institutes of Health; the Centers for Disease Control; Indian Health Service; and all aspects of the above-referenced jurisdiction related to the Department of Homeland Security.
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