The Senate is considering the 21st Century Cures Act this week, which will impact various healthcare sectors quite differently. Sydney Lupkin and Steven Findlay published an article in Kaiser Health News giving their take on who will come out victorious if the act comes to pass.
Winners
Medical device and pharmaceutical companies. If the bill passes, it will change various FDA requirements that will demand fewer studies from drug companies for product approval. Accelerating the drug approval process will likely yield tremendous savings for both medical device and pharmaceutical companies.
Academic institutions and physicians. The bill allots $4.8 billion over the next decade in additional National Institutes of Health funding. NIH can use the money for research grants which could go toward research on cancer, neurobiology and genetic medicine. More than 60 schools, 36 hospitals and many groups representing physician organizations lobbied on behalf of the act.
Substance abuse efforts. The 21st Century Cures Act gives $1 billion in state grants over the next two years to fight the opioid epidemic. A portion of that money will fund research and treatment facilities. The bill allots money for more mental health research and treatment, as well. Mental health, psychology and psychiatry groups spent $1.8 million on lobbying disclosures, which featured the bill as an issue.
Patient advocacy groups. Patient advocacy groups supported and lobbied on behalf of the bill, as many patient groups obtain funding from drug and device companies. The bill would allow more patient input in the drug development and approval process. Patient groups spent $6.4 million in disclosures that named the bill as one of their issues.
HIT and software companies. The act encourages providers and agencies to utilize EHRs and collect the necessary data to further research and treatment. The bill does not provide specific funding for HIT, but Ms. Lupkin and Mr. Findlay say the bill could provide such companies millions in new business. Computer, software and telecom companies spent $35 million on Cures as well as other legislation in lobbying efforts.
Losers
The FDA. While the bill provides the agency an additional $500 million over the next 10 years, those opposing the act say the money is not sufficient enough to cover the added workload the agency will have to do under the act.
Preventive medicine. The act eliminated $3.5 billion from the Prevention and Public Health Fund. The ACA established the fund to further efforts to prevent Alzheimer's disease, hospital acquired infections, chronic illnesses and other conditions.
Consumer and patient safety groups. Various groups including Public Citizen and the National Center for Health Research opposed the act or wanted major changes. The groups won some changes, but many opponents say the act enables the approval of unsafe drugs and devices.
Hair growth patients. Under the act, Medicaid will cease paying for drugs that help patients restore hair. The National Alopecia Areata Foundation spent $40,000 on lobbying disclosures which included the act as an issue.
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