Young, Padilla Introduce Bill to Improve Access to Innovative Medical Technologies

WASHINGTON –U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) introduced theEnsuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act, legislation that would enable millions of older Americans to receive quicker access to life-changing medical innovations.
Currently, seniors wait an estimated 5.7 years from when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorizes a breakthrough technology until Medicare covers the technology. The legislation would create a faster pathway for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide transitional coverage for certain new and emerging medical device innovations to Medicare beneficiaries.
“Bureaucratic red tape is preventing millions of seniors in America from accessing medical advancements that have the potential to reduce health care costs, cure diseases, and save lives. Our bill would streamline Medicare coverage of these advancements to better ensure patients receive timely access to breakthrough technologies,”said Senator Young.
“Timely access to lifesaving breakthrough medical advancements protects millions of patients in need,”said Senator Padilla.“This critical bipartisan legislation would ensure Medicare covers cutting-edge devices shortly after FDA authorization to better diagnose, prevent, and treat life-threatening illnesses. I will keep working across the aisle to support health care innovation and expand access to care for rural and underserved communities.”
More specifically, theEnsuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Actwould:
Full text of the legislation can be foundhere.