Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-ID) today released a draft legislative proposal to address persistent economic problems leading to shortages of generic medicines plaguing America’s healthcare system, including chemotherapy drugs and ADHD medications.

U.S. Senate Committee on Finance

ONS Perspective

Patients and oncology nurses face countless challenges to access certain necessary cancer treatments and other medications. Following the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability’s and its own investigations, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee’s draft legislation proposes a new Medicare program to incentivize transparent, reliable, and resilient drug purchasing practices.

The program would establish gold standards for maintaining a sustainable, high-quality supply of essential medicines among hospitals, physicians, providers, group purchasing organizations, and drug manufacturers. Additionally, the discussion draft proposes changes to the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program to ensure an adequate supply of generic drugs. Although the legislation has not yet been introduced, ONS is monitoring and collaborating with all stakeholders to address drug shortages and ensure patients can obtain the cancer treatments they need.

Advocacy Resources

ONS Resources

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