Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-ID) today released (https://www.finance.senate.gov/chairmans-news/wyden-and-crapo-release-draft-legislation-to-combat-prescription-drug-shortages) 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.

ONS Perspective

Patients and oncology nurses face countless challenges (https://voice.ons.org/advocacy/drug-shortages-reach-an-all-time-high-hhs-announces-new-strategies-and-policy) to access certain necessary cancer treatments and other medications. Following the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability (https://voice.ons.org/advocacy/house-committee-launches-investigation-into-nationwide-shortages-of-medications-including)’s and its own investigations (https://voice.ons.org/advocacy/this-weeks-advocacy-news-wyden-crapo-release-plan-to-prevent-and-mitigate-generic-drug), 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

• 30-Year Study Will Probe Cancer Disparities in Black Females (https://www.axios.com/2024/05/07/cancer-study-disparities-black-women)
• AI Degrades Our Work, Nurses Say (https://www.politico.com/newsletters/future-pulse/2024/04/25/ai-degrades-our-work-nurses-say-00154253)
• House Kills Motion to Vacate Johnson From Speakership (https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/house-speaker-mike-johnson-vote-05-08-24/index.html)
• How MRNA Vaccines Could Be Personalized Cancer Cures (https://www.finance.senate.gov/chairmans-news/wyden-and-crapo-release-draft-legislation-to-combat-prescription-drug-shortages)
• Treasury Releases Social Security and Medicare Trustees Reports (https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2024/05/06/treasury-releases-social-security-medicare-trustees-reports.html)

ONS Resources

• Advocacy Health Policy Webinar: Addressing Cancer Care Barriers for the AANHPI Community (https://act.fightcancer.org/a/aapimayevent)
• Oncology Nursing Podcast Episode 304: Nursing Roles in FDA: The Drug Labeling and Package Insert Process (https://www.ons.org/podcasts/episode-304-nursing-roles-fda-drug-labeling-and-package-insert-process)
• ONS Voice article: Innovative Solutions to Maximize Oncology Nurse Staffing During a Nursing Shortage (https://voice.ons.org/news-and-views/innovative-solutions-to-maximize-oncology-nurse-staffing-during-a-nursing-shortage)

Visit the ONS Action Center (https://www.votervoice.net/ONS/Home) to find the most urgent issues for oncology nursing advocacy, learn about your elected officials and candidates, look up specific legislation, and sign up to be notified when ONS, the profession, or your patients need your voice.