Hoosier State Today

U.S. Senators Todd Young and Alex Padilla have introduced a new bipartisan bill aimed at improving access to innovative medical technologies for older Americans. The proposed legislation, known as the Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act, seeks to expedite Medicare coverage for breakthrough medical devices following their authorization by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Currently, there is an estimated 5.7-year delay between FDA authorization of a breakthrough technology and its coverage by Medicare. This bill aims to reduce that wait time by creating a faster pathway for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide transitional coverage for certain new and emerging medical device innovations.

Senator Young highlighted the impact of bureaucratic delays on seniors' access to advanced medical treatments, stating, "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 bipartisan bill would streamline Medicare coverage of these advancements to better ensure patients receive timely access to breakthrough technologies."

Senator Padilla emphasized the importance of timely access to lifesaving medical advancements: "Timely access to lifesaving breakthrough medical advancements is essential to protect millions of patients in need," he said. "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."

The introduction of this legislation builds on Senator Young's ongoing efforts this year towards enhancing Americans' access to innovative medical breakthroughs.

Further details about the full text of the legislation are available online.