What Is New Proposed Law about Medicare?

A bipartisan proposal — the Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act of 2023 — would require Medicare to temporarily cover the cost of breakthrough medical products while the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services can make a permanent coverage determination, reports The Cache Vally Daily’s recent article entitled, “Rep. Blake Moore introduces legislation to cut Medicare red tape.”

“Our seniors deserve access to the best quality of care available,” U.S. Rep. Blake Moore (R-UT) says. “This bill will cut regulatory red tape and allow Medicare enrollees the ability to use breakthrough medical devices.”

The FDA can give “breakthrough designation” to new medical devices for several reasons, such as the fact that the devices are more effective than alternatives; offer significant advantages over other options; cases where there are no approved alternatives; or the device provides care for a diagnosis of life-threatening or debilitating diseases or conditions.

The Congressman contends that his bill removes unnecessary barriers that prevent seniors from accessing the most innovative and cutting-edge treatments by expediting the coverage determination process for FDA-approved breakthrough devices.

Joining Moore in introducing the Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act were representatives from both sides of the political aisle, including Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Brett Guthrie (R-KY) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA).

This was the first new legislation introduced by the sophomore congressman in the 118th Congress. Moore has also been busy re-introducing proposals that failed to pass the legislative process in the previous session. Those include the Range Access Act and the Lodging Options Developed for Government Employees Act, both co-sponsored by Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA); the Retain Skilled Veterans Act; and the Preventing Improper Payments Act, co-sponsored by Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA).

“Utah’s medical device industry is leading the way in bringing revolutionary care to our nation’s seniors,” Moore says of his most recent proposal.

“I am excited to lead this effort and will continue to look for opportunities to support our seniors and Utah’s medical technology industry.”

Reference: Cache Vally Daily (March 24, 2023) “Rep. Blake Moore introduces legislation to cut Medicare red tape”