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Press Release

21st Century Cures is a Big Win for Patients

Three Tiberi Priorities Included in Landmark Legislation to Improve Patient Care and Spur Medical Innovation

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Washington, November 30, 2016 | Olivia Hnat | comments
The 21st Century Cures Act puts “America back in the driver’s seat on medical innovation while also providing needed relief, more choices and access for our nation’s seniors, small businesses, providers and families.”
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Today, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the 21st Century Cures Act to help more Americans access life-saving treatments. The 21st Century Cures Act promotes medical innovation, knocks down barriers to expedite the discovery, development and delivery of new cures, and provides regulatory relief to hospitals and other providers to improve and increase access to care. Three priorities introduced by Congressman Tiberi, who is the Chairman of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, were included in this bipartisan legislation.

Tiberi delivered the following remarks before passage on the House floor:

“Thank you, Mr. Speaker and thank you, Chairman Brady for your leadership on this issue. Chairman Upton first unveiled 21st Century Cures in 2014 to initiate quicker developments and pathways to approve treatments and cure diseases. This bipartisan and bicameral bill is another example of how the House is delivering the patient-focused solutions Americans deserve. And we can do all this without increasing our deficit. 

“I’m incredibly pleased that three of my initiatives are included in this final package. The first is a bill that provides necessary regulatory relief to providers and fixes a site-neutral policy to hospitals that were in the middle of construction when the policy went into effect. Second, the 21st Century Cures Act gives relief to Long-Term Care Hospitals from the 25 percent rule and contains common sense Medicare reforms. Lastly, this bill includes a provision of a bill I sponsored to provide infusion therapy to Medicare beneficiaries in their home. I look forward to continuing the work on these issues with my colleagues in the 115th Congress.

“I’d like to take a moment to congratulate Chairman Upton for his tremendous effort on this bill. He solicited feedback and ideas from patients and stakeholders and has worked tirelessly to make this bill the best version it could possibly be. His accomplishments during his chairmanship are admirable and I am grateful to call him a close friend. 

“Let’s pass 21stCentury Cures on a bipartisan basis and put America back in the driver’s seat on medical innovation while also providing needed relief, more choices and access for our nation’s seniors, small businesses, providers and families.”

Rep. Tiberi’s provisions incorporated in the 21st Century Cures Act include:

  • The Helping Hospitals Improve Patient Care Act (HIP-C): HIP-C would help medical providers, including many hospitals and cancer centers in Ohio, better treat patients in their communities. HIP-C contains several member priorities and bipartisan solutions to strengthen Medicare, increase care in rural areas and allow hospitals to develop outpatient facilities. Learn more.  
  • The Sustaining Healthcare Integrity and Fair Treatment Act (SHIFT Act): The SHIFT Act would provide Long-Term Care Hospitals with essential regulatory relief to care for the sickest patients and would close a loophole that makes the Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP programs vulnerable to fraud, waste and abuse. Learn more.   
  • Provisions of the Medicare Home Infusion Site of Care Act: Currently, Medicare only covers infusion treatments in doctors’ offices, out-patient and skilled nursing facilities, and hospitals. The final ‘Cures’ package includes a provision of H.R. 605 to allow Medicare coverage of certain infusion drugs in a patient’s home. Home infusion therapy suppliers will ensure a safe and effective administration of infusion therapy and allow sick patients to access care that they need in the comfort of their home.


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