Press Releases

Curbelo Efforts to Improve Healthcare System, Increase Mental Health Funding Passes House

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Washington, November 30, 2016 | Joanna Rodriguez | comments
“Americans have been plagued with an ineffective and dated healthcare system that has struggled to keep up with the demands of 21st century doctors and patients for far too long,” Curbelo said. “This legislation modernizes our healthcare infrastructure by accelerating access to treatments and biomedical innovations that could save lives, and incorporating much needed reforms to our mental health system. By eliminating unnecessary regulations and streamlining research and development processes, this bill would give patients and their families hope for better treatments, a better quality of life, and eventually, cures.”
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Washington, D.C. – Earlier this evening, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the 21st Century Cures Act, a bill co-sponsored and supported by Rep. Carlos Curbelo (FL-26) that would increase choices, access, and quality in the American healthcare system. This legislation also includes significant reforms to America’s mental health system and increased funding to combat opioid abuse.

“Americans have been plagued with an ineffective and dated healthcare system that has struggled to keep up with the demands of 21st century doctors and patients for far too long,” Curbelo said. “This legislation modernizes our healthcare infrastructure by accelerating access to treatments and biomedical innovations that could save lives, and incorporating much needed reforms to our mental health system. By eliminating unnecessary regulations and streamlining research and development processes, this bill would give patients and their families hope for better treatments, a better quality of life, and eventually, cures.”

The 21st Century Cures Act, which Curbelo co-sponsored, will:

  • Provide $4.8 billion in discretionary funding for the National Institute of Health (NIH) and $1 billion in grants to help states fight opioid abuse – all of which is fully offset,
  • Catalyze cutting-edge research and personalized drug development,
  • Modernize clinical trials and evidence development,
  • Bring the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) into the 21st century,
  • Improve the medical device review process and reduce unnecessary regulation,
  • Empower patients to participate in research and development activities,
  • Incentivize the development of medical countermeasures and vaccines, and
  • Fosters interoperable health records.

The bill includes provisions from H.R. 2646, the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, which Curbelo co-sponsored and supported when it passed the House in July.

The amendment to the 21st Century Cures Act, H.R. 34, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 392-26, now heads to the Senate for further consideration.

 
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