Reducing Costs and Fortifying Innovation Can, and Must, Coexist for the Millions of Americans Living With Chronic Disease

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease Chair Ken Thorpe released the following statement on the Reduced Costs and Continued Cures Act:

"The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease commends Representatives Scott Peters (D-CA) and Kurt Schrader (D-OR) for their leadership in introducing the Reduced Costs and Continued Cures Act and co-sponsors Representatives Kathleen Rice (D-NY), Stephanie Murphy (D-FL) and Lou Correa (D-CA) for their support. The bill includes welcome provisions that will save patients money at the pharmacy counter -- most notably, an out-of-pocket cap on Medicare drug spending -- without cutting off access to life-saving treatments.

“This bill is a great improvement over other proposals and it preserves choice among treatment options, unlike the Lower Prescription Drug Costs Now Act, which would curtail access to critical medicines today and stifle the development of tomorrow’s treatments and cures.

“PFCD encourages lawmakers to continue pursuing reforms that reduce out-of-pocket drug costs, as such efforts will increase medication adherence and improve patients' health. We look forward to the opportunity to work with policymakers on this important and ongoing discussion.”

The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) is an international coalition of patient, provider, community, business and labor groups, and health policy experts, committed to raising awareness of the number one cause of death, disability and rising health care costs: chronic disease.