WASHINGTON, DC - The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, chaired by Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA), today held a hearing to review six bipartisan bills to help veterans, address the prescription drug abuse crisis, secure access to trauma systems, and improve the Controlled Substances Act.
“In the 113th Congress, the Energy and Commerce Committee established an impressive Record of Success with 51 bipartisan bills signed into law, many of which are now helping improve public health," said Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI). “Families and local communities expect us to work together to solve problems, and we look forward to using our prior success as a springboard to further boost the public health this new Congress."
Witnesses expressed support for each the bills and expressed gratitude for the committee’s continued work on important public health issues.
H.R. 235, Veteran Emergency Medical Technician Support Act of 2013, authored by Reps. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) and Lois Capps (D-CA)
Deputy Chief of the Central Jackson County Fire Department, Ben Chlapeck testified, “The subcommittee continues to have the potential to help veterans transition quickly to the civilian profession upon their completion of military duty, essentially reducing unemployment among veterans and instilling positive morale and hope for their futures. …I firmly believe your continued attention to this issue is the right direction and an excellent investment to help our military veterans, our civilian emergency response agencies, patients and this great country."
H.R. 4299, Improving Regulatory Transparency for New Medical Therapies Act, authored in the previous Congress by Subcommittee Chairman Pitts and Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
Dr. Nathan Fountain, testifying on behalf of the Epilepsy Foundation of America, said, “We urge all Members to consider full support of the reintroduction of this bill. … Predictable and timely access to new therapies would be a phenomenal accomplishment for epilepsy patients and all Americans suffering from conditions like epilepsy."
The Trauma Systems and Regionalization of Emergency Care Reauthorization Act, authored by Rep. Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) and Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Gene Green (D-TX)
Dr. Blaine Enderson of the University of Tennessee Medical Center, said, “Your acknowledgement of the need to ensure that these systems are available to all Americans is greatly appreciated, and we thank you again for your leadership and commitment to these crucial programs."
The Access to Life-Saving Trauma Care for All Americans Act, introduced by Rep. Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) and Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Gene Green (D-TX)
Enderson added, “Trauma is a major public health issue. In the United States, approximately 35 million people are treated every year for traumatic injuries - constituting one hospitalization every 15 minutes. Traumatic injury is the leading cause of death under age 44. At an annual cost of $67.3 billion, trauma is the third most expensive medical condition (behind only heart disease ($90.0 billion) and cancer ($71.4 billion)."
Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act of 2015, authored by full committee Vice Chairman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Reps. Tom Marino (R-PA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Judy Chu (D-CA)
Linden Barber, Partner and Director of DEA Compliance Operations at Quarles & Brady, said, “The clarity in this bill will create a regulatory environment in which DEA and those registrants who are committed to compliance can make meaningful strides to reduce prescription drug abuse while improving access to medication for patients in need."
The National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting (NASPER) Reauthorization Act, authored by Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY)
John Eadie, Director of the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Center of Excellence at Brandeis University, said, “The reauthorization of NASPER, with proposed changes will assist states by adding important funds that compliment other initiatives. …States need NASPER to encourage the technological development of PDMPs’ interoperability with electronic health records and health information exchanges."
Read the full text of these bills, full witness testimony, and watch the complete hearing video online here.
