The ALS Association has publicly thanked the House of Representatives for passing H.R. 485, also known as the Protecting Care for All Patients Act. This legislation seeks to ban federal healthcare programs from utilizing Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs).

According to a press release by the ALS Association, this legislation, led by Energy and Commerce Chair Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), would mark a significant victory for individuals living with disabilities, including those diagnosed with ALS. "We are grateful to Representative McMorris Rodgers and other supporters of this legislation for their dedication to advocating for individuals with disabilities. This legislation is a crucial step forward in promoting affordable access to health care for individuals living with ALS and other disabilities," said Melanie Lendnal, the senior vice president of public policy and advocacy at the ALS Association.

The same press release from the ALS Association explains that QALYs are used to evaluate a drug's impact on health outcomes and quality of life. However, they have been criticized for being discriminatory when applied to people living with disabilities.

A separate press release issued by Rodgers reveals that the House passed H.R. 485 on February 7 with a vote count of 211 to 208. At present, only Medicare is prohibited from using QALYs and similar discriminatory measures. The newly passed bill would extend this prohibition to all federal programs.

"Every human life has value. The government should not be mercilessly placing a dollar value on someone’s life and denying care just because they have a disability or chronic illness," stated Rodgers in her press release. "Patients, and those who are fighting for their loved ones’ lives, have pleaded with Congress to fix a system that actively prevents them from getting the care they need. I’m proud to champion this important legislation that will give patients with disabilities and chronic or rare illness hope."