PREVENT Pandemics Act Includes Rosen Amendments to Improve Access to Care in Rural Communities, Strengthen the U.S. Medical Manufacturing Supply Chain, and Explore Ways to Lower Prescription Drug Costs
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, announced that three of her amendments have been unanimously adopted by the committee and included in the PREVENT Pandemics Act. This bipartisan legislative package will improve public health infrastructure, address health inequities caused and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, examine the U.S. response to COVID-19, and prepare for future public health emergencies.
Senator Rosen’s amendments – based on key provisions of bipartisan bills she has introduced – will improve access to care in rural communities, strengthen the domestic medical manufacturing supply chain, and explore ways to lower prescription drug costs through investments in nonprofit drug manufacturers. Senator Rosen also secured key language in this package, based on her bipartisan bills, to study the full health implications of COVID-19 and the public health service-related barriers to additional medical training in palliative care.
The PREVENT Pandemics Act was passed by the HELP Committee today with broad bipartisan support and now heads to the Senate floor for consideration by the full U.S. Senate.
“The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted all aspects of life for Nevadans, and we must take action to ensure no future pandemic ever again causes as much damage to our health, economy, and way of life,” said Senator Rosen. “That’s why I’m glad to see that this bipartisan legislative package is moving forward and includes three of my provisions to strengthen the domestic medical manufacturing supply chain, improve access to health care in rural communities, and help find innovative ways to lower prescription drug prices.”
The Rosen amendments are based on legislation Senator Rosen has long championed:
- The Rosen-Murkowski amendment based on Senator Rosen’s bipartisan Improving Access to Health Care in Rural and Underserved Areas Act would expand access to specialist care and continuing medical education for primary care providers in rural and underserved areas, helping to mitigate Nevada’s doctor shortage.
- The Rosen-Cassidy amendment based on Senator Rosen’s bipartisan Strategic Planning for Emergency Medical Manufacturing Act would provide opportunities for traditionally non-medical manufacturers to work with the federal government on medical supply needs, particularly in times of crisis.
- The Rosen amendment based on Senator Rosen’s Expanding Access to Affordable Prescription Drugs and Medical Devices Act would study incentives to support nonprofit drug manufacturers to increase domestic production of generic drugs, which could help lower drug prices.
The bill also includes provisions based on the bipartisan MADE in America Act, which Senator Rosen introduced with Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), to boost domestic production of prescription drugs and new medical manufacturing technology. Additionally, the bill includes provisions based on the BIO Preparedness Workforce Act, which Senator Rosen helped introduce to establish a new student loan repayment program for infectious disease clinicians and other health care professionals who work in public health preparedness and response.
The bill also includes Rosen-backed legislation to help expand community health worker programs, as well as a Rosen-backed bill to improve communication of scientific and medical information and assess the impact of misinformation during public health emergencies.
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