S. 3914 requires Medicare to cover emerging cutting-edge medical treatments right away, giving millions of mature Americans access to the best available technologies and therapies at a time when they need them most.
June 12, 2020
The Honorable Martha McSally
United States Senator for Arizona
404 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator McSally,
On behalf of the 2.1 million members of AMAC – Association of Mature American Citizens, including over 65,000 residing in the state of Arizona, I write to offer our support for S. 3914, the Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act.
As an organization comprised of many Medicare beneficiaries, AMAC is sensitive to their need for access to revolutionary technology and medical treatments. Unfortunately, it can take up to three years after FDA approval for Medicare to decide to cover these innovations which potentially delays these treatments, some that may have a significant advantage over existing alternatives, for millions of seniors.
S. 3914 bridges this gap by requiring Medicare to temporarily cover these products, particularly emerging cutting-edge medical devices, approved through the FDA’s breakthrough pathway over a three-year period. After three years, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) would be required to make a coverage determination. The bill also provides temporary coverage for certain advanced devices that did not exist or were not anticipated when Medicare was first created and do not have a Medicare benefit category.
Thank you, Senator McSally, for prioritizing the health of seniors by sponsoring this important legislation. Your bill gives mature Americans access to the best available medical technologies and therapies at a time when they need them most. Your support for increasing access to breakthrough therapies for Medicare beneficiaries is appreciated and AMAC is pleased to offer our organization’s full support for S. 3914, the Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act.
Sincerely,
Bob Carlstrom
President, AMAC Action
