BIO Statement on House GOP Health Care Plan

Washington, D.C. (June 22, 2016) – Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) President for Advocacy, Law and Public Policy Tom DiLenge released the following statement regarding the House GOP health plan released today:

“Speaker Ryan and his colleagues in the House are to be commended for their leadership and willingness to solve some of the most challenging problems facing our nation’s health care system. While we are still reviewing today’s detailed plan, we were encouraged by a number of specific proposals.

“In particular, we applaud the proposals to build on the efforts contained in the 21st Century Cures Act to improve the process by which new treatments and cures are discovered, developed, and delivered to patients, including by streamlining clinical trials and data collection activities, better utilizing biomarkers and patient-reported outcomes, and harnessing electronic health records and other sources of real-world data.

“We are also encouraged by the proposals to repeal certain harmful provisions of the Affordable Care Act, including repealing the pharmaceutical tax and abolishing the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB). This entity has empowered unelected bureaucrats to make sweeping changes to Medicare that could harm America’s seniors and their ability to access needed treatments.

“We look forward to working with Speaker Ryan and with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle as they develop and enact policy proposals to ensure that patients have meaningful access to needed therapies and to encourage continued investment and research into the next generation of new cures and treatments.”

About BIO

BIO is the world's largest trade association representing biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world. BIOtechNOW is BIO's blog chronicling “innovations transforming our world” and the BIO Newsletter is the organization’s bi-weekly email newsletter. Subscribe to the BIO Newsletter.

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