Dr. Bucshon's Statement on Passage of 21st Century Cures

Statement

On Wednesday, the House passed a landmark medical innovation package -- 21st Century Cures -- to accelerate the discovery, development, and delivery of new cures and treatments. It also provides new funding for the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration. The legislative package includes comprehensive reforms to our nation's mental health treatment system as well as funding to combat the opioid abuse epidemic.

Eighth District Congressman Larry Bucshon's bill to reduce fraud in the Medicaid program (H.R. 3716) is included to help fully fund the $6.3 billion package without adding to the deficit.

"As a physician who has cared for patients and relied on medical innovation, I can say without a doubt that 21st Century Cures will save lives and give families hope for the future," said Bucshon. "Nearly 10,000 diseases, like ALS and Alzheimer's, are still without a cure. This legislative package will incentivize the development and discovery of new treatments and improve the delivery of care to patients who so badly need it. It also implements our previous legislative work to reform how mental health is treated and expands on our efforts to address the opioid abuse epidemic. I'm proud to have been a part of this historic process and pleased the savings in my legislation to rid Medicaid of fraudulent providers is helping to fund this much-needed investment in the discovery, development, and delivery of life-saving cures and treatments."

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