NPC Submits Comments on Cures 2.0
The National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC) submitted comments in response to a public request for input on Cures 2.0, an “effort to modernize coverage and access to life-saving cures in the United States and across the globe.” Cures 2.0 is intended to build on the 21st Century Cures Act, a law developed by U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette and Fred Upton to advance medical research and innovations.
The National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC) submitted comments in response to a public request for input on Cures 2.0, an “effort to modernize coverage and access to life-saving cures in the United States and across the globe.” Cures 2.0 is intended to build on the 21st Century Cures Act, a law developed by U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette and Fred Upton to advance medical research and innovations.
NPC’s comments, based on our research, are focused on three areas in which the lawmakers specifically requested feedback:
- Modernize how new cures and medical products are covered, with a focus on life-saving cures. America’s payment and delivery systems have not kept up with the rapid pace of biopharmaceutical innovation. Payment system innovation and new financing tools require that legislative and regulatory barriers be addressed.
- Build on how to harness data to empower patients and improve their health. The 21st Century Cures Act directed the Food and Drug Administration to establish a clear vision, transparent program timelines and a central repository of guidance and pilot programs related to real-world evidence. Cures 2.0 could build on those efforts by enabling consistent use of real-world evidence across federal health care payment programs and by incentivizing the use of a wider range of evidence.
- Improve the ability of families and caregivers to support their loved ones. NPC recommended that information from patients, families and caregivers to be incorporated into coverage and payment decisions, as well payment incentives tied to quality measurement.