Guthrie's Bills to Provide Substance Use Recovery Resources and Access to Medical Innovation Advance to House Floor

Statement

Congressman Brett Guthrie's (KY-02) Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant Act of 2022 and Pre-approval Information Exchange Act were advanced to the House Floor for consideration after passing the full Energy and Commerce Committee today. These bills were advanced to the full committee from the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, which Guthrie serves as the Republican Leader of, on May 11, 2022.

Guthrie on the Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant Act of 2022 advancing, "The message is loud and clear from families impacted by substance use disorder and data showing record overdose deaths: More needs to be done to turn the tide of the drug overdose crisis. The Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant Act was advanced to the House Floor, making it one step closer to becoming law. Recovery and prevention resources are one part of the two-pronged effort, which also includes stopping the flow of illicit drugs, that I'm pushing in Congress to address this crisis."

Guthrie is the lead Republican of the Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant Act of 2022, which would reauthorize Substance Abuse and Treatment Block Grant under the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration through 2027. This bill gives states flexibilities to direct resources where needed and authorizes funds for treatment and prevention services and recovery support services, including workforce training and peer support services. The Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant Act of 2022 is part of the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022, which passed today and includes other bills to bolster mental health resources.

Guthrie on the Pre-approval Information Exchange Act advancing, "As the FDA is reviewing a therapy or device for approval, manufacturers and payors should have the opportunity to communicate certain information that could potentially lead to coverage of a soon-to-be approved product. The goal is to give patients access the medical innovation faster by allowing these communications that could reduce the amount of time that the product is covered by a payor after the FDA certifies it is safe and effective. I'm pleased this commonsense solution was advanced today as part of a bill I'm co-leading to secure our medical supply chain, protect patient access, and lower drug costs."

Guthrie introduced the Pre-approval Information Exchange Act to help patients access medical innovation more quickly after it is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This bill would allow certain communications between a drug or medical device company and payors to take place before products or new uses of already approved FDA products are approved by the FDA. The goal of allowing these communications exchanges is to reduce the amount of time that a drug or medical device is approved by the FDA but not yet covered by a payor. The Pre-approval Information Exchange Act is part of the FDA Act of 2022, which was introduced by Guthrie and Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo (CA-18), who serve as the Ranking Member and Chairwoman of the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, respectively. The FDA Act passed the Energy and Commerce Committee by a vote of 55-0.

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