Lubbock Times

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Budget Committee Health Care Task Force Chairman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) wrote an op-ed in The Hill highlighting the importance of increasing access to innovative treatments in the 21st century without breaking the budget.

In his op-ed, Burgess emphasized the significant advancements in medical science, stating, "Medical science has surged forward in the last decade, offering fresh hope to patients with serious and life-threatening diseases. Previously fatal diagnoses have been miraculously transformed into treatable and even curable conditions." Burgess also pointed out the discrepancy in payment systems, noting, "Unfortunately, the current way we pay for the newest therapies was developed in the era of Blockbuster Video, not blockbuster science."

Burgess highlighted the importance of affordability and accessibility for patients in need of these innovative treatments and cures, calling for a fresh approach in payment pathways to address these challenges. He criticized President Biden's approach to price controls, stating, "In his State of the Union address, President Biden demonstrated that he simply doesn’t get it...proposed doubling down on Soviet-style price controls that will result in failure to launch new cures."

The op-ed stressed the need for a balance between affordability, access, and innovation in the healthcare system. Burgess stated, "Medical advances have opened a new world of hope for patients suffering from serious and life-threatening diseases. We need to match our 21st-century science with 21st-century payment models and offer patients hope without breaking the budget."

Burgess also highlighted the role of legislation such as the Preventive Health Savings Act in identifying long-term savings from novel therapies and implementing new payment pathways to ensure patient access without excessive financial burden.

The op-ed concluded with a call to action for Congress to address these challenges proactively, stating, "We can keep marching forward and saving lives, or we can turn the clock back. Congress needs to address these challenges by anticipating the future instead of wallowing in the past."

The House Budget Committee's Health Care Task Force is actively working with various stakeholders to develop reforms that promote affordability and access to innovative therapies, aligning with the overarching goal of advancing 21st-century medicine while maintaining financial sustainability.