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Senate Bills Introduced on Cannabis and Medicare, House Bill on Transparency Moves to the Senate

Epilepsy News From: Wednesday, March 18, 2015

On March 4, 2015, Senators Chuck Grassley (IA) and Sherrod Brown (OH) introduced the Medicare Formulary Improvement Act (S 648), which would codify a current provision under Medicare Part D that ensures open access to beneficiaries to six classes of lifesaving medication including antidepressants, immuno-suppressants, antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, oncology, and HIV/AIDS drugs.

On March 10, 2015, Senators Cory Booker (NJ), Rand Paul (KY), and Kirsten Gillibrand (NY) introduced the Compassionate Access, Research Expansion and Respect States (CARERS) Act (S. 683), which would move cannabis to Schedule II, protect individuals in states with medical cannabis programs, and facilitate research on cannabis and cannabidiol.

Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed the Improving Regulatory Transparency of New Medical Therapies Act (H.R. 639), bipartisan legislation which would bring transparency and consistency to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) review of new Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved medications. H.R. 639 now heads to the Senate, and we will continue to advocate for its passage so new FDA approved medications can reach people living with epilepsy faster.

Reviewed Date

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

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