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Washington, DC– Today, the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health voted for and approved the Pharmaceutical Information Exchange Act (H.R. 2026), introduced by Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), vice chair of the subcommittee, as well as the Over-the-Counter Monograph Safety, Innovation, and Reform Act, which Congressman Guthrie cosponsored.

The Pharmaceutical Information Exchange Act (H.R. 2026), introduced by Guthrie last year, would allow drug and medical device companies to communicate with insurance companies about drugs and devices that are soon to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This communication would allow insurance payors to properly prepare their policies for drugs that will soon be on the market, avoiding delays that currently occur when they must await FDA approval before reviewing their policies. By allowing this early communication, payors can be ready to cover certain new therapies more quickly, and therefore help patients receive treatments faster.

The Over-the-Counter Monograph Safety, Innovation, and Reform Act, sponsored by Congressman Robert Latta (R-OH), along with Reps. Guthrie, Diana DeGette (D-CO), Michael Burgess (R-TX), Gene Green (D-TX), and Debbie Dingell (D-MI), would improve the FDA’s overall framework for approving over-the-counter drugs.

“I frequently hear from Second District residents about how medical treatment is too expensive and hard to access,” said Guthrie. “I was proud to introduce two pieces of legislation that will help reverse this trend by making it easier for affordable prescription drugs and devices, as well as over-the-counter drugs, to enter the market. By allowing drug manufacturers to communicate with insurance companies, the Pharmaceutical Information Exchange Act will help insurers prepare for the cost of new prescription drugs in advance so that they can cover them immediately, ensuring the treatments are easier for patients to obtain following FDA approval. The Over-the-Counter Monograph Reform Act will also allow innovative over-the-counter drugs into the market faster by reforming FDA processes. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the full Energy and Commerce Committee to approve these bills as soon as possible so patients across the country can begin to see some relief from skyrocketing drug costs.”

The Pharmaceutical Information Exchange Act and the Over-the-Counter Monograph Safety, Innovation, and Reform Act must now be approved by the full Energy and Commerce Committee. After that, they advance to a vote on the House floor.

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