[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 53 (Thursday, March 23, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E249]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               COSPONSORSHIP OF H.R.830--HELP COPAYS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAKE AUCHINCLOSS

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 23, 2023

  Mr. AUCHINCLOSS. Mr. Speaker, I have cosponsored H.R. 830, the HELP 
Copays Act, to ensure that patients have affordable access to 
lifesaving care, prescription medication, and treatments. This bill 
would require health insurance plans to apply third-party payments, 
financial assistance, discounts, and other reductions in out-of-pocket 
expenses for an enrollee toward their cost-sharing requirements. I 
support this bipartisan effort to reduce out-of-pocket spending on 
prescription drugs.
  Should the bill move forward in the legislative process, I recommend 
limiting its provisions to drugs without a generic competitor. This 
ensures that patients who only have access to one expensive, branded 
drug to treat their condition can access payment assistance from 
manufacturers, but also incentivizes the use of lower-cost, generic 
drugs when possible. Narrowing the bill in this manner would prevent 
pharmaceutical manufacturers from abusing copay assistance programs to 
steer patients toward branded drugs that burden our healthcare system 
as a whole. I urge Congress to move forward with this proposal to 
provide relief to patients who may be forced to delay lifesaving care 
due to high cost-sharing and copay requirements.

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