Bowling Green Today

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), who is the Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health, led the reintroduction of the Medicaid VBPs for Patients (MVP) Act with Subcommittee on Health Ranking Member Anna G. Eshoo (CA-16) and U.S. Representatives John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13), Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01).

The MVP Act would provide vulnerable populations with rare diseases access to innovative treatments and cures by enabling states to voluntarily enter into value-based purchasing (VBP) agreements, which tie the cost of treatments to patient outcomes.

“I’m proud to lead the charge on the MVP Act that will increase access to lifesaving and potentially curative treatments for vulnerable patients with rare diseases. Tying a drug manufacturer’s reimbursement for treatments to patient outcomes ensures taxpayers are not left on the hook for a high-cost treatment that does not effectively treat a patient, and this payment model gives states needed flexibility to help vulnerable patients gain access to these life-altering medications. As Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health, I look forward to bringing this bipartisan legislation before the Health Subcommittee soon and encourage my colleagues to support this bill,” said Guthrie.

“Breakthroughs in gene therapies offer hope for cures for dreaded diseases like sickle cell anemia, hemophilia, and cancer. Medicaid enrollees deserve equitable access to these potential cures, but state Medicaid programs need the flexibility that the MVP Act provides to design value-based agreements to pay for these unique drugs. I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the bipartisan MVP Act to help make sure more Americans have access to new cures and treatments,” said Eshoo.

“Life-saving medications should never be out of reach just because of their price tag. The MVP Act would give Medicaid beneficiaries greater access to potential cures and life-saving medications by providing much-needed certainty and empowering states to enter into value-based agreements for high-cost medicines. Ensuring those with rare diseases and the most vulnerable among us receive the high-quality personalized care every American deserves is essential and as a physician I’m proud to cosponsor this important legislation,” said Joyce.

“Cost should never be a barrier to patients who need life-saving drugs. The MVP Act will help ensure that individuals with rare diseases can access cutting-edge gene therapies while better aligning the incentives of insurers and drugmakers,” said Auchincloss.

“I’m proud to join Congressman Guthrie in introducing the MVP Act, which would ensure all patients have access to quality, lifesaving treatments, no matter their prognosis, location, or income bracket,” said Miller-Meeks. “This bipartisan bill is an important step in expanding value-based care in rural areas, and I encourage my colleagues to join in support.”

The MVP Act would modernize the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program, allowing manufacturers to submit multiple best prices to state Medicaid programs and state Medicaid programs to voluntarily enter into value-based purchasing arrangements with drug manufacturers for these therapies. The legislation defines a VBP arrangement as an arrangement that aligns reimbursement with observed or expected therapeutic evidenced-based outcomes or outcomes-based measure. This would ultimately better align incentives in the health care system and supercharge innovation of treatments and cures for rare diseases. Further, the MVP Act of 2023 permits states to engage in VBP arrangements for both inpatient and outpatient drugs.

Click HERE for bill text. 

Original source can be found here