Bill to Accelerate Research Introduced in Congress - Cures 2.0 Act

In November, Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO-1) and Congressman Fred Upton (R-MI-6) introduced the highly anticipated Cures 2.0 Act (H.R. 6000). The legislation is a follow up to the Cures Act, which was signed into law in 2016. Cures 2.0 addresses the acceleration of medical research and development, and the expansion of patient access to innovative drugs and devices.

The following provisions are included in Cures 2.0:

• Supports activities to understand “long-COVID” while advancing a national strategy to prepare for pandemics and bolstering vaccine and anti-microbial efforts.
• Seeks to increase diversity in clinical trials and to facilitate participation in clinical trials.
• Bolsters FDA efforts overseeing innovative cell and gene therapies.
• Seeks to decentralize clinical trials.
• Enhances FDA-CMS communication to expedite innovative products getting to patients.
• Extends Medicare telehealth flexibility.
• Seeks to provide coverage for breakthrough medical devices.
• Establishes ARPA-H at NIH (as requested by the White House).
• Authorizes supplemental research funding to bolster medical research efforts. 

The American Thoracic Society’s Washington Office will closely monitor this legislation as it moves through Congress.