Senator Bill Frist on Historic Passage of 21st Century Cures Act
The US Senate just voted 94-5 to pass the 21st Century Cures Act. This is an historic moment for American medical innovation and the millions of patients who will benefit.
The Cures Act is groundbreaking. Over the 40 years I have been in medicine, there has never been a more exciting time for medical innovation than today. The Senate’s passage of this bill will impact millions of Americans and give a big voice to patients in improving their care. With an estimated 7,000–10,000 known molecular-based diseases without cures, we now have an opportunity to change that trajectory and find new cures and treatments for patients.
Chairman Lamar Alexander’s vision and steady leadership in spearheading the Senate version through the Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee was vital to making today possible. I worked with Senator Alexander and the Bipartisan Policy Center to bring in medical perspectives from across the county to develop key pieces of the final legislation, including language to advance regenerative cell therapies that hold promise for restoring vision, repairing hearts, and rebuilding damaged joints.
This legislation includes major investments in cancer research, precision medicine, opioid-abuse prevention, and neurological disorders, paired with the streamlining of regulations, that will advance treatments for the millions of Americans still suffering from untreatable illnesses. No other legislation enacted this Congress will do as much good for so many. Its passage today will pave the way for groundbreaking cures that will touch nearly every American family, and demonstrates that Washington can still work together to address the most pressing needs of the American public.
Chief executive officer . Behavior health care at Ambassador of hope inc.
8 年Thank you you'll remind me when I was with you in Washington that was wonderful Bill thank you so much I know you can do anything you are amazing
CEO National Treasury Solutions, LLC
8 年I can not find the words to express how this pleases me. Thank you Senator Frist for your pioneering efforts. My family has personal experience with SMA, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a horrible disease that attacks infants. In addition to a cure, I propose educational training programs for the parents/caregivers, and medical personnel utilizing telemedicine-- especially to rural areas that don't have access to a medical specialist. The mother of our little SMA patient tells me how frustrating it is to see medical personnel treat her child based on the training of a "like" disease, but not on the guidelines of the national SMA Association. Curriculum should be developed and placed on a national server that can be accessed by all parties, thus making the treatment/care of SMA patients consistent.
Retired!
8 年While gorund-breaking with lots of positive potential, I am concerned that we spend money on initiatives like this while we still don't have a great handle on the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension, diabetes and substance abuse-
Owner & Principal Consultant
8 年Fix HCA, LifePoint, DukeLifePoint, Parallon.