National MS Society Testifies on Access to Medication Before Congressional Education and Labor Committee
September 26, 2019
Update: On December 12, 2019 the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3.
Bari Talente, National MS Society Executive Vice President of Advocacy, testified on Capitol Hill as part of the “Making Health Care More Affordable: Lowering Drug Pricing and Increasing Transparency” hearing. The Society continues to raise awareness around the high cost of MS disease modifying therapies through its
recommendations on access to MS medications. The Society’s full written testimony is
available online, and the live stream/recording can be
viewed here.
The hearing took place in the U.S. House of Representatives Education and Labor Committee – Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee. The following organization joined to testify:
- Mr. Frederick Isasi, J.D., Executive Director, Families USA
- Dr. Mariana P. Socal, MD, MS, MPP, Ph.D., Assistant Scientist, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management
- Mr. Christopher Holt, Director of Health Care Policy, American Action Forum
- Mr. Craig Garthwaite, Associate Professor of Strategy, Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management
- Mr. David Mitchell, Founder, Patients for Affordable Drugs Now
The Society believes that medications can only changes lives if people can access them and that medications and the process for getting them must be: affordable, simple and transparent.
Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system. Currently there is no cure. Symptoms vary from person to person and may include disabling fatigue, mobility challenges, cognitive changes, and vision issues. An estimated 1 million people live with MS in the United States. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical to minimize disability. Significant progress is being made to achieve a world free of MS.
The National MS Society, founded in 1946, is the global leader of a growing movement dedicated to creating a world free of MS. The Society funds cutting-edge research for a cure, drives change through advocacy and provides programs and services to help people affected by MS live their best lives. Connect to learn more and get involved: nationalMSsociety.org, Facebook, X, formerly known as Twitter, Instagram, YouTube or 1-800-344-4867.