McKinley bill to help patients access critical health care - WBOY.com: Clarksburg, Morgantown: News, Sports, Weather

McKinley bill to help patients access critical health care

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By Whitney Burdette - email

  • Local News

  • Tuesday, May 21 2013 11:57 PM EDT2013-05-22 03:57:09 GMT
    Bob Huggins was in Bridgeport on Tuesday evening to speak at the 22nd Annual Stonewall Jackson Friends of Scouting Leadership Dinner.
    Bob Huggins was in Bridgeport on Tuesday evening to speak at the 22nd Annual Stonewall Jackson Friends of Scouting Leadership Dinner.

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    The City of Bridgeport partnered with the FBI and Take 25 to host the inaugural Kids Day event on Tuesday that was all about safety.
    The City of Bridgeport partnered with the FBI and Take 25 to host the inaugural Kids Day event on Tuesday that was all about safety.

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    Doddridge County High School has received a three-year, $50,000 Innovation Zone Grant, allowing students with similar interests to spend a few hours every month getting real world experience.
    Doddridge County High School has received a three-year, $50,000 Innovation Zone Grant, allowing students with similar interests to spend a few hours every month getting real world experience.
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  • GovernmentGovernment

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    The three locks on the upper Monongahela River will be open to recreational boaters this weekend during limited hours.
    The three locks on the upper Monongahela River will be open to recreational boaters this weekend during limited hours.

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    Helen Holt, now 99, was West Virginia's first female secretary of state. She received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from WVU during Sunday's commencement.
    Helen Holt, now 99, was West Virginia's first female secretary of state. She received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from WVU during Sunday's commencement.

  • Monday, May 20 2013 6:11 AM EDT2013-05-20 10:11:12 GMT
    MORGANTOWN, WV (AP) — West Virginia landowners who want to apply for grants to improve wildlife habitat have until June 14 to contact the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
    MORGANTOWN, WV (AP) — West Virginia landowners who want to apply for grants to improve wildlife habitat have until June 14 to contact the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
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  • Health Care

  • Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:14 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:14:28 GMT
    The Warren T. Anderson, M.D. Center for Cardiac Care features three cardiac catheterization laboratories, 14 pre- and post-procedure rooms, a stress lab and two nuclear cameras.
    The Warren T. Anderson, M.D. Center for Cardiac Care features three cardiac catheterization laboratories, 14 pre- and post-procedure rooms, a stress lab and two nuclear cameras.

  • Sunday, May 19 2013 7:00 PM EDT2013-05-19 23:00:45 GMT
    CHARLESTON, WV (AP) — A pregnancy center that counsels women not to have abortions has moved next door to a women's health facility in Charleston that provides abortions. Woman's Choice offers free counseling
    A pregnancy center that counsels women not to have abortions has moved next door to a women's health facility in Charleston that provides abortions.

  • Saturday, May 18 2013 11:26 AM EDT2013-05-18 15:26:31 GMT
    Old Colony Realtors congratulated CAMC on meeting their fundraising goal of $15 million for the new CAMC David Lee Cancer Center. "Through our gift of $25,000 to this campaign for the new cancer center
    Old Colony Realtors congratulated CAMC on meeting their fundraising goal of $15 million for the new CAMC David Lee Cancer Center.
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A bipartisan bill to help patients gain access to critical health care has been reintroduced before the House of Representatives.

Rep. David McKinley, R-W.Va., initially introduced the Patient Access to Treatments Act in March 2012, but it died in committee. McKinley and Rep. Lois Capps, D-Calif., and 15 other members of the House co-sponsored the bill in the 113th Congress to allow millions of Americans to access critical treatments that can save lives or improve the quality of life.

"Over the past two years, hearing the stories of patients struggling to pay for medications that would dramatically improve their lives has been heartbreaking," McKinley said in a statement. "After talking with a number of people in these situations, it was clear action was needed."

Patients suffering a variety of ailments, including rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and some forms of cancer can benefit from specialty and biologic drugs, but the cost of those drugs is out of reach for many Americans, according to McKinley. Currently patients who require specialty drugs pay a percentage of the treatments rather than a fixed rate, as is common with most medicine. McKinley's legislation would end the practice of discrimination against specialty drugs by requiring insurers to impose the same co-payments they require for other medication.

"Even the president's health care plan doesn't cover the cost of these expensive drugs," McKinley said. "The law allows prescription drug co-pays to spiral up to $6,000 out-of-pocket for an individual and $12,000 for a family. Medicine is not just for the privileged. No one should have to choose between paying their bills and improving their quality of life."

Capps said Congress owes it to patients to ensure insurance companies follow the rules.

"Too many patients can't afford the high cost sharing requirements imposed on many specialty drugs and are forced to not take their medication as prescribed, or worse, not take it at all," she said in a statement. "This leads to increased complications and costs down the road, for the individual, their family and the entire health care system."