Greg Murphy, Representative of North Carolina, announced the introduction of a bipartisan bill aimed at reversing a provision in the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The bill seeks to safeguard patient access to essential cancer and complex therapies. Murphy made this statement on X.
“I introduced the Protecting Patient Access to Cancer and Complex Therapies Act,” said Gregory Francis Murphy, U.S. Representative for North Carolina’s 3rd congressional District (R). “This bipartisan legislation seeks to reverse a harmful Biden IRA provision and ensure that patients have continued access to care and the critical drugs they need.”
The IRA introduced Medicare drug price negotiations and price caps to make cancer and complex therapies more affordable. However, according to the Financial Times, pharmaceutical companies and some experts warn that these provisions could limit incentives for rare-disease drug development and may reduce future access to advanced treatments.
According to the Financial Times, following the passage of the IRA, Medicare will begin negotiating prices for ten major drugs, including several cancer therapies, starting in 2026. This is projected to save Medicare $7.5 billion in the first year and lower out-of-pocket costs for patients by approximately $1.5 billion.
Bipartisan lawmakers have responded to concerns about the IRA with measures such as the Protecting Patient Access to Cancer and Complex Therapies Act. This act was introduced by Rep. Greg Murphy to ensure continued provider reimbursement and patient access to therapies potentially affected by IRA price controls, according to Murphy’s official press release.
Murphy, a Republican representing North Carolina’s 3rd District since 2019, is a urologist and former state legislator known for his bipartisan healthcare initiatives. These include efforts to protect patient access to cancer treatments and address drug pricing under the IRA, as said in his official biography.
