Jan. 27:
Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07) and
Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH-16) yesterday introduced the Protecting Patient Access to Lifesaving COVID-19 Drugs Act, legislation that would expand access to lifesaving COVID-19 treatments by requiring private health insurance plans to cover the administration costs of monoclonal antibodies without cost-sharing.
Authorized by the
Food and Drug Administration in
November 2020, monoclonal antibodies have proven to prevent COVID-19 infections and reduce COVID-19 related hospitalizations. The
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services purchased 950,000 doses from Eli Lilly and another 300,000 doses from Regeneron. While these drugs will be distributed at no cost to patients, providers are able to charge an administration fee for the intravenous infusion of the antibodies - a service that can cost well over