Kasia Mulligan, the national spokesperson for the advocacy organization Patients Come First, emphasized the need for change in bureaucratic systems to better address modern challenges. She said that this mandate from American voters extends to innovations in health care.
"The rate of groundbreaking scientific discoveries is on the decline," said Mulligan in an op-ed in The Well News. "In this era of reform lies an opportunity to put genuine innovation at the center of health care in America, no matter who leads the Department of Health and Human Services."
"To do this, policymakers must remove barriers to the development and delivery of innovative care including through reducing costs, expanding access, and incentivizing cutting-edge breakthroughs," wrote Mulligan. "Innovation is critical to improving patient well-being, but the status quo is rife with obstacles. Removing them must be a priority for lawmakers."
Mulligan identified three key areas of reform necessary to enhance innovation in health care.
The first area of reform, she wrote, involves rolling back price controls from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). She argued that these controls hinder innovation by limiting new drug development. Studies indicate that such controls could lead to 135 fewer drugs by 2039, with particularly adverse effects on rare diseases. Mulligan stressed the importance of investing in riskier yet potentially transformative drugs, especially for conditions lacking FDA-approved treatments.
The second reform addresses the growing risk of mass tort lawsuits, which can deter companies from developing novel therapies. Mulligan cited research indicating that product liability litigation creates uncertainty and discourages investment in essential research and development (R&D). The final reform calls for action on pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform to ensure patients have access to breakthrough treatments and that PBMs pass along discounts as intended. Mulligan urged Congress and the administration to act decisively to protect the U.S. innovation ecosystem and meet the health needs of millions.
Patients Come First is a national advocacy group focused on eliminating barriers to care and improving medical innovation, particularly for individuals with chronic illnesses.
