Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act (H.R. 647/S.313)

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 The Achieving a Better Life Experience Act (ABLE) of 2013 (S. 313/H.R. 647) was introduced in February 2013 in the 113th Congress (2013-2014 Congressional cycle).

Under current law, people with disabilities receiving federal benefits cannot have more than $2,000 in assets and must have a very low monthly income. The ABLE Act will give individuals with disabilities and their families the ability to save for their child’s future just like every other American family. The ABLE Act  will help people with disabilities live full, productive lives in their communities without losing benefits provided through private insurances, the Medicaid program, the supplemental security income program, the beneficiary’s employment, and other sources.

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H.R. 460 – Patients’ Access to Treatments Act (PATA)

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The bipartisan Patients’ Access to Treatments Act (H.R. 460), introduced by Rep. David McKinley (R-WV) and Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA), limits cost-sharing requirements applicable to medications in a specialty drug tier (typically Tier IV or higher) to the dollar amount applicable to drugs in a non-preferred brand drug tier (typically Tier III). It will enable patient access to treatments, reduce disability and constrain health care costs.

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Senator Brown wants more pediatric-research funding: Bill would shift more federal money to kids’ illnesses

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THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Tuesday January 29, 2013 8:24 AM
By  Joshua Jamerson 

When Madison Reed was 7 months old, doctors told her parents she wouldn’t live past 2. “No parents should have to hear those words,” Annette Reed said. But unconventional methods helped Madison, who had type-1 spinal muscular atrophy, a rare disease impairing her motor functions. Now the Dublin resident is 15 years old.

The Reeds stood behind Sen. Sherrod Brown yesterday at Nationwide Children’s Hospital as the Ohio Democrat used their story to illustrate the need to increase funding for pediatric research.

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FDA Law Blog: Congressional Interest in FDA Remains High, Even After the Enactment of FDASIA

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By Kurt R. Karst –

Just before Congress recessed for the month of August, and less than a month after the July 9th enactment of the FDA Safety and Innovation Act, several FDA-related bills were placed in the hoppers in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives.  With an election on the horizon and several other non-FDA-related issues to handle, it seems highly unlikely that Congress will be poised to tackle the FDA bills this year; however, they may provide some insight into some of the issues that will be debated in the 113th Congress come 2013.

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