Pasco Reporter

In this week's Energy & Commerce Committee markup, members passed a total of 44 bills, several of which were authored by Congressman Gus Bilirakis. These bills aim to improve patient outcomes and provide enhanced consumer protections for all Americans.

One of the bills, the Cutting Copays Act, seeks to lower the cost of prescription drugs for vulnerable seniors in Medicare Part D's Low Income Subsidy Program. Congressman Gus Bilirakis explains, "Record inflation has caused spikes in the costs of basic goods and services which have hurt those on a fixed income the most. Research shows us that we can help improve patient outcomes for our most vulnerable seniors by removing barriers to proper disease management and medication compliance. By incentivizing beneficiaries to choose cheaper generic alternatives, we can also reduce overall costs and alleviate the burden of choosing between buying groceries and buying medications."

Another bill, the Expanding Access to Diabetes Self-Management Training Act, aims to improve patient outcomes for beneficiaries with diabetes by enhancing access to education and self-management training services. Congressman Gus Bilirakis states, "By providing diabetes patients with these self-management resources, seniors will be empowered to take control of their own health and well-being, and we can help mitigate the negative impact this disease has on them and their families."

The National Plan to End Parkinson's Act is an effort to unite the federal government in a mission to cure and prevent Parkinson's disease. The act aims to alleviate financial and health burdens on American families and reduce government spending over time.

Lastly, the TICKET Act addresses the need for transparency in the entertainment industry. It requires all event ticket sellers to display the total ticket price, including all fees, in any advertisement or promotional materials. Congressman Gus Bilirakis explains that this act ensures "consumers are able to see the full price of the ticket prior to checkout" and prohibits fraudulent and deceptive practices in the ticketing space.

These bills are now set to advance to the House Floor for consideration. If passed, they will contribute to improving patient outcomes, enhancing consumer protections, and addressing important issues such as prescription drug costs, diabetes management, Parkinson's disease, and ticketing transparency in the entertainment industry.

To find out more, go to this link: https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/four-more-bilirakis-bills-pass-advance-house-floor