Congressman Markwayne Mullin (OK-2) released the following statement after the passage of the House Amendment to Senate Amendment to H.R. 34, 21st Century Cures Act.

“Today, the House rallied around a piece of legislation that will bring our healthcare infrastructure into the 21^st century.  The 21^st Century Cures Act will help speed up the development of life-saving drugs, by reforming the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  This bill will remove regulatory barriers so live-saving drugs can enter the market quicker,” Mullin said.

“Cures legislation also includes the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, which has specific provisions to reach underserved and rural constituents across the country,” Mullin added.  “With an emphasis on telemedicine, this bill ensures that patients in rural areas are able to access mental health professionals such as psychiatrists and psychologists.”

“Additionally, the legislation provides much needed funding to combat Oklahoma’s growing opioid epidemic.  Oklahoma’s Second District has two of the five counties in the entire state that have the highest rates of unintentional painkiller overdoses.  It’s time to take proactive steps to ensure that law enforcement officials and healthcare professionals have the tools they need to put an end to the opioid crisis.”

“Within Cures legislation is the Patient Access to Durable Medical Equipment (PADME) Act, which ensures patient access to quality, affordable medical devices in rural areas.  Medicare patients deserve quality services and equipment, and with PADME as a part of Cures, patients will see stable rates for their medical equipment no matter where they live,” Mullin said.  

“Cures delivers huge wins across the board, especially for the most rural parts of our nation, including the Second District of Oklahoma.  From now on, rural hospitals will be able to more freely assist the patients in their own communities, without the federal government mandating what’s best for their patients.” 

“I am proud to be a cosponsor of this game-changing legislation, and on behalf of the Second District, I am grateful to see it pass the House today.  I urge my colleagues in the Senate to take up this legislation that will help not only rural Americans, but Americans everywhere,” Mullin concluded. 

The House Amendment to Senate Amendment to H.R. 34, 21st Century Cures Act, passed the House by a vote of 392 – 26.   

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