(Alexandria, Virginia) — Today, Gerard Scimeca, Chairman of Consumer Action for a Strong Economy, issued the following statement in support of the Senate introduction of the Ensuring Pathways to Innovative Cures (EPIC) Act, urging Congress to fix the Biden “pill penalty” and pass this critical legislation in reconciliation.

“The IRA’s price-setting scheme is a direct attack on the free market, discouraging investment in groundbreaking treatments and putting bureaucrats in charge of decisions that should be made by doctors and patients. If left unchecked, these policies will stifle the very innovation that drives medical breakthroughs, leading to fewer treatment options and worse health outcomes for American patients.

“Thankfully, the EPIC Act, introduced today by Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Ted Budd (R-NC), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), James Lankford (R-OK), and Steve Daines (R-MT), fixes the Biden pill penalty and restores the incentives necessary for pharmaceutical companies to invest in the next generation of cures for chronic diseases. By preventing premature government intervention in drug pricing, this legislation ensures that patients will benefit from cutting-edge therapies.

“CASE advocates for all U.S. consumers and firmly stands against Biden’s disastrous pill penalty created by the IRA. Congress must act now to reverse course and protect medical innovation. We strongly urge lawmakers to pass the EPIC Act in reconciliation and prioritize patients over government bureaucrats.”