This week, U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., introduced the “Timely Access to Clinical Treatment (TACT) Act” which “would require that patients be provided their oral drugs within an acceptable time frame.”
The congressman’s office offered some of the reasons why he thinks the proposal is needed.
“Patients’ access to the appropriate medically necessary treatment within a reasonable time frame is increasingly challenged by our complex health care delivery system. This is especially true for oral drugs. Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), health insurance plan sponsors, and specialty and mail order pharmacies are notorious for slowing down the process by which patients receive their oral drugs, even in cases where specialty practices can provide those drugs at the site of care via an in-house pharmacy or dispensing facility. In some cases, PBMs even disallow the drugs prescribed. The TACT Act provides a simple solution by requiring that patients be provided their oral drugs within an acceptable time frame of 72 hours, allowing for situations – such as acquiring financial support – that are understandable and reasonable,” Bilirakis’ office noted.