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Policy Update: MassBio Commends Governor, Lawmakers for Ensuring Patient Access, Physician Education
Yesterday, Governor Deval Patrick signed the FY2013 budget, which included two provisions MassBio has been working on.
The first was a partial repeal of the Massachusetts gift ban law enacted two years ago. The second was language that allows Massachusetts residents to take advantage of co-payment assistance plans offered by the industry to help defray the sometimes high-cost of medicines. Until now, Massachusetts was the only state in the nation to not allow such assistance programs, and MassBio has been working to correct that for years.
We thank all of our members who have advocated on these issues, as well as Governor Patrick and the legislative leaders in Massachusetts for their commitment to the industry. Below is a statement we released yesterday following the bill-signing at the State House.
MassBio Commends Governor, Lawmakers for Ensuring Patient Access, Physician Education
July 8, 2012 (CAMBRIDGE, MA) — MassBio applauded Governor Patrick and the state legislature for including provisions in the Fiscal Year 2013 budget that allow Massachusetts residents to take advantage of co-payment assistance programs and ensure appropriate relationships between industry and providers.
“We strongly commend Governor Patrick for signing the FY2013 budget, addressing two important issues – industry/provider interaction and patient access. This sends a message that Massachusetts is truly the leader in life sciences,” said Robert K. Coughlin, President & CEO of MassBio, which represents 600+ life sciences companies and organizations in Massachusetts. “We are not world leaders by accident, but because of leaders like Governor Patrick, Speaker DeLeo, Senate President Murray and their dedicated members—who went through a thoughtful and deliberate process in which they were determined to get it right – and they did.”
