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Immediate Access for the Terminally Ill Act
1/13/2025, 8:25 PM
Summary of Bill HR 6427
Under the provisions of the Immediate Access for the Terminally Ill Act, terminally ill patients would be able to request access to experimental treatments directly from drug manufacturers, bypassing the traditional FDA approval process. This would allow patients to try potentially life-saving treatments that may not be available through other channels.
Supporters of the bill argue that it is a matter of compassion and individual freedom, allowing terminally ill patients to make their own decisions about their treatment options. They believe that the FDA approval process can be slow and bureaucratic, and that patients should not have to wait for potentially life-saving treatments. Opponents of the bill, however, raise concerns about patient safety and the potential for exploitation by unscrupulous drug manufacturers. They argue that the FDA approval process is in place for a reason, to ensure that treatments are safe and effective before they are made available to the public. They worry that bypassing this process could put patients at risk. Overall, the Immediate Access for the Terminally Ill Act is a controversial piece of legislation that raises important questions about the balance between patient autonomy and public safety. It remains to be seen whether the bill will ultimately be passed into law.
Congressional Summary of HR 6427
Immediate Access for the Terminally Ill Act
This bill permits Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries with specified terminal illnesses to elect expedited payment of benefits in exchange for a reduction in the amount of their monthly benefit.
Specifically, the bill requires the Social Security Administration (SSA) to establish a list of medical conditions that qualify an individual for expedited payment. These conditions must have no known cure, must involve a life expectancy of five years or less, and must be present on the most recent Compassionate Allowances list (a list of medical conditions that, by definition, meet the standards for SSDI benefits). The bill directs SSA to update the list every five years. Congress must approve each medical condition added to the list.
Under the bill, individuals diagnosed with a specified terminal condition may elect to receive SSDI benefits beginning the month after the onset of disability. Under current law, individuals generally must wait five months after the onset of disability to begin receiving SSDI benefits. Individuals who opt to receive expedited payment must accept a 7% reduction in monthly benefits.
Separately, the bill prohibits individuals receiving unemployment benefits from simultaneously receiving SSDI benefits. The bill also permits SSA to collect less than 100% of an overpaid Social Security beneficiary’s monthly benefit, so long as the collection amount is not less than 10% of their monthly benefit.
