Bill Gets Benefits to Patients Faster 💨

Janson Silvers  0:02  
Welcome to Healthcare Policy Pop, I'm Janson Silvers. It's Tuesday November 21, 2023. Today's pop topics a bill just introduced into both chambers that would put benefits in the hands of patients that need it most much quicker. The Immediate Access for the Terminally Ill Act was just introduced last week by Senator Mike Lee of Utah and Congresswoman Dianne Harshbarger of Tennessee, the bill would eliminate the current five month waiting period in the SSDI program. That waiting period prevents terminally ill patients from having immediate access to benefits. Harshbarger spoke recently about the bill with Patients Rising CEO Terry Wilcox, she said waiting five months for benefits when your life is on the line is baffling.

Congresswoman Dianne Harshbarger  0:48  
This is not you might be gone before that happens. And who in God's name wants to have to deal with that when you have a loved one who has a terminal illness and that precious soul, you are spending as much time with him as you can and not worry about navigating financial matters.

Janson Silvers  1:07  
So who would benefit from this bill? Harshbarger says there are currently more than 40 different diseases this would help. Here she is describing the stipulations.

Congresswoman Dianne Harshbarger  1:16  
You know, it says it has no cure or a life expectancy of less than five years, when you do do treatment with this. And there's many disease states on here. There may be 42 by now. But like I said, it's a list that will continue to change based on the cure rate and based on new modalities, new medications that come on the market. 

Janson Silvers  1:38  
The bill also makes sure the system isn't being taken advantage of.

Congresswoman Dianne Harshbarger  1:42  
We have guardrails in place to keep people from taking advantage. Maybe there is a cure within that five month period that hey, they're miraculously cured or whatever. So there are safeguards in here. And that way, you know, we can prove that honestly, it would save the government money in the long run, if they just turn loose with the funds up front, if you have one of these terminal illnesses.

Janson Silvers  2:04  
Harshbarger says the solution to the problem is simple.

Congresswoman Dianne Harshbarger  2:08  
You pay into healthcare or social security all your life and how do we know what's going to be there when you really do need it. So we have to address it make it a simple addition. Don't make it a calculus problem. People don't want to hear it. They it's just lalala just give me my medicine and my doctor. Don't confuse me about all these issues. 

Janson Silvers  2:26  
And if there's anything the American healthcare system needs, its simplification,

Congresswoman Dianne Harshbarger  2:31  
let us simplify the healthcare system. And that's one of the goals I have in Congress. One of the reasons I ran for Congress and also on Energy and Commerce and I sit on the health subcommittee where we can make some of these changes to where we can solidify and, you know, make it more accessible and easier for the patient who is the ultimate person that we're working for is that patient to make their outcomes so much easier and so much better. 

Janson Silvers  2:58  
We have a link to the full text of the bill in the shownotes.

Patients Rising fully supports the Immediate Access for the Terminally Ill Act. Upon its introduction Terry Wilcox was quoted in the press release. She said quote: "For patients facing terminal illness, the current five month waiting period in the Social Security Disability Insurance Program is unethical and inhumane. The Immediate Access for the Terminally Ill Act will offer patients and their families important financial support and dignity during a devastating moment. We have a link to that press release in the show notes. That's all for today. We're back on Tuesday for another Healthcare Policy Pop a resource of Patients Rising Now. We're taking Thursday off for the Thanksgiving holiday. I'm Janson Silvers Have a great holiday week.