U.S. Representative Richard Hudson and Senator Thom Tillis have introduced the Preserving Life-saving Access to Specialty Medicines in America (PLASMA) Act, a bipartisan, bicameral effort aimed at increasing access to plasma-based medicines. The legislation proposes phased-in rebates for these medicines to ensure that patients with rare diseases and immunodeficiencies can obtain necessary treatments.
“All Americans impacted by rare diseases deserve to have innovative, high-quality health care,” said Representative Hudson. “My legislation will increase access to plasma medicines for our nation’s most vulnerable patients and help save lives.”
Senator Tillis emphasized the importance of uninterrupted access: “It is critical patients with rare diseases and immunodeficiencies have uninterrupted access to the life-saving plasma-based medicines they need.”
North Carolina hosts one of the largest plasma production facilities globally, along with over 30 donor centers contributing significantly to patient care across the United States.
The PLASMA Act aligns with provisions from the Inflation Reduction Act, introducing a phase-in process starting in 2031 for manufacturers’ rebate payments. This aims to safeguard supplies while managing costs for over 125,000 American patients dependent on plasma-derived products for conditions like Primary Immunodeficiencies and Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency.
Representatives Greg Murphy, Don Davis, Scott Peters, and Senator Mark Kelly also support this initiative. Representative Murphy stated that “Plasma-derived medicines are critical for many patients with autoimmune conditions and immunodeficiency disorders.” Meanwhile, Representative Davis stressed the need for common-sense legislation ensuring continuous treatment availability.
Representative Peters highlighted current shortages: “Many Americans with rare diseases rely on plasma therapies… It already takes 7-12 months to process a plasma donation into a plasma medicine.”
Endorsements come from organizations such as the Alpha-1 Foundation and GBS | CIDP Foundation International. Scott Santarella of Alpha-1 Foundation expressed support: “The Alpha-1 Foundation is proud to endorse The PLASMA Act in support of patients with rare diseases.”
For more details on the legislation’s specifics, readers are encouraged to review its full text.
