New "Affordable Medicines Caucus" in House

Two House lawmakers (Jo Ann Emerson, R-Mo, and Peter Welch, D-Vt) yesterday announced the formation of an "Affordable Medicines Caucus" in the House of Representatives.The goal of the caucus is to "promote the use of generic and biotech drugs that deliver quality care at an affordable cost." Representatives Emerson and Welch stated that they will focus on "increasing funding for generic drug reviews at the Food and Drug Administration," drafting legislative proposals to widen the use of generics (with the specific inclusion of use of such in Medicaid and Medicare programs), and increase access to biotech medications.