The U.S. Senate is poised to escort a sweeping, bipartisan health bill to the president’s desk this week. It would accelerate the approval process for pharmaceuticals, improve procedures to treat mental illness and increase spending on medical research. But the so-called 21st Century Cures Act isn’t without weaknesses, critics say. They say it would let pharmaceutical companies end-run conventional clinical drug trials, doesn’t address soaring drug costs and slices $3.5 billion previously dedicated to preventive care measures under the Affordable Care Act.
http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/12/senate_set_to_vote_on_major_he.html
