AMCP Applauds Introduction of the Access to Prescription Digital Therapeutics Act of 2023

Legislation will help expand patient access to a growing, promising line of health technology-enabled treatments.

Alexandria, VA., March 9, 2023 — AMCP (Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy) today applauded the introduction of the Access to Prescription Digital Therapeutics Act of 2023 (S. 723/H.R. 1458) by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Representatives Kevin Hern (R-OK), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Bill Johnson (R-OH), and Doris Matsui (D-CA). One of AMCP’s top federal priorities, the bill would authorize coverage of prescription digital therapeutics (PDTs) by Medicare and Medicaid, helping millions of Americans receive innovative care to treat a growing range of conditions and illnesses.

“The Access to Prescription Digital Therapeutics Act will ensure Americans have timely and efficient access to treatments that will help address their conditions and improve their peace of mind,” said AMCP CEO Susan Cantrell, MHL, RPh, CAE. “PDTs are an impressive example of harnessing technological innovation to treat and manage illnesses for millions of Americans. AMCP has been a leading advocate for authorizing coverage of PDTs, and we look forward to working with the bipartisan group of bill sponsors to advance this important legislation through Congress.”

PDTs are evidence-based treatments that use software or virtual tools, and sometimes hardware, to deliver a clinical benefit to patients. They have many known uses, helping Americans identify, treat, and manage illnesses across a wide range of conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), diabetes management, substance and opioid use disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), chronic back pain, decreasing eyesight, and more. PDTs are subject to review and authorization by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and must be prescribed by a health care provider.

Earlier versions of the legislation (S. 3791/H.R. 7051) were introduced in the 117th Congress by a bipartisan coalition led by Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Representatives Mike Thompson (D-CA) and David McKinley (R-WV). The current version of the bill is identical to language from the 117th Congress, apart from new dates for implementation.

For more information on PDTs and AMCP’s support for this legislation, please view our Issue Brief, 2022 letter of support, and grassroots advocacy campaign.  

About AMCP 

AMCP is the professional association leading the way to help patients get the medications they need at a cost they can afford. AMCP’s diverse membership of pharmacists, physicians, nurses, biopharmaceutical professionals, and other stakeholders leverage their specialized expertise in clinical evidence and economics to optimize medication benefit design and population health management and help patients access cost-effective and safe medications and other drug therapies. AMCP members improve the lives of nearly 300 million Americans served by private and public health plans, pharmacy benefit management firms, and emerging care models. Visit www.amcp.org.

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