Bill Overview
Title: Right to Treat Act
Description: This bill specifies that no federal agency has the authority to regulate the practice of medicine. It further specifies that no federal law or policy may prohibit or restrict the lawful prescribing of a drug authorized by the Food and Drug Administration.
Sponsors: Sen. Johnson, Ron [R-WI]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals impacted by changes in medical practice regulations and drug prescription policies
Estimated Size: 330000000
- The bill relates to the medical practice regulation, particularly focusing on the ability to prescribe drugs.
- Physicians and healthcare providers will be directly impacted as it affects their prescribing authority.
- Patients could be indirectly impacted depending on changes in prescribing practices of their healthcare providers.
- The pharmaceutical industry might be affected as it could influence drug sales and regulations.
Reasoning
- The Right to Treat Act will distinctly impact different segments of the population. Physicians stand to gain more autonomy in prescribing FDA-approved medications, which could lead to variations in prescribing practices across states.
- Patients might see changes depending on how their healthcare providers choose to adapt their prescribing habits, potentially affecting their satisfaction with treatments they receive.
- The pharmaceutical industry, particularly drug manufacturers, could see shifts in their sales dynamics based on changes in prescription patterns, though this may not directly impact individual wellbeing scores collected here.
- The budgetary considerations imply that the policy scope will be significant but must be balanced between empowering medical professionals and ensuring patient safety. The impact will vary widely based on current state regulations and individual circumstances.
Simulated Interviews
Primary Care Physician (Texas)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy will enhance my ability to tailor treatments to my patients.
- I'm concerned it might lead to variations in standard care without clear guidelines.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Pharmaceutical Sales Rep (California)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increased access could boost my sales, but it might complicate marketing strategies.
- I'm worried about pushing the wrong drugs as a result.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Graduate Student (New York)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My concern is whether this leads to more expensive drug prescriptions that aren't necessary.
- I hope it leads to more personalized treatment. It could be beneficial in the long run.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Retired (Florida)
Age: 58 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Simplifying drug prescriptions could be good if it doesn't remove important safeguards.
- I think the costs might go up if prescriptions are less regulated.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Specialist Physician (Illinois)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I appreciate having more freedom in prescribing treatments, especially for chronic conditions that are hard to treat.
- I worry about lack of oversight and consistency across providers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Retired School Teacher (Ohio)
Age: 70 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned this might impact the cost of my medications.
- Maybe my prescriptions will have more options available.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Health Policy Analyst (Washington)
Age: 40 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could lead to interesting shifts in state vs federal policy dynamics.
- It might increase innovation but at the expense of rigorous drug trial and error protocols.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Nurse Practitioner (Louisiana)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this empowers rural healthcare providers like me to do more for patients.
- I am uncertain if it will result in misprescriptions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Pharmacy Technician (Oregon)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More prescriptions could mean busier work shifts and potential stress.
- I'm concerned about being responsible for more complex prescriptions without enough oversight.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Chronic Illness Patient (Tennessee)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this means my doctor can try new meds when I'm not responding to current treatments.
- I worry about the safety of new drug options that might come too quickly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $250000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $500000000)
Year 2: $250000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $500000000)
Year 3: $250000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $500000000)
Year 5: $250000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $500000000)
Year 10: $250000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $500000000)
Year 100: $250000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $500000000)
Key Considerations
- The balance between medical practice independence and patient safety must be considered when evaluating the act's impacts.
- Potential legal challenges and interpretations regarding the scope of the act would affect its implementation.
- Interstate discrepancies in adherence to federal guidelines might emerge, affecting overall healthcare uniformity.