TN Congressional Members Demand Answers About HHS Limiting Monoclonal Therapy
Photo: Naval Medical Center San Diego administers monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatment to a COVID-19-positive patient; Photo Credit: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Harley K. Sarmiento / CC
The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
Last week, President Biden’s U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said it is imposing new limits on states’ ability to access to COVID-19 antibody treatments amid rising demand.
This has resulted in reduced shipments and delays getting these drugs to providers in a number of states, including Tennessee.
Representative Diana Harshbarger (TN-1) said, “These treatments are crucial in combatting deaths from coronavirus, and I have serious concerns about any changes in distributing doses that would short-change the people of Tennessee.”
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Harshbarger joined Tennessee Congressional Members Scott DesJarlais, Tim Burchett, Mark Green, Chuck Fleischmann, David Kustoff and John Rose in demanding answers from the HHS regarding these changes.
The Congress Members asked the following questions of the HHS in a letter to Secretary Xavier Becerra.
- Reports indicate that there is currently not a supply shortage of treatments, so why is the agency limiting supply? Can HHS provide transparency into what the actual problem is?
- What is the department’s plan for ensuring that treatments are available to those who need it?
- What is the current allocation process and what will it look like going forward? How is the allocation process determined?
- Does HHS have a policy for distribution of monoclonal antibodies based on a criteria of patient symptoms?
Read the full letter from the Congress Members HERE.
Harshbarger said, “I will be following this issue closely and work in whatever way I can to be helpful to Governor Lee and the Tennessee Department of Health.”
About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career. Most recently, he served as Deputy Directory for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History. Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com
