North Charlotte Today

Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) introduced the bipartisan Preserving Life-saving Access to Specialty Medicines in America (PLASMA) Act today. The legislation aims to ensure individuals with rare diseases and immunodeficiencies have access to necessary plasma-based medicines.

“It is critical patients with rare diseases and immunodeficiencies have uninterrupted access to the life-saving plasma-based medicines they need,” said Senator Tillis. “This commonsense legislation increases access to these innovative medications and ensures they remain affordable for the thousands of Americans who rely on them.”

“Ensuring that individuals with rare diseases and immunodeficiencies have access to life-saving plasma-based medicines is not just a health care issue, it's a matter of life and death," said Senator Kelly. “The PLASMA Act is crucial to keep treatments accessible and affordable for thousands of Americans. I will continue working across the aisle to support plasma donation and guarantee that no patient faces a disruption in their treatment.”

“The Alpha-1 Foundation is proud to endorse The PLASMA Act in support of patients with rare diseases, like Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and immunodeficiencies, to have access to necessary plasma-based medicines. It is vital for our community to have continued access to this life-saving plasma therapy that they receive on a weekly basis,” said Scott Santarella, President & CEO, Alpha-1 Foundation.

“The GBS/CIDP Foundation International proudly supports the PLASMA Act and all policies that promote patient access to plasma medicines,” said Lisa Butler, Executive Director, GBS/CIDP Foundation International. “Many patients with rare and chronic conditions like Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) and Multifocal Motor Neuropathy (MMN) require reliable access to plasma medicines multiple times per month, and any disruption can have devastating effects. Introducing the PLASMA Act is a significant step forward toward ensuring continued access to life-saving plasma medicines into the future.”

North Carolina hosts one of the world’s largest plasma production facilities along with more than 30 plasma donor centers across the state, providing life-saving measures for thousands of Americans.

The PLASMA Act would include plasma-derived medicines in a phase-in process for the Part D redesign already established by the Inflation Reduction Act for other drugs recognized as unique by Congress. Beginning in 2031, manufacturers would pay the full rebate amount following annual rebate increases, protecting vulnerable beneficiaries’ supply of these medicines while avoiding skyrocketing costs for patients.

In the United States, over 125,000 patients living with rare and life-threatening diseases rely on sustained access to plasma-derived medicinal products for their lifelong health conditions. These include Primary Immunodeficiencies, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy, and Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency; most patients lack effective alternative therapies.

The PLASMA Act has received endorsements from several top national and international health organizations including the Immune Deficiency Foundation, Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association, Alpha-1 Foundation, and GBS | CIDP Foundation International.

Full text of the legislation is available HERE.

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