Serving Harris, Galveston, Brazoria and Fort Bend Counties
HOUSTON
July Issue 2015
Inside This Issue
TERMINALLY ILL PATIENTS IN TEXAS NOW HAVE THE “RIGHT TO TRY” By: Mark S. Armstrong, J.D. Epstein Becker Green
Exercise can help control blood glucose See pg. 9
INDEX Money Matters..............pg.3 Healthy Heart................pg.5 Framework....................pg.8 Age Well Live Well........pg.12
On June 16, 2015, Governor Abbott signed into law H.B. 21, known as the “Right to Try Act” and the law became immediately effective, thereby allowing patients with terminal illnesses the right to use potentially life-saving investigational drugs, biological products, and devices. With the passage of this new law, Texas joins 21 other states that have passed similar “right-to-try” legislation. Although the new law is intended to give terminally ill patients access to experimental and potentially life-saving treatments, the Right to Try Act conflicts with federal FDA laws and questions remain regarding the actual impact of the new law.
patients seeking to use experimental drugs before FDA approval must apply for expanded access to the investigational drug. In order to be eligible for the expanded access (also called compassionate use), the patient must (a) have a serious or immediately life-threatening disease or condition, Under current federal regulations, (b) have no comparable or satisfactory
alternative therapy to treat the disease or condition; and (c) be unable to otherwise obtain the investigational drug or to participate in a clinical trial. In addition, the patient’s physician must determine that the probable risk to the patient from the investigational drug is not greater than the probable risk from the disease or condition and see Right to Try page 19
House answers Alzheimer’s Association advocates’ call for a $300 million increase
Memorial Hermann Stroke Support Group See pg. 16
Alzheimer's Association advocates moved closer to realizing their request for substantially-increased Alzheimer's research funding. The House Appropriations Committee approved the Labor, Health and
Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS) bill, including an additional $300 million for Alzheimer's disease research. Rep. Chairman Tom Cole (R-Okla.) first proposed this landmark increase.
"The Alzheimer's Association applauds Congressman Cole, Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-Ky.), Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) and all members of the House Appropriations Committee for prioritizing the Alzheimer's crisis. It is our sincere hope given the action taken by the House Appropriations Committee today and by the Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee yesterday, that the final
bill that is enacted to fund the National Institutes of Health includes such a substantial increase for Alzheimer's disease research," said Harry Johns, president and CEO of the Alzheimer's Association. "As we look toward to the announcement of the first Alzheimer's professional judgment budget next month, this surge of bipartisan support marks a turning point in the fight see Alzheimer’s Association page 20
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