We want YOU to support farmers and climate solutions

October 6, 2020
Today, we tell you about why you should support the Growing Climate Solutions Act and how you can help. We also dig into new health care spending data that sheds more light on the true role of prescription drug costs. Here are around 700 words, 3 minutes.
BIO

Today, we tell you about why you should support the Growing Climate Solutions Act and how you can help. We also dig into new health care spending data that sheds more light on the true role of prescription drug costs. Here are around 700 words, 3 minutes.

 

We want YOU to support farmers and climate solutions

 
 

As the nation works to build back a more resilient economy and environment, breakthroughs in sustainable agriculture will be needed to support farmers and reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions. The Growing Climate Solutions Act can help—and you can help it become law. TAKE ACTION NOW!

For greater resilience all around, we need biotech solutions—like tools that enable agriculture to adapt to climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and technologies to enhance carbon sequestration.

Agriculture can lead the way by designing climate change solutions that “create revenue for farmers, create jobs, and tackle what is right in front of our face right now in terms of this climate crisis,” said Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) during BIO IMPACT Digital

However, “it’s critically important that farmers feel comfortable in the technical side” of carbon sequestration, and have “confidence” that their practices will be measured, quantified, and turned into credits they can receive revenue from, she continued.

The Growing Climate Solutions Act (S. 3894) could help by creating a voluntary, producer-led certification program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and providing farmers with technical resources to participate in the markets, as we reported in June.

Sen. Stabenow said the bill is critical. We can’t have a system for “carbon credits and carbon trading without having this piece.”

Watch:

 
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) at BIO IMPACT Digital
 

We’re in. How can we help? Ask your U.S. Representative and Senators to cosponsor the Growing Climate Solutions Act and support America’s farmers in the fight against climate change. Check out our new BIOAction campaign to get started.

Watch Dr. Jill Zullo, VP of Bioindustrials at Cargill NA,discuss the company’s Soil and Water Outcomes Fund, which helps farmers in Iowa implement environmentally positive agricultural practices.

 
Twitter
 
LinkedIn
 
Facebook
 

What drives health spending in the United States?

 
 

It’s not what many lawmakers would have you think, according to new data from Peterson/Kaiser Family Foundation

The conversation about health care spending in the United States focuses on prescription drug prices—but data shows hospital and physician payments “are greater drivers of health spending,” says the Peterson Center on Health Care/Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) Health System Tracker.

The United States spends twice as much on health care as comparable countries—$10,637 per person in 2018 compared to $5,527 on average in similarly large, wealthy countries like Canada, France, Germany, and Switzerland.

The largest category was inpatient and outpatient care at more than $6K/person—even though U.S. patients have shorter average hospital stays and fewer physician visits per capita.

 
Distribution of health spending by category, 2018 (Peterson/KFF Health System Tracker)
 

This represented 62% of total health spending in the U.S., but 49% in comparable countries. Meanwhile, prescription drugs and medical goods account for just 13% of spending in the U.S., and 16% in comparable countries. 

But many comparable countries have drug price controls—which, as we know, harm patient access to lifesaving treatments. For example, of 30 new anti-infection and anti-viral medications identified in 2011-2017, 90% were available in the United States compared to 80% in Germany, 60% in France, and 57% in Canada. 

More on the Peterson/Kaiser data here.

We continue to fight drug price controls and stand up for patients. We will continue to work hard to advance systemic and bipartisan reforms that address legitimate concerns about U.S. health insurance and delivery, including the affordability and accessibility of medicines.

More Health Care News:

MSNBC: Speed ​​of vaccine development is due to ‘excellent science,’ not political pressure
“Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath, president of trade group Biotechnology Innovation Organization and a former FDA official, calls the White House's politicization of science during the pandemic ‘unprecedented and unconscionable.’” 

The New York Times: White House blocks new coronavirus vaccine guidelines
“A main sticking point has been the recommendation that volunteers who have participated in vaccine clinical trials be followed for a median of two months after the final dose before any authorization is granted.”

 
Twitter
 
LinkedIn
 
Facebook
 
BIO Beltway Report
GoodDayBIO
 
 

President Trump’s Tuesday: He’s back in the White House, with no public events scheduled. The White House physician cautioned that he’s “not entirely out of the woods.” Meanwhile, the press secretary also tested positive for COVID-19.

What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: With 22 days until the election, here are a few dates to keep in mind—assuming recent events don't change things.

  • First and only vice presidential debate: October 7 (tomorrow)
  • Second presidential debate: October 15
  • Final presidential debate: October 22
 
 
Paragraph (normal) - Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Quis ipsum suspendisse ultrices gravida. Risus commodo viverra maecenas accumsan lacus sample link.
 
Twitter
 
LinkedIn
 
Facebook