Dan Durham, Executive Vice President for Health Policy at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, released the following statement regarding the recent decision by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to approve the Tennessee Medicaid (TennCare) Section 1115 waiver demonstration: "We are extremely disappointed that CMS has chosen to approve a waiver demonstration that will put Tennessee Medicaid (TennCare) patients at risk. This dangerous decision will jeopardize access to critical medicines for some of our most vulnerable patients. BIO believes CMS does not have the legal authority to approve the waiver and closed formulary and we will work to protect patient access to the life-saving medicines they need.”

Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath, President and CEO of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, made the following comments in response to today's violence at the United States Capitol: "Today we watched in horror as angry and unruly mobs attacked the United States Capitol in an effort to overturn the results of a democratically held election. "At BIO, we vigorously supported and encouraged scientists of all sorts to become actively involved in the political process, support their candidates from whichever party, and make their voices heard by voting. In an unprecedented election, millions of voters went to the polls and did just that. "It is simply unconscionable for an angry mob, upset by an election outcome to try to disenfranchise the votes of millions of Americans simply because their chosen candidate lost. "As we are staring down a global pandemic, it is now more critical than ever for Congress to return to their important work and join together in a unified front to fight the disease and not each other. The time has come for leaders of both political parties to collectively say enough is enough and return our country to civility and the rule of law."