Congresswoman Tenney Leads Six Republican Colleagues in Calling on HHS and CMS to Strengthen Domestic Production of Essential Medicines

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) sent a letter to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz outlining recommendations to help the Trump administration establish a meaningful and predictable Medicare payment incentive for hospitals and clinics that use American-made essential medicines.

As co-chair of the American-Made Medicines Caucus, Tenney is leading efforts with six Republican colleagues to expand domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing, secure America’s medical supply chain, and reduce the nation’s reliance on foreign adversaries for critical medicines.

Earlier this year, CMS requested public input on ways to encourage hospitals participating in Medicare to purchase domestically manufactured essential medicines and other critical medical supplies. Building on the Trump administration’s efforts, Tenney recommended:

• Providing predictable payments tied to providers’ actual use of qualifying American-made medicines;
• Establishing and regularly updating a CMS Essential Medicines List based on clinical need and supply-chain vulnerabilities; and
• Recognizing both finished medicines manufactured in the United States and domestically produced active pharmaceutical ingredients.

These reforms would make American-made medicines more competitive, encourage greater use of existing domestic manufacturing capacity, and give manufacturers the certainty they need to invest in expanded production. Strengthening domestic production would also reduce the risk that drug shortages or disruptions to foreign supply chains delay care for American patients.

“President Trump’s administration is taking important steps to rebuild our domestic pharmaceutical supply chain and ensure America is never dependent on foreign adversaries for the essential medicines our patients need,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “A clear and reliable Medicare incentive would encourage hospitals and clinics to buy American while giving manufacturers the certainty they need to expand production here at home."

“As co-chair of the American-Made Medicines Caucus, I look forward to working with Secretary Kennedy, Administrator Oz, and the Trump administration to protect patients, support American workers, and secure our nation’s medical supply chain.”

Read the full letter here.

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