At the Urging of Rural Doctors, Letlow Calls on HHS to Expand Access to Monoclonal Antibody Treatments

MONROE, LA – Congresswoman Julia Letlow (LA-05) today sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), asking Secretary Xavier Becerra to make monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatments readily available to medical providers and centers in rural areas. Because of a policy instituted by HHS in September 2021, the federal government now controls all mAb distribution and no longer allows health care facilities to obtain the treatments directly from manufacturers.
 
“Doctors and health care providers and centers have spent years now treating COVID-19 patients and know what treatment is best for their individual patients, but they are finding their hands tied by bureaucracy and government red tape," Letlow wrote. "The federal government should not continue to hamper their fight to save lives by rationing mAb treatments. As I have seen and heard from so many health care providers and centers across my district, they are dealing with the grave challenges of this pandemic every single day and need timely and unfettered access to every single resource we can give them."
 
With COVID-19 cases surging, Letlow drafted the letter at the urging of doctors across Louisiana’s Fifth District, who have been unable to quickly access these lifesaving treatments.
 
“As a doctor, I’ve seen firsthand how critical a monoclonal antibody treatment can be to saving a patient’s life,” said Dr. Kyle Bruyninckx of Rayville. “We need to get these treatments to our medical providers and centers as quickly as possible. It is unacceptable for the federal government to stockpile this crucial tool in the fight against COVID, and then cause unnecessary delays as our doctors try to navigate a frustrating bureaucratic process.”
 
To read Letlow’s full letter, click HERE.