On February 12, 2015, Senators Hatch and Whitehouse introduced the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act of 2015.  This is the companion bill to H.R. 471, sponsored by Representatives Marino, Blackburn, Welch, and Chu that was recently approved by the Subcommittee on Health, Energy and Commerce Committee. At a recent Congressional hearing, Linden Barber discussed the benefits of the House’s bill which will help prevent prescription drug abuse, establish clear and consistent enforcement standards, and ensure patients have access to medications by promoting collaboration among government agencies, patients, and industry stakeholders.  A prior version of this bill unanimously passed in the House last year, but never made it to a vote in the Senate. The Senate bill, like its House counterpart, has received the support of HDMA, a national association representing healthcare distributors whose membership includes 34 national, regional, and specialty primary distribution companies.