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Congress·In Committee·about 1 year ago

Congress Proposes National Strategy to Coordinate Research and Cures for 3.4 Million Americans with Epilepsy

Also known as: National Plan for Epilepsy Act

Legislative Progress

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Review
House
Senate
President

Impact Analysis

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Key Points

  • This bill, introduced in Congress, would create the first "National Plan for Epilepsy." The goal is to organize federal efforts to prevent, diagnose, and eventually cure the brain disorder. It requires the government to create a master plan that is updated regularly to keep up with new medical discoveries.
  • The plan focuses on helping the 3.4 million Americans living with epilepsy, including nearly 456,000 children. Because 1 in 26 people will develop epilepsy in their lifetime, this policy aims to improve the quality of life for millions of families and caregivers who deal with the daily challenges of seizures.
  • A new Advisory Council would be formed to give the government expert advice. This group would include doctors and researchers, but also four people living with different types of epilepsy and two family caregivers. This ensures that the people actually living with the condition have a voice in how research and care are handled.
  • The policy addresses the high cost of the disorder, which currently totals more than $54 billion a year in the U.S. By coordinating research across agencies like the National Institutes of Health and the CDC, the government hopes to find better treatments for the 30% of patients whose seizures are not currently controlled by medicine.
  • Every year, the government would have to report to Congress on what progress has been made. These reports must include recommendations on how to reduce the financial burden on families and how to eliminate unfair differences in the quality of care people receive across the country.
Healthcare

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Feb 11, 2025House

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Feb 11, 2025

Introduced in House

Related News

3 articles
GV Wire·about 1 year ago

Costa Introduces Bill to Improve Epilepsy Care and Research

Rep. Jim Costa (D-Fresno) introduced the National Plan for Epilepsy Act to improve care, research, and public awareness. The bipartisan bill, co-led by Rep. Greg Murphy (R-NC), mandates that HHS develop a national plan and annually assess the program’s effectiveness for 3.4 million Americans.

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North Carolina Medical Society·about 1 year ago

Rep. Greg Murphy, MD with Updates from Eastern NC and Washington, DC

Rep. Greg Murphy, a physician and Co-Chair of the Epilepsy Caucus, discusses the re-introduction of the National Plan for Epilepsy Act. He emphasizes the bill’s bipartisan nature and its goal to improve patient outcomes and prioritize effective treatments for the 1 in 26 people affected.

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Seizing Life·9 months ago

Advocating for a National Plan for Epilepsy in Uncertain Times

Dr. Daniel Lowenstein discusses the push for a National Plan for Epilepsy. He explains that the act would require HHS to establish a coordinated federal effort for better outcomes, similar to national plans for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, while addressing disparities in care quality.

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Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

National Plan for Epilepsy Act

Bill NumberHR 1189
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(55)
D: 40R: 15

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.