Mapping America’s Pharmaceutical Supply Act; MAPS Act
Summary
The Mapping America's Pharmaceutical Supply Act (MAPS Act) aims to improve the coordination of federal efforts to identify and mitigate health and national security risks related to essential medicines. It mandates the creation and maintenance of an Essential Medicines List, a comprehensive risk assessment of the supply chains for these medicines, and a system for mapping and analyzing these supply chains using data analytics. The goal is to identify vulnerabilities and ensure a stable supply of critical pharmaceuticals.
Expected Effects
The MAPS Act will likely lead to increased transparency and resilience in the pharmaceutical supply chain. It will require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to work with other federal agencies and stakeholders to identify risks and develop mitigation strategies. This could result in more domestic manufacturing of essential medicines and reduced reliance on foreign suppliers.
Potential Benefits
- Enhanced national security by reducing dependence on foreign suppliers for essential medicines.
- Improved public health outcomes through a more stable and secure supply of critical drugs.
- Increased transparency in the pharmaceutical supply chain, allowing for better risk management.
- Potential for job creation in the domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing sector.
- Better preparedness for public health emergencies and national security threats.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for increased costs associated with domestic manufacturing and supply chain diversification.
- Possible delays in accessing essential medicines if supply chains are disrupted during the transition.
- Risk of confidential commercial information being compromised despite cybersecurity measures.
- The effectiveness of the Act depends on the accuracy and completeness of the data collected and analyzed.
- Potential for bureaucratic inefficiencies in coordinating efforts across multiple federal agencies.
Constitutional Alignment
The MAPS Act aligns with the Constitution's broad goals of providing for the common defense and promoting the general welfare (Preamble). Congress has the power to regulate interstate commerce (Article I, Section 8), which includes the production and distribution of pharmaceuticals. The Act does not appear to infringe on any specific individual rights or liberties protected by the Bill of Rights.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).