The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) June 23 estimated the cost of implementing the 21st Century Cures Act (H.R. 6) would total $106.4 billion for the 2016-2020 period. The estimate assumes full appropriation of the amounts authorized in the bill. Since H.R. 6 authorizes the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for three years, the estimate assumes appropriations at the authorized levels, which total $100 billion.
In addition, the estimate includes the $10 billion, five-year NIH Innovation Fund and the $550 million “Cures Innovation Fund for the Food and Drug Administration.” The version of the bill approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee May 21 includes offsets to cover the costs of these funds [see Washington Highlights, May 22].