On January 17, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a final rule that will require certain payers to automate their prior authorization processes and implement application program interfaces...more
Congress Passes CR and Averts Government Shutdown. As appropriators continue to draft the 12 funding bills for FY 2024, a new stopgap CR was needed to avoid a partial government shutdown on January 19. The Senate passed the...more
House Passes Healthcare Legislation. The House brought two key bipartisan healthcare bills to the floor this week. The Lower Costs, More Transparency Act (H.R. 5378) was approved by a vote of 320–71, and the Support for...more
12/18/2023
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
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Healthcare ,
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Medicare ,
New Legislation ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
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Privacy Laws ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Senate Committees ,
Technology Sector ,
U.S. House
THIS WEEK’S DOSE -
Uncharted Territory in the House: The House voted to remove Rep. McCarthy (R-CA) as Speaker of the House, then recessed until at least October 11, when the House is slated to reconvene to elect a new...more
10/9/2023
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Congressional Committees ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
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Extensions ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Healthcare ,
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Laboratory Developed Tests ,
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Medicare ,
New Legislation ,
Over The Counter Drugs (OTC) ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
Preventive Health Care ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Proposed Rules ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Request For Information ,
Telehealth ,
Telemedicine ,
Temporary Regulations ,
U.S. Treasury
CONGRESS -
House Republicans Release Healthcare Package. On September 6, House Republicans unveiled the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act, a draft package of healthcare transparency provisions, pharmacy benefit manager...more
9/11/2023
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
CMMI ,
Congressional Committees ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Disability Discrimination ,
Drug Pricing ,
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare Reform ,
HELP ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Long Term Care Facilities ,
Long-Term Care ,
New Legislation ,
Over-Time ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Proposed Rules ,
Request For Information ,
Rural Health Care Program ,
Transparency
The US House and Senate returned from recess, beginning a three-week sprint toward the August break. The bipartisan healthcare legislation on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and healthcare transparency is moving through both...more
The House and Senate returned from recess, beginning a three-week sprint toward the August break. The House Education and the Workforce Committee held a markup of a bipartisan healthcare package of four bills. The House...more
7/14/2023
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Congressional Committees ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare Reform ,
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New Legislation ,
Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) ,
Physician Fee Schedule ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Senate Committees ,
U.S. House
Congress was in session for a final week of legislative business before the two-week Independence Day recess. The House brought a small-business-focused healthcare bill to the floor, approving it along party lines....more
6/23/2023
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Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) ,
Comment Period ,
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Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Health Information Technologies ,
Healthcare ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Legislative Committees ,
Medicare ,
Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization (MACRA) ,
New Legislation ,
Proposed Legislation
The House and Senate were both in session this week, with healthcare activity continuing at the committee level. The House Energy and Commerce Committee held hearings on the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA)...more
6/16/2023
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Debt ,
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Hospitals ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
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Pharmaceutical Industry ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Telehealth ,
Transgender
The House was in session this week, while the Senate was in recess. The House Energy & Commerce Committee continued its work on healthcare by advancing six bills that address competition, transparency and access to care. The...more
5/30/2023
/ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Health Care Providers ,
Healthcare ,
Medicaid ,
New Legislation ,
Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Transparency
The House and Senate were both in session this week, with significant healthcare activity at the committee level. The House Ways & Means Committee met to discuss healthcare price transparency, and the Ways & Means Health...more
5/19/2023
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Affordable Care Act ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
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Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
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GAO ,
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Medicaid ,
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New Legislation ,
New Regulations ,
Non-Compete Agreements ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Price Transparency ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Proposed Regulation ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Ways and Means Committee
Congress was in session, and it was a busy healthcare week at the committee level, with six hearings focused specifically on health issues. On the House floor, Republicans passed the Limit, Save, Grow Act—a bill that raises...more
5/2/2023
/ Abortion ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) ,
Congressional Investigations & Hearings ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
DACA ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Federal Funding ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare Reform ,
HELP ,
Hospitals ,
Medicaid ,
New Legislation ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Price Transparency ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Proposed Rules ,
Right of Access