This week in Washington: Senate in recess, conversations continue on infrastructure and administration’s health initiatives. ...more
2020 saw the courts continuing to play an important role in health policy with several notable lawsuits related to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Several other Trump administration policies were challenged, including Medicare...more
7/2/2021
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Association Health Plans ,
California v Texas ,
Cost-Sharing ,
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Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
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SCOTUS
This week in Washington: Supreme Court dismisses challenge to the Affordable Care Act....more
This week in Washington: Talks continue on infrastructure, Senate committees moving forward on health legislation, President’s budget due the end of the week....more
2020 saw the courts continuing to play an important role in health policy with several notable lawsuits related to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Several other Trump administration policies were challenged, including Medicare...more
4/28/2021
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Association Health Plans ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Cost-Sharing ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) ,
GAO ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
Popular ,
Section 340B
This week in Washington: House and Senate return from congressional work period....more
4/13/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
COBRA ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Medicare ,
Mental Health ,
Popular ,
Skilled Nursing Facility ,
Vaccinations
Congress -
House -
Representatives Propose a Permanent Extension of CHIP Funding -
The House Energy and Commerce Committee is looking at ways to strengthen the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and expand Medicaid coverage. A...more
3/30/2021
/ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Drug Pricing ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
GAO ,
Medicare ,
OMB ,
Popular ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Telehealth ,
Vaccinations
On March 6, 2021, the U.S. Senate narrowly passed H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, by a 50-49 vote, along entirely partisan lines. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) missed the vote after joining with all Republicans on...more
3/9/2021
/ COBRA ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
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Hospitals ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
Mental Health ,
Popular ,
Rural Health Care Providers ,
SAMHSA ,
Skilled Nursing Facility ,
Vaccinations
In the early morning of Feb. 27, 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, by a 219-212 vote. Two Democrats joined with a united Republican caucus to oppose the...more
3/2/2021
/ CARES Act ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) ,
COBRA ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
FMAP ,
Health Care Providers ,
Indian Health Service (IHS) ,
Mental Health ,
OIG ,
Personal Protective Equipment ,
Popular ,
Provider Relief Fund ,
SAMHSA ,
Skilled Nursing Facility
On May 15, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed, by a 208 to 199 vote, H.R. 6800, the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act (HEROES Act). House Democratic leadership introduced the...more
This week in Washington: The House and Senate are in recess.
Congress -
Hearings/Markups -
Senate Special Committee on Aging: “Promoting Healthy Aging – Living Your Best Life Long into Your Golden Years”...more
10/1/2019
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Drug Pricing ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
GAO ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
Popular ,
Prescription Drugs ,
SAMHSA ,
Trump Administration
This week in Washington: The Senate continues to hold hearings on the cost of health care, the House will hold hearings on the federal approach to opioid treatment and strengthening health care in the U.S. territories.
...more
6/18/2019
/ Birth Control ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Drug Pricing ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Health Care Providers ,
Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) ,
Opioid ,
Popular ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Surprise Medical Bills ,
Trump Administration
This week in Washington: Senate to consider state of patent eligibility in America, House Ways and Means Committee will hold a hearing on the single-payer issue and both the House and Senate continue to hold hearings on the...more
6/11/2019
/ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Drug Pricing ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
GAO ,
Health Care Providers ,
Hospitals ,
Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) ,
Medicaid ,
Physician-Owned Hospitals ,
Popular ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Surprise Medical Bills
This week in Washington: House to hold hearings on PFAS contamination and exposure, the maternal mortality crisis and single-payer issues....more
5/14/2019
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Congressional Budget Office ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Drug Pricing ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
GAO ,
Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) ,
Medicare ,
Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization (MACRA) ,
Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) ,
Popular ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Trump Administration
This week in Washington: Hearings continue on the price of prescription drugs, Senate Committee on Finance to hold a hearing on Medicare physician payment reform, while the Senate HELP Committee will hold its second hearing...more
5/7/2019
/ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Drug Pricing ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) ,
Medicare ,
Medicare for All ,
Medicare Part B ,
Medicare Part D ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
Popular ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Trump Administration
Coming Week’s Highlights: Congress will continue to examine drug pricing; on Tuesday, the Senate Finance Committee will hold the third in a series of hearings, this one focused on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). The House...more
4/9/2019
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Drug Pricing ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Health Care Providers ,
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) ,
OMB ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) ,
Popular ,
Prescription Drugs
Upcoming Hearings -
Tuesday, April 2, 2019 -
House Committee on Energy and Commerce: “Priced Out of a Lifesaving Drug: The Human Impact of Rising Insulin Costs” -
The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the...more
4/2/2019
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Drug Pricing ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
GAO ,
OIG ,
Opioid ,
Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) ,
Popular ,
Prescription Drugs