The White House released the President’s fiscal year (FY) 2024 budget proposal last week. While the plan does not have any chance of being adopted by Congress, it represents the administration’s policy priorities and provides a starting point for Democratic appropriators as negotiations get underway on FY24 spending bills in the divided congress. The $6.9 trillion budget request, which seeks a 3.3% increase in defense spending and a 6.5% increase for nondefense discretionary programs, would increase taxes by $5.5 trillion and reduce the deficit by more than $2 trillion over the next 10 years. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services would see an 11.5% increase to its overall budget. This includes $144.3 billion in discretionary and $1.7 trillion in mandatory proposed budget authority. The HHS Budget in Brief can be found here.
A main component of the budget focuses on Medicare solvency. The President proposes to increase the Medicare tax rate from 3.8% to 5% on earned and unearned income above $400,000, as well as to eliminate a tax loophole that allowed certain business owners to avoid paying Medicare taxes on some of their income. The President proposes to dedicate proceeds from the net investment income tax to Medicare’s Hospital Insurance (Part A) Trust Fund. The budget would also strengthen the Medicare program’s drug pricing negotiation authority as established by the Inflation Reduction Act by doubling the number of drugs subject to Medicare negotiation – to 20 Part D drugs in 2026, and 40-Part B and Part D drugs each subsequent year. The budget would also decrease the number of years treatments are excluded from negotiation to five years. The White house estimates that these provisions would save $200 billion over the next decade to extend the solvency of the Medicare program.
Casey, Tillis Circulate Dear Colleague on NIH Funding
Sens. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) are circulating their annual Dear Colleague letter in support of robust funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The letter to Senate appropriations leadership urges them “to consider the tremendous benefits of sustained investment in the NIH and…remember our Nation’s role as a world leader in biomedical research and the impact this research has on the American people.” Casey and Tillis also ask appropriators to include the full allocation of funding for the NIH as provided by the 21st Century Cures Act. Members have until April 7th to sign on to the letter.
Bill to Declassify COVID-19 Origin Information Sent to President
The House of Representatives voted 419-0 to require Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines to declassify information about the origins of the coronavirus pandemic. Passage of the COVID-19 Origin Act (S. 619) follows a recent report from the Department of Energy which concluded with ‘low confidence’ that COVID-19 most likely originated from a lab leak in China. Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Christopher Wray has separately acknowledged the FBI’s determination that the pandemic had most likely come from a laboratory incident in Wuhan. The bill, which was previously passed by the Senate on March 1, will now be sent to President Joe Biden’s desk for his signature.
Senate Confirms Head of Administration for Native Americans
The Senate confirmed Patrice H. Kunesh to serve as commissioner of the Administration for Native Americans at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services by a vote of 57-35. Kunesh, of Standing Rock Lakota descent, is an attorney and policy advocate. During her career she has worked as a public servant at the tribal, state, and federal levels.
H.R.1, the Lower Energy Costs Act
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) announced last week that H.R. 1 for the 118th Congress will be the Lower Energy Costs Act. The bill aims to increase the production and export of American energy and reduce regulatory burdens. It includes legislation originating from the Energy and Commerce, Natural Resources, and Transportation and Infrastructure committees. Per House rules, the first ten numbers for bills are reserved for the Speaker to assign and the second ten numbers for the Minority Leader. Legislation numbered H.R. 1 to H.R. 20 typically signifies priority issues for the majority and minority parties.
E&C Health Subcommittee Advances Five Bills
The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health advanced five pieces of health-related legislation last week.
The Protecting Health Care for All Patients Act (H.R. 485) would prohibit the use of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) in federal and state programs. Key lawmakers have stated that they are close to reaching a bipartisan agreement on the bill, which was introduced by Committee Chair Cathey McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.). Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) has expressed concerns that the legislation could prevent the measurement of pharmaceutical cost-effectiveness in Medicare drug price negotiations, while proponents of the bill believe QALYs devalue the lives of people with disabilities. Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) said during the markup that an agreement on the bill is “extremely close,” and Pallone said he is seeking input from Armed Services and Veterans Affairs policymakers on the potential impact of the measure on programs within their jurisdiction.
The Block, Report, and Suspend Suspicious Shipments Act (H.R. 501) would require drug manufacturers and distributors to report and block suspicious orders of controlled substances.
The 9-8-8 Lifeline Cybersecurity Responsibility Act (H.R. 498) would require the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) to undertake efforts to protect the 9-8-8 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline from cybersecurity threats.
The HALT Fentanyl Act (H.R. 467) would permanently place fentanyl-related substances into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.
The Securing the Border for Public Health Act (H.R. 801) would allow the HHS secretary to suspend persons and imports related to certain controlled substances from certain countries into the U.S.
Hassan, Braun Weigh in on Health Price Transparency Implementation
Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.) are asking the White House to close certain loopholes they argue are being used by the health insurance industry to prevent health care price transparency. Both Hassan and Braun are members of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. The lawmakers call on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to revise the process for filing price data as required by the 2020 Transparency in Coverage Final Rule. “Americans should not struggle with opaque pricing for health care, and we respectfully ask CMS to update its rule to ensure that there is true health plan transparency and compliance,” the letter states. They suggest the agency limit file sizes, create standardized reporting, reduce the frequency of reporting, and require a clear organizational system and standardized labeling of reported health care price data. Hassan and Braun also ask CMS to increase enforcement against plans that provide low-quality data or no data at all.
POLICY BRIEFINGS
Coronavirus Panel Requests Details on Political Interference in Vaccine Approvals
Republicans on the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic are requesting information from the Biden administration related to the Food and Drug Administration’s COVID-19 vaccine approval process. The lawmakers assert that the agency “may have bypassed, wrongly compressed, and possibly compromised the longstanding process for awarding a full biologics approval to a vaccine.” The letter asserts that this effort “may not have been to save lives, but concernedly to provide cover for implementing and enforcing vaccine mandates across the country.”
Reps. Kim, Kelly to Lead Maternity Care Caucus
Reps. Young Kim (R-Calif.) and Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) will serve as co-chairs of the bipartisan Maternity Care Caucus for the 118th Congress. Kim and Kelly replace outgoing co-chairs Reps. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.) and Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Wash.). The new co-chairs have highlighted their goal of exploring the biggest challenges to America’s maternity care system and the most promising solutions to expand safe and effective care for mothers and babies. These include increasing access to and expanding training for the material health care workforce, improving maternal mental health, addressing disparities in maternal mortality rates, expanding access to telehealth, and increasing clinical trial participation among pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Rep. McClain Joins Mental Health Task Force Leadership
Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) will serve as the fourth co-chair of the Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force for the 118th Congress. The 130-member caucus aims to combat the mental health and substance use disorder epidemics in American communities. McClain joins current co-chairs David Trone (D-Md.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), and Ann Kuster (D-N.H.).
Democratic Health Leaders Praise Proposed Rollback of Conscience Regulations
On March 7, House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), House Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-Va.), and House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard Neal (D-Mass.) sent a letter to the U.S. Department of the Health and Human Services (HHS) in support of the Office for Civil Rights’ notice of proposed rulemaking, “Safeguarding the Rights of Conscience as Protected by Federal Statues.” The proposed rule seeks to partially rescind a 2019 rule promulgated during the Trump administration that allowed medical professionals the ability to deny care based on religious or conscience objections. The 2019 rule was blocked by federal courts in response to several lawsuits. The letter expresses the members’ support for HHS’ partial recission of the rule “because it aims to restore the balance between enforcing conscience laws and ensuring that individuals have unimpeded access to comprehensive health care services. Having access to health care services is critical, especially for certain communities such as racial and ethnic minorities, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals who have historically faced barriers to access in our health care system, and often continue to face discrimination in access to care today.”
Democrats Criticize Walgreens’ Plan for Mifepristone Dispensing
Agroup of 12 Democratic Senators have sent a letter to Walgreens CEO Rosalind Brewer criticizing the company’s stated plans for its Mifepristone dispensing policies. While Walgreens is seeking pharmacy certification to dispense the medical pregnancy termination drug through the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) risk evaluation and mitigation strategy program, it has also informed 20 Republican state attorneys general that it will avoid dispensing the product in certain states – mostly those where abortion is banned or heavily restricted – that have threatened legal action. “We urge Walgreens demonstrate its commitment to putting patients first by prioritizing obtaining FDA specialty certification to dispense Mifepristone and publicly clarifying that any hypothetical dispensing decisions remain undecided and premature at best, while the company seeks pharmacy certification,” the letter states.
McConnell Hospitalized with Concussion Following Fall
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) was hospitalized last week after a fall at a Washington, D.C. area hotel. The Minority Leader suffered a concussion and is being treated at a D.C.-area hospital. McConnell is expected to remain in the hospital for a few days of observation and treatment.
Representative Jennifer McClellan sworn into the House of Representatives
On March 7, Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-Va.) was sworn into the U.S. House of Representatives to represent Virginia’s fourth district. Rep. McClellan was elected in a special election on February 21st to succeed the late-Rep. Donald McEachin (D-Va.)-who passed away of complications of colorectal cancer three weeks after being re-elected to the seat in November. McClellan makes history as the first Black woman to represent the state of Virginia in Congress. With Representative McClellan, the number of women serving in Congress reached a record high at 150. In addition, the House is now operating at full membership, a first since 2019, with 435 seats occupied in the 118th Congress. This slightly shifts the balance of power in the chamber-narrowing Republican’s majority to 222 to 213.
HHS OIG Issues Reminder on Expiration of PHE
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (OIG) issued a notice last week reminding the health care community that OIG flexibilities issued during the time period covered by the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) declaration will expire on May 11. These flexibilities – covered by two policy statements and a series of frequently asked questions – were designed to minimize burdens for the health care industry as it faced the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. More information on what each flexibility did can be found here.
ASPR Releases Cybersecurity Guide for Health Care Sector
The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) released the Cybersecurity Framework Implementation Guide last week to support the health care sector in preventing cybersecurity incidents. The document, which was jointly developed by ASRP and the Health Sector Coordinating Council Cybersecurity Working Group, outlines steps organizations can immediately take to manage cyber risks to their information technology systems. It aims to assist health care organizations in implementing the National Institute for Standards and Technology’s Cybersecurity Framework, including by guiding risk management principles and best practices; providing common language to address and manage cybersecurity risk; outlining a structure for organizations to understand and apply cybersecurity risk management; and identifying effective standards, guidelines, and practices to manage cybersecurity risk cost-effectiveness based on business needs.
HHS Update on Pandemic Accord
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has provided an update on work among the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body of the World Health Organization on a pandemic accord. According to HHS, the U.S. sought to “promote an accord that would build capacity, reduce the threat posed by zoonotic disease, enable rapid and more equitable responses, and establish sustainable financing, governance, and accountability to break the cycle of pandemic panic and neglect” at the fourth meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body last week. Its next meeting will take place in a month. The group aims to conclude its work on a pandemic accord in May 2024.
Upcoming Congressional Hearings and Markups
Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing “Examining the Future Path of VA’s Electronic Health Record Modernization Program;” 3:30 p.m.; March 15
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee meeting to receive a closed briefing on the assessment of the origins of COVID-19; 9:30 a.m.; March 16
Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee hearing “In Need of a Checkup: Examining the Cybersecurity Risks to the Healthcare Sector;” 10:00 a.m.; March 16
Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing “Taxpayers Paid Billions for It: So Why Would Moderna Consider Quadrupling the Price of the COVID Vaccine?” 10:00 a.m.; March 22
House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies public witness hearing; March 23
House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health hearing “Lowering Unaffordable Costs: Examining Transparency and Competition in Health Care;” 1:00 p.m.; March 28
Recently Introduced Health Legislation
H.R.1376 – To require the Director of National Intelligence to declassify information relating to the origin of COVID-19, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Turner, Michael R. [Rep.-R-OH-10]; Committees: House – Intelligence; Energy and Commerce
H.R.1375 – To allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to deny approval of a new drug application for an opioid analgesic drug on the basis of such drug not being clinically superior to other commercially available drugs; Sponsor: Trone, David J. [Rep.-D-MD-6]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
H.R.1374 – To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit the imposition of COVID-19 vaccine mandates by institutions of higher education, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Tenney, Claudia [Rep.-R-NY-24]; Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
H.R.1373 – To prohibit any head of a Federal agency from providing assistance to the Wuhan Institute of Virology and other laboratories in certain other foreign nations; Sponsor: Stewart, Chris [Rep.-R-UT-2]; Committees: House – Foreign Affairs
H.R.1361 – To authorize the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance to make grants to States, units of local government, and gun dealers to conduct gun buyback programs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Payne, Donald M., Jr. [Rep.-D-NJ-10]; Committees: House – Judiciary
H.R.1360 – To establish a cybersecurity literacy campaign, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Obernolte, Jay [Rep.-R- CA-23]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
H.R.1359 – To expand the take-home prescribing of methadone through pharmacies; Sponsor: Norcross, Donald [Rep.- D-NJ-1]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Judiciary
H.R.1352 – To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a demonstration project to increase access to biosimilar biological products under the Medicare program; Sponsor: Hudson, Richard [Rep.-R-NC-9]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means
H.R.1350 – To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to restore the amount of the orphan drug tax credit, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Gottheimer, Josh [Rep.-D-NJ-5]; Committees: House – Ways and Means; Energy and Commerce
H.R.1346 – To require the Director of National Intelligence to declassify information relating to the origin of COVID-19, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Gallagher, Mike [Rep.-R-WI-8]; Committees: House – Intelligence (Permanent Select); Energy and Commerce
H.R.1345 – To amend the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act to establish the Office of Policy Development and Cybersecurity, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Curtis, John R. [Rep.-R-UT-3]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
H.R.1342 – To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to improve coverage of dental and oral health services for adults under Medicaid, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Barragan, Nanette Diaz [Rep.-D-CA-44]; House – Energy and Commerce
H.Res.196 – Memorializing those impacted by and lost to the COVID-19 pandemic; Sponsor: Stanton, Greg [Rep.-D- AZ-4]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
S.Res.94 – A resolution memorializing those lost to the COVID-19 pandemic; Sponsor: Warren, Elizabeth [Sen.-D-MA]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Recently Introduced Health Legislation Contd.
S.655 – A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permit high deductible health plans to provide chronic disease prevention services to plan enrollees prior to satisfying their plan deductible; Sponsor: Thune, John [Sen.-R-SD]; Committees: Senate – Finance
S.663 – A bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate the waiting periods for disability insurance benefits and Medicare coverage for individuals with metastatic breast cancer, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Murphy, Christopher [Sen.-D-CT]; Committees: Senate – Finance
S.665 – A bill to provide incentives to physicians to practice in rural and medically underserved communities, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Klobuchar, Amy [Sen.-D-MN]; Committees: Senate – Judiciary
S.Res.95 – A resolution honoring the life of Dr. Paul Farmer by recognizing the duty of the Federal Government to adopt a 21st century global health solidarity strategy and take actions to address past and ongoing harms that undermine the health and well-being of people around the world; Sponsor: Brown, Sherrod [Sen.-D-OH]; Committees: Senate – Foreign Relations
S.669 – A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand access to psychological and behavioral services; Sponsor: Brown, Sherrod [Sen.-D-OH]; Committees: Senate – Finance
S.689 – A bill to amend the Controlled Substances Act to define currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Booker, Cory A. [Sen.-D-NJ]; Committees: Senate – Judiciary
H.Res.204 – Honoring the life of Dr. Paul Farmer by recognizing the duty of the Federal Government to adopt a 21st- century global health solidarity strategy and take actions to address past and ongoing harms that undermine the health and well-being of people around the world; Sponsor: Schakowsky, Janice D. [Rep.-D-IL-9]; Committees: House – Foreign Affairs; Judiciary
H.R.1385 – To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to improve health care coverage under vision and dental plans, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Carter, Earl L. “Buddy” [Rep.-R-GA-1]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
H.R.1393 – To amend the Controlled Substances Act to define currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Dean, Madeleine [Rep.-D-PA-4]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Judiciary
H.R.1399 – To amend chapter 110 of title 18, United States Code, to prohibit gender affirming care on minors, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Greene, Marjorie Taylor [Rep.-R-GA-14]; Committees: House – Judiciary; Ways and Means; Energy and Commerce; Education and the Workforce
H.R.1402 – To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide coverage for boxing-based exercise classes for veterans diagnosed with certain movement disorders, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Higgins, Brian [Rep.-D-NY-26]; Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs
H.R.1406 – To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to permanently extend certain in-home cardiopulmonary rehabilitation flexibilities established in response to COVID-19, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Joyce, John [Rep.-R- PA-13]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means
H.R.1422 – To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to improve oral health care and dental benefits under the Medicaid program, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Simpson, Michael K. [Rep.-R-ID-2]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
H.R.1423 – To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, to award grants to States, territories, political subdivisions of States and territories, Tribal governments, and consortia of Tribal governments to establish an unarmed mobile crisis response program, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Smith, Adam [Rep.-D-WA-9]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
H.R.1425 – To require any convention, agreement, or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response reached by the World Health Assembly to be subject to Senate ratification; Sponsor: Tiffany, Thomas P. [Rep.-R-WI-7]; Committees: House – Foreign Affairs
S.701 – A bill to protect a person’s ability to determine whether to continue or end a pregnancy, and to protect a health care provider’s ability to provide abortion services; Sponsor: Baldwin, Tammy [Sen.-D-WI]; Latest Action: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time
S.703 – A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to make improvements to the redistribution of residency slots under the Medicare program after a hospital closes; Sponsor: Rosen, Jacky [Sen.-D-NV]; Committees: Senate – Finance
S.704 – A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for interest-free deferment on student loans for borrowers serving in a medical or dental internship or residency program; Sponsor: Rosen, Jacky [Sen.-D-NV]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
S.705 – A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize a loan repayment program to encourage specialty medicine physicians to serve in rural communities experiencing a shortage of specialty medicine physicians, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Rosen, Jacky [Sen.-D-NV]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
S.708 – A bill to improve outcomes for Medicaid beneficiaries with major depressive disorder or other mental health conditions; Sponsor: Brown, Sherrod [Sen.-D-OH]; Committees: Senate – Finance
S. 712 – A bill to identify and address barriers to coverage of remote physiologic devices under State Medicaid programs to improve maternal and child health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women; Sponsor: Cassidy, Bill [Sen.-R-LA]; Committees: Senate — Finance
S.723 – A bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage of prescription digital therapeutics under such titles, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Shaheen, Jeanne [Sen.-D-NH]; Committees: Senate – Finance
H.Res.213 – Supporting the designation of March 2023 as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month; Sponsor: Payne, Donald M., Jr. [Rep.-D-NJ-10]; Committees: House – Oversight and Accountability
H.R.1458 – To amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage of prescription digital therapeutics under such titles, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Hern, Kevin [Rep.-R-OK-1]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means
H.R.1466 – To amend the Public Health Service Act to prohibit research with human fetal tissue obtained pursuant to an abortion, and for other purposes; Sponsor: McClain, Lisa C. [Rep.-R-MI-9]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
H.R.1475 – To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop and nationally disseminate accurate, relevant, and accessible resources to promote understanding about sensitivities regarding adoption in the health care industry, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Smucker, Lloyd [Rep.-R-PA-11]; Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
S.727 – A bill to limit the price charged by manufacturers for insulin; Sponsor: Sanders, Bernard [Sen.-I-VT]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
S.729 – A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for the waiver of certain telehealth requirements to permit reimbursement for audio-only telehealth services under the Medicare program during emergency declarations; Sponsor: Kennedy, John [Sen.-R-LA]; Committees: Senate – Finance
S.730 – A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act and the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act to provide for Medicare and Medicaid mental and behavioral health treatment through telehealth; Sponsor: Kennedy, John [Sen.-R-LA]; Committees: Senate – Finance
S.731 – A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make permanent the permissible first-dollar coverage of telehealth services for purposes of health savings accounts; Sponsor: Kennedy, John [Sen.-R-LA]; Committees: Senate – Finance
S.750 – A bill to amend title III of the Public Health Service Act to prohibit health centers from providing abortions, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Braun, Mike [Sen.-R-IN]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
S.762 – A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require coverage of, and expand access to, home and community-based services under the Medicaid program, to award grants for the creation, recruitment, training and education, retention, and advancement of the direct care workforce and to award grants to support family caregivers, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Casey, Robert P., Jr. [Sen.-D-PA]; Committees: Senate – Finance
S.765 – A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide hereditary cancer genetic testing for individuals with a history of a hereditary cancer gene mutation in a blood relative or a personal or ancestral history suspicious for hereditary cancer, and to provide coverage of certain cancer screenings or preventive surgeries that would reduce the risk for individuals with a germline (inherited) mutation associated with a high risk of developing a preventable cancer; Sponsor: Murkowski, Lisa [Sen.-R-AK]; Committees: Senate – Finance
S.767 – A bill to enhance mental health and psychosocial support within United States development and humanitarian assistance programs; Sponsor: Casey, Robert P., Jr. [Sen.-D-PA]; Committees: Senate – Foreign Relations
H.Res.214 – Supporting the goals and ideals of “Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism Awareness Month”; Sponsor: Burgess, Michael C. [Rep.-R-TX-26]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
H.Res.217 – Supporting the designation of March 2023 as Endometriosis Awareness Month; Sponsor: Scott, David [Rep.- D-GA-13]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
H.R.1485 – To limit the price charged by manufacturers for insulin; Sponsor: Bush, Cori [Rep.-D-MO-1]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
H.R.1488 – To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to establish requirements with respect to cost-sharing for certain insulin products, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Craig, Angie [Rep.-D-MN-2]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means; Education and the Workforce
H.R.1493 – To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require coverage of, and expand access to, home and community-based services under the Medicaid program; to award grants for the creation, recruitment, training and education, retention, and advancement of the direct care workforce and to award grants to support family caregivers; and for other purposes; Sponsor: Dingell, Debbie [Rep.-D-MI-6]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Education and the Workforce; Oversight and Accountability
H.R.1502 – To amend title V of the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize comprehensive opioid recovery centers, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Guthrie, Brett [Rep.-R-KY-2]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
H.R.1503 – To provide for digital communication of prescribing information for drugs (including biological products), and for other purposes; Sponsor: Harshbarger, Diana [Rep.-R-TN-1]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
H.R.1512 – To allow women to greater access to a wider range of self-administered contraceptives approved under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; Sponsor: Mace, Nancy [Rep.-R-SC-1]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
H.R.1523 – To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to reduce Federal financial participation for certain States that require political subdivisions to contribute towards the non-Federal share of Medicaid; Sponsor: Tenney, Claudia [Rep.-R- NY-24]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
H.R.1526 – To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide hereditary cancer genetic testing for individuals with a history of a hereditary cancer gene mutation in a blood relative or a personal or ancestral history suspicious for hereditary cancer, and to provide coverage of certain cancer screenings or preventive surgeries that would reduce the risk for individuals with a germline (inherited) mutation associated with a high risk of developing a preventable cancer; Sponsor: Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [Rep.-D-FL-25]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means’