The Biden Administration has dropped its previous appeal of an October U.S. District Court decision to strike down a 2021 rule allowing copay accumulators. House and Senate members urged the administration to drop its appeal, including via introduction of bipartisan, bicameral legislation, the HELP Copays Act. 19 States have banned copay accumulator programs.
DOJ Drops Appeal In Copay Accumulator Suit https://t.co/mB6SejOIta
— InsideHealthPolicy (@InHealthPolicy) January 17, 2024
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#Medicare cuts to providers went into effect on Jan. 1. This needs to be addressed ASAP. READ our letter to Congress. https://t.co/WV0dkycrIT pic.twitter.com/emGIGte7Hd
— Specialty Docs (@SpecialtyDocs) January 16, 2024
Leaders Agree to Extend Laddered Short-Term Funding Plan-Congressional leadership have reached an agreement on a second two-step continuing resolution (CR) to avoid January 20 and February 2 partial government shutdowns. Leaders have coalesced around a CR that maintains House Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) laddered government funding approach, extending appropriations for federal agencies to March 1 and March 8. A section-by-section is available here, and the legislative text is available here.
Johnson had previously pledged to not pass another stopgap spending bill. The change of course follows an initial bipartisan agreement reached last week on topline spending amounts. Johnson insists that he is standing by the deal struck with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), despite criticism from far-right members of the House GOP, who have pressured him to abandon it. The deal includes $1.59 trillion in spending for fiscal year 2024 – $886 billion in defense and $704 billion in non-defense spending.
MedPAC Votes on Payment Update Recommendations-The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) voted on its latest payment update recommendations for physicians, hospitals, and the post-acute care sector during its January meeting last week. The Commission recommends updating 2025 Medicare payments for physicians and other health professional services by the amount specified in current law plus half the Medicare Economic Index increase, and reiterated a prior recommendation to create a non-budget-neutral add-on payment under the Medicare physician fee schedule for services provided to low-income beneficiaries. MedPAC also voted to recommend a positive update for hospitals – current law amount plus 1.5% for 2025. Commissioners voted in support of lower base pay rates for skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, and inpatient rehabilitation facilities, and recommended that Congress eliminate the 2024 update for hospices in 2025. MedPAC also recommended that Congress update the Medicare end-stage renal disease prospective payment system by the amount under current law.
HELP Chair Launches Investigation Into Pricing of Asthma Inhalers-Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) have sent letters to AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, GSK, and Teva to request details about the “extremely high prices” of the manufacturers’ asthma inhaler products. The letters ask for information on internal strategic communications, patient assistance programs, and the costs involved in the manufacturing of inhalers. “There is no reason for these products to be so expensive,” the lawmakers assert. “The devices have been available since the 1950s and most of the drugs they use have been on the market for more than 25 years.”
Fauci Completes Two Days of Interviews Before House Panel-Dr. Anthony Fauci provided two days of closed-door testimony before the House of Representatives Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic last week. According to reports, panel Republicans focused much of their questioning on the definition of gain of function research funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Fauci was also questioned about the origins of COVID-19 and issues related to the federal government’s pandemic response, including federal records violations, conflicts of interest, and conflicting guidance. While the meetings produced few surprises or new information, Fauci has agreed to testify in a future open session before the committee.
ARPA-H to Solicit Preventive Care Proposals-The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) has launched a program to increase investments in solutions to preventable health challenges in underserved communities. The Health care Rewards to Achieve Improved Outcomes (HEROES) program aims to strengthen investment in community-level preventive care resources, particularly in places that have historically lacked access to medical and health care breakthroughs. A forthcoming HEROES program solicitation will solicit proposals from “Health Accelerators” – groups or organizations such as health consortiums or community health centers – aimed at health challenges in parts of the country where the associated health outcome is worse than the national average. More information about the HEROES program and the scheduled February 13-14 Proposers’ Day can be found here.
HHS Appoints First Ever Chief Competition Officer-Stacy Sanders has been appointed to serve as the first-ever Chief Competition Officer at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The newly created position will be responsible for coordinating, identifying, and elevating opportunities across HHS to promote competition in health care markets, and will work with the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice to address concentration in health care markets through data-sharing, reciprocal training programs, and the further development of additional health care competition policy initiatives. Sanders most recently worked as a counselor to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, overseeing the Department’s implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act. Earlier in her career, Sanders worked as staff director for the Senate Special Committee on Aging and as federal policy director of the Medicare Rights Center.
OMB Clears CMS Prior Authorization Regulation-The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has cleared a final rule from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on prior authorization. The regulation will place new requirements on Medicare Advantage organizations, state Medicaid fee-for-service (FFS) programs, state Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) FFS programs, Medicaid managed care plans, CHIP managed care entities, and Qualified Health Plan issuers on the Federally facilitated Exchanges to improve the electronic exchange of health care data and streamline processes related to prior authorization. The proposed rule, which was first published in December 2022, would also add a new measure for eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals, under the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program, and for Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) eligible clinicians, under the Promoting Interoperability performance category of MIPS, to encourage providers to adopt the electronic prior authorization processes. Once the final rule is implemented, it should make it easier for Congress to advance the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act – bipartisan prior authorization legislation which passed the House during the 117th Congress.
Congressional Retirements and Resignations-Rep. Larry Bucshon, MD (R-Ind.) has announced plans to retire at the end of this year. Bucshon, a cardiothoracic surgeon, has served in the House of Representatives since 2011. He is a member of the GOP Doctors Caucus. During his time in Congress, Bucshon has been a champion of diagnostics reform legislation (the VALID Act) as well as other bipartisan health measures, including proposals to related to the Medicare physician reimbursement system. He is a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee. Rep. Greg Pence (R-Ind.) has also determined that he will not seek reelection to the House this year. Pence was first elected to represent Indiana’s 6th Congressional District in 2018, filling the same seat held by former Vice President Mike Pence before he was elected Indiana governor. He currently serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee. Currently, the number of members who are retiring from Capitol Hill next year currently stands only slightly higher than the average of 34 retirements per election cycle.
California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) has set a special election to fill the seat of retired former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R). The all-parties special primary election will take place on March 19, several weeks following the primary scheduled to fill McCarthy’s seat for the full two-year term. If no candidate wins a majority of the votes in the March 19th primary, the top two finishers will compete in a May 21 runoff election.
A running list of members of Congress who are retiring or seeking other office can be found below.
| SENATE | |
| Stabenow (D), MI | Braun (R), IN |
| Cardin (D), MD | Romney (R), UT |
| Carper (D), DE | |
| Feinstein (D), CA | |
| Manchin (D), WV | |
| HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES | |
| Porter (D), CA | Mooney (R), WV |
| Lee (D), CA | Banks (R), IN |
| Gallego (D), AZ | Spartz (R), IN |
| Schiff (D), CA | Bishop (R), NC |
| Slotkin (D), MI | Lesko (R), AZ |
| Allred (D), TX | Granger (R), TX |
| Trone (D), MD | Buck (R), CO |
| Blunt Rochester (D), DE | Burgess (R), TX |
| Napolitano (D), CA | Santos (R), NY (effective Dec. 1, 2023) |
| Wexton (D), VA | Wenstrup (R), OH |
| Kim, Andy (D), NJ | McHenry (R), NC |
| Jackson, Jeff (D), NC | McCarthy (R), CA (effective Dec. 31, 2023) |
| Sarbanes (D), MD | Johnson, Bill (R), OH (effective Jan. 21, 2023) |
| Blumenauer (D), OR | Ferguson (R), GA |
| Kilmer (D), WA | Curtis (R), UT |
| Spanberger (D), VA | Luetkemeyer (R), MO |
| Kildee (D), MI | Lamborn (R), CO |
| Phillips (D), MN | Bucshon (R), IN |
| Cardenas (D), CA | Pence (R), IN |
| Eshoo (D), CA | |
| Manning (D), NC | |
| Higgins (D), NY (effective Feb. 2, 2024) | |
| Nickel (D), NC | |
Upcoming Congressional Hearings and Markups
Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee hearing “The Cyber Safety Review Board: Expectations, Outcomes, and Enduring Questions;” 10:00 a.m.; January 17
Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions hearing “Addressing Long COVID: Advancing Research and Improving Patient Care;” 10:00 a.m.; January 18
Recently Introduced Health Legislation
S.3560 – A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize pre-enrollment of certain combat service members of the Armed Forces in the system of annual patient enrollment of the Department of Veterans Affairs; Sponsor: King, Angus S., Jr. [Sen.-I-ME]; Committees: Senate – Veterans’ Affairs
S.3573 – A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to increase data transparency for supplemental benefits under Medicare Advantage; Sponsor: Warner, Mark R. [Sen.-D-VA]; Committees: Senate-Finance
S.3575 – A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to give a preference, with respect to project grants for preventive health services, for States that allow all trained individuals to carry and administer epinephrine, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Braun, Mike [Sen.-R-IN]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
H.R.6936 – To require Federal agencies to use the Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology with respect to the use of artificial intelligence; Sponsor: Lieu, Ted [Rep.-D-CA-36]; Committees: House – Oversight and Accountability; Science, Space, and Technology
S.3578 – A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to prohibit Federal Medicaid funding for the administrative costs of providing health benefits to individuals who are unauthorized immigrants; Sponsor: Cassidy, Bill [Sen.-R-LA]; Committees: Senate – Finance
S.3583 – A bill to address patent thickets; Sponsor: Welch, Peter [Sen.-D-VT]; Committees: Senate – Judiciary
H.R.6956 – To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to prohibit the Secretary of Health and Human Services from treating any Medicaid-related funds recovered from one or more pharmaceutical companies or drug distributors with respect to opioid litigation as an overpayment under such title, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Kaptur, Marcy [Rep.-D-OH-9]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
H.R.6960 – To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the Emergency Medical Services for Children program; Sponsor: Carter, Earl L. “Buddy” [Rep.-R-GA-1]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
H.R.6961 – To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide coverage of medical nutrition therapy services for individuals with eating disorders under the Medicare program; Sponsor: Chu, Judy [Rep.-D-CA-28]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means
H.R.6963 – To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to enter into agreements with drug manufacturers to establish reserve supplies of covered pediatric cancer drugs, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Eshoo, Anna G. [Rep.-D-CA-16]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
H.R.6965 – To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish requirements with respect to cost sharing for epinephrine injectors under group health plans and group and individual health insurance coverage; Sponsor: Frost, Maxwell [Rep.-D-FL-10]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means; Education and the Workforce
H.R.6968 – To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to give marriage and family therapists participating in the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program the option of completing a postgraduate degree clinical training program that is accredited by the State in which the program is located in lieu of such a program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education; Sponsor: Harder, Josh [Rep.-D-CA-9]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
H.R.6977 – To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for a demonstration project for the development and publication of independent value assessments for drugs, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Nadler, Jerrold [Rep.-D-NY-12]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
H.R.6979 – To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a credit to small businesses for research activities related to the mitigation of certain drug threats; Sponsor: Neguse, Joe [Rep.-D-CO-2]; Committees: House – Ways and Means
H.R.6980 – To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for the reallocation of unused waivers of the foreign residency requirement for certain J-visa holders; Sponsor: Nehls, Troy E. [Rep.-R-TX-22]; Committees: House – Judiciary
ICYMI – January 10, 2024
Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA-01) makes remarks on the House floor regarding the need for reform to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.
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Leadership Announces Bipartisan Agreement on Overall Funding Levels Ahead of First Shutdown Deadline
Lawmakers return to session this week after congressional leadership on Sunday announced bipartisan agreement on topline spending amounts which provide a path to avoid a January 20 partial government shutdown. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) communicated the development in a Dear Colleague letter stating “The topline constitutes $1.590 trillion for FY24 – the statutory levels of the Fiscal Responsibility Act. That includes $886 billion for defense and $704 billion for nondefense.” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) released a joint statement on the agreement stating that “The bipartisan topline appropriations agreement clears the way for Congress to act over the next few weeks in order to maintain important funding priorities for the American people and avoid a government shutdown.” Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young characterized the work to pass funding for the Departments of Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, Energy, Agriculture-Food and Drug Administration, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development ahead of the first government funding deadline on January 20 as “daunting,” with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) standing by his pledge to not pass another continuing resolution. No decisions have been reached regarding which health care related riders could be attached to the January spending vehicle. A Medicaid disproportionate share hospital cut delay and funding for several programs, including the community health center program, face a January 19 expiration. Other potential policy riders include a partial Medicare physician reimbursement fix, health transparency legislation, pharmacy benefit manager reforms, and site neutrality proposals. Congress has until February 2 to pass the Labor-Health and Human Services funding legislation and the other remaining annual appropriations bills.
Senators Comment on Co-pay Assistance Lawsuit
A bipartisan group of 19 senators led by Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) are urging the Biden administration to drop its appeal of a court decision that struck down a regulation allowing insurers to avoid counting manufacturer co-pay assistance toward patients’ maximum out-of-pocket costs and deductibles. Patient advocacy groups, who brought the lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), argued that the rule contradicts the statutory definition of cost sharing and would result in increased costs for patients. The lawmakers characterize the court decision as “an important step in the right direction for low-income and other eligible patients who rely on manufacturer and nonprofit copay assistance programs to alleviate affordability and access challenges for their medicines.” The letter also expresses support for the Help Ensure Lower Patient Copays Act (S. 1375/H.R. 830) that would prohibit the use of copay accumulators.
E&C GOP Launches Probe into Internal Scientific Disagreements at FDA
Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee are investigating the handling of internal scientific disagreements related to regulatory decisions at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The lawmakers specifically cite the events surrounding the departure of several agency vaccine regulators following updated coronavirus vaccine recommendations in August 2021. Their letter seeks information on the adequacy of the FDA’s existing policies for handling scientific disagreements, and whether FDA leadership has taken retaliatory actions against dissenting FDA officials. It requests a written response from the agency by January 24.
FDA Approves FL Request to Import Drugs from Canada
The FDA has approved a plan from the state of Florida to allow the importation of prescription drugs from Canada. Before drug importation can commence, the state will first need to submit specific medications for FDA review and approval and ensure the products have been tested for authenticity and safety. In its letter authorizing the proposal, the agency stated that Florida has demonstrated that its plan “will significantly reduce the cost of covered products to the American consumer without posing additional risk to the public’s health and safety.” The agency has already denied a citizen petition from PhRMA to block the importation plan. Other states, including Colorado and New Hampshire, along with American Indian tribes have expressed interest in submitting similar applications to the FDA.
Congressional Retirements and Resignations
Reps. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) and Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-Mo.) each announced last week that they will not be seeking reelection this year. Lamborn has served in Congress since 2006 and is a member of the Armed Services and Natural Resources committees. Luetkemeyer was first elected to the House in 2008. He currently serves on the Financial Services and Small Business committees.
A running list of members of Congress who are retiring or seeking other office can be found below.
SENATE
Stabenow (D), MI Braun (R), IN
Cardin (D), MD Romney (R), UT
Carper (D), DE
Feinstein (D), CA
Manchin (D), WV
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Porter (D), CA Mooney (R), WV
Lee (D), CA Banks (R), IN
Gallego (D), AZ Spartz (R), IN
Schiff (D), CA Bishop (R), NC
Slotkin (D), MI Lesko (R), AZ
Allred (D), TX Granger (R), TX
Trone (D), MD Buck (R), CO
Blunt Rochester (D), DE Burgess (R), TX
Napolitano (D), CA Santos (R), NY (effective Dec. 1, 2023)
Wexton (D), VA Wenstrup (R), OH
Kim, Andy (D), NJ McHenry (R), NC
Jackson, Jeff (D), NC McCarthy (R), CA (effective Dec. 31, 2023)
Sarbanes (D), MD Johnson, Bill (R), OH (effective Jan. 21, 2023)
Blumenauer (D), OR Ferguson (R), GA
Kilmer (D), WA Curtis (R), UT
Spanberger (D), VA Luetkemeyer (R), MO
Kildee (D), MI Lamborn (R), CO
Jackson Lee (D), TX
Phillips (D), MN
Cardenas (D), CA
Eshoo (D), CA
Manning (D), NC
Higgins (D), NY (effective Feb. 2, 2024)
Nickel (D), NC
Upcoming Congressional Hearings and Markups
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearing “Harnessing AI to Improve Government Services and Customer Experience;” 10:00 a.m.; January 10
House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions hearing “Lowering Costs and Increasing Access to Health Care with Employer-Driven Innovation;” 10:15 a.m.; January 11
House Veterans’ Affairs Committee oversight hearing “Rural Access: Is VA Meeting All Veterans Where They Live?;” immediately following committee business meeting; 10:15 a.m.; January 11
OMB Provides Clarification Around Debt Ceiling Agreement Sequestration Provision
According to guidance released on December 22, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has instructed federal agencies to not prepare for sequestration cuts at this time. The federal government is currently operating under a continuing resolution (CR) that funds some parts of the government through January 19 and others through February 2. Congress faces an effective April 30 deadline to pass fiscal year 2024 appropriations, given that the most recent debt ceiling agreement included a provision to subject all discretionary spending to a 1% automatic cut should a stopgap spending measure still be in place past that date. The OMB guidance sought to provide clarification around the April 30 date, given that the law states that the 1% cut will be required if Congress relies on a CR beyond December 31; OMB, however, is not required to issue a sequestration order until the end of April. The guidance also confirms that cuts will be negated once lawmakers reach a full-year funding deal, even if that occurs after the April 30 deadline. The sequestration spending cuts would only apply during the period in which a CR is in place beyond April 30.
Ways and Means Chair Comments on NSA Implementation
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.) has released a statement on the administration’s “bungled” implementation of the No Surprises Act, following the release of a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report outlining the challenges with implementation of the 2020 law. “GAO’s report is further evidence that the Biden administration is failing to deliver this law’s promised benefits to patients and providers,” Smith states. “While I’m pleased the bipartisan advocacy of members of the Ways and Means Committee has contributed to a reduction of the dispute resolution process administrative fee, there’s much more that needs to be fixed. We will continue our efforts to hold the Biden administration accountable for ignoring the law’s clear Congressional intent.”
Administration Extends IDR Flexibilities Following Portal Reopening
On December 21, the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury announced an extension of the deadline for parties to complete certain independent dispute resolution (IDR) activities that were impacted by the temporary suspension of IDR operations due to litigation surrounding the implementation of the No Surprises Act. Parties for whom the IDR initiation deadline under applicable regulations fell on any date between August 3, 2023, and December 14, 2023, will have until March 14, 2024, to initiate a new batched dispute or a new single dispute involving air ambulance services. For disputes initiated between August 3, 2023, and January 21, 2024, the administrative fee amount is $50 per party per dispute. For disputes initiated on or after January 22, 2024, the administrative fee amount is $115 per party per dispute. Certified IDR entity fees for disputes initiated on or after January 22, 2024, may be updated to fall within the ranges finalized in the December 21, 2023, final rules to establish the new administrative fee amount and certified IDR entity fee ranges. The administration previously reopened the federal IDR portal to process all dispute types on December 15.
IRA Medicare Reforms Effective Jan. 1
Several Medicare reforms passed as a part of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act are now in effect, including an expansion of the federal Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) program. There will no longer be a partial LIS program providing a lower level of financial support for certain individuals. Effective January 1, 2024, anyone who qualifies for the LIS program will get full program benefits, covering the majority, if not all, out-of-pocket costs for prescription medications. The new year also brings the elimination of the 5% coinsurance for Medicare Part D beneficiaries who have entered the catastrophic phase of their coverage.
Former Texas Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson Dies at 88
Former Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D) passed away on Sunday at the age of 88. Johnson was a nurse before entering politics, first serving as a Texas state lawmaker before being elected to the House of Representatives in 1992. She was the first African American and woman to serve as chair of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. She retired in 2021 after serving nearly 30 years in Congress.
Congressional Retirements and Resignations
Rep. John Curtis (R-Utah) is planning to announce his candidacy for the U.S. Senate early this month. Curtis was first elected to Congress in 2017 and currently serves as a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) previously announced his decision to not seek a second Senate term in September.
A running list of members of Congress who are retiring or seeking other office can be found below.
|
SENATE |
|
| Stabenow (D), MI | Braun (R), IN |
| Cardin (D), MD | Romney (R), UT |
| Carper (D), DE | |
| Feinstein (D), CA | |
| Manchin (D), WV | |
|
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
|
| Porter (D), CA | Mooney (R), WV |
| Lee (D), CA | Banks (R), IN |
| Gallego (D), AZ | Spartz (R), IN |
| Schiff (D), CA | Bishop (R), NC |
| Slotkin (D), MI | Lesko (R), AZ |
| Allred (D), TX | Granger (R), TX |
| Trone (D), MD | Buck (R), CO |
| Blunt Rochester (D), DE | Burgess (R), TX |
| Napolitano (D), CA | Santos (R), NY (effective Dec. 1, 2023) |
| Wexton (D), VA | Wenstrup (R), OH |
| Kim, Andy (D), NJ | McHenry (R), NC |
| Jackson, Jeff (D), NC | McCarthy (R), CA (effective Dec. 31, 2023) |
| Sarbanes (D), MD | Johnson, Bill (R), OH (effective after March 2024) |
| Blumenauer (D), OR | Ferguson (R), GA |
| Kilmer (D), WA | |
| Spanberger (D), VA | |
| Kildee (D), MI | |
| Jackson Lee (D), TX | |
| Phillips (D), MN | |
| Cardenas (D), CA | |
| Eshoo (D), CA | |
| Manning (D), NC | |
| Higgins (D), NY (effective Feb. 2, 2024) | |
| Nickel (D), NC | |
Recently Introduced Health Legislation
H.R.6903 – To direct the Secretary of Defense to develop a plan to ensure an adequate supply of medications for the military health system. Sponsor: Slotkin, Elissa [Rep.-D-MI-7]; Committees: House – Armed Services
H.R.6897 – To require the Secretary of Defense to establish a pilot program to evaluate novel pharmaceutical manufacturing technologies to reduce the reliance of the Department on foreign manufacturers for active pharmaceutical ingredients and key starting materials. Sponsor: Slotkin, Elissa [Rep.-D-MI-7]; Committees: House – Armed Services
H.R.6895 – To amend the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 to extend Federal support for bioindustrial manufacturing processes to include support for the manufacturing of certain pharmaceutical ingredients. Sponsor: Slotkin, Elissa [Rep.-D-MI-7]; Committees: House – Armed Services
H.R.6892 – To provide for the coverage of medically necessary food and vitamins and individual amino acids for digestive and inherited metabolic disorders under Federal health programs and private health insurance, to ensure State and Federal protection for existing coverage, and for other purposes. Sponsor: McGovern, James P. [Rep.-D-MA-2]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means; Oversight and Accountability; Armed Services
H.R.6884 – To increase the minimum levels of financial responsibility for transporting property, and to index future increases to changes in inflation relating to medical care. Sponsor: Garcia, Jesus G. “Chuy” [Rep.-D-IL-4]; Committees: House – Transportation and Infrastructure
H.R.6881 – To direct the Federal Trade Commission to establish standards for making publicly available information about the training data and algorithms used in artificial intelligence foundation models, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Beyer, Donald S., Jr. [Rep.-D-VA-8]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
Listen and subscribe to this week’s Health on the Hill podcast via:
