{"id":1622,"date":"2025-04-07T13:55:33","date_gmt":"2025-04-07T13:55:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cms.hhs.com\/?p=1622"},"modified":"2025-04-07T14:00:37","modified_gmt":"2025-04-07T14:00:37","slug":"senate-adopts-budget-blueprint","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms.hhs.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/07\/senate-adopts-budget-blueprint\/","title":{"rendered":"Senate Adopts Budget Blueprint"},"content":{"rendered":"

Senate Adopts Budget Blueprint \u2013 <\/strong>The Senate passed a budget resolution early Saturday morning, a critical step in the reconciliation process that Republicans hope to use to advance President Donald Trump\u2019s legislative agenda. The measure was adopted in a 51-48 vote following a lengthy series of votes on amendments known as a vote-a-rama. Sens. Rand Paul (Ky.) and\u00a0Susan Collins\u00a0(Maine) were the only Republicans to vote against the resolution. For the reconciliation process to proceed, a unified budget resolution must first be adopted by the House of Representatives. The House approved its own budget resolution in February that called for $880 billion in savings over the next decade to come from the Energy and Commerce Committee \u2013 likely necessitating deep cuts to the Medicaid program. The possibility of such cuts has received bipartisan pushback in the Senate. During the Senate vote-a-rama, the chamber adopted an amendment from Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) to strengthen and improve Medicaid for the most vulnerable populations and extend the life of the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund. The amendment was agreed to along party lines, with Democrats arguing that the failure to define \u201cmost vulnerable populations\u201d continues to leave the door open for cuts to the Medicaid program. House Republican leadership told their members that they will proceed with a vote on the Senate budget blueprint this week, despite apparent opposition from some fiscal conservatives. The Senate plan contains lower spending cut targets and would allow for more tax cuts that are not fully paid for in comparison to the House\u2019s original framework. Republicans can only lose three members on a party-line vote if all members of the chamber are present and voting.<\/p>\n

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Dr. Oz Confirmed as CMS Administrator \u2013 <\/strong>The Senate confirmed Mehmet Oz, MD as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on Thursday in a 53-45 party line vote. As CMS administrator, Dr. Oz – a cardiothoracic surgeon \u2013 will be responsible for the agency in charge of the insurance coverage of more than 160 million people. During his Senate confirmation process, Oz stated that his focus as administrator will be on empowering beneficiaries with better tools and more transparency to manage their health and navigate the health care system; incentivizing health care providers to optimize care with real time information; and modernizing tools to reduce fraud, waste, and abuse.<\/p>\n

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Senate Panel Advances Six Bills to Lower Prescription Drug Prices \u2013 <\/strong>The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced six bipartisan pieces of legislation on Thursday that aim to reduce prescription drug costs and increase access to generic medications. Each of the bills \u2013 which were previously approved by the committee during the 118th<\/sup> Congress\u2013 was advanced by voice vote.\u00a0 The Prescription Pricing for the People Act<\/em> (S. 527) requires the Federal Trade Commission to examine the effects of consolidation in the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) industry, as well as other potentially abusive behavior by PBMs, on pricing. The Drug Competition Enhancement Act <\/em>(S. 1040) would prohibit branded drug manufacturers from deliberately preventing potential competitors from entering the marketplace using product hopping. The Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Act <\/em>(S. 1041) would prevent bad actors in the pharmaceutical industry from using \u201cpatent thickets\u201d to stop potential competitors from entering the marketplace. The Interagency Patent Coordination and Improvement Act <\/em>(S. 1097) would establish a task force between the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to improve communication and coordination in implementing each agency\u2019s activities related to pharmaceutical patents. The Stop STALLING Act<\/em> (S. 1095) would deter branded pharmaceutical companies from filing sham \u201ccitizen petitions\u201d with the FDA to interfere with the approval of generic and biosimilar medicines. Finally, the Preserve Access to Affordable Generics and Biosimilars Act<\/em> (S. 1096) would limit \u201cpay-for-delay\u201d deals that prevent or delay the introduction of generic drugs. The Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Act<\/em> was the only bill of the six to pass the full Senate last Congress.<\/p>\n

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HELP Requests RFK Testimony on HHS Restructuring \u2013 <\/strong>Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy, MD (R-La.) and Ranking Member Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) have called<\/a> on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to testify before the panel on Thursday. The lawmakers wish to discuss the department\u2019s proposed reorganization and recent reductions in force. It remains unclear whether the Secretary will accept the panel\u2019s invitation to testify. “The news coverage on the HHS reorg is being set by anonymous sources and opponents are setting the perceptions,\u201d Sen. Cassidy said in a statement. \u201cThis will be a good opportunity for him to set the record straight and speak to the goals, structure and benefits of the proposed reorganization.\u201d During his confirmation process, Kennedy committed to coming before the HELP Committee on a quarterly basis upon request from the chair.<\/p>\n

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E&C Democrats Press for Answers on HHS Job Cuts \u2013 <\/strong>Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee have sent a letter<\/a> to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on his decision to eliminate 25% of the department\u2019s workforce. The lawmakers ask for a response to the following requests by April 15:<\/p>\n