{"id":2355,"date":"2026-10-05T12:59:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-05T12:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cms.hhs.com\/?p=2355"},"modified":"2026-10-05T13:03:15","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T13:03:15","slug":"help-finance-advance-hhs-nominees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms.hhs.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/05\/help-finance-advance-hhs-nominees\/","title":{"rendered":"HELP, Finance Advance HHS Nominees"},"content":{"rendered":"

HELP, Finance Advance HHS Nominees \u2013 <\/strong>The\u00a0Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee favorably reported the following nominations en bloc to the full Senate by a party line vote of 12-11 last week:\u00a0Nicole Saphier, MD\u00a0to be Surgeon General\/Medical Director in the Regular Corps of the Public Health Service; Timothy Westlake, MD\u00a0to be Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use; and Mary Lazare\u00a0to be Assistant Secretary for Aging. The Senate Finance Committee favorably reported out the nomination of Chris Klomp\u00a0to be Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services in a 15-12 vote, and Ge Bai\u00a0to be an Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services in a 14-13 vote. The full Senate will not hold confirmation votes on the nominees until after the chamber returns from recess following the November midterm elections.<\/p>\n

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In related news, more than 2,500 physicians across the nation are urging the Senate to reject the Trump administration\u2019s nomination of Heidi Overton, MD to lead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The letter<\/a>, organized by the Committee to Protect Health Care, argues that \u201cDr. Overton\u2019s dangerous record on vaccines and extremist anti-abortion advocacy are deeply troubling, and render her unfit to lead such a critical public health institution.\u201d The Senate HELP Committee will not meet to consider the FDA nominee until after the Senate returns to session after the midterm elections. During her confirmation hearing, Chair Bill Cassidy, MD (R-La.) questioned Overton on her role in a recent executive order focused on the childhood vaccine schedule and called on her to rebut some of the President\u2019s remarks regarding the MMR vaccine. It would take the opposition of just one Republican on the panel to sink her nomination.<\/p>\n

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President Signs Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act into Law<\/strong> \u2013 President Donald Trump signed the Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act (S. 2398) into law last week. The bill will require the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to continue implementing and updating, as appropriate, its National Public Health Strategy to Prevent and Control Vector-Borne Diseases in People. It will also reauthorize Regional Centers of Excellence in Vector-Borne Disease and grants to state health departments to improve data collection and analysis, support early detection and diagnosis, improve treatment, and raise awareness of Lyme and other vector-borne diseases.<\/p>\n

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GAO General Counsel Weighs in on Pocket Recissions \u2013 <\/strong>Government Accountability Office (GAO) General Counsel Edda Emmanuelli Perez sent a letter<\/a> to congressional leaders last week characterizing the White House\u2019s recent cancelation of $810 million in federal funding as unlawful and unconstitutional. \u201cAny withholding of appropriated funds beyond their date of expiration, regardless of size, subverts both the constitutional process for enacting federal law and Congress\u2019s constitutional power of the purse,\u201d Emmanuelli Perez wrote in the letter. Both Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill are discussing ways to prevent the administration from making such pocket recissions in the future, with Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) telling reporters that appropriators are \u201calready looking at whether there\u2019s language we can put in the next set of appropriations bills that would prohibit this from happening.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Murray, Baldwin Call for Legislative Response to NIH Politicization Proposals \u2013 <\/strong>Senate Democrats have sent a letter<\/a> to the White House urging Office of Management and Budget Director (OMB) Russell Vought to abandon any plans to exert political control over grant-making decisions at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The letter, led by Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Labor-Health and Human Services Subcommittee Ranking Member Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), specifically criticizes recent reports of a possible executive order to establish a commission empowered to veto NIH research awards, which followed a similar OMB proposal to revise the rules governing the administration of federal grants government-wide. The lawmakers call on congressional Republicans to \u201cwork with us on legislation to do much more to protect NIH from the Trump administration, which has proven over and over again to be dead set on picking political fights at the expense of advancing lifesaving treatments and cures for millions of Americans.\u201d<\/p>\n

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House Caucus Releases Bipartisan Report on Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy \u2013 <\/strong>A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the House of Representatives have released a report<\/a> on how psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) could be safely and ethically integrated into U.S. healthcare and community settings. The report follows a 2024 request for information issued by the Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy to Heal (PATH) Caucus. Responses to the RFI envisioned wide-ranging, multidisciplinary service models that include clinical settings, community-based environments, faith and ceremonial practices, group sessions, and federally qualified health centers. Responses highlighted integration services, PAT delivery options and care teams, and long-term follow-up. The report suggests that policies \u201cshould be put in place to support coordinated national data systems to monitor benefits as well as potential unintended consequences of PAT and provide an evidence-base to ensure the best possible patient care that evolves in approach with the diverse emerging pipeline of new medicines and potential medical applications over time.\u201d<\/p>\n

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E&C Republicans Remain Focused on Healthcare Fraud<\/strong> \u2013 House Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans have released a staff report<\/a> detailing the findings of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee\u2019s investigation into the incidence of fraud in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The report also highlights related disparities in oversight and enforcement within state Medicaid programs. Key findings include that some states do not consider fraud trends when setting required Medicaid provider risk levels, and do not regularly update the risk levels that are set. The report also asserts that states are not using their audit and investigative authorities to their fullest potential to prevent fraud from occurring, and that states, which vary in auditing capacity, are generally not focusing on high-risk providers. In related news, E&C Republicans introduced a 14-bill package<\/a> on Tuesday focused on healthcare fraud, including nine new bills and five reintroductions.<\/p>\n

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Cassidy, Warner Reintroduce PBM Data Bill \u2013 <\/strong>Sens. Bill Cassidy, MD (R-La.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) have reintroduced bipartisan legislation aimed at improving pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reimbursement data and lowering the cost of prescription drugs. The Ensuring Accurate Payments to Specialty Pharmacies Act (S. 5586) would expand required participation in federal drug acquisition cost surveys to include specialty and mail-order pharmacies. This change is intended to provide more thorough data on drug acquisition costs and help ensure PBM reimbursement rates cover the complete cost of prescription drugs.<\/p>\n

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ASPR Personnel Changes<\/strong> \u2013 Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) John Knox announced that he would be stepping down from his position at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on October 2. Sean Kaufman, the President\u2019s nominee to lead ASPR, will serve in the deputy role until his is confirmed. Kaufman\u2019s nomination was advanced by the Senate HELP Committee in July.<\/p>\n

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Recently Introduced Health Legislation<\/strong><\/p>\n

H.Res.1587 \u2014 Expressing support for\u00a0the\u00a0designation\u00a0of September 2026 as “National Kinship Care Month”; Sponsor: Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [Rep.-D-CA-37]; Committees: House – Ways and Means<\/p>\n

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H.Res.1589 \u2014 Expressing support for\u00a0the\u00a0designation\u00a0of October 1 as “National Latino and Latina Physician Day”; Sponsor: Ruiz, Raul [Rep.-D-CA-25]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n

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H.R.10615 \u2014 To amend title XIX of\u00a0the\u00a0Social Security Act to require State Medicaid fraud control units to conduct annual audits; Sponsor: Balderson, Troy [Rep.-R-OH-12]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n

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H.R.10616 \u2014 To require\u00a0the\u00a0Secretary of\u00a0Health\u00a0and Human Services to create a repository of certain publicly available data sets; Sponsor: Bentz, Cliff [Rep.-R-OR-2]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means; Education\u00a0and Workforce; Natural Resources<\/p>\n

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H.R.10618 \u2014 To amend title XIX of\u00a0the\u00a0Social Security Act to promote electronic verification\u00a0of non-emergency transportation\u00a0services and applied behavior analysis services under\u00a0the\u00a0Medicaid program; Sponsor: Evans, Gabe [Rep.-R-CO-8]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n

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H.R.10621 \u2014 To amend title XIX of\u00a0the\u00a0Social Security Act to increase\u00a0the State share of recovery under laws relating to false or fraudulent claims under\u00a0the\u00a0Medicaid program; Sponsor: Griffith, H. Morgan [Rep.-R-VA-9]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n

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H.R.10625 \u2014 To amend title XIX of\u00a0the\u00a0Social Security Act to require State Medicaid fraud control units to conduct annual audits; Sponsor: Joyce, John [Rep.-R-PA-13]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n

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H.R.10626 \u2014 To amend title XIX of\u00a0the\u00a0Social Security Act to increase\u00a0the State share of\u00a0the\u00a0recovery of certain overpayments under\u00a0the\u00a0Medicaid program; Sponsor: Kean, Thomas H. [Rep.-R-NJ-7]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n

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H.R.10628 \u2014 To amend title XI of\u00a0the\u00a0Social Security Act to alter when biosimilar biological products are eligible for price negotiations under\u00a0the Medicare program; Sponsor: Langworthy, Nicholas A. [Rep.-R-NY-23]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means<\/p>\n

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H.R.10632 \u2014 To amend title XIX of\u00a0the\u00a0Social Security Act to require certain protections for whistleblowers under\u00a0the\u00a0Medicaid program; Sponsor: Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [Rep.-R-IA-1]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n

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H.R.10633 \u2014 To amend title XIX of\u00a0the\u00a0Social Security Act to require each State to designate a single agent responsible for certain fiscal duties under\u00a0the\u00a0Medicaid program; Sponsor: Pfluger, August [Rep.-R-TX-11]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n

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H.R.10636 \u2014 Medicaid Fraud Prevention\u00a0Act; Sponsor: Rulli, Michael A. [Rep.-R-OH-6]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

S.Res.912 \u2014 A resolution\u00a0recognizing\u00a0the\u00a050th anniversary of\u00a0the\u00a0Hyde Amendment and its enduring legacy of saving\u00a0the\u00a0lives of more than 2,600,000 unborn children and respecting\u00a0the\u00a0conscience rights of\u00a0the American people; Sponsor: Lankford, James [Sen.-R-OK]; Committees: Senate –\u00a0Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions<\/p>\n

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S.Res.914 \u2014 A resolution\u00a0designating September 2026 as “National Cholesterol Education\u00a0Month” and September 30, 2026, as “LDL-C Awareness Day”; Sponsor: Hyde-Smith, Cindy [Sen.-R-MS]; Latest Action: Submitted in\u00a0the\u00a0Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.<\/p>\n

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S.5571 \u2014 A bill to amend title XI of\u00a0the\u00a0Social Security Act to alter when biosimilar biological products are eligible for price negotiations under\u00a0the Medicare program; Sponsor: Blackburn, Marsha [Sen.-R-TN]; Committees: Senate – Finance<\/p>\n

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S.Res.917 \u2014 A resolution\u00a0expressing support for\u00a0the\u00a0designation\u00a0of September as “Dystonia Awareness Month” to promote public awareness and understanding of dystonia; Sponsor: Banks, Jim [Sen.-R-IN]; Submitted in\u00a0the\u00a0Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.<\/p>\n

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S.Res.918 \u2014 A resolution\u00a0establishing\u00a0the\u00a0Select Committee\u00a0on\u00a0Artificial Intelligence; Sponsor: Gallego, Ruben [Sen.-D-AZ]; Committees: Senate – Rules and Administration<\/p>\n

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S.Res.925 \u2014 A resolution\u00a0designating September 2026 as “National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month”; Sponsor: Moody, Ashley [Sen.-R-FL]; Submitted in\u00a0the\u00a0Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.<\/p>\n

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S.5574 \u2014\u00a0A bill to require\u00a0the\u00a0Secretary of\u00a0Health\u00a0and Human Services to carry out a program of distribution\u00a0of newborn supply kits to mothers of newborn infants, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Kim, Andy [Sen.-D-NJ]; Committees: Senate –\u00a0Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions<\/p>\n

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S.5576 \u2014 A bill to establish\u00a0the\u00a0Artificial Intelligence Safety Board, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Warner, Mark R. [Sen.-D-VA]; Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation<\/p>\n

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S.5586 \u2014\u00a0A bill to amend title XIX of\u00a0the\u00a0Social Security Act to require\u00a0the\u00a0Secretary of\u00a0Health\u00a0and Human Services to conduct surveys of non-retail pharmacy drug prices, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Warner, Mark R. [Sen.-D-VA]; Committees: Senate – Finance<\/p>\n

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S.5591 \u2014 A bill to improve support for personnel of\u00a0the\u00a0Veterans Crisis Line and to clarify authorities relating to crisis response protocols, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Blumenthal, Richard [Sen.-D-CT]; Committees: Senate – Veterans’ Affairs<\/p>\n

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S.5593 \u2014A bill to prevent\u00a0the\u00a0removal of children for sex-rejecting interventions; Sponsor: Schmitt, Eric [Sen.-R-MO]; Committees: Senate \u2013 Finance<\/p>\n

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S.5600 \u2014 To reauthorize\u00a0the\u00a0Traumatic Brain Injury program; Sponsor: Armstrong, Alan [Sen.-R-OK]; Introduced in\u00a0the\u00a0Senate, read twice, considered, read\u00a0the\u00a0third time, and passed without amendment by Voice Vote.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

S.Res.930 \u2014 A resolution\u00a0expressing support for\u00a0the\u00a0recognition\u00a0of October 2026, as “World Menopause Awareness Month” and for global awareness and access to care during menopausal transition\u00a0and post-menopause; Sponsor: Blunt Rochester, Lisa [Sen.-D-DE]; Committees: Senate –\u00a0Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions<\/p>\n

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S.Res.933 \u2014 A resolution\u00a0expressing support for\u00a0the\u00a0designation\u00a0of October 2026 as “National Dyslexia Awareness Month”; Sponsor: Cassidy, Bill [Sen.-R-LA]; Committees: Senate –\u00a0Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions<\/p>\n

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S.Res.937 \u2014 A resolution\u00a0recognizing\u00a0the\u00a0seriousness of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and expressing support for\u00a0the\u00a0designation\u00a0of September 2026 as “PCOS Awareness Month”; Sponsor: Warren, Elizabeth [Sen.-D-MA]; Submitted in\u00a0the\u00a0Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.<\/p>\n

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S.Res.940 \u2014 A resolution\u00a0expressing support for\u00a0the\u00a0designation\u00a0of September 2026 as “Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month” in order to educate communities across\u00a0the\u00a0United States about sickle cell disease and\u00a0the\u00a0need for research, early detection\u00a0methods, effective treatments, and preventative care programs with respect to complications from sickle cell disease and conditions related to sickle cell disease; Sponsor: Scott, Tim [Sen.-R-SC]; Submitted in\u00a0the\u00a0Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.<\/p>\n

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S.Res.946 \u2014 A resolution\u00a0designating September 30, 2026, as “National Veterans Suicide Prevention\u00a0Day”; Sponsor: Tillis, Thomas [Sen.-R-NC]; Submitted in\u00a0the\u00a0Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.<\/p>\n

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S.Res.947 \u2014 A resolution\u00a0designating September 2026 as “National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month”; Sponsor: Scott, Tim [Sen.-R-SC]; Submitted in\u00a0the\u00a0Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.<\/p>\n

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S.5609 \u2014 A bill to amend title XIX of\u00a0the\u00a0Social Security Act to require States to report\u00a0on\u00a0anti-fraud measures relating to home and community-based services furnished under\u00a0the\u00a0Medicaid program; Sponsor: Moody, Ashley [Sen.-R-FL]; Committees: Senate \u2013 Finance<\/p>\n

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S.5612 \u2014 A bill to amend title XVIII of\u00a0the\u00a0Social Security Act to require hospitals receiving payment for direct graduate medical education\u00a0costs under\u00a0the\u00a0Medicare program to report information\u00a0with respect to\u00a0the citizenship status of residents in an approved medical residency training program; Sponsor: Moody, Ashley [Sen.-R-FL]; Committees: Senate \u2013 Finance<\/p>\n

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S.5622 \u2014 A bill to amend\u00a0the\u00a0Controlled Substances Act to provide for criminal liability where a controlled substance is a substantial factor in\u00a0the\u00a0death or bodily injury of another person; Sponsor: Moody, Ashley [Sen.-R-FL]; Committees: Senate \u2013 Judiciary<\/p>\n

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S.5627 \u2014 A bill to amend title XI of\u00a0the\u00a0Social Security Act to improve access to care for all Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries through models tested under\u00a0the\u00a0Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Booker, Cory A. [Sen.-D-NJ]; Committees: Senate \u2013 Finance<\/p>\n

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S.5629 \u2014 A bill to require\u00a0the\u00a0Secretary of Veterans Affairs to permit veterans to seek a second opinion\u00a0after\u00a0the\u00a0receipt of\u00a0health\u00a0care under\u00a0the\u00a0laws administered by\u00a0the\u00a0Secretary, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Rounds, Mike [Sen.-R-SD]; Committees: Senate – Veterans’ Affairs<\/p>\n

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S.5638 \u2014 A bill to amend\u00a0the\u00a0Immigration\u00a0and Nationality Act to modernize\u00a0the\u00a0wage required for exempt H-1B workers, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Husted, Jon\u00a0[Sen.-R-OH]; Committees: Senate \u2013 Judiciary<\/p>\n

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S.5663 \u2014 A bill to establish a program at\u00a0the\u00a0National Science Foundation to fund research awards to reproduce federally funded research; Sponsor: Lummis, Cynthia M. [Sen.-R-WY];\u00a0 Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation<\/p>\n

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S.5671 \u2014 A bill to reauthorize and improve\u00a0the\u00a0pilot program to support State medical stockpiles, to ensure that State, local, Tribal, and territorial public\u00a0health\u00a0departments or officials are consulted by\u00a0the\u00a0Public\u00a0Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Hassan, Margaret Wood [Sen.-D-NH]; Committees: Senate –\u00a0Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions<\/p>\n

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S.5672 \u2014 A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to modify certain physician payments under the Medicare program; Sponsor: Marshall, Roger [Sen.-R-KS]; Committees: Senate \u2013 Finance<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

H.Res.1591 \u2014 Expressing support for\u00a0the\u00a0designation\u00a0of October 15, 2026, as “Liver Cancer Awareness Day”; Sponsor: Bacon, Don\u00a0[Rep.-R-NE-2]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n

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H.Res.1595 \u2014 Expressing support for\u00a0the\u00a0designation\u00a0of September 2026 as “National Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Month”, and raising awareness and understanding of polycystic kidney disease; Sponsor: Cleaver, Emanuel [Rep.-D-MO-5]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n

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H.Res.1599 \u2014 Expressing support for\u00a0the\u00a0recognition\u00a0of September 2026 as “National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month”; Sponsor: Lawler, Michael [Rep.-R-NY-17]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n

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H.Res.1601 \u2014 Recognizing September as “Childhood Cancer Awareness Month”; Sponsor: Miller, Max L. [Rep.-R-OH-7]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n

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H.Res.1602 \u2014 Recognizing\u00a0the\u00a0importance of access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention\u00a0and supporting\u00a0the\u00a0designation\u00a0of Saturday, October 10, 2026, as “National PrEP Day”; Sponsor: Pocan, Mark [Rep.-D-WI-2]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n

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H.R.10640 \u2014 To amend title XI of\u00a0the\u00a0Social Security Act to establish an Urban\u00a0Health\u00a0Transformation\u00a0Program; Sponsor: Waters, Maxine [Rep.-D-CA-43]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means<\/p>\n

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H.R.10643 \u2014To increase penalties for certain violations of\u00a0the\u00a0H\u20131B nonimmigrant visa program, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Van Duyne, Beth [Rep.-R-TX-24]; Committees: House \u2013 Judiciary<\/p>\n

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H.R.10645 \u2014 To amend title XIX of\u00a0the\u00a0Social Security Act to require\u00a0the Secretary of\u00a0Health\u00a0and Human Services to make uniformly available to States certain standardized data analytic technologies to identify and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse under Medicaid; Sponsor: Balderson, Troy [Rep.-R-OH-12]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n

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H.R.10647 \u2014\u00a0To amend title XIX of\u00a0the\u00a0Social Security Act to establish a Medicaid State plan amendment option\u00a0to provide medical assistance to individuals with a serious mental illness who are patients in certain institutions for mental diseases; Sponsor: Bentz, Cliff [Rep.-R-OR-2]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n

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H.R.10648 \u2014\u00a0To direct\u00a0the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish inpatient treatment under\u00a0the Veterans Community Care Program for a mental\u00a0health\u00a0condition, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Boebert, Lauren [Rep.-R-CO-4]; Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs<\/p>\n

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H.R.10649 \u2014\u00a0To amend\u00a0the Comprehensive Addiction\u00a0and Recovery Act of 2016 to authorize\u00a0the Attorney General, in coordination\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0Administrator of\u00a0the\u00a0Drug Enforcement Administration,\u00a0the\u00a0Secretary of\u00a0Health\u00a0and Human Services, and\u00a0the\u00a0Director of\u00a0the\u00a0Office of National Drug Control Policy, to award grants to covered entities to establish or maintain disposal sites for unwanted prescription\u00a0medications, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Bonamici, Suzanne [Rep.-D-OR-1]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n

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H.R.10654 \u2014 To ensure that a member separated from an Armed Force, solely\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0basis that\u00a0the\u00a0member has pseudofolliculitis barbae, receives an honorable discharge and veterans benefits; Sponsor: Conaway, Herbert C. [Rep.-D-NJ-3]; Committees: House – Armed Services; Veterans’ Affairs<\/p>\n

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H.R.10655 \u2014\u00a0To direct\u00a0the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a study and clinical trials\u00a0on\u00a0the effects of cannabis\u00a0on\u00a0certain\u00a0health\u00a0outcomes of veterans with chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Correa, J. Luis [Rep.-D-CA-46]; Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs<\/p>\n

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H.R.10658 \u2014\u00a0To direct\u00a0the\u00a0Secretary of Commerce to publish,\u00a0on\u00a0an annual basis, an assessment\u00a0on\u00a0United States dependency\u00a0on\u00a0imported, fermentation-based, biomanufacturing inputs, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Davids, Sharice [Rep.-D-KS-3]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n

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H.R.10666 \u2014 To extend\u00a0the\u00a0Frontier Community\u00a0Health\u00a0Integration Project Demonstration; Sponsor: Fedorchak, Julie [Rep.-R-ND-At Large]; Committees: House – Ways and Means<\/p>\n

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H.R.10676 \u2014\u00a0To amend title XIX of\u00a0the\u00a0Social Security Act to strengthen coverage under\u00a0the\u00a0Medicaid program for certain foster youth individuals; Sponsor: Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [Rep.-D-CA-37]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n

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H.R.10677 \u2014\u00a0To amend title XIX of\u00a0the\u00a0Social Security Act to ensure\u00a0health\u00a0insurance coverage continuity for former foster youth; Sponsor: Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [Rep.-D-CA-37]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n

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H.R.10678 \u2014\u00a0To permit\u00a0the\u00a0Byrne JAG grant to be used for\u00a0the\u00a0purchase of fentanyl testing kits and opioid reversal agents; Sponsor: Kean, Thomas H. [Rep.-R-NJ-7]; Committees: House \u2013 Judiciary<\/p>\n

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H.R.10680 \u2014 To direct\u00a0the\u00a0Secretary of\u00a0Health\u00a0and Human Services to establish a grant program to facilitate food access in community\u00a0health centers, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Latimer, George [Rep.-D-NY-16]; Committees: House \u2013 Agriculture<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

H.R.10692 \u2014\u00a0To restore\u00a0the allowance of\u00a0the\u00a0premium tax credit for lawfully present individuals, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [Rep.-D-NY-14]; Committees: House – Ways and Means; Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

H.R.10694 \u2014\u00a0To amend\u00a0the\u00a0Public\u00a0Health\u00a0Service Act to provide eligibility for nurses working in an elementary or secondary school within a\u00a0health\u00a0professional shortage area to participate in\u00a0the\u00a0National\u00a0Health\u00a0Service Corps Loan Repayment Program, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [Rep.-D-WA-3]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

H.R.10704 \u2014To direct\u00a0the\u00a0Secretary of Labor to award grants for\u00a0the\u00a0recruitment, retention, and advancement of direct care workers; Sponsor: Scott, Robert C. “Bobby” [Rep.-D-VA-3]; Committees: House – Education\u00a0and Workforce; Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

H.R.10706 \u2014 To amend title XI of\u00a0the\u00a0Social Security Act to clarify parameters for model testing and add accountability to model expansion under\u00a0the\u00a0Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Smith, Adrian [Rep.-R-NE-3]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means; Rules<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

H.R.10707 \u2014 To address barriers immigrants and refugees face to entering\u00a0the\u00a0health\u00a0care workforce, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Smith, Adam [Rep.-D-WA-9]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

H.R.10708 \u2014 To authorize\u00a0the\u00a0Secretary of\u00a0Health\u00a0and Human Services to award grants to reduce barriers to immigrants becoming nurses or allied\u00a0health\u00a0professionals in\u00a0the\u00a0United States, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Smith, Adam [Rep.-D-WA-9]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

H.R.10712 \u2014 To amend\u00a0the\u00a0Public\u00a0Health\u00a0Service Act to include certain emergency response providers as eligible institutions under mental and behavioral\u00a0health\u00a0education\u00a0and training grant program, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Subramanyam, Suhas [Rep.-D-VA-10]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

H.R.10716 \u2014\u00a0To amend title XI of\u00a0the\u00a0Social Security Act to clarify\u00a0the\u00a0authority of\u00a0the\u00a0Inspector General of\u00a0the Department of\u00a0Health\u00a0and Human Services to exclude certain entities from participation\u00a0in Federal\u00a0health\u00a0care programs; Sponsor: Taylor, David J. [Rep.-R-OH-2]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

H.R.10717 \u2014\u00a0To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide wigs to TRICARE beneficiaries with alopecia, including alopecia caused by chemotherapy, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Vindman, Eugene Simon\u00a0[Rep.-D-VA-7]; Committees: House – Armed Services<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

HELP, Finance Advance HHS Nominees \u2013 The\u00a0Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee favorably reported the following nominations en bloc to the full Senate by a party line vote of 12-11 last week:\u00a0Nicole Saphier, MD\u00a0to be Surgeon General\/Medical Director in the Regular Corps of the Public Health Service; Timothy Westlake, MD\u00a0to be Assistant Secretary … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “HELP, Finance Advance HHS Nominees”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[15,13],"issue":[],"class_list":["post-2355","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-weekly-policy-briefing","tag-regulatory-updates","tag-legislative-updates"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms.hhs.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2355","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms.hhs.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms.hhs.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms.hhs.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms.hhs.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2355"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/cms.hhs.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2355\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2359,"href":"https:\/\/cms.hhs.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2355\/revisions\/2359"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms.hhs.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2355"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms.hhs.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2355"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms.hhs.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2355"},{"taxonomy":"issue","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms.hhs.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/issue?post=2355"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}