LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY UPDATE
Week in Brief
Senate Republicans Release a Second Draft of the Better Care Reconciliation Act. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) Introduce an Alternative Piece of Health Care Legislation.
WHITE HOUSE UPDATE
July 12
Health Care Reform: The White House Releases a Statement on the Council of Economic Advisers’ (CEA) Evaluation of the CBO’s Analysis of the Impact of BCRA on Medicaid.
July 13
Medicare: The White House Issues a Statement on CMS’ Proposed Rule on Drug Prices for Medicare Patients.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
July 6
Health Care Reform: Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) and House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) Release a State by State Analysis of the Impact of Eliminating the Prevention and Public Health Fund Under the Senate Republican Health Care Bill. Senate Special Committee on Aging Ranking Member Bob Casey (D-PA) Issues a Statement on the Impact of the Draft Legislation on Seniors Living in Rural Areas.
July 11
ACA: Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT) Issues a Statement on the State of the Health Care System Under the ACA.
Health Care Reform: Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) Issues a Statement from the Senate Floor on the Impact of Current Republican Health Care Reform Efforts.
Alaska State Health Innovation Waiver: Senate HELP Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) Issues a Statement on News that Alaska Received a State Innovation Waiver Under Section 1332 of the ACA to Stabilize Alaska’s Individual Health Insurance Market.
Veterans’ Affairs Health Care Legislation: Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Holds a Hearing on Multiple Pieces of Pending Health Care Legislation Including S. 115, the Veterans Transplant Coverage Act. Committee Chairman Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Ranking Member Jon Tester (D-MT) Issue Statements.
340B: House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Announces a Hearing on HRSA’s Oversight of the 340B Drug Pricing Program.
July 12
Opioid Crisis: The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Holds a Hearing on Addressing Opioid Addiction in the States. Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) Issues an Opening Statement.
Medical Product Labeling: The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health Holds a Hearing on “Examining Medical Product Manufacturer Communications.” Ranking Member Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) Issues a Statement Addressing Concerns About Off-Label Medical Product Communications.
FDA Reauthorization Act: House Energy and Commerce Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) Issues a Statement on the House Passage of H.R. 2430, the FDA Reauthorization Act of 2017.
July 13
Medicare: House Ways and Means Committee Holds a Markup of H.R. 3178, “Medicare Part B Improvement Act of 2017” and H.R. 3168, “To Amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to Provide Continued Access to Specialized Medicare Advantage Plans for Special Needs Individuals, and for Other Purposes. ” Ranking Member Richard Neal (D-MA) Issues an Opening Statement.
REGULATORY UPDATE
Department of Health and Human Services
July 12
Health Insurance Exchanges: CMS Updates the Health Insurance Exchanges Issuer County Map.
July 13
Hospital OPPS and ASC Payment System: CMS Issues the Proposed Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System Updates for Calendar Year 2018. The Proposed Rule Sets Forth an Alternative Payment Methodology for Medicare Part B Drugs Acquired Under the 340B Program. The Proposed Rule Also Includes a Request for Information on CMS Flexibilities and Efficiencies.
Physician Fee Schedule: CMS Releases a Proposed Rule that Updates the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for Calendar Year 2018.
Health Care Fraud: HHS Secretary Tom Price and Attorney General Jeff Sessions Announce the Largest Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action in the History of the Department of Justice.
Opioids: HHS OIG Issues a Report, Opioids in Medicare Part D: Concerns About Extreme Use and Questionable Prescribing.
Medicare: The Board of Trustees of the Federal Hospital Insurance and Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund Releases the 2017 Annual Report.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Congressional Hearings/Markups
HOUSE
Energy and Commerce Committee
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Examining HRSA’s Oversight of the 340B Drug Pricing Program
• July 18 | 10:15 a.m.
2322 Rayburn House Office Building
Ways and Means Committee
Oversight Subcommittee
Hearing on Efforts to Combat Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in the Medicare Program
• July 19 | 10:00 a.m.
1100 Longworth House Office Building
Appropriations Committee
Full Committee Markup: FY 2018 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill, and FY18 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill
• July 19 | 10:00 a.m.
2359 Rayburn House Office Building
Budget Committee
The Markup of the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2018
• July 19 | 10:00 a.m.
1334 Longworth House Office Building
Energy and Commerce Committee
Subcommittee on Health
Examining Bipartisan Legislation to Improve the Medicare Program
• July 20 | 10:00 a.m.
2123 Rayburn House Office Building
For more information about this issue of Power Play: Washington Week in Review or more legislative and regulatory updates, contact the Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville Government Relations and Public Policy group at (202) 466-6550.