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Week in Brief

ACA: Federal Judge in Texas Declares the Affordable Care Act Unconstitutional, However the Law Remains in Effect. 

  • Statement from HHS
  • Statement from House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX)
  • Statement from House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR)
  • Statement from Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR)

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Monday, December 10

Veterans: Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member John Tester (D-MT) Releases Statement After the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act was Blocked in the Senate.

Veterans: House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN) Releases Statement on House Passage of the Veterans Benefit and Transition Act of 2018.

Tuesday December 11

Veterans: Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member John Tester (D-MT), Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Senator Steve Daines (R-MT), Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) Call for Senate to Pass the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act.

Health Expenditure: Senate HELP Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) Issues a Letter to Various Health Care Experts on Identifying Health Care Cost Reduction Methods.

21st Century Cures Act: House Energy and Commerce Committee Holds Hearing on the Implementation of the 21st Century Cures Act.

  • Press Release from House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Health.

Medicaid: House Passes the Improving Medicaid Programs and Opportunities for Eligible Beneficiaries (IMPROVE) Act, the Traumatic Brain Injury Program Reauthorization Act of 2018, the ACE Kids Act.

Medicare: Republican House Ways and Means Committee Members Introduce a Range of Medicare and Rural Health Bills.

Wednesday, December 12

Health Expenditure:  Senate HELP Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) Discusses Need to Reduce Health Care Costs and Increase Price Transparency.

Veterans: House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Holds Hearing on the Implementation of Appeals Reform.

  • Statement from the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Ranking Member Elizabeth Esty (D-CT)

Exchange: House Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ) Releases Statement on Changes Made toHealthCare.Gov During Open Enrollment.


REGULATORY UPDATE

Monday, December 10

Opioid:  FDA Approves New Mobile Application to Assist with Outpatient Treatments for Opioid Addiction.

Exchange: CMS and HHS Issue Final Rule on the Risk Adjustment Methodology for the 2018 Benefit Year.

Tuesday December 11

Substance Abuse: CDC Issues a Request for Information to Direct Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Programs for Youth.

Enrollment: CMS Releases Statement on Open Enrollment for 2019.

Wednesday, December 12

Substance Abuse: GAO Releases Report Recommending Re-evaluation of Counternarcotics in Columbia.

Veterans: GAO Releases Update on Veterans’ Disability Claims Reform.

HIPAA: HHS Seeks Public Comment on Improving HIPAA Regulations.

Enrollment: CMS Releases Overview of the Sixth Week of Open Enrollment.

Neurology: The National Eye Institute Announces Non-Invasive Technology that Detects Neurons Firing.

Thursday, December 13

Substance Abuse: HHS Children’s Bureau Requests Approval for Cross-Site Evaluations of Child Substance Abuse Grant Recipients.

Friday, December 14

HIPAA: The Office of Civil Rights Issues a Request for Information (RFI) to Identify HIPAA Provisions that Impede Value-Based and Coordinated Care.


EVENTS
Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
Joint Hearing: Tracking Transformation – VA MISSION Act Implementation
December 19, 2018 2:00PM
Capitol Visitor’s Center – House Side HVC-210

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