Power Play: Washington Week in Review April 27

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WHITE HOUSE UPDATE

Monday, April 27

Coronavirus Response: President Trump Unveils COVID-19 Testing Blueprint to Help Facilitate Reopening of States

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Monday, April 27

Coronavirus Response: House Budget Committee Stresses Importance of Strong Federal, State, and Local Partnership in Combatting COVID-19

House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairman Carolyn Maloney, Government Operations Subcommittee Chairman Gerald Connolly, and National Security Subcommittee Chairman Stephen Lynch Commend Appointment of Executive Director to Pandemic Response Accountability Committee

Mental Health: House Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano and Ranking Member Dr. Phil Roe Call on VA to Establish Working Group to Support Survivors of Military Sexual Trauma

Tuesday, April 28

Oversight: House Oversight and Reform Committee Hold Briefing with Inspectors General on Federal Government’s Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic

Medical Supplies: House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairman Carolyn Maloney Statement Following FEMA and HHS Acknowledgment of Personal Protective Equipment and Testing Shortages amid Coronavirus Pandemic

Wednesday, April 29

Coronavirus Testing: Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander and Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman Roy Blunt Applaud Start of NIH Public-Private Partnership for Development of COVID-19 Testing

Oversight: House Economic and Consumer Policy Subcommittee Chairman Raja Krishnamoorthi Demands FDA Comply with Investigation into Administration’s Handling of Serology Testing

Coronavirus Response: House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairman Carolyn Maloney Criticizes Administration’s Apparent Decision to Deactivate National Response Coordination Center

Thursday, April 30

Senior Care: Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley Commends Administration’s Announcement on Help for Nursing Homes

Oversight: Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray and Senators Press HHS Secretary Alex Azar about Political Interference in COVID-19 Response

Coronavirus Response: House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr., Health Subcommittee Chairman Anna G. Eshoo, and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Diana DeGette Urge HHS Secretary Alex Azar to Develop National COVID-19 Contact Tracing Strategy

Friday, May 1

Senior Care: House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairman Carolyn Maloney, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and Sen. Edward Markey Press Large Assisted Living Operators on Measures to Protect Residents from COVID-19

Senate Special Committee on Aging Chairman Susan Collins Announces Coronavirus Helpline for Families Affected by Alzheimer’s

Coronavirus Response: House Energy and Commerce Committee Members Meet with NIH Director Francis Collins to Discuss COVID-19 Response

Healthcare: House Democratic Health Leaders Oppose Rule to Roll Back Affordable Care Act Nondiscrimination Protections

REGULATORY UPDATE

Sunday, April 26

CMS: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Suspends Advance Payment Program after Reevaluation of Accelerated Payment Program

Monday, April 27

FDA: Food and Drug Administration Warns Manufacturers and Retailers to Remove Certain E-cigarette Products Targeted to Youth from the Market

SAMHSA: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Awards Grants Expanding Community-Based Behavioral Health Services, Strengthens COVID-19 Response

HHS: Department of Health and Human Services Launches COVID-19 Uninsured Program Portal

FDA: Food and Drug Administration Ensures Availability of Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer during COVID-19 Pandemic, Addresses Safety Concerns

Tuesday, April 28

FDA: Food and Drug Administration Issues Emergency Use Authorization for COVID-19 Antibody Tests

HHS: Department of Health and Human Services Announces Opportunity for Eligible Providers to Submit Information to Receive Additional Provider Relief Fund Payments

FDA: Food and Drug Administration Grants Accelerated Approval to New Dosing Regimen for Cancer Therapy Allowing for Fewer In-Person Patient Visits during COVID-19 Pandemic

Wednesday, April 29

NIH: National Institutes of Health Announces National Innovation Initiative for the Development of COVID-19 Testing Technologies

FDA: Food and Drug Administration Grants Marketing Authorization for New Device for Continuous Dialysis Therapy for Use in Pediatric Patients with Certain Kidney Conditions

NIH: National Institutes of Health Clinical Trial Shows Remdesivir Accelerates Recovery from Advanced COVID-19 Infection

HHS: Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Azar Statement on Positive Results from NIH Remdesivir Trial

FDA: Food and Drug Administration Announces Halt to Sale of Silver Product Fraudulently Touted as COVID-19 Cure

Thursday, April 30

CMS: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Issues Second Round of Sweeping Changes to Support U.S. Healthcare System during COVID-19 Pandemic. See Powers’ post on the interim final rule here.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Announces Independent Commission to Address Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes

FDA: Food and Drug Administration Issues Guidance on Enforcement Priorities for Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems on the Market without Premarket Authorization

HHS: Department of Health and Human Services Awards $20 Million to Combat COVID-19 Pandemic through Telehealth

FDA: Food and Drug Administration Includes Ventilator Developed by NASA in Ventilator Emergency Use Authorization for COVID-19 Treatment