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Monday, December 3

Opioids: China Announces Efforts to Reduce Fentanyl Sales to the US.

  • Statement from Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA).

Tuesday December 4

Medicaid: Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Senior Finance Committee Member Chuck Grassley (R-IA) Introduce Bill to Address Drug Classification and Pricing by Pharmaceutical Manufacturers for Medicaid.

1332 State Waivers: House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) Releases Statement on CMS Methods for Implementing 1332 State Waivers.

Thursday, December 6

Substance Abuse: Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray and Colleagues Issue Letter to FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb Supporting Specific Tobacco Bans.

21st Century Cures Act: House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Health Announces Hearing Entitled, “Implementing the 21st Century Cures Act: An Update from the Office of the National Coordinator.” C

Chronic Care: Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT) Receives Recognition for His Work on the CHRONIC Care Act.

  • Statement from Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR).

Friday, December 7

ACA: House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ), House Ways & Means Committee Ranking Member Richard Neal (D-MA), House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and House Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) Issue Follow-Up Letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar and CMS Administrator Seema Verma on the Administration’s Choice Not to Defend the ACA in Court.


REGULATORY UPDATE

Monday, December 3

1332 State Waivers: HHS Issues a Report “Reforming America’s Healthcare System Through Choice and Competition.” 

Neurology: CDC Releases A Weekly Update on Acute Flaccid Myelitis Cases in the US.

Neurology: NIH Announces Completed Enrollment for the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study.

Medicare: CMS Releases the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Program Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Adjustments for 2019.

Tuesday December 4

Medicare: CMS Issues Notice of Medicare Prior Authorization Model for Repetitive Scheduled Non-Emergent Ambulance Transport.

Substance Abuse: The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Seeks Public Scientific Submissions for Report Research – Interventions for Substance Use Disorders in Adolescents: A Systematic Review.

Prevention: FDA Supports New Test to Identify Genetic Diseases Using DNA.

 Thursday, December 6

Health Expenditure: CMS Releases the National Health Expenditure for 2017.

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

Substance Abuse:  CDC Announces Stagnation in the Reduction of Second Hand Smoke Exposure.

Substance Abuse: NIH Study Suggests Children from Low-Income, Rural Families have a Higher Rate of Exposure to Second and Third-Hand Smoke.

Friday, December 7

 Exchange: CMS Finalizes Rule on the Risk Adjustment Program for 2018 Benefit Year.


EVENTS

House Energy and Commerce Committee – Subcommittee on Health
Hearing: Implementing the 21st Century Cures Act: An Update from the Office of the National Coordinator
December 11, 2018 10:15 AM
Rayburn House Office Building Room 2322

SAMHSA
Meeting: Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee (ISMICC).
December 11, 2018 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland

House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
Full Committee Hearing: Is VA Ready for Full Implementation of Appeals Reform?
December 12, 2018 10:00 AM
334 Cannon House Office Building.

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