Week in Brief
President Trump’s First State of the Union Address Is Scheduled for Tuesday, January 30th. Address Expected to Focus on Immigration Policy, Infrastructure, & Tax Reform. Poll – Voters Want to Hear About Healthcare.
The Senate Confirms Alex Michael Azar II of Indiana to Be Secretary of Health and Human Services. Mr. Azar Takes the Reins of HHS 0n Monday, January 29, 2018.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
January 23, 2018
Azar Confirmed as HHS Secretary: The Senate Confirms Alex Michael Azar II of Indiana to Be Secretary of Health and Human Services, by a 55-43 Vote. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), HELP Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN), and House Ways & Means Committee Kevin Brady (R-TX) Issue Related Statements.
January 25, 2018
Opioid Crisis: The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Holds a Hearing Entitled “Combating the Opioid Crisis: Exploiting Vulnerabilities in International Mail.” Chairman Rob Portman (R-OH) and Ranking Member Tom Carper (D-DE) Issue Opening Statements.
January 26, 2018
340B Drug Pricing Program: Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT) Issues a Letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar, Suggesting that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Assume Oversight of the 340B Drug Pricing Program.
WHITE HOUSE UPDATE
January 22, 2018
Family Caregivers: President Trump Signs H.R. 3759, the “Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage Family Caregivers Act of 2017.”
REGULATORY UPDATE
Department of Health and Human Services
January 23, 2018
Fraud, Waste, and Abuse: VA and HHS Announce a Partnership to Share Data and Data Analytic Tools to Strengthen Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Prevention and Identification.
January 25, 2018
Behavioral Health Partnerships: SAMHSA Accepts Applications for the Law Enforcement and Behavioral Health Partnerships for Early Diversion Program for the Law Enforcement and Behavioral Health Partnerships for Early Diversion Program.
January 26, 2018
EHR Incentive Program: CMS Publishes a Fact Sheet for Critical Access Hospitals Regarding the 2016 Medicare EHR Incentive Program Payment Adjustment.
Government Accountability Office
January 23, 2018
Insurance Marketplace: GAO Releases a Report, Federal Health-Insurance Marketplace: Analysis of Plan Year 2015 Application, Enrolment, and Eligibility-Verification Process.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Senate HELP Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security
Roundtable on Small Business Health Plans
• January 30, 2018 | 3:30p.m.
430 Dirksen Senate Office Building
House Energy & Commerce Committee
Examining Implementation of the Compounding Quality Act
• January 30, 2018|11:00a.m.
RHOB 2123
Senate HELP Committee
The Opioid Crisis: Impact on Children and Families
• February 8, 2018|10:00a.m.
430 Dirksen Senate 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.