Week in Brief
Medicare: Board of Trustees for the Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds Releases Annual Reports on Financial Health of Social Security and Medicare.
For Related News, See:
- Statement from Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
- Statement from Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR)
- Statement from House Budget Committee Ranking Member John Yarmuth (D-KY)
- Statement from Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) and Health Subcommittee Chairman Michael C. Burgess (R-TX)
- Statements from House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX), Social Security Subcommittee Chairman Sam Johnson (R-TX), and Health Subcommittee Chairman Peter Roskam (R-IL)
- Statement from House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard Neal (D-MA)
- House Budget Committee Budget Digest: “Federal Trust Funds 101”
- House Ways and Means Committee Hearing on Social Security Solvency
- Follow-Up Statement on Social Security from House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX)
VA MISSION ACT: President Trump Signs VA MISSION Act Into Law. For Related News, See:
- Opening Remarks from President Trump
- Statement from President
- Fact Sheet from White House Briefing Room
- Statement from Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Johnny Isakson (R-GA)
- Statement from Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Jon Tester (D-MT)
- Statement from House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Phil Roe (R-TN)
- Statement from House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN)
- Reactions from Various Members of Congress
Rescissions: House Passes President Trump’s $15 Billion Rescissions Bill, H.R. 3. For Related News, See:
- Floor Statement from House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ)
- Floor Statement from House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Nita Lowey (D-NY)
- Floor Statement from House Budget Committee Chairman Steve Womack (R-AR)
- Floor Statement from House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA)
- Statement from White House Press Secretary
- House Appropriations Committee Democrats Fact Sheet: “Five Things to Know About Trump-GOP Rescissions Bill”
WHITE HOUSE UPDATE
Affordable Care Act: Federal Justice Department Voices Support for Texas Court Case to Overturn ACA Provisions on Pre-existing Conditions.
Administrative Ovehaul: Trump Administration Announces Intentions to Reorganize Federal Assistance Programs, Rename HHS.
Opioids: Trump Administration Unveils New Youth Opioid Prevention Ad Campaign. For Related News, See:
- Transcript of On-The-Record White House Press Call
- Statement from HHS Secretary Alex Azar
Pediatric Cancer: President Trump Signs Childhood Cancer STAR Act Into Law. For Related News, See:
- Opening Remarks from the President
- Statement from Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) and Health Subcommittee Chairman Michael C. Burgess (R-TX)
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Monday, June 4
Insurance Premiums: Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) Issues Statement on Necessity of Lowering Health Costs.
Opioids: House Energy and Commerce Committee Launches New Video Series on Opioid Legislation. In This Week’s Installments:
- Monday: Tim Walberg Highlights R. 1554, “Jessie’s Law”
- Tuesday: Buddy Carter (R-GA) Highlights R. 4275 Empowering Pharmacists in the Fight Against Opioid Abuse Act
- Wednesday: Susan Brooks (R-IN) Highlights R. 5329, the Poison Center Network Enhancement Act of 2018
- Thursday: Bob Latta (R-OH) Highlights R. 4284, the Indexing Narcotics, Fentanyl, and Opioids (INFO) Act of 2018
- Friday: Mimi Walters (R-CA) Highlights R. 4684, the Ensuring Access to Quality Sober Living Act of 2017
Tuesday, June 5
Drug Pricing: Senate Judiciary Committee Prepares for Upcoming Vote on Drug Pricing Bill.
Wednesday, June 6
Health Savings Accounts: House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health Holds Hearing on Lowering Costs and Expanding Access to Health Care through Consumer-Directed Health Plans. For Related News, See:
- Opening Statement from Health Subcommittee Chairman Peter Roskam (R-IL)
- Opening Statement from Social Security Subcommittee Ranking Member John Larson (D-CT)
Opioids: House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) and Health Subcommittee Chairman Michael Burgess (R-TX) Promote Ongoing Efforts to Combat Opioid Crisis in Fox News Op-Ed.
Health Administration: House Education and Workforce Committee Holds Oversight Hearing with HHS Secretary Alex Azar.
Thursday, June 7
Veterans’ Health: House Appropriations Committee Approves “Minibus” Spending Package. For Related News, See:
- Floor Statement from House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ)
- Floor Statement from House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Nita Lowey (D-NY)
- Floor Statement from House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) (this item ended up in the news a lot)
- White House Statement of Administration Policy
- House Rules Committee Hearing to Consider Bill and Amendments
Veterans’ Health: Senate Appropriations Committee Unanimously Approves FY 2019 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Bill. For Related News, See:
- Statement from Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL) Following Committee Vote
- Statements from Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Ranking Member of Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Brian Schatz (D-HI) Folowing Full Committee Vote
- Statement from Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) Prior to Full Committee Vote
- Statement from Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) Following Passage Through Subcommittee (Tuesday)
- Statement from Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Ranking Member Brian Schatz (D-HI) Following Passage Through Subcommittee (Tuesday)
REGULATORY UPDATE
Monday, June 4
Medicaid: CMS Unveils New Scorecard for Medicaid and CHIP Programs. For Related News, See:
- Blog Post from CMS Administrator Seema Verma
- Statement from Health Subcommittee Chairman Michael C. Burgess (R-TX)
Drug Pricing: HHS Office of Inspector General Report Finds Increase in Spending on Brand Name Drugs in Medicare Part D Despite Decrease in Number Prescriptions.
Veterans’ Health: GAO Releases Report on Veterans Choice Program, Highlights Areas for Improvement.
Mental Health: SAMHSA Announces Availability of up to $10.8 Million for Providers Clinical Support System Universities Program.
Tuesday, June 5
Medicare: CMS Responds to AHRQ Report Showing Decline in Hospital-Acquired Conditions.
Medicare: CMS Updates List of Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Items That Require Prior Authorization as a Condition of Payment.
Post-Acute Care: HHS Secretary Alex Azar Advocates Value-Based Transformation for Post-Acute Care in Remarks to American Health Care Association, National Center for Assisted Living.
340B: HHS Postpones Effective Date of 340B Drug Pricing Program Ceiling Price and Manufacturer Civil Monetary Penalties Regulation.
Wednesday, June 6
Medicare: GAO Publishes Report on Improper Payments in Medicaid Program. Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) Releases Statement.
Accountable Care: White House Office of Management and Budget Associate Director of Health Joe Grogan Encourages More Financial Risk for Accountable Care Organizations.
Thursday, June 7
Healthcare Innovation: HHS Solicits Public Comments on Planned Initiative to Facilitate Dialogue Between HHS leadership and Healthcare Industry Innovators and Investors.
Friday, June 8
Joint Replacement: CMS Rule Finalizes Changes to Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Policy for Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Payment Model (CJR).
UPCOMING EVENTS
Senate HELP Committee
Hearing: “The Cost of Prescription Drugs: Examining the President’s Blueprint ‘American Patients First’ to Lower Drug Prices”
June 12, 2018, 10:00 AM
430 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Senate Judiciary Committee
Executive Business Meeting
CREATES Act vote scheduled
June 14, 2018, 9:30 AM
226 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Senate HELP Committee
Hearing: “Effective Administration of the 340B Drug Pricing Program”
June 19, 2018, 10:00 AM
430 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Pediatric Oncology Subcommittee of the Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee
Public Meeting and Opportunity for Comment
June 20, 2018, 8 AM to 4:30 PM
FDA White Oak Campus
10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 31 Conference Center, (Rm. 1503)
Silver Spring, MD 20993
FDA
Meeting: “Patient-Focused Drug Development for Chronic Pain.”
July 9, 2018, 10 AM to 4 PM
FDA White Oak Campus
10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 31 Conference Center, (Rm. 1503)
Silver Spring, MD 20993
CMS
Meeting of the Medicare Evidence Development and Coverage Advisory Committee
July 25, 2018 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM
CMS Single Site Campus: Main Auditorium
7500 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21244
CMS
Advisory Panel on Hospital Outpatient Payment (the Panel): Annual Meeting
August 20, 2018 9:30 AM to 5 PM
August 21, 2018, 9:30 AM to 1 PM
CMS Single Site Campus: Main Auditorium
7500 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21244
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.