Week in Brief
Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Announces Plan to Retire at the End of the Year. Senators Doug Jones (D-AL) and Former Lt. Governor Tina Smith (D-MN) Sworn in on Wednesday, January 3, 2018.
On January 3, the Senate Reconvened. The House Reconvened on January 8.
On December 21, Congress Passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) (H.R. 1370) to Provide Continued Funding for the Federal Government Through January 19, 2018. Enactment of the Continuing Resolution Temporarily Avoided a Government Shutdown that Otherwise Would Have Begun When Funding Ran Out on December 22, 2017.
REGULATORY UPDATE
Department of Health and Human Services
January 2, 2018
Quality Payment Program: CMS Announces the Launch of a New System that Clinicians in the Quality Payment Program Can Use to Submit 2017 Performance Data.
January 3, 2018
Privacy: SAMHSA Issues Final Rule on the Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records.
January 5, 2018
Trusted Exchange Framework: ONC Seeks Comments on the Draft Trusted Exchange Framework.
Department of Labor
January 5, 2018
Association Health Plans: DOL Issues Proposed Rule on the Definition of “Employer” Under Section 3(5) of ERISA.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Congressional Hearings
Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee
The Opioid Crisis: An Examination of How We got Here and How We Move Forward
• January 9, 2018 | 10:00a.m.
430 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Senate Finance Committee
Hearing to Consider the Anticipated Nomination of Alex Michael Azar II, of Indiana, to be Secretary of Health and Human Services
• January 9, 2018 | 10:00a.m.
SD-219 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.