LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY UPDATE
Week in Brief
President Donald Trump Nominates Alex Azar to be Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary and the House Passes the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
November 13
Tax Reform: The Senate Finance Committee Holds a Markup of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) Issue Opening Statements. The Markup Continues on Day 2, Day 3, and Day 4.
November 14
Tax Reform: Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT) Releases the Modified Chairman’s Mark for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
Individual Mandate: House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ) Issues a Statement on the Possible Inclusion of the Individual Mandate in Tax Reform Legislation.
Gene Editing Technology: The Senate HELP Committee Holds a Hearing Entitled Gene Editing Technology: Innovation and Impact.
November 15
Opioid Crisis: The Senate HELP Committee Holds a Hearing Entitled Encouraging Healthy Communities: Perspective From the Surgeon General. Senate HELP Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) Issue Statements.
Individual Mandate: Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) Issue Statements about the Individual Health Insurance Mandate Being Included in Senate Tax Reform Policy Proposals.
Tax Reform: Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) Issue Statements about the Senate Tax Bill. Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) also Issues a Statement. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) Issues a Statement on the Floor of the House Regarding the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
Medicare Extenders: House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) and Ranking Member Richard Neal (D-MA) Announce an Agreement Related to Medicare Extenders.
340B Drug Program: Representatives Mike Thompson (D-CA) and David McKinley (R-WV) Introduce Legislation to Reverse a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Rule that Reduces Reimbursement for Some Providers in the 340B Program.
November 16
Tax Reform: The House Passes the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) Delivers Closing Remarks on the House Floor.
Tax Reform: Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) Issue Opening Statements on the Fourth Day of the Markup of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
Tax Reform: The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Advances from the Senate Finance Committee. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) Issue Statements.
November 17
Individual Mandate: Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT) Issues a Statement Regarding Efforts to Repeal the Individual Mandate.
Tax Reform: House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) Issues a Statement Regarding the Advancement of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act from the Senate Finance Committee.
REGULATORY UPDATE
Department of Health and Human Services
November 16
Medicare Advantage and Drugs: CMS Releases a Proposed Rule Updating Medicare Advantage and the Prescription Drug Benefit Program for Contract Year 2019.
November 17
Medicare: CMS Issues Proposed Rule, Medicare Program; Contract Year 2019 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage, Medicare Cost Plan, Medicare Fee-for-Service, the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Programs, and the PACE Program.
Medicare: CMS Announces the Following Medicare Notices:
- CY 2018 Inpatient Hospital Deductible and Hospital and Extended Care Services Coinsurance Amounts;
- CY 2018 Part A Premiums for the Uninsured Aged and for Certain Disabled Individuals Who Have Exhausted Other Entitlement;
- Medicare Part B Monthly Actuarial Rates, Premium Rates, and Annual Deductible Beginning January 1, 2018.
WHITE HOUSE UPDATE
November 13
HHS Secretary Nomination: President Donald Trump Nominates Alex Azar as Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR); Senate HELP Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) Issue Statements; House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) Issues a Statement. House Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ) Issues a Statement. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) and Health Subcommittee Chairman Michael Burgess (R-TX) also Issue a Statement.
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.