Health Care Checkup: January 21, 2022

Health Care Checkup

January 21, 2022

THE BIG PICTURE

On Wednesday, Senate Democrats tried to advance voting rights legislation and changes to the filibuster, however both efforts lacked enough votes to proceed forward. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) opposed the efforts and Democrats would have needed all 50 Democrats and 10 Republicans to join them to advance the voting rights bill.

Also on Wednesday, President Joe Biden held a press conference in the East Room of the White House, where he discussed his Administration’s goals and reflected on one year in office. At the conference, Biden discussed his $2.2 trillion social spending package, the Build Back Better Act (BBB), and acknowledged that it will likely not pass the Senate unless it is broken up into smaller pieces. Congressional Democrats are now working to identify what can pass. The full readout of the press conference can be found here.

On Friday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) released a letter, reflecting on one year of the Biden Administration and outlining current, pressing initiatives. These initiatives include passing an omnibus spending bill, and getting BBB passed.

The Biden Administration officially launched COVIDtests.gov, where “every home” in the U.S. is eligible to order four free, at-home COVID-19 tests. The rapid antigen tests are expected to ship 7-12 days after they are ordered will be sent via the U.S. Postal Service.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new data, which found a decline in the rate of people who lack health insurance. The rate of uninsured individuals was 9.7% in July 2020 and the percentage fell to 8.9% in September 2021. Additional information can be found here.

On Thursday, Republican members of the Senate Finance Committee sent a letter to their Senate colleagues, expressing their concerns about the drug price control mandates in the House-passed version of BBB. The Senators said that the drug pricing provisions “risk undermining biomedical innovation, exacerbat[e] inflationary pressures, impos[e] payment cuts on frontline health care providers, and compromis[e] the United States’ global leadership.” See more here.

HHS announced that it would make $13 million in funding available to increase access to behavioral health care services in rural areas across the nation. Eligible entities (including “Rural Health Clinics, federally recognized tribes, tribal organizations, and community- and faith-based organizations”) can apply to receive a grant on Grants.gov though the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) by Tuesday, April 19, 2022 at 11:59 PM, ET.

HHS also announced that it will disburse $103 million in American Rescue Plan funds among 45 grantees, to help combat provider burnout and to promote health and wellness among health care workers. HHS noted that the funds will be used to promote “evidence-informed programs, practices and training, with a specific focus on providers in underserved and rural communities.”

A group of Congressional Democrats, led by Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) sent a letter to CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, echoing HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra’s recent request that CMS reevaluate the 2022 Medicare Part B premium increase of 14.5%. The lawmakers wrote that the “14.5% increase hits seniors in [their] districts and across the country at a particularly vulnerable time,” and asked that CMS “reevaluate its decision and spare seniors from undue financial hardship.” CMS had originally increased the premium, in part, to “build contingency reserves” to cover the expensive Alzheimer’s drug, Aduhelm. However, since CMS has preliminarily decided to only cover Aduhelm for beneficiaries participating in clinical trials, lawmakers are asking CMS to revisit its decision to increase Part B premiums. The letter can be viewed here.

Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) was officially named the lead Republican of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee. Buchanan said he looks forward to “playing a leading role in shaping health care policy,” and said that his agenda would “focus on a patient-oriented system that would encourage innovation and increase personalized health care choices.”

What to Expect Next Week: Next week, both the Senate and House will be in recess. However, Senate Appropriations Ranking Member Richard Shelby (R-AL) said that staff will work during the upcoming recess on an omnibus spending package since the February 18 deadline (the date when the current CR to fund the government ends) is quickly approaching.

DEEP DIVE

New CDC Data Shows Decrease in the Uninsured Rate

New data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found a decline in the rate of people who lack health insurance in 2021. The rate of uninsured individuals was 9.7% in July 2020 and the percentage fell to 8.9% in September 2021. HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra praised the news, stating, “As we mark the one-year anniversary of the Biden-Harris Administration, it is highly encouraging to see new data showing the number of uninsured Americans dropped significantly from July 2020 to September 2021, especially among working-age adults and people with low incomes.” Additional information can be found here.

Biden Administration Launches Website for Free, At-Home COVID-19 Tests and Plans to Distribute Millions of N-95 Masks

This week, the Biden Administration launched COVIDtests.gov, where “every home” in the U.S. is eligible to order four free, at-home COVID-19 tests. The rapid antigen tests are expected to ship 7-12 days after they are ordered will be sent via the U.S. Postal Service. The Administration is also preparing to release 400 million N95 masks from the Strategic National Stockpile in early February. The masks will be made available for free to the public at tens of thousands of venues across the country, including at pharmacies and health clinics. These initiatives from the Biden Administration come as the highly contagious Omicron variant, which now makes up 98% of COVID cases in the U.S., continues to spread across the country.

President Biden Holds Press Conference, Discusses Fate of Build Back Better Bill

On Wednesday evening, President Joe Biden held a press conference in the East Room of the White House, where he discussed his Administration’s goals and reflected on one year in office. At the conference, Biden discussed his $2.2 trillion social spending package, the Build Back Better Act (BBB), and acknowledged that it will likely not pass the Senate unless it is broken up into smaller pieces. Congressional Democrats are now working to identify what can pass. The full readout of the press conference can be found here.

HHS Announces it will Devote $13 Million in Funding to Increase Behavioral Health Care Access in Rural Areas Across the Nation

On Tuesday, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that it would make $13 million in funding available to increase access to behavioral health care services in rural areas across the U.S. The funding will be used to help combat health inequities in rural America, through “evidence-based, trauma-informed” treatment for substance use disorders. Eligible entities (including “Rural Health Clinics, federally recognized tribes, tribal organizations, and community- and faith-based organizations”) can apply to receive a grant on Grants.gov though the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) by Tuesday, April 19, 2022 at 11:59 PM, ET. Additional information can be found here.

HHS to Award $103 Million in American Rescue Plan Funds to Help Reduce Provider Burnout

HHS will disburse $103 million in American Rescue Plan funds among 45 grantees, to help combat provider burnout and to promote health and wellness among health care workers. HHS noted that the funds will be used to promote “evidence-informed programs, practices and training, with a specific focus on providers in underserved and rural communities.” The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated mental health challenges for health care professionals, and HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said that the agency will “continue to promote the well-being of those who have made so many sacrifices to keep others well.” More information can be found here.

Democrats Write Letter to CMS, Urging the Agency to Reconsider Medicare Part B Premium Hike

A group of Congressional Democrats, led by Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) sent a letter to CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, echoing HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra’s request that CMS reevaluate the 2022 Medicare Part B premium increase of 14.5%. The lawmakers wrote that the “14.5% increase hits seniors in [their] districts and across the country at a particularly vulnerable time,” and asked that CMS “reevaluate its decision and spare seniors from undue financial hardship.” CMS had originally increased the premium, in part, to “build contingency reserves” to cover the expensive Alzheimer’s drug, Aduhelm. However, since CMS has preliminarily decided to only cover Aduhelm for beneficiaries participating in clinical trials, lawmakers are asking CMS to revisit its decision to increase Part B premiums. The letter can be viewed here.

Rep. Vern Buchanan Named Lead Republican of House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee

On Wednesday, Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) was officially named the lead Republican of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee. Buchanan said he looks forward to “playing a leading role in shaping health care policy,” and said that his agenda would “focus on a patient-oriented system that would encourage innovation and increase personalized health care choices.” He also said that he would work to improve Medicare, and to continue to “grow the use of telehealth services.” Additional information can be found here.

Republican Members of the Senate Finance Committee Discuss Concerns with Drug Pricing Provisions in the House-passed Version of the Build Back Better Act

On Thursday, Republican members of the Senate Finance Committee sent a letter to their Senate colleagues, expressing their concerns about the drug price control mandates in the House-passed version of BBB. The Senators said that the drug pricing provisions “risk undermining biomedical innovation, exacerbat [e] inflationary pressures, impos[e] payment cuts on frontline health care providers, and compromis[e] the United States’ global leadership.” See more here.