Health Care Checkup
July 22, 2022
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On Wednesday, the House voted 220-207 to pass six fiscal year (FY) 2023 funding bills, including funding for the departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Transportation (DOT), Agriculture, Energy, Veterans Affairs (VA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The legislation will give the FDA $3.647 billion in discretionary funding, which is an increase of $343 million above the FY 2022 enacted level. The House still needs to pass six remaining FY 23 funding bills, but the timing on this remains uncertain. The Senate has not yet introduced its version of the spending bills, but Senate appropriators have indicated that the text of the bills will be released by the end of the month. Text, summaries, and Committee reports on each bill can be found here.
On Thursday, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a report, which found that if the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits established in the American Rescue Plan (ARP) became permanent, federal deficits would increase by $247.9 billion over a period of 10 years. CBO estimates that the enhanced subsidies would attract 4.8 million new enrollees to the marketplaces each year during that time period. As a reminder, the enhanced tax credits are set to expire on December 31, 2022. There have been proposals to extend the subsidies in the Senate’s budget reconciliation package, but negotiations on the package are ongoing.
On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) endorsed its advisory panel’s recommendation that Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine be used as an additional vaccine option for adults ages 18 years and older. The Biden Administration has already secured 3.2 million doses of Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine, which is the first protein-based COVID vaccine in the U.S.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded $49 million to 36 grantees who will help provide children and families with Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollment and renewal assistance. Each grantee will receive up to $1.5 million over a period of three years to promote Medicaid and CHIP enrollment and retention. Additional information can be found here.
CMS released its first set of home-and community-based services (HCBS) quality measures, to “promote consistent quality measurement within and across state Medicaid HCBS programs.” CMS hopes that the measure set will provide insight into the quality of HCBS programs and empower states to “measure and improve health outcomes for people relying on long-term services and support (LTSS) in Medicaid.” Additional information can be found here.
Earlier in the week, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the Committee on Energy and Commerce held a hearing titled, "Roe Reversal: The Impacts of Taking Away the Constitutional Right to an Abortion." MCRT’s summary of the hearing can be found here.
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What to Expect Next Week: Next Tuesday, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee will hold a hearing on "Fighting Fentanyl: The Federal Response to a Growing Crisis." Additionally, a telehealth bill will be on the House floor next week. Among other provisions, the legislation would extend the current telehealth waivers to the end of 2024. Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) will be the lead Republican on the bill and the lead Democrat has not yet been announced. |
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House Passes FY 23 “Minibus” Package that Gives FDA $343 Million Funding Increase
On Wednesday, the House voted 220-207 to pass six fiscal year (FY) 2023 funding bills, including funding for the departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Transportation (DOT), Agriculture, Energy, Veterans Affairs (VA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The legislation will give the FDA $3.647 billion in discretionary funding, which is an increase of $343 million above the FY 2022 enacted level. Of this total, $64 million is appropriated to combat the opioid crisis, promote medical supply chain surveillance, enhance drug safety surveillance, and strengthen inspections of foreign drug manufacturers in India. Additionally, $77 million is allocated for food outbreaks, improving animal food inspection, and addressing heavy metals in baby food. The House still needs to pass six remaining FY 23 funding bills, but the timing on this remains uncertain. The Senate has not yet introduced its version of the spending bills, but Senate appropriators have indicated that the text of the bills will be released by the end of the month. Text, summaries, and Committee reports on each bill can be found here.
CBO Finds that a Permanent Extension of Enhanced ACA Subsidies Would Cost Nearly $250 Billion Over 10 Years
On Thursday, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a report, which found that if the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits established in the American Rescue Plan (ARP) became permanent, federal deficits would increase by $247.9 billion over a period of 10 years. CBO estimates that the enhanced subsidies would attract 4.8 million new enrollees to the marketplaces each year during that time period. As a reminder, the enhanced tax credits are set to expire on December 31, 2022. There have been proposals to extend the subsidies in the Senate’s budget reconciliation package, but negotiations on the package are ongoing.
CMS Releases CY 2023 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Proposed Rule
Last Friday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the calendar year (CY) 2023 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System Proposed Rule. CMS proposes to increase OPPS payment rates by 2.7% for hospitals that meet quality reporting requirements. Additionally, CMS is proposing to establish higher payment rates for services provided at rural emergency hospitals (REHs). Specifically, REHs would receive the standard OPPS payment rate and an additional 5% for each REH service provided. The proposal would also continue payment for remote behavioral health services provided by hospital outpatient departments after the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) ends. Currently, these payments are a temporary flexibility established by the PHE. The press release can be found here and the fact sheet can be found here.
CMS Unveils First-Ever HCBS Quality Measures
CMS released its first set of home-and community-based services (HCBS) quality measures, to “promote consistent quality measurement within and across state Medicaid HCBS programs.” CMS hopes that the measure set will provide insight into the quality of HCBS programs and empower states to “measure and improve health outcomes for people relying on long-term services and support (LTSS) in Medicaid.” Additional information can be found here.
HHS Invests $49 Million to Increase Health Care Coverage for Children and Families
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded $49 million to 36 grantees who will help provide children and families with Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollment and renewal assistance. Each grantee will receive up to $1.5 million over a period of three years to promote Medicaid and CHIP enrollment and retention. Grantees include “state and local governments, tribal organizations, federal health safety net organizations, non-profits, and schools.” Additional information can be found here.
CDC Recommends Novavax’s COVID-19 Vaccine for Use in Adults
On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) endorsed its advisory panel’s recommendation that Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine be used as an additional vaccine option for adults ages 18 years and older. The Biden Administration has already secured 3.2 million doses of Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine, which is the first protein-based COVID vaccine in the U.S. The vaccine is a two-dose series that should be administered 3-4 weeks apart. More on the Novavax vaccine can be found here.
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SENATE HEARINGS AND EXECUTIVE SESSIONS |
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee - Hearing
Full Committee Hearing: "Fighting Fentanyl: The Federal Response to a Growing Crisis."
Tuesday, July 26 at 10:00 AM ET
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HOUSE HEARINGS AND EXECUTIVE SESSIONS |
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ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCEMENTS |
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Food and Drug Administration
Guidance Documents from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Institutes of Health
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