Health Care Checkup
July 9, 2021
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On Friday, the Biden Administration released an Executive Order (EO) to promote competition in the American economy. The EO contains various health-related measures, including expressing concerns about hospital mergers and encouraging the Justice Department and FTC to review and revise their merger guidelines, and supporting existing hospital price transparency rules and bipartisan federal legislation to address surprise hospital billing. The EO also calls for standardized health insurance plan options in the National Health Insurance Marketplace so people can comparison shop more efficiently. To lower the cost of prescription drugs, the EO advocates for state and tribal programs to import safe and cheaper drugs from Canada. Additionally, the EO calls for hearing aids to be sold over the counter at drug stores.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new guidance on Friday, advocating for schools to fully reopen in the fall, even if they cannot adhere to all of the steps the CDC recommends to combat the spread of COVID-19. The agency will allow school districts to use discretion based on local health data when making decisions about preventative measures such as mask wearing and social distancing.
On Thursday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reportedly said that she is advocating to attach legislation to lower the cost of prescription drugs to the budget reconciliation bill coming in the next few months. Her statement came after the House Oversight Committee released a staff report on drug companies’ buybacks and spending.
On Tuesday, House Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Chair of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, introduced the Medicare Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefit Act. Doggett led 76 Members of Congress in introducing bill, which would update Medicare to include dental, hearing, and vision coverage. The bill would repeal the statutory exclusion that currently prohibits Medicare from covering most dental, vision, and hearing care; expand Medicare benefits to include items and services such as dentures, preventative care, and emergency dental care; and provide “appropriate” payment to health providers through Medicare Part B.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) named Dr. Meena Seshamani as Deputy Administrator and Director of the Center for Medicare. She served in the Obama Administration as the HHS Office of Health Reform Director where she managed the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Most recently, she served as the Vice President of Clinical Care Transformation at MedStar Health.
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What to Expect Next Week: On Monday, House appropriators will begin marking up the fiscal year 2022 Labor-Health and Human Services appropriations bill. Later in the week, the full House Appropriations Committee is expected to mark up the Labor-HHS bills. There will be several health-related Congressional hearings, including a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing on Tuesday, titled "A Prescription for Change: Cracking Down on Anticompetitive Conduct in Prescription Drug Markets." On Wednesday, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight will hold a hearing, titled “Principles for Outbreak Investigation: COVID-19 and Future Infectious Diseases.”
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Biden Issues Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy
On Friday, the Biden Administration released an Executive Order (EO) to promote competition in the American economy. The EO contains various health-related measures, including expressing concerns about hospital mergers and encouraging the Justice Department and FTC to review and revise their merger guidelines, and supporting existing hospital price transparency rules and bipartisan federal legislation to address surprise hospital billing. The EO also calls for standardized health insurance plan options in the National Health Insurance Marketplace so people can comparison shop more efficiently. To lower the cost of prescription drugs, the EO advocates for state and tribal programs to import safe and cheaper drugs from Canada. Additionally, the EO calls for hearing aids to be sold over the counter at drug stores.
CDC Released New COVID-19 Guidance for Schools
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new guidance on Friday, advocating for schools to fully reopen in the fall, even if they cannot adhere to all of the steps the CDC recommends to combat the spread of COVID-19. The agency will allow school districts to use discretion based on local health data when making decisions about preventative measures such as mask wearing and social distancing. The guidance is expected recommend that students continue to be spaced at least three feet apart, but if schools do not have the space to do that, the agency recommends they use other preventative measures, like testing and enhanced ventilation.
House Speaker Pelosi Pushes for Drug Pricing Measures in Budget Reconciliation Bill
On Thursday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reportedly said that she is advocating to attach legislation to lower the cost of prescription drugs to the budget reconciliation bill coming in the next few months. Her statement came after the House Oversight Committee released a staff report on drug companies’ buybacks and spending. In reference to the report, Pelosi criticized drug companies for the high amount of stock buybacks and dividends in recent years. Pelosi said that cuts to drug prices would not harm research and development, and stated, “How can they say with a straight face that lower drug prices for Americans will come at the expense of research and development?”
More than 75 Members of Congress Unveil Legislation to Provide Dental, Vision, and Hearing Care in Medicare
On Tuesday, House Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Chair of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, introduced the Medicare Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefit Act. Doggett led 76 Members of Congress in introducing bill, which would update Medicare to include dental, hearing, and vision coverage. The bill would repeal the statutory exclusion that currently prohibits Medicare from covering most dental, vision, and hearing care; expand Medicare benefits to include items and services such as dentures, preventative care, and emergency dental care; and provide “appropriate” payment to health providers through Medicare Part B. Congressman Doggett said the bill would “[treat] dental, vision, and hearing care the same as existing health care under Medicare, with no cost-sharing for preventative care and no more than the standard 20% copay for all other services.”
SDOH Legislation Garners Support from Over 100 Health and Social Services Organizations
Aligning for Health, a coalition devoted to improving health, spearheaded a letter to leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee on behalf of over 100 health and social service organizations. The letter advocates for the advance of the Social Determinants Accelerator Act of 2021 (H.R. 2503), which would create an interagency council on social determinants of health (SDOH). The letter advocates for the council, stating that it would identify best practices, and would facilitate a national dialogue around barriers to the success of SDOH initiatives. The coalition also expressed that the legislation would “help states and communities devise strategies to better leverage existing programs and authorities to improve the health and wellbeing of those participating in Medicaid.” Additional information on the legislation can be found here.
Former Obama-Era HHS Official to be New Medicare Director
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) named Dr. Meena Seshamani as Deputy Administrator and Director of the Center for Medicare. She served in the Obama Administration as the HHS Office of Health Reform Director where she managed the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Most recently, she served as the Vice President of Clinical Care Transformation at MedStar Health. Dr. Seshamani began in the role on July 6 and will lead the agency’s Medicare efforts. CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure said, “Dr. Meena Seshamani brings her diverse background as a health care executive, health economist, physician, and health policy expert to CMS.”
HHS to Reallocate Funds Appropriated to NIH to Cover Pandemic-Related Costs for Migrant Children at the Southwest Border
On Tuesday, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra sent a letter to Congress, stating that HHS would redirect $860 million of funds originally appropriated to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to pay for increased pandemic-related costs for migrant children at the Southwest border. It was reported that a Biden Administration official said that COVID-19 precautions at the border, such as testing and quarantining, have increased costs for the unaccompanied children program by at least $1.7 billion. Becerra advised Congress that HHS will ensure the shift in funds “does not disrupt or impede planned NIH activities.”
Moderna Begins Study of Flu mRNA Vaccine
Moderna has begun a clinical trial for an influenza vaccine that will use the same mRNA technology as the company’s COVID-19 vaccine. This week, the first participants were dosed with the vaccine in a study that is expected to include 180 participants. Moderna hopes that its flu vaccine candidate will be a better choice than current contenders on the market. Most current offerings “are only approximately 40-60% effective,” and their formulations are chosen 6-9 months before their intended use. The company also noted its plans to explore combination vaccines that simultaneously protect against influenza, SARS-CoV-2, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV).
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SENATE HEARINGS AND EXECUTIVE SESSIONS |
Senate Judiciary Committee - Hearing
Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights Subcommittee Hearing: "A Prescription for Change: Cracking Down on Anticompetitive Conduct in Prescription Drug Markets."
Tuesday, July 13 at 2:30 PM ET
Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee - Hearing
Full Committee Hearing: VA Electronic Health Records: Modernization and the Path Ahead
Wednesday, July 14 at 3:30 PM ET
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HOUSE HEARINGS AND EXECUTIVE SESSIONS |
House Committee on Agriculture - Hearing
Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations Hearing: "Examining the SNAP Benefit Cliff"
Monday, July 12 at 12:00 PM ET
House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology - Hearing
Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight Hearing: Principles for Outbreak Investigation: COVID-19 and Future Infectious Diseases
Wednesday, July 14 at 12:00 PM ET
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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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