Health Care Checkup: October 29, 2021

Health Care Checkup

October 29, 2021

THE BIG PICTURE

On Thursday, President Joe Biden released his “Build Back Better Framework,” which details his economic and social agenda for the Build Back Better Act. The framework released Thursday will “guide the drafting of legislative language” of the bill. Later that day, Democrats released draft text based off the framework (H.R.5376). The plan includes universal and free preschool for all 3- and 4-year-olds, investments in childcare, improvements in Medicaid coverage for home care services for the elderly and disabled, an extension of the American Rescue Plan’s expanded Child Tax Credit, investments in climate change, a reduction in the cost of insurance premiums for health plans bought through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace, and the addition of hearing benefits to the Medicare program. Democrats were not able to come to a consensus to vote on both the Build Back Better Act and the bipartisan infrastructure legislation before President Biden left for his trip to Europe. Expect negotiations to continue.

Also on Thursday, the Senate voted to confirm Rahul Gupta as director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). Gupta is a primary care physician who most recently served as the Chief Medical and Health Officer at the March of Dimes. Gupta also served as the Health Commissioner of West Virginia under two governors. He will be the first physician ever to lead the ONDCP.

On Wednesday, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released its eighth COVID-19 report, detailing the ways in which the government can improve its pandemic response and prepare for future public health emergencies. The full report can be found here.

Additionally, the Food and Drug Administration’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) voted 17-0, with one abstention, to recommend Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine in children ages 5 to 11. VRBPAC voted that the benefits of the vaccine in this age group outweigh the risks.

What to Expect Next Week: Next week, negotiations are expected to continue among Congressional Democrats on the Build Back Better Act. There will also be several health-related hearings. On Tuesday, the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Technology Modernization will hold a hearing titled, “Next Steps: Examining Plans for the Continuation of the Department of Veterans Affairs Electronic Health Record Modernization Program.” On Thursday, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will hold a hearing titled, "Next Steps: The Road Ahead for the COVID-19 Response."

DEEP DIVE

President Biden Releases Build Back Better Framework

On Thursday, President Joe Biden released his “Build Back Better Framework,” which details his economic and social agenda for the Build Back Better Act (H.R.5376). The announcement came one day after Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) had a two-hour meeting with White House officials to negotiate the plan. The framework released Thursday will “guide the drafting of legislative language” of the bill. The plan includes universal and free preschool for all 3- and 4-year-olds, investments in childcare, improvements in Medicaid coverage for home care services for the elderly and disabled, an extension of the American Rescue Plan’s expanded Child Tax Credit, investments in climate change, a reduction in the cost of insurance premiums for health plans bought through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace, and the addition of hearing benefits to the Medicare program. The bill and summaries of the framework can be found below:

H.R. 5376, Build Back Better Act

White House Resources

Senate Confirms Rahul Gupta as Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy

On Thursday, the Senate voted to confirm Rahul Gupta as director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). Gupta is a primary care physician who most recently served as the Chief Medical and Health Officer at the March of Dimes. Gupta also served as the Health Commissioner of West Virginia under two governors. He will be the first physician ever to lead the ONDCP.

HHS Announces New Plan to Help Combat Drug Overdoses

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced a new overdose prevention strategy to help combat the overdose crisis in the country. The plan includes reducing stigma surrounding substance use disorders and improving care coordination between providers. The four main “priority areas” of the strategy are primary prevention, harm reduction, evidence-based treatment, and recovery support. In response to the new plan, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said, “We're changing the way we address overdoses. Our new strategy focuses on people -- putting the very individuals who have struggled with addiction in positions of power.” The plan can be found here and an issue brief on the plan can be found here.

FDA Advisory Committee Votes to Recommend COVID-19 Vaccine in Children Ages 5-11

The Food and Drug Administration’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) voted 17-0, with one abstention, to recommend Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine in children ages 5 to 11. VRBPAC voted that the benefits of the vaccine in this age group outweigh the risks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will convene on Tuesday and Wednesday November 2-3 to discuss COVID-19 vaccination in children.

House Education and Labor Subcommittees Hold Hearing on Biden Administration Workplace Vaccine Mandate

On Tuesday, the Workforce Protections Subcommittee and Civil Rights and Human Services Subcommittee of the House Education and Labor Committee held a hearing titled, “Protecting Lives and Livelihoods: Vaccine Requirements and Employee Accommodations.” The hearing delved into the Biden Administration’s order that employers with 100 or more employees either require COVID-19 vaccinations or implement weekly virus testing. Two weeks ago, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sent a draft of the emergency order to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. It was reported on Thursday that the vaccine mandate will permit businesses to make workers who refuse to get the COVID-19 vaccine to pay for required weekly tests and masks. The full text of the emergency temporary standard (ETS) has not yet been publicly released, but it is expected to be released soon. MCRT’s summary of the hearing can be found here.

GAO Releases Report on “Additional Actions Needed to Improve Accountability and Program Effectiveness of Federal Response” during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released its eighth COVID-19 report on Wednesday, detailing the ways in which the government can improve its pandemic response and prepare for future public health emergencies. The report includes recommendations regarding the Provider Relief Fund, unemployment insurance fraud risk management, COVID-19 testing, worker health and safety, advance child tax credit payments, and child nutrition. The full report can be found here.

SENATE HEARINGS AND EXECUTIVE SESSIONS

Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee - Hearing

Subcommittee Hearing: "The State of Nutrition in America 2021."

Tuesday, November 2 at 10:00 AM ET

Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee - Hearing

Full Committee Hearing: "Next Steps: The Road Ahead for the COVID-19 Response."

Thursday, November 4 at 10:00 AM ET

HOUSE HEARINGS AND EXECUTIVE SESSIONS

House Committee on Veterans' Affairs - Hearing

Subcommittee on Technology Modernization Hearing: “Next Steps: Examining Plans for the Continuation of the Department of Veterans Affairs Electronic Health Record Modernization Program.” (Rescheduled)

Tuesday, November 2 at 10:00 AM ET

House Committee on Education and Labor - Hearing

Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Hearing: “Closing the Courthouse Doors: The Injustice of Forced Arbitration Agreements.”

Thursday, November 4 at 10:15 AM ET