Health Care Checkup
September 23, 2022
|
|
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is planning to put legislation on the Senate floor early next week to fund the government beyond the current fiscal year until mid-December. A new bill released by Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), the Energy Independence and Security Act, is likely to be attached to the CR. This bill would streamline the process for authorizations and reviews of energy and natural resources projects. Senate Republicans have broadly opposed the Manchin proposal and a block of eight Democratic Senators sent a letter to Majority Leader Schumer outlining that they would not support the reform. Thus, it is unlikely that Senator Manchin’s bill will have enough votes to pass the Senate. The CR is expected to contain additional emergency aid for the Ukraine, as well as funds for disaster relief. Additional public health funds for COVID-19 and monkeypox are not expected to make it into the final bill.
On Thursday, Senate HELP Committee and House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders came to a consensus on a five-year extension of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) user fee agreements (UFAs). The UFAs are expected to be attached to the CR. Some of the UFA’s extraneous provisions (or “riders”), that were included in separate House and Senate legislation, will be included in the final package, but it is unclear at this time which those will be.
The Senate Finance Committee released a discussion draft of a bill that would make various improvements to America’s mental health workforce. Among other provisions, the legislation would allow for 400 new Medicare-funded psychiatry residency positions per year, coverage of marriage and family therapist services and mental health counselor services under Medicare Part B, improved access to clinical social worker services under Medicare, access to mental health programs for physicians, and a demonstration project to increase mental health and substance use disorder care provider capacity under Medicaid.
On Wednesday, the House Ways and Means Committee held a markup and cleared a slew of bills. Among the legislation approved by the Committee is a bill that would reauthorize the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting program, and legislation that would make improvements to Medicare inpatient and outpatient mental health services. Additionally, the Committee approved a bill that would require individual and group health plans to disclose the number and percentage of behavioral health and substance use disorder providers and facilities located in their service area.
On Friday, the Biden Administration announced initiatives it will take in the fight against the opioid epidemic. These steps include awarding $1.5 billion for all states and territories to address the crisis, investing more than $104 million to expand substance use treatment and prevention in rural communities, investing $20.5 million to increase access to recovery supports, releasing new guidance to promote greater access to FDA-approved naloxone products, additional funding for law enforcement officials, releasing new guidance for employers to create recovery-ready workplaces, and imposing financial sanctions to inhibit global drug trafficking. Additional information can be found here.
The GOP released its “Commitment to America,” which is the House Republicans’ policy agenda. Health provisions in the agenda include strengthening Medicare; personalizing health care to provide affordable options and improved quality; lowering prices through transparency, choice, and competition; investing in lifesaving cures; and improving access to telemedicine. A one-pager can be found here.
|
What to Expect Next Week: Senate Majority Leader Schumer plans to proceed to a vote on a Continuing Resolution to fund the government through mid-December. That vote will likely occur on Tuesday of next week with the Manchin permitting reform legislation attached. Senate Republicans have broadly opposed the Manchin proposal and eight Democratic Senators sent a letter to Leader Schumer outlining that they would not support the reform proposal attached to any future government funding bills. Additionally, Leader Schumer indicated that the Senate is likely to be in session in October to take up the FY23 National Defense Authorization Act. Over in the House, the Rules Committee will meet on Tuesday to consider the Mental Health Matters Act (H.R. 7780). |
|
Vote on Stopgap Funding Bill Likely to Occur Next Week, as Agreement on FDA User Fee Reauthorization is Struck
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is planning to put legislation on the Senate floor early next week to fund the government beyond the current fiscal year until mid-December. A new bill released by Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), the Energy Independence and Security Act, is likely to be attached to the CR. This bill would streamline the process for authorizations and reviews of energy and natural resources projects. Senate Republicans have broadly opposed the Manchin proposal and a block of eight Democratic Senators sent a letter to Majority Leader Schumer outlining that they would not support the reform. Thus, it is unlikely that Senator Manchin’s bill will have enough votes to pass the Senate. It is expected that it will be stripped of the CR before it passes. The CR is expected to contain additional emergency aid for the Ukraine, as well as funds for disaster relief. Additional public health funds for COVID-19 and monkeypox are not expected to make it into the final bill. In addition, several health care items will likely ride along with the CR, including an extension of popular rural Medicare hospital reimbursement policies. On Thursday, Senate HELP Committee and House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders came to a consensus on a five-year extension of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) user fee agreements (UFAs). The UFAs are expected to be attached to the CR. Some of the UFA’s extraneous provisions (or “riders”), that were included in separate House and Senate legislation, will be included in the final package, but it is unclear at this time which those will be.
Senate Finance Committee Releases Third Mental Health Discussion Draft
On Thursday, the Senate Finance Committee released a discussion draft of a bill that would make various improvements to America’s mental health workforce. Among other provisions, the legislation would allow for 400 new Medicare-funded psychiatry residency positions per year, coverage of marriage and family therapist services and mental health counselor services under Medicare Part B, improved access to clinical social worker services under Medicare, access to mental health programs for physicians, and a demonstration project to increase mental health and substance use disorder care provider capacity under Medicaid. The bill has the bipartisan backing of Senators Ron Wyden (D-CO), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Steve Daines (R-T) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). This release follows two previous mental health discussion drafts released earlier this year by the Committee on the role of telehealth in mental health and youth mental health.
House Ways and Means Committee Holds Markup, Advances Several Bills, Including One on Network Adequacy
On Wednesday, the House Ways and Means Committee held a markup and cleared a slew of bills. Among the legislation approved by the Committee is a bill that would reauthorize the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting program, and legislation that would make improvements to Medicare inpatient and outpatient mental health services. Additionally, the Committee approved a bill that would require individual and group health plans to disclose the number and percentage of behavioral health and substance use disorder providers and facilities located in their service area.
GOP Unveils “Commitment to America”
This week, the GOP released its “Commitment to America,” which is the House Republicans’ policy agenda. The overarching goals of the agenda are an economy that is strong, a nation that is safe, a future that is built on freedom, and a government that is accountable. Health provisions in the agenda include strengthening Medicare; personalizing health care to provide affordable options and improved quality; lowering prices through transparency, choice, and competition; investing in lifesaving cures; and improving access to telemedicine. A one-pager can be found here.
Biden Administration Announces New Steps It Will Take to Combat the Nation’s Opioid Crisis
On Friday, the Biden Administration announced initiatives it will take in the fight against the opioid epidemic. These steps include awarding $1.5 billion for all states and territories to address the crisis, investing more than $104 million to expand substance use treatment and prevention in rural communities, investing $20.5 million to increase access to recovery supports, releasing new guidance to promote greater access to FDA-approved naloxone products, additional funding for law enforcement officials, releasing new guidance for employers to create recovery-ready workplaces, and imposing financial sanctions to inhibit global drug trafficking. Additional information can be found here.
CDC Finds that 4 in 5 Pregnancy-Related Deaths are Preventable
A new report issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable, according to data from Maternal Mortality Review Committees (MMRCs). The data, from 2017-2019, found that 22% of deaths occurred during pregnancy, 25% occurred on the day of delivery or within 1 week after, and 53% occurred between 1 week to 1 year after pregnancy. The report also found that the underlying causes of death varied by race and ethnicity: heart conditions were the leading underlying cause among non-Hispanic Black people, mental health conditions were the leading underlying cause for Hispanic and non-Hispanic White people, and hemorrhage was the leading underlying cause for non-Hispanic Asian people. The Director of CDC’s Division of Reproductive Health, Wanda Barfield, said, “The majority of pregnancy-related deaths were preventable, highlighting the need for quality improvement initiatives in states, hospitals, and communities that ensure all people who are pregnant or postpartum get the right care at the right time.” Additional information can be found here.
HHS Announces $3 Million in Grant Funding to Promote Black Youth Mental Health
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued $3 million in grants to eight organizations to identify and test policies aimed at improving Black youth mental health (BYMH). The awardees will identify existing policies that they believe could promote mental health in Black youth. Then, they will test the policies on BYMH in settings such as schools, community centers, and health centers. This new initiative will begin on September 30, 2022 and run for three years. The full list of awardees can be found here.
HHS Releases its First National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers
HHS released a new strategy with over 300 actions the federal government plans to take to support family caregivers in the coming year, as well as nearly 150 actions that can be taken by the private sector and other levels of the government. These actions include steps to help strengthen supports for family caregivers, and to help improve financial security for caregivers. HHS will update the strategy every two years, and the updates will be based on stakeholder input. More can be found here.
|
|
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
|
|
1341 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20005
202-585-0258
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
