Week in Brief
Rescissions: Senate Rejects President Trump’s Rescissions Package. For Related News, See:
• Statement from Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-VT) on Trump’s Rescissions Package
• Statement from Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-VT) on Senate Decision to Reject Package
• Statement from House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Nita Lowey (D-NY)
• Statements from OMB Director Mick Mulvaney, Conservative Senators
Opioids: House Approves Final Opioid Package, H.R. 6, Containing Over 50 Bills Approved Individually Over Two-Week Long Voting Session. For Related News, See:
• Press Release from House Energy and Commerce Committee Majority Site Following House Passage of H.R. 6
• Press Release from House Energy and Commerce Committee Majority Site: “House Passes 12 More E&C Bills to Combat the Opioid Crisis”
• Statement from House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) Following House Passage of Ways and Means Opioid Legislation
• Floor Statement from Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone Regarding Overdose Prevention and Patient Safety Act
• Floor Statement from Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ) Regarding IMD CARE Act
• Press Release from House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Ranking Member Elijah Cummings (D-MD) Regarding H.R. 5545
• Press Release from House Energy and Commerce Committee Majority Site Following House Passage of IMD CARE Act Wednesday June 20
• Statement from House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy (R-SC) and Subcommittee Chairman Mark Meadows (R-NC) Following House Passage of CRISIS Act
• Press Release from House Energy and Commerce Committee Majority Site: “161 Patient Advocacy Groups Urge the House to Pass H.R. 6 to Help Combat the Opioid Crisis”
• Floor Statement from House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) Regarding H.R. 6
• Floor Statement from House Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ) Regarding H.R. 6
WHITE HOUSE UPDATE
Association Health Plans: Department of Labor Expands Access to Association Health Plans, Consistent with President Trump’s October Executive Order. For Related News, See:
• Final Rule from Department of Labor
• Statement from CMS Administrator Seema Verma
• Statement from HHS Secretary Alex Azar
• Statement from Senate HELP Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
• Statement from Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA)
• Statement from Energy and Commerce Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) and Health Subcommittee Chairman Michael C. Burgess (R-TX)
• Statement from House Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ), House Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA), and House Ways and Means Ranking Member Richard Neal (D-MA)
Reorganization: White House Office of Management and Budget Releases Plan to Reorganize Federal Government. For related News, See:
• Statement from Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA)
• Statement from House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy (R-NC)
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Monday, June 18
Opioids: House Legislators Engage Constituents on Opioid Epidemic.
House Energy and Commerce Committee Releases Final Installment in “Personal Stories from the Opioid Crisis” Video Series, Highlights Impact on Families.
House Ways and Means Committee Posts Update on GOP Efforts to Combat Opioid Crisis.
Tuesday, June 19
Veterans’ Health: Senate Appropriations Committee Opens Debate FY 2019 Energy & Water, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Legislative Branch “Minibus” Appropriations Bill.
• Remarks from Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL)
• Statement from Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
ACA: Conservative Policymakers Led by Heritage Foundation and Former Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) Release Plan to Repeal ACA Mandates and Fund Health Care Through Block Grants. For Related News, See:
• Statement from Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA)
340B: Senate HELP Committee Holds Hearing to Discuss 340B Drug Pricing Program. For Related News, See:
• Remarks from Senate HELP Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
• Remarks from Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA)
Improper Payments: Senate Budget Committee Republicans, Led by Chairman Mike Enzi (R-WY), Send Letter to HHS Regarding Improper Medicare, Medicaid Payments.
Alzheimer’s: Senate Special Committee on Aging Holds Hearing on Reducing Risk, Detecting Early Symptoms, and Improving Data for Alzheimer’s. For Related News, See:
• Remarks from Committee Chairman Susan M. Collins (R-ME), Ranking Member B0b Casey (D-PA), Other Witnesses.
Veterans’ Disability Benefits: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Ranking Member Jon Tester (D-MT) Introduce Legislation to Increase Veterans’ Disability Benefits from VA.
Wednesday, June 20
Budget: House Budget Committee Releases, Marks Up, Approves FY 2019 Budget Resolution
• Introductory Press Release From House Budget Committee Majority Site
• Press Release from House Budget Committee Democrats: “What to Watch for in the 2019 House Republican Budget”
• Statement from House Budget Committee Ranking Member John Yarmuth (D-KY) Following Release
• Opening Remarks from House Budget Committee Chairman Steve Womack (R-AR) During Budget Markup
• Opening Remarks from House Budget Committee Ranking Member John Yarmuth (D-KY) During Budget Markup
• Video from Budget Markup Day 1
• Video from Budget Markup Day 2
• Statement from House Budget Committee Chairman Steve Womack (R-AR) Following Passage
• Statement from House Budget Committee Ranking Member John Yarmuth (D-KY) Following Passage
Thursday, June 21
Medicare: House Ways and Means Committee Passes Bills on Medicare Benefits and Payment Systems in Full Committee Markup. For Related News, See:
• Video from Markup
• Opening Statement from House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard Neal (D-MA)
Friday, June 22
Biologics: Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights, and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Urge Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to Investigate Whether “Pay for Delay” Tactics Are Keeping Cheaper Biosimilar Medicines Off the Market.
REGULATORY UPDATE
Tuesday, June 19
Dual Eligibility: CMS Addresses Care Coordination for Dually Eligible Individuals in Annual Report.
Opioids: NIH-Funded Study Finds Methadone and Buprenorphine Reduce Risk of Death After Opioid Overdose.
Drug Shortages: FDA Releases Statement on Agency’s Response to Ongoing Drug Shortages for Critical Products.
Wednesday, June 20
Pediatric Depression: Psychotherapeutic Intervention Shows Promise for Treating Depression in Preschool-Aged Children, Says NIH-Funded Study.
Thursday, June 21
Stark Law: CMS Requests Public Input on Potential Changes to Stark Law. For Related News, See:
• Blog Post by CMS Administrator Seema Verma
• Statement from House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee Chairman Michael C. Burgess (R-TX)
• Statement from House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX)
Health Data: CMS Launches New Database to Support Exchange of Electronic Health Information.
Alzheimer’s: NIH-Funded Study Finds New Evidence that Viruses May Play Role in Alzheimer’s Disease.
Pediatric Diabetes: FDA Approves Automated Insulin Delivery and Monitoring System for Use in Younger Pediatric Patients.
Mental Health: FDA Announces Releases Draft Guidance for Industry on Developing Drugs for Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder.
Biologics: FDA Withdraws Draft Guidance on Process for Evaluating Biosimilar Drugs.
Friday, June 22
Hemodialysis: FDA Permits Marketing of First Catheter-Based Systems Used to Create Vascular Access for Hemodialysis Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Senate HELP Committee
Hearing: “How to Reduce Health Care Costs: Understanding the Cost of Health Care in America”
June 27, 2018, 10:00 AM
430 Dirksen Senate Office Building
House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
Hearing: “Examining the Administration’s Government-wide Reorganization Plan”
June 27, 2018, 10:00 AM
2154 Rayburn HOB
FDA
Meeting: “Patient-Focused Drug Development for Chronic Pain.”
July 9, 2018, 10 AM to 4 PM
FDA White Oak Campus
10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 31 Conference Center, the Great Room (Rm. 1503)
Silver Spring, MD 20993
CMS
Meeting of the Medicare Evidence Development and Coverage Advisory Committee
July 25, 2018 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM
CMS Single Site Campus: Main Auditorium
7500 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21244
SAMHSA
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment: Public Meeting
August 1, 2018, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
SAMHSA
5600 Fishers Lane, 5E49
Rockville, MD 20857
CMS
Advisory Panel on Hospital Outpatient Payment (the Panel): Annual Meeting
August 20, 2018 9:30 AM to 5 PM
August 21, 2018, 9:30 AM to 1 PM
CMS Single Site Campus: Main Auditorium
7500 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21244
CMS
Medicare Evidence Development and Coverage Advisory Committee: Public Meeting
August 22, 2018, 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM
CMS Single Site Campus: Main Auditorium
7500 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21244
For more information about this issue of Power Play: Washington Week in Review or more legislative and regulatory updates, contact the Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville Government Relations and Public Policy group at (202) 466-6550.