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Week in Brief

Opioids: Senate Finance Committee Holds Hearing to Address Opioid and Substance-Abuse Disorders in Medicare, Medicaid and Human Services Programs. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT) Delivers Opening Statement. Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) Delivers Statement.


WHITE HOUSE UPDATE

Children’s Health: Second Lady Karen Pence Visits Tracy’s Kids Art Therapy Program at Children’s National Health System in Washington, DC.


LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Monday, April 16

Veterans’ Affairs: House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chairman Jack Bergman (R-MI) Sends Letter to Department of Veterans Affairs Regarding on Choice Programs Contracts.

Tuesday, April 17

Opioids: Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Patty Murray (D-WA) Introduce The Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018 (S. 2680). HELP Committee Schedules Markup of S. 2680 for Tuesday, April 24.

Veterans’ Affairs: Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Jon Tester (D-MT) Meets with VA Secretary Nominee Rear Admiral Ronny Jackson, M.D.

Veterans’ Affairs: House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Leaders Introduce Bipartisan VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2018.

Veterans’ Affairs: House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health Holds Legislative Hearing on H.R. 1506, H.R. 2322, H.R. 3832, H.R. 4334, H.R. 4635, Drafts Bills on VA Medical Cannabis Research, Family Caregiver Program.

Wednesday, April 18

Opioids: House Committee on Energy and Commerce Announces Upcoming Opioid Legislation Markup.

Opioids: House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade Chairman David Reichert (R-WA) Announces Subcommittee Hearing on Synthetic Opioids in the International Mail System.

Thursday, April 19

Opioids: Senate Finance Committee Holds Hearing to Address Opioid and Substance-Abuse Disorders in Medicare, Medicaid and Human Services Programs. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT) Delivers Opening Statement. Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) Delivers Statement.

Practices and Technology: House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health Chairman Peter Roskam (R-IL) Announces Subcommittee Hearing on “Identifying Innovative Practices and Technology in Health Care.”

Friday, April 20

Health Technology and Cyber Security: House Committee on Energy and Commerce Publishes Letter Requesting Information on Legacy Technology Use in Health Care.

Opioids: House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health Holds Roundtable Discussion on the Opioid Crisis.


REGULATORY UPDATE

Monday, April 16

Medicare and Medicaid: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Releases Final Rule Incorporating Certain Provisions of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) in Medicare Parts C and D.

Tuesday, April 17

Payment Parameters: CMS Releases Final Rule on the Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2019.

Funding: FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb Releases Statement on the Fiscal Year 2019 Budget Request for FDA.

Wednesday, April 18

Opioids: HHS Announces Second Round of Grants to Help States and Territories Combat Opioid Epidemic. House Energy and Commerce Leaders Release Statement.

Friday, April 20

Opioids: FDA Releases First of Two New Draft Guidances on Medication-Assisted-Treatment (MAT) for Opioid Dependence. Commissioner Scott Gottlieb Releases Statement.


UPCOMING EVENTS

Senate HELP Committee
Executive Session: S. 2680, S. 2315, S. 2597, S. 382, and Nominations
April 24, 2018, 10:00 AM
430 Dirksen Senate Office Building

House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade
Hearing: “The Opioid Crisis: Stopping the Flow of Synthetic Opioids in the International Mail System”
April 25, 2018, 2:00 PM
1100 Longworth House Office Building

Senate Veteran’s Affairs Committee
Pending Nomination of Ronny L. Jackson, MD
April 25, 2018, 02:30 PM
G50 Dirksen Senate Office Building

House Energy & Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Health
Markup: Opioid Crisis Bills
April 25, 2018
Details TBA

House Committee on Veterans Affairs
Markup of Pending Legislation
April 26, 2018, 8:10 AM
334 Cannon House Office Building

House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health
Hearing: “Identifying Innovative Practices and Technology in Health Care.”
April 26, 2018, 10:00 AM
1100 Longworth House Office Building

Ryan White Clinics for 340B Access
Congressional Briefing: Why the 340B Drug Discount Program Works for Minority Populations
April 26, 2018 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Rayburn House Office Building Room 2103


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.

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