Summary
Big Picture. Congress is in recess and both chambers will resume on July 13. When lawmakers return, they will only have 14 legislative days before the August recess, and one month before midterm elections to advance several priorities. In this time, Republicans will attempt to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), fiscal year 2027 appropriations, and advance a third reconciliation package focused on defense spending, combatting fraud, waste, and abuse, and addressing affordability, including health care.
Health Policy to Watch
- Health care messaging leading up the midterm elections. Ahead of the anniversary of H.R.1, Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) and House Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ) highlighted several reports on the impact of the Republicans’ health care cuts on coverage, hospitals and essential workers, while Republicans remain focused on their fraud, waste, and abuse approach. Recently, House Budget Chair Jodey Arrington released a statement in reaction to the Department of Health and Human Services announced that over one million Affordable Care Act marketplace enrollees did not have a social security number.
- Hospital Reactions to Proposed Payment Cut for 340B-Acquired Drugs. On Thursday, CMS proposed a payment of the average sales price (ASP) minus 33.4 percent for drugs acquired through the 340B Drug Pricing Program following a survey of hospital drug acquisition costs. Following its release, the American Hospital Association and America’s Essential Hospitals expressed strong opposition to the proposal, citing that it uses a “flawed methodology that is based on data from less than a quarter of 340B covered entities” and would “make drugs less affordable for America’s most vulnerable patients.” The proposal is likely to be subject to a future lawsuit, as with the 2018 340B payment policy.
Reg Update
Recently Arrived at OMB
- Administrative Requirements. Proposed Rule: Cutting Administrative Requirements for Excellence in Patient Care
All other pending regulations can be found here.