Summary
With Congress back this week, we are tracking the Senate especially closely, as we could soon see key developments regarding budget reconciliation and mental health legislation. Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is pushing to pass a budget reconciliation package before the scheduled summer recess on August 8. While Senate Democrats have reached a deal on drug pricing provisions (WHG summary), they appear to not yet have consensus on other major components.
As for mental health legislation, discussion drafts from the Senate Finance Committee’s three remaining workgroups – workforce, parity, and care integration – are expected in the coming weeks. If the Committee does not release these remaining drafts before the end of the summer, it is unclear whether a more comprehensive mental health package would be able to pass before the end of the current Congress. Full summaries of Senate Finance Committee’s youth mental health and telemental proposals are available here and here.
In both chambers, congressional Democrats will continue to keep the fight to protect abortion rights top of mind. The House will hold two votes on bills to safeguard abortion access, though are highly unlikely to be taken up in the Senate.
On the regulatory front, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) may release the long-awaited proposed rule Medicare hospital outpatient prospective payment system for calendar year 2023.