Summary
With only two weeks until the August recess, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is pushing for significant progress on the two tracks of infrastructure legislation. Today, Majority Leader Schumer is expected to file cloture on the legislative vehicle for the bipartisan infrastructure bill, upping the pressure on the bipartisan group to deliver legislative text for their $974 billion infrastructure framework ahead of the procedural vote on Wednesday.
Schumer also wants the Democratic caucus to reach a consensus by Wednesday on the $3.5 trillion budget resolution with reconciliation instructions. The budget reconciliation package is expected to make permanent the temporary increase to ACA premium subsidies; expand Medicare benefits to include vision, dental, and hearing coverage; and address the Medicaid expansion gap (specific Medicaid policy has not yet been nailed down). Possible pay-fors include prescription drug pricing provisions, such as government price negotiation and Medicare Part D reform, and repurposing appropriated funds, such as the Provider Relief Fund.
Tomorrow, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee will question members of the White House COVID-19 task force about the Biden Administration’s response to the pandemic. Issues likely to be covered include efforts to increase COVID-19 vaccination rates (about 59 percent of adults are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC); the delta variant; and the possible need for boosters; among other topics. Lawmakers may also ask the panel about any actions planned in response to the new recommendations on the COVID-19 response from the Government Accountability Office.
The House Education and Labor Committee will hold a joint subcommittee hearing tomorrow on investments in the home health care workforce, a major component of President Biden’s American Jobs Plan. The plan features a $400 billion investment to expand access to Medicaid home and community-based services and improve wages for home health workers.
Regulatory Update
The calendar year (CY) 2022 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (HOPPS) proposed rule cleared review at the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) late last week. This marks the final major CY Medicare payment update proposed rule to clear OMB review. Its release is expected imminently and could occur as early as this afternoon.