Summary
The House and Senate are both scheduled to return tomorrow. When the House gavels into session there are several bills scheduled a number of bills to be voted on under suspension, including H.R. 4581 , the Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act of 2023 and H.R. 6960, the Emergency Medical Services for Children Reauthorization Act of 2024. This week the House is also expected to take up the Senate amended FAA reauthorization bill.
On the Committee level, the House Energy & Commerce Committee has not officially posted notice yet, but the Subcommittee on Health is expected to mark up legislation to extend telehealth flexibilities put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as legislation to address Medicaid access and program integrity that were recently part of a legislative hearing (IHPP summary). Though champions are pushing for permanent extension of the telehealth flexibilities, it has been generally accepted that the price tag is too high for a permanent solution. Last week the Ways and Means Committee passed a two-year extension (IHPP summary) that will cost roughly $5 billion.
Hearings
House Committee on Education and the Workforce: On Wednesday the Education and the Workforce Committee will hold a hearing to examine the policies and priorities of HHS. HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra will be testifying.
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee: Also on Wednesday the HSGAC Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Spending Oversight will hold a hearing to examine the findings and recommendations of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) 2024 Report on Opportunities to Reduce Fragmentation, Overlap, and Duplication and Achieve Financial Benefits. Last year’s report contained health care focused recommendations.
Senate Finance Committee: On Thursday the Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing to examine rural health care, focusing on supporting lives and improving communities. This is likely to include access to women’s health care as part of the focus.
Regulatory Update
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is currently reviewing the following rules:
Medicare
- Calendar Year (CY) Payment Updates: The CY 2025 revisions to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule, the CY 2025 Hospital Outpatient PPS Policy Changes and Payment Rates and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Policy Changes and Payment Rates proposed rule, the CY 2025 Changes to the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System and Quality Incentive Program proposed rule (June 2024), and the CY 2025 Home Health PPS Rate Update proposed rule (June 2024).
Medicaid
- Disproportionate Share Hospital Program – The final rule would implement requirements under section 203 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA), which relate to Medicaid shortfall and third-party payments (February 2024).
- Drug Rebate Program – The final rule would establishes requirements related to manufacturers’ misclassification of covered outpatient drug products under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program (MDRP). In addition, it finalizes beneficiary protections, as well as MDRP program integrity and administration changes (June 2024).
Other Topics
- Healthcare System Resiliency and Modernization – The proposed rule would revise and update national emergency preparedness requirements for Medicare- and Medicaid-participating providers and suppliers (was set for December 2023).
- Health IT – The proposed rule would advance interoperability through proposals for: standards adoption; public health IT certification; expanded uses of certified application programming interfaces (APIs), such as for electronic prior authorization, patient engagement, care management, and care coordination; and information sharing under the information blocking regulations (was set for November 2023).