WASHINGTON — Republicans are set to take control of the Senate in January, giving new members power and influence over health care policy.
Republicans will gain at least 51 seats in the House next year after defeating Democrat Sherrod Brown in Ohio and winning the West Virginia seat vacated by Joe Manchin. Republicans also fended off challengers in states such as Nebraska and Texas.
The Republican will serve as chairman of the Plum Committee, which has the power to schedule hearings, write legislation, conduct investigations and vote on subpoenas. Their office will also have more staff and resources to help realize their vision.
Since the Senate has been under Democratic control for the past four years, the newly empowered committee chairs will have a larger platform to advance their policy initiatives.
The Republican victory in the Senate also makes the race to replace Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) even more important. That’s because caucus leaders decide what bills get voted on on the Senate floor, making them more impactful. Serve as a negotiating partner with the House of Representatives and the White House on important legislation.
Congress will face several major health care issues next year, including deciding whether to renew the Affordable Care Act’s premium subsidies that expire at the end of 2025.
STAT profiles six members of Congress who will be able to exert influence in the health care field when Republicans take control in early January.
Senator Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana)
Cassidy is his likely successor as chairman of the Senate Health Committee, and was the committee’s top Republican this Congress.
Cassidy has expressed interest in reforming public health agencies such as the NIH and CDC, which he will oversee under the health committee.
As chairman, Cassidy will also be responsible for the approval process for the new administration’s Food and Drug Administration commissioner, National Institutes of Health director, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director. This requirement was recently added to the Pandemic Preparedness Act, giving this administration its first Senate-confirmed CDC director.
Cassidy is interested in drug pricing issues, particularly how expensive gene therapies are paid for. He also began working with Sen. Maggie Hassan (D.N.H.) on Medicare hospital payment reform that would equalize payments between hospital outpatient departments and clinics for the same services.
Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho)
It’s finally time for Mr. Crapo, who has served as the second-ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee for four years, to shine. As a tax lawyer, he will be a key figure in dealing with the Trump tax cuts expiring next year and the Affordable Care Act’s premium subsidies expiring.
During his time with Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Crapo demonstrated that the two men can negotiate on major bipartisan health care policies this Congress, including the committee’s costly Pharmacy Benefit Manager reform bill. Ta.
Senator John Thune (RD)
Thune, currently Senate Minority Leader, is seeking a promotion after McConnell steps down as second-in-command of the conference and has announced his intention to run for Senate Majority Leader. Thune serves on the Senate Finance Committee and has worked on several efforts to pass bipartisan health care legislation this Congress.
For the past two years, he has signed on to efforts to streamline pre-approval. Participated in the working group We worked together to reform the way physicians are paid and helped write legislation to reform the 340B drug discount program. This effort could indicate what health issues will be most important to him in the future.
Since Thune represents South Dakota, it is expected that supporting rural health care and rural hospitals will be a top priority for him.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas)
The other John running for the top spot in the Senate Republican conference is Cornyn, who has worked as a Republican vote tally and has expressed a keen interest in patent reform in the pharmaceutical industry.
Cornyn serves on both the Finance and Judiciary committees, which have been involved in drug pricing discussions in recent years. Mr. Cornyn led a drug patent reform bill that passed unanimously in the Senate earlier this year, aimed at reducing the patent thicket that drug companies use to remove generic drugs from the market. However, it has been significantly watered down from its original form.
Because Cornyn is from a border state. addressing the opioid crisis By decriminalizing fentanyl test strips and supporting policies that stop fentanyl from entering the United States.
Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kansas)
Although Marshall is not in a position to lead the health committee, he has proven himself to be an independent thinker and willing to be a bipartisan consensus builder.
The best example of his generosity and concern for health care came when he worked with Senate Health Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (R-Va.) on legislation. Strengthen funding for primary care. That particular bill didn’t move forward, but he definitely raised some eyebrows.
As an obstetrician, he enjoys credibility among Senate Republicans on medical issues. The header of his website lists his name as “Doc Marshall.” He also partnered with Thune, whose star could be on the rise, on the next bill. Streamline pre-approvals process.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.)
Blackburn is another senator willing to forge unexpected partnerships to advance health priorities.
She said this during a debate over pharmacy benefit manager policies. Laws introduced Because it would regulate the fees PBMs could receive from drug companies, she worked with Democrats, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), to Further scrutiny of Medicare Advantage plans.
She is a native of Tennessee and has a large presence in the medical industry, including for-profit hospital giant HCA Healthcare.
