Congress’s fall outlook: It’s complicated

A busy September awaits on Capitol Hill

With the Senate reopening this week and the House next week, Congress is having its most complicated month yet this year.

In the House, Republicans on three committees are crafting policies aimed at increasing healthcare transparency and expanding critical healthcare programs, according to four sources familiar with the process. Negotiations continue in the Senate over a possible bipartisan plan to increase funding for community health centers, one of several authorizations set to expire later this month.

But all these efforts are overshadowed by a large shadow. Government funding will dry up on Sept. 30 and the agency will shut down unless Congress acts. The Biden administration and both House and Senate leaders have signaled support for a short-term solution. But reaching a deal could be very complicated, especially as far-right House Republicans oppose the stopgap funding bill unless it includes some conservative priorities. .

In recent months, parliamentary committees overseeing health care have introduced a wide range of bills. These included initiatives aimed at increasing the transparency of pharmacy benefits managers’ practices and other aspects of the health care system. Equalize Medicare payments for certain medical care.and Extension of funding For health centers, special diabetes programs and other expired licenses.

Republicans on three House committees — the Energy and Commerce Committee, the Ways and Means Committee, and the Education and Labor Committee — are preparing a package that could be considered on the floor this month or later in the fall. drafting the bill. Three out of the hills, who spoke in detail of the private conversation on condition of anonymity.

One big question mark. Will the Democrats come too?Ways and Means Committee, Top Democrat was smoking Over the Commission’s Transparency Bill’s lack of accountability for private equity ownership of medical facilities:

Also note the following: of House Energy and Commerce Committee A schedule obtained by The Health 202 says it expects at least three health-related hearings before it returns to the floor in mid-September.

• A legislative hearing on the drug shortage is scheduled for September 14 at the Health Subcommittee. The subcommittee plans a September 19 legislative hearing on Medicare innovation. And the next day, the Commission’s Oversight and Investigations subcommittee is set to hold hearings on the implementation of Democrat policies. inflation control law, That includes drug pricing policies that Republicans despise.
• Please keep in mind: These hearings are not officially scheduled and are subject to change.

Opposite the Houses of Parliament

in the Senate Support Committee, Debate continues among the Chairs over massive funding for community health centers that provide care to the nation’s most vulnerable people. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Senator. Roger Marshall (R can).

Such funding has been a source of tension between Mr Sanders and Senator Sanders, a leading Republican member of the committee. Bill Cassidy (La.). In July, Cassidy introduced a bill in the House reflecting a bipartisan plan. 5 percent bump The amount of funding over the next two years will be: $4.2 billion per year. Sanders then announced his own plans. far beyond That amount ended up canceling the planned bill increase. agree with A promise to negotiate with the Marshalls.

Marshall’s office and Sanders said in separate statements to Health 202 that bipartisan dialogue had taken place during the August recess and both sides indicated progress had been made. Sanders said they were working on a bipartisan relicensing bill and policies to increase the number of health workers, which should be presented to the committee “in the next few weeks.”

Other deadlines are looming for Congress, which often waits until the last minute.

Lawmakers face a Sept. 30 deadline for reauthorizing a broad emergency bill and a range of addiction treatment and recovery services.

Then there is the issue of government funding. The White House called on Congress late last week to take short-term steps to keep the government’s lights on beyond September. The Biden administration also called for a stopgap spending bill to extend overdue programs, including some in the health sector, such as health centers, the National Health Service Corps and special diabetes programs.

A short-term bill would give lawmakers more time to work out a broader spending pact as both houses of Congress face a high-stakes battle over the annual spending process.

• Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (Republican, California) has backed stopgap spending measures but is facing stiff conservative resistance.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (DN.Y.) also said they were on board, and in an interview with a colleague of ours yesterday, early 202, They tried to hold McCarthy responsible for any closures.

white house prescription

What’s New Last Night: First Lady Jill Biden Her communications director tested positive for coronavirus Elizabeth Alexander announced. She has mild symptoms and will be staying at the Bidens’ home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

This happens at the end of the three-day weekend she spent with President Biden, of The Post Torce Orolnipa Note.The president returned to Washington yesterday He tested negative for the virus following the results of the First Lady. He will continue to be tested at a “regular pace” this week to monitor his symptoms. Carine Jean-Pierre A White House press secretary said in a statement: Biden is scheduled to leave Thursday for the Group of 20 (G20) summit in India.

Meanwhile, in the White House… pay attention to this line of attack.

White House To boost Republican approval ratings, it frames the government funding debate as essential to fighting fentanyl.Biden’s request for additional funds to Congress included: Almost $800 million It aims to reduce the cross-border supply of illicit drugs.

“House Republicans now face a tough choice: Will they keep their word, fulfill their responsibilities to avoid a government shutdown, and act on life-or-death priorities such as fighting the fentanyl crisis?” Deputy press secretary Andrew Bates I wrote it in a note I got this morning.

This is because Republicans are trying to give the impression that the Biden administration isn’t doing enough to stop fentanyl at the water’s edge.

Proposal of minimum staffing for nursing homes is difficult

Patient advocacy groups and industry groups have criticized the Biden administration’s long-awaited proposal to create the first staffing requirements for nursing homes across the country, The Post reported. Christopher Rowland report.

But they criticize the plan for completely different reasons. Proponents say the proposal, which comes after decades of complaints about inadequate care in nursing homes, has failed to do much. The nursing home industry, meanwhile, was quick to denounce the plan as an unaffordable mandate in the face of staff shortages.

detail: proposed ruleThe bill, announced on Friday, would require nursing homes to provide each resident with at least the following services: 2.45 hours In addition to daily care by a nursing assistant: 0.55 hours Care by a certified nurse. The facility is also required to have at least one of her registered nurses on site at all times, among other requirements.

• The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) estimates about 75 percent. The proportion of nursing homes that will need to increase staffing to meet standards will begin within three years for urban facilities and within five years for rural facilities. Additional costs to industry expected to be $4 billion by year 3.
• Views from the administration: “We are confident that our proposal is strong and feasible.” Stacey Sandersa counselor to the federal health secretary told Christopher. The government believes the industry can attract more workers by offering higher wages and better working conditions, she added.

The proposal was also enthusiastic by legislators on both sides of the aisle.

Senator Jon Tester (Democrat of Mont State):

Senator James Lankford (Republican, Oklahoma):

Humana challenges Medicare Advantage’s clawback rule

Humana He is reportedly suing the Biden administration to block plans to recoup billions of dollars in improper payments to Medicare Advantage insurers. lawsuit It filed a complaint with the Federal Health Service on Friday.

Key context: Subject to legal objection are: rule The plan, which was finalized by CMS earlier this year, overhauls the audit system the agency uses to verify that patient diagnoses submitted to the federal government by private Medicare plans match actual medical records. It is a content that should be reviewed.Medicare predicted it could recover about $4.7 billion Under this policy, the burden from insurance companies will be reduced over the next ten years.

Humana claims in its lawsuit that it “made no effort” to justify a more proactive auditing approach. Insurers say the retroactive rule is “arbitrary and capricious” and should be repealed. CMS did not respond to a request for comment.

On our radar: lawsuit more likely to be delayed Years of audit process, payments from 2011 still under review, bloomberg newsof John Tozzi Note.

• Novartis sues Biden administration to block Medicare’s new drug pricing powersaccording to lawsuit Filed days after heart failure drug ‘Entresto’ became a smash hit Chosen for the program.
• Federal Court of Appeal reinstated the lawsuit By three doctors who claim they have strayed from the authority of the Food and Drug Administration The campaign has warned people not to use ivermectin as a treatment for coronavirus, and the case will be remanded to lower court where it will be rehearsed. Studies have not found ivermectin to be effective against covid-19.

Climate change is bringing disease and death to regions of the world that are largely unaffected by global warming and poorly equipped to deal with the health problems that accompany it. Annie Gowen, Nico Commenda and Saina Bashir I reported it in the first issue of The Post’s “Human Limits”. This is a new series exploring the threat climate change poses to human health.

Pakistan has become the epicenter of this new global wave of sickness and death, according to analysis by the Post and the paper. carbon plan, A non-profit organization that develops publicly available climate data. Please see here for the detail.

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Highways are the next target for anti-abortion. A town in Texas is resisting. (By Caroline Kitchener | Washington Post)

Childbirth can be devastating for black women. What this hospital is doing to stop it (By Emily Alpert Reyes | Los Angeles Times)

How Health Insurance Companies Made Dispute Denials So Complicated (by Cheryl Clarke | ProPublica)

thank you for reading! See you tomorrow.