Why the House Budget Committee needed a health-care task force

Congressman Burgess wants health care select committee to be an 'incubator' for ideas

Forty-seven councilors have announced plans to retire, resign, or run for other positions at the end of this term, setting the stage for significant turnover in the next election. The defectors include four members of the Republican Physicians Association, including its co-chairman. michael burgess (Texas).

For 11 terms, the obstetrician-gynecologist has been the most senior physician in Congress, where he leads Congress. House Budget CommitteeHealth Care Task Force. I met with Mr. Burgess this month to talk about some of the health policy issues he will focus on in his final year in the House.

H202: What triggered it? Please help me get started What about last year's budget committee health care task force?

Burgess: Because healthcare is the main driver of debt everywhere, and the big headline is that the national debt is nearing its end. $34 trillion and grow. But at the same time, we know that as doctors, we have to make sure our patients get the treatment they deserve. I want to create access to next-level treatments that everyone knows about. That is the purpose of all my energy in this area.

H202: What are the Task Force’s priorities this year?

Burgess: My biggest concern in the pharmaceutical industry is that when you get a big breakthrough drug, it quickly becomes expensive, but there are huge savings downstream. So how do you reconcile your current costs with your overall savings?

Therefore, Preventive medical savings method I'm going to start trying to bridge that gap. We held public hearings on this bill and went through several iterations and improvements. There will be some markup coming in the near future, so watch this space.

There are many other things to consider. One of the things that scares me to death is that the Biden administration will come out and say, With these new, new treatments that are very expensive, we're going to do the following: Get a patent using our march-in rights” oh my god. What are you going to do with these things, cell therapy and gene therapy research for breakthroughs that people are literally crying out for?

This is not the correct method. The task force is trying to be an incubator for new ideas, but this is in stark contrast to the Biden administration—they are anti-innovation and anti-patience in so many ways.

H202: One area that has received a lot of attention lately is pre-approval. As a physician, do you have any insight into how this will impact healthcare spending and patient access?

Burgess: Prior permission is a misuse of your energy. You, as a physician, identify a way to solve the problem that the patient has brought up, and now, with prior permission, you say: You will be jumping through all these hoops before care is provided. ” guess what? It doesn't really save money unless the poor person dies along the way and can't get treatment. What a terrible way to approach solving problems brought by patients.

Let's share a secret. I have a Medicare Advantage plan. It wasn't what we ultimately expected, but we ended up here because of some of the requirements of the Affordable Care Act. So it's personal to me. If there's a pre-approval requirement for something I need, someone is going to hold me up for days, weeks, or even months until they get an answer that everyone knows anyway. I don't like the idea. The only way they save money is through rationing and waiting lists. That's not really good patient care.

H202: I'm glad you brought up ACA. Do you envision changes to Obamacare if Republicans win the White House in November?

Burgess: Many parts of the ACA have been removed or repealed by executive order or legislative action.

In fact, if you look back at history, the costs for families have become prohibitive. In my district, people who are not eligible for subsidies come to me and say, “They're trying to kill us with these premiums.'' president trump Signed an executive order allowing more competition in the insurance space with limited-time insurance plans and immediately reinstating premiums. So we know that there are things that can be done to the ACA that actually seem like very minimal changes, but that have a big impact on the budget.

H202: You, along with several other members of the Republican Medical Association, have announced that you will not seek re-election at the end of this term. How do you think this loss will affect the Republican Party's ability to advance health care policy?

Burgess: First of all, I'm not going anywhere. Maybe they should have listened to me more, but they have my phone number. My encyclopedic knowledge of health policy will never go away, so if you need my advice, you can definitely ask for it.

I can't say anything about other people retiring. We all decide for ourselves individually. In my case, my wife said I was too old. And since she decided she was going to be married to me for 50 years, I thought maybe I should listen.

Sanders and Markey file suit to subpoena pharmaceutical industry CEOs

Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vermont) and Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) spoke to reporters yesterday ahead of the presidential election. next week's vote On whether to force the two CEOs to testify Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committeepost's Dan Diamond He has contributed to “The Health 202.''

Democrats on the November Committee I was demanded to that johnson & johnson CEO Joaquin Duato, Merck CEO robert davis and bristol myers squib CEO chris berner He was originally scheduled to testify at a hearing scheduled for yesterday to examine companies' pricing practices and question why drug prices in the U.S. are so much higher than those in other countries.

Mr. Sanders said Mr. Werner had agreed to testify if another CEO accompanied him, but Mr. Duato and Mr. Davis have so far refused.

“We must demand that CEOs explain to the American people why these prices are so high,” Markey said. “When pharmaceutical companies come to the table and provide innovative, breakthrough medicines at prices Americans can actually afford, we can build the health care system Americans deserve.”

Sanders, who chaired the panel, returned to his usual topic. The drug industry has too much influence in Washington to go unchecked.

• “They have tremendous power over the U.S. Congress,” he said. “We're going to fight back.”

Voting is scheduled for next Wednesday. If successful, it would be the first time the panel has issued a subpoena since 1981.

Listen to Mr. Sanders and Mr. Markey.

Political concerns delayed CDC aid to Gaza

Domestic political concerns who About US support for Israel delayed the development Several of my colleagues, some of the experts tasked with preventing the spread of infectious diseases from Gaza to neighboring areas. Lena H. Sun I will report it.

of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The WHO will send an epidemiologist to its Cairo office next week, nearly three months after it first offered support to the U.N. agency that aims to ensure impartiality in global conflicts.

Looking more closely, The question, he said, was whether there was “a perceived lack of neutrality from the WHO if they got help from the CDC.” rick brennan, WHO Regional Emergencies Officer headquartered in Cairo. Brennan downplayed his role that political sensitivities played in the delay, saying it would take time to improve logistics, especially during the holidays.

But the setback caused turmoil within the CDC. outbreak of disease began to devastate the refugees. According to internal communications shared with the newspaper, agency officials told the CDC that the lack of visibility in Gaza contrasts sharply with its response in other humanitarian crises, and that the CDC has become even more public in the conflict. I am asking you to play a role.

Senator challenges assisted living industry over inadequate care

US assisted living industry faced intense scrutiny Yesterday, a cross-party group of MPs called for answers over staffing shortages, high costs and a lack of transparency around the environment. Inadequate care and preventable death At The Post facility christopher rowland and douglas mcmillan report.

Key questions before the Senate Select Committee on Aging: Should this industry be subject to federal regulation like nursing homes?

Sen. elizabeth warren (D-Massachusetts), sided with patient advocacy groups calling for stricter federal oversight, arguing that without national standards, consumers can't be assured they will receive quality care. Across the aisle is the top Republican senator on the committee. mike brown (Indiana) said it supports state regulations, but called for a stronger role for government to promote transparency regarding facility costs and quality.

Speaker Bob Casey (D-Pa.) did not commit to specific provisions that Congress could consider, but asked the public to: share your experience to help with future deliberations.. Assisted living providers have warned that pursuing uniform standards will damage the industry and drive up costs.

Democratic and Republican leaders Senate Finance Committee Addressing the generic drug shortage in the United States.

in white paper Published yesterday, Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) outlined policy options under Medicare and Medicaid that the Committee is considering to address factors that contribute to the shortage. Their proposals include changes to the Medicaid drug rebate program and reforms to stabilize the supply of generic sterile injectable drugs.

Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho):

• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ask for feedback From the general public How to increase transparency and improve data capabilities in the Medicare Advantage sector.
• Federal Trade Commission is filing a lawsuit Blocking proposed hospital deal in North Carolinaargued that acquisitions could raise consumer prices and reduce incentives to provide quality care.
• Accessible Medicines Association asking Court stopping Illinois Blocking implementation of a new state law aimed at preventing price gouging for certain generic drugs. status's ed silverman I will report it.

“This, folks, is what it looks like when you have a right to privacy.” under attack”

— President Biden on Republican-proposed federal abortion law

Medicare certifies California hospices despite state ban on new licenses (by Ava Kofman | ProPublica)

US pharmacy benefits lobby increases spending as lawmakers approach (Written by Ahmed Abrenuin | Reuters)

Walgreens investors oppose bid for clearer abortion drug policy (by Clara Hudson | Bloomberg Law)

thank you for reading! See you on Monday.