When is Congress in session? House 2024 Calendar Senate 2024 Calendar
What’s Ahead: This Week
Hearings and Markups –
- Tuesday, April 16
- House Appropriations Committee, Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, “Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Request for the Department of Justice (DOJ).” Additional Information
- House Education & Workforce Committee, Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions, “ERISA’s 50th Anniversary: The Path to Higher Quality, Lower Cost Health Care.” Additional Information
- House Energy & Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations, “Examining How Improper Payments Cost Taxpayers Billions and Weaken Medicare and Medicaid.” Additional Information
- House Energy & Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Health, “Examining Health Sector Cybersecurity in the Wake of the Change Healthcare Attack.” Additional Information
- House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Health Subcommittee, “Markup on Pending Legislation.” Additional Information
- Senate Appropriations Committee, Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, “FY 2025 Budget Request for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).” Additional Information
- Senate Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, “FY 2025 Budget Request for HHS.” Additional Information
- Senate Special Committee on Aging, “The Long-Term Care Workforce: Addressing
- Wednesday, April 17
- House Energy & Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Health, “FY 2025 HHS Budget.” Additional Information
- Senate Appropriations Committee, Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, “FY 2025 Budget Request for DOJ.” Additional Information
- Senate HELP Committee, Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security, “Feeding a Healthier America: Current Efforts and Potential Opportunities for Food is Medicine.” Additional Information
- Thursday, April 18
- House Appropriations Committee, Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA Subcommittee, “Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request for FDA.” Additional Information
Notable Policy Events –
- Monday, April 15
- American Medical Association (AMA), “AMA Advocacy Insights Webinar Series: What We Need to Do—Now—To Address The Maternal Health Crisis.” Free, Virtual. Additional Information
- Urban Institute, “The Social and Political Factors of Health Inequities in the US.” Free, Virtual. Additional Information
- Tuesday, April 16 to Wednesday, April 17
- ICD Media Group, “Navigating the Future of Hospital at Home.” Paid, In-Person. Additional Information
- Tuesday, April 16 to Friday, April 9
- Global Health Care, LLC, “The Third Virtual National Health Care Transparency and No Surprises Act Summit.” Paid, Virtual. Additional Information
- Tuesday, April 16
- Becker’s Hospital Review, “Driving Better Outcomes for Cardiac Patients Through RPM.” Free, Virtual. Additional Information
- Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), “2024 TEFCA RCE Monthly Informational Call.” Free, Virtual. Additional Information
- Thursday, April 18
- National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions, “ERISA Preemption: Navigating the Federal-State Legal Maze.” Free, Virtual. Additional Information
- STAT News, “Family Caregivers: Critical Members of the Care Team.” Free, Virtual. Additional Information
Weekly Wrap-Up: Notable Health Care Developments from Last Week
Medicare & Medicaid –
- On April 11, CMS released the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) and Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System (LTCH PPS) proposed rule, which updates Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) payment rates and policies for inpatient hospitals and long-term care hospitals. Comments are due on June 10, 2024. Proposed Rule Fact Sheet Press Release
- Also on April 11, CMS released the License Agreements 2024 LTSS Quality Measures Technical Specifications and Resource Manual and Value Set, which introduces a set of measures for Medicaid FFS delivery systems that correspond with measures for Medicaid managed care programs to promote quality improvement efforts within Medicaid-funded home and community-based services (HCBS). Technical Specifications and Resource Manual
- On April 12, CMS announced that Connecticut submitted a request for an amendment of the Medicaid Section 1115 Connecticut Substance Use Disorder demonstration, which includes limited services for certain individuals 90 days prior to release from the criminal justice system and providing services addressing health-related social needs for many of the state’s justice-involved Medicaid beneficiaries. The comment period is open through May 13, 2024. Pending Application Comments
- Also on April 12, CMS announced that New Hampshire submitted a request for an amendment to its Medicaid Section 1115 New Hampshire Substance Use Disorder, Serious Mental Illness, Serious Emotional Disturbance, Treatment, Recovery, and Access Demonstration, which would extend presumptive eligibility to individuals applying for home and community-based services under the state’s 1915(c) waiver, Choices for Independence. Pending Application Comments
Marketplaces – On April 12, HHS announced a new process for the No Surprises Act Federal Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR). Parties will have a new way to resubmit disputes that were originally improperly submitted. IDR Process
Payment & Delivery System Models –
- On April 8, CMS released its second evaluation report for the Maryland Total Cost of Care Model. From 2019 to 2022, the model had favorable effects on spending, service use, and quality. Report Two-Page Summary
- On April 11, CMS announced the proposed Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM), which would test a new mandatory episode-based model focused on coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), lower extremity joint replacement (LEJR), major bowel procedure, surgical hip/femur fracture treatment (SHFFT), and spinal fusion. TEAM Webpage Fact Sheet Press Release FAQs
Public Health Prevention, Preparedness, Surveillance –
- On April 9, Senate HELP Committee Chair Sanders (I-VT) released a draft legislative proposal to address the presence of Long COVID. Comments are due April 23, 2024. Request for Input Press Release
- On April 12, President Biden announced an executive order (EO), which revokes several COVID-19 and public health preparedness and response EOs. Certain roles and responsibilities related to public health preparedness and response will be transferred to the Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy. Executive Order
Health IT, Privacy, & Digital Health –
- On April 8, Sen. Grassley (R-IA) sent letters to administrators at seven federal agencies to address recommendations by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for improving the cybersecurity of critical infrastructure. Letter to Treasury Department Letter to EPA Letter to Transportation Department Letter to Homeland Security Department Letter to Energy Department Letter to Defense Department Letter to HHS Press Release
- On April 10, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) released a data brief, which found that more than half of primary care physicians reported general satisfaction with their electronic access to external immunization information in 2022. Press Release Report
- On April 11, ONC released a fact sheet and white paper highlighting actions it is taking to advance interoperability in health care in a way that prioritizes health equity. Comments on the white paper are due June 10, 2024. Press Release Fact Sheet White Paper
- Also on April 11, CDC released an updated Public Health Data Strategy for 2024-2025 and a companion 2023 Lookback Report. The strategy outlines the data, technology, policy, and administrative actions essential to address challenges in data exchange between health care organizations and public health authorities and between state, tribal, local, territorial and federal public health authorities. Lookback Report Press Release Public Health Data Strategy
Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Policy –
- On April 10, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released a new report with core curriculum content for integration of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment for early-career graduate health care education programs. Press Release Report
- On April 12, Sens. Manchin (D-WV) and Capito (R-WV) sent a letter to HHS Secretary Becerra urging HHS to fully implement Jessie’s Law, which provides for the sharing of health information concerning an individual’s substance abuse treatment by certain entities. Jessie’s Law Letter Press Release
SDOH & Health Equity–
- On April 9, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a final rule which would align the women, infants, and children (WIC) food package regulations with the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Final Rule Press Release Q&A
- On April 9, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced a $51 million funding opportunity for health centers to support transitions in care for people leaving incarceration. Applications are due on June 10, 2024. Press Release
- Also on April 9, the CDC released a study which found that about 65 percent of women ages 50-74 with three or more health-related social needs are up to date with their mammograms. Data Brief
Health Systems & Health Care Workforce –
- On April 8, GAO released a report, which found that between 2018 and 2022, health centers relied on revenue from a variety of public and private sources, with its largest single source of revenue being Medicaid. Full Report One-Pager Press Release
- On April 9, President Biden highlighted progress the Administration has taken to support family caregivers through the investments in child care, home care, paid family and medical leave, tax cuts for workers and families, and other priorities. Fact Sheet Remarks
Legislative Activity –
Votes and Committee Activity – On April 11, the House Energy & Commerce Committee announced updates to Republican Members’ subcommittee assignments. Rep. Balderson (R-OH) will join the Health Subcommittee. Announcement
Introduced Legislation –
- On April 9, Rep. Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) introduced the Welcome Back to the Health Care Workforce Act (H.R. 7907), which would award grants for career support for a skilled, internationally educated health care workforce. Sen. Kaine (D-VA) introduced companion legislation (S. 4088) in the Senate. Bill Text Press Release
- Also on April 9, Sens. Mullin (R-OK), Sinema (I-AZ), and Tillis (R-NC) introduced the Ensuring Access to Specialty Care Everywhere (EASE) Act (S. 4078), which would require the CMS Innovation Center to test a model to improve access to specialty health services for certain Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. Rep. Steel (R-CA) and 17 cosponsors introduced companion legislation (H.R. 7149) on January 30, 2024. Bill Text Press Release
- Also on April 9, Sens. Hassan (D-NH), Collins (R-ME), Britt (R-AL), and Smith (D-MN) introduced the Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act (S. 4079), which would improve obstetric emergency care. Bill Text One-Pager Press Release
- Also on April 9, Sens. Blumenthal (D-CT) and Hirono (D-HI) introduced the Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act (S. 4087), which would prohibit nursing facilities from using pre-dispute arbitration agreements with respect to residents of those facilities under the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Bill Text Press Release
- On April 10, Rep. Bowman (D-NY) and 17 cosponsors introduced the Advancing Culturally Competent and Equitable Supportive Services (ACCESS) in Mental Health Act (H.R. 7924), which would support graduate programs in mental and behavioral health professions at minority-serving institutions. Press Release
- Also on April 10, Reps. Horsford (D-NV) and Davis (D-IL) introduced the Nursing Home Workforce Support and Expansion Act (H.R. 7929), which would provide for nursing home worker training grants. Bill Text Bill Summary Press Release
- Also on April 10, Reps. Miller (R-WV) and Caraveo (D-CO) introduced the Preserving Emergency Access in Key Sites Act (PEAKS) Act (H.R. 7931), which would update the fee schedule for ambulance services provided by critical access hospitals. Sens. Manchin (D-WV), Capito (R-WV), Tester (D-MT), and Barrasso (R-WY) introduced the companion legislation in the Senate (S. 4101) Bill Text Press Release
- Also on April 10, Sens. Scott (R-SC), Warner (D-VA), and Cramer (R-ND) introduced the PREVENT DIABETES Act (S. 4094), which would provide coverage of the Medicare Diabetes Prevention program. Reps. DeGete (D-CO), Bilirakis (R-FL), Crow (D-CO), and Schrier (D-WA) introduced the companion legislation in the House (H.R. 7856) on April 2. Bill Text Press Release
- On April 11, Reps. Carey (R-OH) and Davis (D-IL) introduced the Patient Access to Innovative New Technologies Act (H.R. 7939), which would improve Medicare beneficiary access to new medical technologies that improve health care quality and outcomes. Bill Text Press Release
- Also on April 11, Rep. Ogles (R-TN) and seven sponsors introduced the Defunding Unscientific Mask Mandates Act of 2024 (H.R. 7964), which would prohibit the use of Federal funds to establish, implement, or enforce any COVID-19 mask mandate. Press Release
- Also on April 11, Reps. Williams (D-GA) and Porter (D-CA) introduced the Plain Prescription Prices Act (H.R. 7970), which would require direct-to-consumer advertisements for prescription drugs and biological products to include truthful and not misleading pricing information. Bill Text One Pager Press Release