Health Care Policy Update – Weekly Wrap-up and What’s Ahead – April 24, 2023


What’s Ahead: This Week

Hearings and Markups –

  • Wednesday, April 26
    • House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, “Oversight on Provider Relief Fund and Healthcare Workforce Shortages.” Additional information
    • House Education and the Workforce Committee, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee, “Reducing Health Care Costs for Working Americans and Their Families.” Additional information
    • House Energy & Commerce Committee, “Lowering Unaffordable Costs: Legislative Solutions to Increase Transparency and Competition in Health Care.” Additional information
    • House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, “The Government Accountability Office’s 2023 High Risk List.” Additional information
    • House Ways & Means Committee, “Hearing on Tax-Exempt Hospitals and the Community Benefit Standard.” Additional information
  • Thursday, April 27
    • House Energy & Commerce Committee, Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee, “Addressing America’s Data Privacy Shortfalls: How a National Standard Fills Gaps to Protect Americans’ Personal Information.” Additional information

Notable Policy Events

  • Tuesday, April 25
    • CMS, “National Stakeholder Call with the CMS Administrator.” Additional information
    • CMS, “National Office Hours Call on the Ending of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE).” Additional information
    • Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), “National Minority Health Month – Better Health Through Better Understanding.” Additional information
    • Kaiser Family Foundation, “The Health Wonk Shop: Medicaid Work Requirements.” Additional information
    • mPulse Mobile, “Improving Patient Outcomes with Equitable Health Journeys.” Additional information
    • Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), “Leading Edge Acceleration Projects (LEAP) in Health Information Technology (Health IT) Informational Session.” Additional information
    • PAN Foundation and CVS, “Understanding Health Inequities.” Additional information
    • The Washington Post, “Lessons Learned from U.S. COVID-19 Response.” Additional information
  • Wednesday, April 26
  • Thursday, April 27
  • Friday, April 28
    • The Washington Post, “Bridging the Digital Divide in Education, Finance, and Health Care.” Additional information

Weekly Wrap-Up: Notable Health Care Developments from Last Week

Medicare –

  • On April 18, CMS released a notice soliciting comments on the Drug Price Negotiation Program processes, as authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act. Comments are due by June 20, 2023. Notice
  • Also on April 18, CMS released a notice soliciting comments on proposed revisions to the Minimum Data Set 3.0 Nursing Home and Swing Bed Prospective Payment System (PPS). Comments are due May 18, 2023. Notice
  • On April 19, CMS released a report on disparities in health care in Medicare Advantage by race, ethnicity, and sex, which found that a substantial proportion of clinical care scores were below the national average for American Indian/Alaska Native, Black, and Hispanic enrollees. Report
  • Also on April 19, CMS released a new data brief on the vaccination against COVID-19 among community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries from January 2020 to August 2021. Data Brief
  • On April 20, CMS announced it is releasing ownership data for all Medicare-certified hospice and home health agencies. CMS expects to release updated ownership data on a quarterly basis in a searchable format on data.cms.gov. Press Release CMS Data
  • On April 21, the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a report on an audit of one Medicare Advantage Organization’s compliance with collecting seven groups of high-risk diagnosis codes. The audit found that most of the selected diagnosis codes submitted to CMS for use in CMS’ risk adjustment program did not comply with Federal requirements. Report in Brief Report

Medicaid –

  • On April 17, CMS announced that the US Virgin Islands (USVI) submitted a request for a new five-year Medicaid section 1115 demonstration to maintain its current Medicaid drug program. The comment period is open through May 16, 2023. Pending Application Comments
  • Also on April 17, CMS released a State Medicaid Director Letter to encourage states to apply for a new Medicaid Reentry Section 1115 Demonstration Opportunity, allowing Medicaid programs to cover services for individuals who are incarcerated in the period immediately prior to their release. Press Release Letter
  • On April 18, CMS approved a state plan amendment that will provide Illinois more Medicaid funding for eligible children receiving Medicaid-covered health care services in schools. Approval Letter Press Release
  • Also on April 18, CMS released a blog post, “Calling on Partners To Help People Stay Covered,” which highlights how to maximize outreach and ensure beneficiaries experience smooth coverage transitions as the Medicaid continuous enrollment period ends. Blog
  • On April 19, CMS announced that Utah submitted a request to amend its section 1115 demonstration to increase the premium reimbursement amount for children in Utah’s Premium Partnership for Health Insurance Program. The comment period is open through May 19, 2023. Pending Application Comments
  • Also on April 19, CMS approved Rhode Island’s Medicaid and CHIP postpartum coverage expansion, made possible by the American Rescue Plan. Approval Letter
  • Also on April 19, House Republicans unveiled the Republican plan to address the debt ceiling. The Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 includes health care proposals including work requirements that would require many Medicaid recipients to work 80 hours per month, as well as rescinding unspent COVID-19 relief funds. Press Release Speaker McCarthy Remarks Plan
  • On April 20, CMS approved an amendment to the Oregon Health Plan (OHP) section 1115 demonstration to help maintain coverage following the expiration of the Medicaid continuous enrollment provision. Amendment

Marketplaces –

  • On April 17, CMS issued the HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2024 final rule, finalizing standards for issuers and Marketplaces, as well as requirements for agents, brokers, web-brokers, and Assisters that help consumers with enrollment through Marketplaces that use the Federal platform. These regulations are effective on June 18, 2023. Fact Sheet Press Release Final Rule

Public Health Preparedness, Surveillance & Data –

  • COVID-19 Data: To date, there are 104,445,294 total COVID-19 cases and 1,129,573 COVID-19 deaths in the United States. Also, 978,124,175 COVID-19 vaccines have been delivered and 675,024,615 individual COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered. Data
  • FDA Action Update: To date, FDA has authorized 445 tests under Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs), including 299 molecular tests, 83 antibody tests and 62 antigen tests. FDA also continues to update COVID-19 FAQs.
  • On April 17, FDA announced the issuance of an EUA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) for an in vitro diagnostic device in response to an outbreak of mpox. Notice
  • Also on April 17, Sen. Marshall (R-KS) released a report on the origins of COVID-19, providing a cumulation of findings and research conducted over the last two years on the pandemic. Press Release Report Summary
  • On April 18, FDA amended the EUAs of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 bivalent mRNA vaccines to simplify the vaccination schedule for most individuals. This action includes authorizing the current bivalent vaccines (original and omicron BA.4/BA.5 strains) to be used for all doses administered to individuals six months of age and older, including for an additional dose or doses for certain populations. The monovalent Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines are no longer authorized for use in the United States. Press Release
  • Also on April 18, HHS announced the HHS Bridge Access Program For COVID-19 Vaccines and Treatments Program to maintain broad access to COVID-19 vaccines for millions of uninsured Americans. The program will create a $1.1 billion public-private partnership to help maintain uninsured individuals’ access to COVID-19 care at local pharmacies, through existing public health infrastructure, and at local health centers. Fact Sheet
  • On April 19, CDC took steps to simplify COVID-19 vaccine recommendations and allow more flexibility for immunocompromised people to receive additional COVID-19 vaccine doses, as needed. Press Release HHS Secretary Statement
  • On April 20, CDC announced it will hold its annual Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Conference April 24–27, 2023 in Atlanta. The event will feature presentations on recent investigations and innovative analyses into mpox, COVID-19, health disparities and more. Press Release
  • Also on April 20, the HHS OIG released the 2023 Nationwide COVID-19 Health Care Fraud Enforcement Actions, highlighting charges brought against doctors and providers for false billings and Provider Relief Fund (PRF) fraud, manufacturers of fake COVID-19 vaccination record cards, and fraudulent over-the-counter COVID-19 testing kits, with losses exceeding $203 million. Press Release
  • On April 21, CDC published a study finding that COVIDTests.gov test kits have improved access to COVID-19 testing, with more than 40 million households using at least one kit. Report

Health IT, Privacy, & Digital Health –

  • On April 17, the HHS Cybersecurity Task Force released new resources to help address cybersecurity concerns in the health care and public health sectors. Press Release Knowledge on Demand Platform Health Industry Cybersecurity Practices (HICP) 2023 Edition Hospital Cyber Resiliency Initiative Landscape Analysis
  • Also on April 17, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) issued a notice inviting organizations to provide letters of interest describing products and technical expertise to support and demonstrate security platforms for the Mitigating Cybersecurity Risk in Telehealth Smart Home Integration project. Collaborative activities will commence as soon as enough completed and signed letters of interest have been returned to address all the necessary components and capabilities, but no earlier than May 17, 2023. Notice
  • On April 20, HHS released a report updating prior findings on national trends in telehealth utilization and modality. The report found steady use of telehealth and emphasizes the importance of audio-only telehealth for addressing disparities. Report
  • On April 21, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report finding that the use of electronic health information exchange among small and rural hospitals was lower than that of other hospitals. GAO concluded that this may be due to providers not having the resources needed to participate in electronic exchange—such as adequate IT staff and sufficient access to broadband internet. Report in Brief Report

Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Policy –

  • On April 20, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced the 2024–2025 Community Mental Health Services Block Grant (MHBG) and Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services (SUPTRS BG) (formally known as Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant) Application Plan and Report Guidance and Instructions. Announcement
  • On April 21, CDC issued a notice with an information collection request, which evaluates the Health Care Worker Mental Health Campaign. The project aims to marry communications best practices with behavior and systems change to address the working conditions of health workers. Notice

Prescription Drugs, Medical Devices, Biomedical Research, & Health Innovation   –

  • On April 17, the FDA approved Omisirge, a modified donor cord blood-based cell therapy to quicken the recovery of neutrophils (a subset of white blood cells) in the body and reduce the risk of infection following a stem cell transplant. Press Release
  • Also on April 17, the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) released a CDER Conversation about its Office of New Drugs’ Research Program. Post
  • On April 20, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced that its All of Us Research Program has expanded its data to now include nearly a quarter million whole genome sequences for broad research use and to advance precision medicine. Announcement
  • Also on April 20, Senate Finance Committee Chair Wyden (D-OR) and Ranking Member Crapo (R-ID) released a bipartisan framework to address pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and the prescription drug supply chain. The Committee will use the framework to pursue legislative solutions to modernize and enhance federal prescription drug programs, with the goal of reducing drug costs for patients and taxpayers. Press Release Framework
  • On April 21, House Energy & Commerce Committee Chair McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Health Subcommittee Chair Guthrie (R-KY), and Environment, Manufacturing, & Critical Materials Subcommittee Chair Johnson (R-OH) sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Regan asking the EPA to stop delaying regulations for reclaiming and reusing hydrofluorocarbons necessary for affordable medical devices, like inhalers. Press Release Letter

Veterans Health and Military Health  –

  • On April 17, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and NIH began a joint, five-year study that aims to explain the chronic symptoms of Gulf War Illness. Goals of the study include more definitive diagnostic criteria for Gulf War Illness, development of new diagnostic testing, and potential treatments. Press Release Study
  • On April 19, the VA OIG released a Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Program report that describes the results of a focused evaluation of the leadership performance and oversight by the VA MidSouth Healthcare Network in Nashville, Tennessee. Report in Brief Report
  • On April 20, the VA OIG released a report that found the Medical Disability Examination Office (MDEO) is not monitoring whether vendors obtain and document veterans’ express consent to travel beyond contractual mileage limits for both specialist and non-specialist exams. Report in Brief Report
  • On April 21, the VA announced that future deployments of the new Electronic Health Record (EHR) will be halted while it prioritizes improvements needed at the five sites that currently use the new EHR, as part of a larger program reset. Press Release

Population Health, Public Health & Health Equity –

  • On April 17, the NIH released a request for information (RFI) on research opportunities and best practices for Food is Medicine research programs. Comments are due June 30, 2023. RFI
  • Also on April 17, CDC launched the National Firefighter Registry for Cancer online enrollment system through the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Press Release
  • Also on April 17, NIH released a study outlining opportunities to achieve President Biden’s Cancer Moonshot goal of reducing cancer death rates in the United States by 50 percent. Press Release
  • On April 18, President Biden signed an Executive Order, “Increasing Access to High-Quality Care and Supporting Caregivers,” which includes more than 50 directives to expand access to affordable, high-quality care, and provide support for care workers and family caregivers. Executive Order Fact Sheet What They Are Saying President Biden Remarks
  • On April 19, FDA released a notice on new cigarette health warnings for cigarette packages and advertisements. Comments are due by May 19, 2023. Notice
  • Also on April 19, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) released a notice announcing that it had accepted a notification of proposed voluntary relinquishment from the Emergency Medical Error Reduction Group patient safety organization (PSO). Notice
  • On April 21, CDC released a report on cancer distribution among Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander subgroups. Report
  • Also on April 21, CDC released a report on the association of reported experiences of racial and ethnic discrimination in health care with COVID-19 vaccination status and intent. Report

Health Systems & Health Care Workforce –

  • On April 21, HHS released a notice announcing a waiver of the two-year foreign residence requirement of the Exchange Visitor Program, which allows research scientists or foreign medical graduates to work as clinicians in HHS-designated health shortage areas. Comments are due June 20, 2023. Notice
  • Also on April 21, NIH issued a RFI on proposed changes to the peer review of Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) fellowship applications. Comments are due June 23, 2023. RFI

Reproductive & Maternal Health –

  • On April 17, CDC released a notice that it is seeking a revision to continue to collect information through the Maternal Mortality Review Information Application (MMRIA) for three additional years. Notice
  • On April 18, HHS Secretary Becerra hosted a roundtable discussion to commemorate Black Maternal Health Week (April 11-17). He emphasized the Administration’s work to address the underlying disparities in the health care system, to provide whole-person care to pregnant people and their families, and advance health equity across the country. Press Release
  • Also on April 18, Vice President Harris participated in a moderated conversation in support of reproductive rights at the University of Nevada. Press Release
  • On April 21, SAMHSA released a solicitation of nominations for organizations to be considered for non-voting liaison representative positions on a subcommittee of the Advisory Committee for Women’s Services (ACWS) focused on maternal mental health. Nominations are due May 31, 2023. Notice
  • Also on April 21, the Supreme Court ruled to temporarily block a lower court’s decision to limit access to mifepristone, allowing the drug to remain available at current levels for the time being until the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals rules on the merits of the dispute. Order

Misc. –

  • On April 18, Senate Finance Committee Chair Wyden (D-OR) and Ranking Member Crapo (R-ID) sent a letter to Administration on Children, Youth, and Families (ACF) Commissioner Gaston in support of the HHS proposed rule that would reduce barriers to kinship foster placement and ease the financial burdens on kin caregivers. Press Release Letter
  • On April 21, House Energy & Commerce Committee Chair McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Subcommittee on Health Chair Guthrie (R-KY), and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Griffith (R-VA) sent a letter to HHS Secretary Becerra regarding director level vacancies within the NIH. Press Release Letter
  • Also on April 21, the HHS Office of Climate Change and Health Equity (OCCHE) released new tools to accelerate health sector action to protect people living in the U.S. from the growing health threat of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and strengthening climate resiliency. Press Release

Legislative Activity –

Votes and Committee Activity –

  • On April 20, the House passed the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2023 (H.R. 734) by a vote of 219-203. The bill would provide that for purposes of determining compliance with title IX of such Act in athletics, sex shall be recognized based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration. Bill text Press release

Introduced Legislation –

  • On April 17, Reps. Balint (D-VT) and Payne (D-NJ) introduced the Peer Education and Emergency Response (PEER) for Mental Health Act (H.R. 2642), which would award grants for peer mental health first aid. Bill text Press release Bill summary
  • Also on April 17, Rep. Crenshaw (R-TX) and 11 cosponsors introduced the Restore Public Health Institution Trust Act (H.R. 2647), which would require the Comptroller General of the United States to submit a report on the public health mitigation messaging and guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sens. Rubio (R-FL), Marshall (R-KS), Daines (R-MT), Cramer (R-ND), and Braun (R-IN) introduced the companion legislation in the Senate (S. 1166). Bill text Press release
  • On April 18, Reps. Courtney (D-CT), Scott (D-VA), Bacon (R-NE), Adams (D-NC), Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Van Drew (R-NJ) introduced the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Worker Act (H.R. 2663), which would issue an occupational safety and health standard that requires covered employers within the health care and social service industries to develop and implement a comprehensive workplace violence prevention plan. Sen. Baldwin (D-WI) and 22 cosponsors introduced the companion legislation in the Senate (S. 1176). Bill text Press release Bill summary
  • Also on April 18, Reps. Clarke (D-NY), Crenshaw (R-TX), DeGette (D-CO), and Burgess (R-TX) introduced the Supporting Safety Net Hospitals Act (H.R. 2665), which would delay certain disproportionate share hospital payment reductions under the Medicaid program. Bill text Press release
  • Also on April 18, Reps. Guthrie (R-KY), Eshoo (D-CA), Joyce (R-PA), Auchincloss (D-MA), Miller-Meeks (R-IA), and Peters (D-CA) introduced the Medicaid VBPs for Patients (MVP) Act (H.R. 2666), which would codify value-based purchasing arrangements under the Medicaid program and reforms related to price reporting under such arrangements. Bill text Press release
  • Also on April 18, Reps. Kuster (D-NH), Carter (R-GA), Eshoo (D-CA), and Guthrie (R-KY) introduced the Pharmacy Benefits Manager Accountability Act (H.R. 2679), which would increase oversight of pharmacy benefits manager services. Bill text Press release
  • Also on April 18, Rep. Sanchez (D-CA) introduced the Addressing Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults (SILO) Act (H.R. 2692), which would provide grants and training to support area agencies on aging or other community-based organizations to address social isolation among vulnerable older adults and adults with disabilities. Bill text Press release
  • Also on April 18, Sen. Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced the Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act (S. 1174), which would increase funding for Social Security and Medicare. Press release Bill summary
  • Also on April 18, Sen. Kennedy (R-LA) introduced the 340B Reporting and Accountability Act (S. 1182), which would increase the transparency and accountability of the drug discount program. Bill text Press release
  • Also on April 18, Sens. Rubio (R-FL) and Hassan (D-NH) introduced the Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act (S. 1183), which would prohibit discrimination on the basis of mental or physical disability in cases of organ transplants. Reps. Cammack (R-FL), Dingell (D-MI), Sessions (R-TX), Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), and Issa (R-CA) introduced the companion legislation in the House (H.R. 2706) on April 19. Bill text Press release
  • On April 19, Reps. Eshoo (D-CA) and Lofgren (D-CA) introduced the Online Privacy Act (H.R. 2701), which would provide for individual rights relating to privacy of personal information, to establish privacy and security requirements for covered entities relating to personal information, and to establish an agency to be known as the Digital Privacy Agency to enforce such rights and requirements. Bill text Press release Section-by-section Bill summary
  • Also on April 19, Rep. Cohen (D-TN) and 58 bipartisan cosponsors introduced the Latonya Reeves Freedom Act (H.R. 2708), which would prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities who need long-term services and supports. Sen. Bennet (D-CO) and 16 cosponsors introduced the companion legislation in the Senate (S. 1193). Bill text Press release Bill summary
  • Also on April 19, Reps. Tlaib (D-MI), Dingell (D-MI), Eshoo (D-CA), and Kelly (D-IL) introduced the Health Equity and Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) Community Inclusion Act (H.R. 2730), which would include Middle Easterners and North Africans in the statutory definition of a “racial and ethnic minority group”. Bill text Press release
  • Also on April 19, Sen. Hagerty (R-TN) and 10 cosponsors introduced the Stop Fentanyl Border Crossings Act (S. 1192), which would provide the Secretary of Health and Human Services with the authority to suspend the right to introduce certain persons or property into the United States in the interest of the public health. Press release
  • Also on April 19, Sen. Schatz (D-HI) and eight cosponsors introduced the Veterans Medical Marijuana Safe Harbor Act (S. 1204), which would allow veterans to use, possess, or transport medical marijuana and to discuss the use of medical marijuana with a physician of the Department of Veterans Affairs as authorized by a State or Indian Tribe. Press release
  • Also on April 19, Sens. Murphy (D-CT), Gillibrand (D-NY), and Smith (D-MN) introduced the Social Security Caregiver Credit Act (S. 1211), which would credit individuals serving as caregivers of dependent relatives with deemed wages for up to five years of such service. Bill text Press release One-pager
  • Also on April 19, Sen. Hawley (R-MO) introduced the Ending the Prescription Drug Kickback Act of 2023 (S. 1217), which would prohibit the distribution and receipt of rebates for prescription drugs. Bill text Press release
  • Also on April 19, Sen. Hawley (R-MO) introduced the Fair Prescription Drug Prices for Americans Act (S. 1218), which would require that the retail list price for certain prescription drugs and biological products may not exceed the average retail list price for the drug or biological product among certain nations. Bill text Press release
  • Also on April 19, Rep. Velázquez (D-NY) introduced the Closing the Meal Gap Act, which would require that supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits be calculated using the value of the low-cost food plan. Sens. Gillibrand (D-NY) and Adams (D-NC) introduced the companion legislation in the Senate. Bill text Press release
  • Also on April 19, Reps. Neal (D-MA) and Bonamici (D-OR) introduced the Elder Justice Reauthorization and Modernization Act of 2023 (H.R. 2718), which would reauthorize the Elder Justice Act and dedicates new funding to programs proven to safeguard older adults and adults with disabilities. Wyden (D-OR) and Casey (D-PA) introduced the companion legislation in the Senate (S.1198). Bill text Press release
  • Also on April 19, Rep. Arrington introduced the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023, which would provide for a responsible increase to the debt ceiling, rescind COVID funding, and impose a work requirement to receive SNAP and Medicaid benefits. Bill text Press release
  • On April 20, Rep. Bonamici (D-OR) and 45 cosponsors introduced the Stop Anti-Abortion Disinformation (SAD) Act (H.R. 2736), which would prohibit disinformation in the advertising of abortion services. Sen. Menendez (D-NJ) and 13 cosponsors introduced the companion legislation in the Senate (S. 1231). Bill text Press release
  • Also on April 20, Rep. Kelly (D-IL) and nine bipartisan cosponsors introduced the Providing Resources and Occupational Training for Emotional Crisis and Trauma (PROTECT) 911 Act (H.R. 2763), which would improve the detection, prevention, and treatment of mental health issues among public safety telecommunicators. Press release
  • Also on April 20, Rep. Khanna (D-CA) and 21 cosponsors introduced the Green New Deal for Health (H.R. 2764), which would establish a Green New Deal for Health to prepare and empower the health care sector to protect the health and wellbeing of our workers, our communities, and our planet in the face of the climate crisis. Sens. Markey (D-MA), Merkley (D-OR), Sanders (I-VT), and Warren (D-MA) introduced the companion legislation in the Senate (S. 1229). Bill text Press release One pager
  • Also on April 20, Reps. Latta (R-OH), Hinson (R-IA), Bice (R-OK), and Langworthy (R-NY) introduced the Stop Penalizing Working Seniors Act (H.R. 2769), which would allow individuals only enrolled in Medicare Part A to contribute to health savings accounts. Press release
  • Also on April 20, Sens. Murkowski (R-AK), Feinstein (D-CA), Sullivan (R-AK), Hassan (D-NH), and Baldwin (D-WI) introduced Bruce’s Law (S. 1235), which would establish an awareness campaign related to the lethality of fentanyl and fentanyl-contaminated drugs, to establish a Federal Interagency Work Group on Fentanyl Contamination of Illegal Drugs, and provide community based coalition enhancement grants to mitigate the effects of drug misuse. Bill text Press release
  • Also on April 20, Sen. Klobuchar (D-MN) and 23 cosponsors introduced the Strengthening Medicare and Reducing Taxpayers (SMART) Prices Act (S. 1246), which would strengthen the drug pricing reforms in the Inflation Reduction Act. Press release