When is Congress in session? House 2024 Calendar Senate 2024 Calendar
What’s Ahead: This Week
Hearings and Markups –
- Tuesday, April 30
- House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, “Member Day.” Additional Information
- House Energy & Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Health, “Legislative Proposals to Increase Medicaid Access and Improve Program Integrity.” Additional Information
- Wednesday, May 1
- House Energy & Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, “A Hearing to Discuss the Cyberattack on Change Healthcare and How it Impacts Patients and Providers.” Additional Information
- Senate Finance Committee, “Hacking America’s Health Care: Assessing the Change Healthcare Cyber Attack and What’s Next.” Additional Information
- Thursday, May 2
- Senate HELP Committee, “What Can Congress Do to Address the Severe Shortage of Minority Health Care Professionals and the Maternal Health Crisis?” Additional Information
Notable Policy Events –
- Monday, April 29
- AHIP, “Comprehensive Nutrition Program Leads to Long-Term Behavior Change and Savings.” Free, Virtual. Additional Information
- Stat News, “STAT in DC: Policy in Health Care.” Paid, Hybrid. Additional Information
- Tuesday, April 30
- Sirona Strategies and Hogan Lovells, “Chevron? What is it and How Will it Impact Health Policy?” Free, Virtual. Additional Information
- CMS, “National Stakeholder Calls with the CMS Administrator.” Free, Virtual. Additional Information
- Wednesday, May 1
- National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM) Foundation, “Telehealth: A Vital Piece of the Care Access Puzzle.” Free, Virtual. Additional Information
- Thursday, May 2
- AHIP, “A Four-Pillar Approach to Improving Support and Care Coordination.” Free, Virtual. Additional Information
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) ” National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee (NAIAC) Public Meeting.” Free, Hybrid. Additional Information
Weekly Wrap-Up: Notable Health Care Developments from Last Week
Medicare & Medicaid –
- On April 22, CMS released the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program Managed Care Access, Finance, and Quality final rule. This rule would address standards for timely access to care and states’ monitoring and enforcement efforts, specify medical loss ratio requirements, and establish a quality rating system for Medicaid and CHIP managed care plans, among other provisions. These regulations are effective July 9, 2024. Fact Sheet Final Rule Press Release
- Also on April 22, CMS released the Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services final rule, which would increase transparency and accountability, standardize data and monitoring, and create opportunities for states to promote active beneficiary engagement. These regulations are effective July 9, 2024. Fact Sheet Final Rule Press Release
- Also on April 22, CMS released the Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care Facilities and Medicaid Institutional Payment Transparency Reporting final rule, which would establish minimum staffing standards for long-term care facilities and require states to report the percent of Medicaid payments for certain Medicaid-covered institutional services that are spent on compensation for direct care workers and support staff. These regulations are effective June 21, 2024. Fact Sheet Final Rule Press Release
- On April 23, CMS released an update to its 2022 National Quality Strategy, which provides details on how CMS is putting quality-focused goals into motion. CMS National Quality Strategy Report
- On April 26, CMS issued a final rule, which would revise provisions prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, and disability and clarifying Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. The rule is effective July 5, 2024. Final Rule Press Release Section 1557
Payment & Delivery System Models – On April 25, House Budget Committee Chair Arrington (R-TX) and Health Care Task Force Chair Burgess (R-TX) sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting that GAO issue a report on the CMS Innovation Center, updating its past work, including its use of dedicated funding and assessment of its performance. Letter Press Release
Health IT, Privacy, & Digital Health –
- On April 22, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) released Version 2.0 of the Common Agreement, which includes enhancements and updates to require support for Health Level Seven (HL7) Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) based transactions. Common Agreement 2.0 Press Release
- On April 22, HHS issued a final rule which would increase privacy for reproductive health data. These regulations are effective June 25, 2024. Final Rule Press Release White House Statement
- On April 26, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released a rule finalizing changes to the Health Breach Notification Rule (HBNR). The final rule clarifies HBNR applicability to health apps and other similar technologies and expands the information that covered entities must provide to consumers when notifying them of a breach of their health data. The rule will go into effect 60 days after its publication in the Federal Register. Press Release Final Rule
Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Policy – On April 23, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released the 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and Action Plan. The National Strategy outlines recommendations for addressing gaps and meeting the needs of at-risk populations. It is accompanied by the first-ever Federal Action Plan, which identifies 200 actions to be initiated and evaluated over the next three years. Federal Action Plan National Strategy Press Release
Prescription Drugs & Health Innovation – On April 24, Senate HELP Committee Chair Sanders (I-VT) sent a letter which announced the launch of an investigation into a pharmaceutical company that develops type 2 diabetes and obesity drugs. Letter Press Release
SDOH & Health Equity– On April 23, the FDA launched the Home as a Health Care Hub initiative, which aims to move health care into the home setting. Press Release
Health Systems & Health Care Workforce –
- On April 23, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) voted to issue a final rule that would prevent most employers from enforcing noncompete agreements against workers. The rule is effective 120 days after publication in the federal register. Final Rule Press Release
- On April 25, HHS announced 20 states that have been selected to participate in technical assistance programs that will help states better recruit, train, and retain direct care workers, who provide home and community-based services (HCBS) for older adults and people with disabilities. Issue Brief Press Release
Misc. – On April 25, the Congressional Budget Office published a presentation, which summarizes CBO’s long-term projections of federal health care spending, the distribution of federal subsidies for health care, the drivers of cost growth in health care, and options for reducing federal spending on health care. Presentation
Legislative Activity –
Introduced Legislation –
- On April 23, Reps. McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Pallone (D-NJ) introduced H.R. 8106, which would increase transparency and expand coverage options with respect to home and community-based services under a Medicaid waiver. The bill will be discussed in the House E&C legislative hearing. Bill Text Press Release
- Also on April 23, Reps. Ciscomani (R-AZ) and Perez (D-WA) introduced the Ensuring Access to Medicaid Buy-In Program Act (H.R. 8107), which would remove certain age restrictions on Medicaid eligibility for working adults with disabilities. Bill Text Press Release
- Also on April 23, Reps. Dingell (D-MI) and James (R-MI) introduced H.R. 8110, which would make permanent the state option to extend protection against spousal impoverishment for recipients of home and community-based services under Medicaid. The bill will be discussed in the House E&C legislative hearing. Bill Text Press Release
- Also on April 23, Reps. Miller-Meeks (R-IA) and Cartwright (D-PA) introduced H.R. 8111, which would ensure the reliability of address information provided under the Medicaid program. The bill will be discussed in the House E&C legislative hearing. Bill Text Press Release
- Also on April 23, Rep. D’Esposito (R-NY) introduced H.R. 8112, which would require certain additional provider screening under the Medicaid program. The bill will be discussed in the House E&C legislative hearing. Bill Text Press Release
- Also on April 23, Rep. Griffith (R-VA) introduced H.R. 8113, which would require reporting on certain directed payments under the Medicaid program. The bill will be discussed in the House E&C legislative hearing. Bill Text Press Release
- Also on April 23, Rep. Cammack (R-FL) introduced H.R. 8114, which would prohibit the HHS Secretary from finalizing a rule proposed by CMS to place certain limitations on Medicaid payments for home or community-based services. Bill Text Press Release
- Also on April 23, Rep. Sarbanes (D-MD) introduced H.R. 8115, which would allow for the deferral or disallowance of portions of payments for certain managed care violations under Medicaid. Bill Text Press Release
Also on April 23, Sen. Hyde-Smith (R-MS) introduced the Rural Health Sustainability Act (S. 4201), which would modify the criteria for designation of rural emergency hospitals. Bill Text Press Release