Health Care Policy Update – Weekly Wrap-up and What’s Ahead

The next edition of the Health Care Policy Update will be sent on January 3rd. Wishing you a very happy holiday season!

Weekly Wrap-up and What’s Ahead

Notable Policy Events –

Tuesday, December 20
- Bipartisan Policy Center, “Improving the Medicaid Buy-In for Workers with Disabilities.” Additional information

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

Medicare & Medicaid –

On December 12, CMS released a resource for states to support their unwinding efforts after the COVID-19 public health emergency ends, providing information on what is required and allowed when transitioning children between Medicaid and CHIP programs. Resource
Also on December 12, the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a report which estimated 40 percent of the Medicaid Managed Care payment determinations made by CMS’ review contractor may have been incorrect. Report in Brief Report
On December 14, CMS issued the Contract Year 2024 Medicare Advantage and Part D Technical Proposed Rule, which would implement changes to Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, Medicare cost plan, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) regulations. Comments are due by February 13, 2023. Proposed Rule Fact Sheet Press Release
Also on December 14, Reps. Wild (D-PA) and Miller-Meeks (R-IA) led a group of over 100 bipartisan House Members in sending a letter to President Biden and congressional leaders urging action to prevent Medicare payment cuts. Press Release
On December 15, HHS released a report on the ownership of skilled nursing facilities that are enrolled in Medicare. Report
Also on December 15, the House GOP Doctors Caucus led a letter signed by 83 House Members to congressional leadership urging action to prevent Medicare payment cuts. Press Release Letter
Also on December 15, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) published a presentation to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget on options to reduce the deficit, which includes increasing premiums paid for Medicare Part B, reducing Medicare Advantage benchmarks, establishing caps on federal spending for Medicaid, and reducing federal Medicaid matching rates, among others. Press Release Presentation
On December 16, CMS issued a notice announcing the continued recognition of the Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality as a national accrediting organization for hospitals participating in the Medicare or Medicaid programs. Notice
Also on December 16, CMS released a State Health Official (SHO) letter, slide deck, and posted an updated Medicaid State Plan Amendment template in the MACPro system to provide states policy and operational guidance to implement changes enacted in the SUPPORT Act for Medicaid eligibility of youth formerly in foster care (the former foster care children group, or FFCC group.) SHO Letter

Marketplace & Health Coverage –

On December 12, Sens. Scott (R-FL) and Johnson (R-WI) sent a letter to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), requesting an audit of health care services to members of the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program. Press Release Letter
Also on December 12, CMS issued the 2024 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters Proposed Rule, which sets standards for issuers and Marketplaces, as well as requirements for agents, brokers, web-brokers, and assisters that help consumers with enrollment on the Federally-facilitated Exchanges (FFE). Comments are due 45 days after the rule is posted in the Federal Register. Proposed Rule Fact Sheet Press Release 2024 Payment Parameters Guidance
Also on December 12, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued a final rule including final regulations for providers of minimum essential coverage, including health insurance issues, self-insured employers, and government agencies. Rule
Also on December 12, House Energy & Commerce Committee Ranking Member McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) released a statement after CMS approved the State of Washington’s waiver to subsidize health insurance for undocumented immigrants, stating federal dollars should be used elsewhere. Press Release
Also on December 12, CMS issued a data brief reviewing the 15 states with approved section 1332 waivers that operate state-based reinsurance programs. Data Brief
On December 14, HHS announced that it deployed a new webform for the Federal Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) process, a component of the No Surprises Act. IDR Process
On December 15, GAO released a report that found states and the District of Columbia took varying actions to oversee the adequacy of individual and group health plans’ provider networks. Report in Brief Report
On December 16, CMS issued a final rule finalizing the federal funding methodology for payments in program year 2023 for the Basic Health Program. Rule

Payment & Delivery System Models –

On December 13, the CMS Innovation Center released its 2022 Report to Congress, highlighting the more than 50 alternative payment and care delivery model tests it has launched since its inception, with 33 models now or still operational. Report
On December 14, CMS released the Calendar Year 2024 Request for Applications (RFA) for the Medicare Advantage Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) Model. Applications are due on April 14, 2023. RFA Fact Sheet
Also on December 14, CMS updated its Quality Payment Program (QPP) Participation Status Tool based on the third snapshot of Alternative Payment Model (APM) data. The third snapshot includes data from Medicare Part B claims with dates and service between January 1 and August 31, 2022. QPP Participation Status Tool

Public Health Prevention, Surveillance & Data –

COVID-19 Data: To date, there are 99,705,095 total COVID-19 cases and 1,083,279 COVID-19 deaths in the United States. Also, 931,341,585 COVID-19 vaccines have been delivered and 660,400,812 individual COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered. Data
FDA Action Update: To date, FDA has authorized 447 tests under Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs), including 305 molecular tests, 86 antibody tests and 56 antigen tests. FDA also continues to update COVID-19 FAQs.
On December 12, Sens. Warren (D-MA) and Welch (D-VT) sent a letter to the CEO of Pfizer seeking information on Pfizer’s plans to increase the price of its COVID-19 vaccine in 2023. Press Release Letter
On December 13, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Director Valdez wrote a blog post on COVID-19’s effect on the health care workforce and how to move forward. Blog
Also on December 13, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) released the ASPR Strategic Plan for 2022-2026, outlining four strategic goals to better prepare for, respond to, and recover from future public health emergencies and disasters. Strategic Plan
On December 14, House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member Comer (R-KY) and House Committee on the Judiciary Ranking Member Jordan (R-OH) sent letters to senior Biden Administration officials, the president of EcoHealth Alliance, and several virologists who authored “The Proximal Origin of SARS-CoV-2,” requesting information necessary to the Oversight Committee’s investigation into COVID origins and listing the individuals with whom the Committee will be requesting transcribed interviews. Press Release
Also on December 14, CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) released a report finding that more than 3,500 Americans have died from long COVID-related illness in the first 30 months of the pandemic. Press Release Report
Also on December 14, HHS Secretary Becerra released a statement celebrating the second anniversary of the first COVID-19 vaccine. Press Release
Also on December 14, FDA released a step-by-step guide to help consumers decide when and how many times to test for COVID-19, what their test results mean, and what they should do next. Guide
On December 15, the Biden Administration released its COVID-19 Winter Preparedness Plan, which outlines efforts to make vaccinations, testing, and treatments more widely available this winter. This includes reopening the at-home, rapid COVID-19 tests mailing program through COVIDTests.gov. Fact Sheet
Also on December 15, the House Intelligence Committee released a declassified report examining the Intelligence Community’s (IC) response to the COVID-19 pandemic following a two-year investigation. The report examines the IC’s posture to support global health security policymakers, the IC’s performance in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the steps the IC must take to strengthen any future pandemic response. Declassified Report Declassified Recommendations Press Release
Also on December 15, GAO released a report on the shortcomings to the COVID-19 response, finding that selected HHS agencies do not have many of the structural characteristics that can help insulate them from political interference compared to independent agencies. Report in Brief Report
Also on December 15, HHS Secretary Becerra sent a letter to U.S. Governors on ways to increase access to COVID-19 prevention and treatment measures alongside a list of federal resources that remain available. Press Release
Also on December 15, GAO released a report that identified lessons learned from selected agencies’ administration of COVID-19 relief funding that could improve future federal relief for tribal recipients. Report in Brief Report
Also on December 15, GAO released a report finding nursing homes faced many separate COVID-19 outbreaks, with the average outbreak lasting four weeks. Report in Brief Report
On December 16, FDA announced its plans to hold a meeting of its Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) on January 26, 2023. VRBPAC will consider if the composition for primary doses of the available COVID-19 vaccines should be modified and if the composition and schedule for booster doses should be adjusted. Statement
Also on December 16, CDC released a report finding that six percent of hospitalized pediatric influenza patients had SARS-CoV-2 coinfection, and that a higher percentage of patients with coinfection required invasive or noninvasive respiratory support compared with those with influenza only. Report

Health IT, Privacy, & Digital Health –

On December 12, Sen. Schatz (D-HI) led more than 30 bipartisan, bicameral Members of Congress in a letter to congressional leadership seeking an extension of expanded coverage of Medicare telehealth services through the end of 2024. Letter
Also on December 12, Reps. Schneider (D-IL), Lee (D-NV), and Steel (D-CA) led a bipartisan group of 30 House Members in a letter asking House leadership to extend the flexibility that allowed employers and plans to provide pre-deductible coverage of telehealth services for individuals with a high-deductible health plan coupled with a health savings account (HDHP-HSA), which is set to expire on December 31, 2022. Press Release Letter
Also on December 12, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) published a blog on the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) release of an updated online Mobile Health Apps Tool to help app developers understand which federal laws apply to certain types of apps. Blog Tool
On December 13, the ONC published the third blog in a series on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML)-driven predictive models in health care. This blog discussed how a lack of consistent information can be a challenge to optimizing predictive decision support interventions (DSIs) in health care. Blog
On December 14, the HHS Office for Civil Rights announced a settlement with a dental practice over disclosures of patients’ protected health information. Press Release
Also on December 14, the Sequoia Project, the Recognized Coordinating Entity (RCE) by the ONC to support the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA), released the “Data Usability Implementation Guide” that offers guidance to improve the usability of data received by end users within their workflows to benefit patient care. Press Release Implementation Guide
Also on December 14, Senate Special Committee on Aging Chair Casey (D-PA) released a report entitled, “Unlocking the Virtual Front Door,” which details the findings of an 11-month investigation on the accessibility of federal technology for people with disabilities, older adults, and veterans. Press Release Report
Also on December 14, CMS responded to a data breach that may have involved Medicare beneficiaries’ personally identifiable information and/or protected health information, finding that no CMS systems were breached and no Medicare claims data were involved. Press Release
On December 15, AHRQ issued a notice announcing its intention to request that the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approve the proposed information collection project “The AHRQ Safety Program for Telemedicine: Improving the Diagnostic Process and Improving Antibiotic Use.” Notice
Also on December 15, HHS announced a settlement of $20,000 with Health Specialists of Central Florida Inc. concerning an investigation into a potential violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule’s right of access provision. Press Release
Also on December 15, the ONC published a blog on the availability of two new education resources on the “Communications” and application programming interface (“API”) Conditions of Certification under the Cures Act Final Rule. Blog Communications Condition of Certification API Condition of Certification
Also on December 15, HHS issued a proposed rule on administrative simplification that would adopt standards for “health care attachments” transactions, which would support both health care claims and prior authorization transactions, and a standard for electronic signatures to be used in conjunction with health care attachments transactions. Comments are due 90 days after publication in the Federal Register, which is scheduled for December 21, 2022. Proposed Rule

Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Policy –

On December 12, AHRQ released a brief on mental health disorders among pregnancy and delivery inpatient stays by patient race and ethnicity. Brief
On December 13, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) issued a proposed rule to expand access to treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). The proposed rule would allow take-home doses of methadone and the use of telehealth in initiating buprenorphine at opioid treatment programs (OTPs). Comments are due February 14, 2023. Press Release HHS Press Release Proposed Rule
Also on December 13, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) released a study on endocarditis in patients with cocaine or opioid use disorder between 2011 to 2022. The findings showed that Black and Hispanic people faced a lower risk of COVID-19-associated endocarditis than non-Hispanic white people. Study Press Release
On December 14, SAMHSA released a report on drug-related emergency department visits. The data was collected from the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN), which informs SAMHSA’s programs to aid in preventing overdose and substance misuse issues. Report Press Release
Also on December 14, NIH issued a request for information (RFI) on interventions or strategies to prevent mental health problems and promote mental wellness in populations that experience health disparities. Responses are due by March 1, 2023. RFI
Also on December 14, Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Durbin (D-IL) and Sen. Kennedy (R-LA) wrote a letter to Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator Milgram, urging DEA to apply its authorities to prevent and limit the pharmaceutical industry’s high opioid production levels. Press Release Letter
On December 16, CDC released a report on drug overdose deaths among individuals 10-19 years of age. Report
Also on December 16, SAMHSA announced more than $130 million in 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline grants as part of the $800 million provided to SAMHSA under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to address the nation’s ongoing mental health and substance use crises. Press Release
Also on December 16, Members of AHRQ’s National Advisory Council published a blog addressing the challenges of providing high-quality behavioral health care. Blog Post

Prescription Drugs, Medical Devices, and Biomedical Research –

On December 12, FDA updated the medical device shortage list to remove medical gloves. Update
On December 15, DEA served an Order to Show Cause on Truepill, a retail pharmacy that is alleged to have wrongfully filled thousands of prescriptions for stimulants used in the treatment of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Press Release
On December 16, HHS released a report to Congress that examines the critical role that insulin plays in the treatment of diabetes, reviews evidence on how insulin affordability affects adherence to insulin treatment and affects downstream health consequences, and describes policy efforts to improve the affordability of insulin. Report in Brief Report
Also on December 16, FDA approved Adstiladrin, a non-replicating adenoviral vector based gene therapy indicated for the treatment of adult patients with high-risk Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) with carcinoma in situ (CIS) with or without papillary tumors. Press Release

Veterans Health and Military Health –

On December 12, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it will begin processing PACT Act benefits claims for eligible terminally ill Veterans. Press Release
On December 13, the VA issued a notice announcing a proposed survey to better understand barriers women Veterans face in accessing VA care, the comprehensiveness of care, and progress made in reducing barriers. This collection of information will be submitted to OMB for review. Notice
Also on December 13, the VA OIG released a report describing the results of an evaluation of the inpatient and outpatient settings of the Lexington VA Health Care System. The OIG issued 10 recommendations. Report in Brief Report
On December 15, the GAO released a report that assessed IT contracting at the VA given its delays in implementing the Department’s electronic health record modernization initiative. Report in Brief Report
Also on December 15, GAO released a report on staffing challenges at Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities and the impact these have on efforts to integrate mental health services into primary care settings. Report in Brief Report

Health Systems, Public Health & Health Equity –

On December 11, the CMS Office of Minority Health issued a blog post, “The Path Forward: Improving Data to Advance Health Equity Solutions.” Blog
On December 12, GAO released a report on the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The report finds persistent challenges have affected coordination between the Department of State and overseas federal agency officials implementing PEPFAR. Report
Also on December 12, NIH announced that NIH-funded research suggests that people with Down syndrome may benefit from Alzheimer’s disease treatments. Press Release
On December 13, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) posted a draft recommendation that health care professionals prescribe pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to people at increased risk for HIV. Recommendation
Also on December 13, HHS released a report on the Early Childhood Systems Collective Impact Project, which aims to advance equitable early childhood and family well-being outcomes across federal programs. Report
On December 15, HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Levine visited Colorado Springs to meet with Club Q survivors, LGBTQ+ community leaders, and mental health providers. Press Release
Also on December 15, CDC released new, extended growth charts for assessing growth and treatment of children with severe obesity. Press Release
Also on December 15, the Senate Special Committee on Aging released a bipartisan report entitled, “Recognizing 50 Years of the Nation’s First Nutrition Program for Older Adults.” Press Release Report
Also on December 15, AHRQ released a report on comorbidities associated with adult inpatient stays in 2019. Report

Reproductive & Maternal Health –

On December 13, CMS hosted We Can Do Better: Advancing Maternity Care Together, the first CMS convening on maternal health since the agency launched its Maternity Care Action plan in July 2022. CMS announced that more than 25 health plans have committed to displaying the Birthing-Friendly Hospital designation on their provider directories next fall. Press Release Health Plan Announcement
Also on December 13, HHS released a report that explores the role of doulas in maternal health care, reviews the evidence on the effects of doula care on maternal health outcomes, and discusses challenges and policy opportunities for expanding doula care in the U.S. Press Release Issue Brief
On December 15, 66 bicameral Members of Congress called on Department of Defense (DOD) Secretary Austin to revoke the DOD policy funding travel for abortions. Press Release Letter

Misc. –

On December 12, Reps. Castor (D-FL) and Murphy (R-NC) announced that Rep. Murphy (R-NC) will serve as the Republican co-chair of the Congressional Academic Medicine Caucus (CAMC) for the 118th Congress. CAMC is a bipartisan group of lawmakers that promotes academic medicine in congressional policy discussions to ensure a healthier future for all Americans. Press Release
Also on December 12, FDA released a systematic review of scientific literature on food safety culture (FSC) as a foundation for FDA’s work on food safety culture with industry, consumers and within the agency. Constituent Update Literature Review
On December 13, the Biden Administration announced the names of those selected to join the Ground Ambulance and Patient Billing (GAPB) Advisory Committee. Press Release
Also on December 13, HHS issued a notice of opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of the Information Collection Request (ICR). Notice
Also on December 13, Senate HELP Committee Chair Murray (D-WA) led 11 Senators in a letter applauding the Biden Administration’s proposed employee and independent contractor classification rule, which reinstates the Department of Labor’s (DOL) longstanding economic realities test to restore protections for all workers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and ensures employers don’t misclassify them and deny them workplace rights. Press Release Letter
On December 14, CMS released a press release highlighting the 2021 National Health Expenditures (NHE) Report in Health Affairs, which found that U.S. health care spending grew 2.7 percent to reach $4.3 trillion in 2021, slower than the increase of 10.3 percent in 2020. Press Release Report
Also on December 14, Sens. Braun (R-IN), Burr (R-NC), and Thune (R-SD) and Rep. Foxx (R-NC) led a bicameral letter urging the DOL not to move forward with its proposed rule for determining independent contractor classification due to the negative impact on workers and business, including those in health care. Press Release Letter
On December 15, HHS OIG released a report on the top 25 unimplemented regulations to reduce fraud, waste, and abuse in HHS programs. HHS OIG views these as regulations that would most positively affect HHS programs in terms of cost savings, program effectiveness and efficiency, and public health and safety if implemented. Report

Legislative Activity –

Votes and Committee Activity –

On December 13, the Data Mapping to Save Moms’ Lives Act (S. 198) passed the Senate by unanimous consent. The bill would incorporate data on maternal health outcomes into its broadband health maps. The bill now heads to the President to sign into law. Bill text Press release
On December 14, the Further Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2023 (H.R. 1437) passed the House by a vote of 224-201. The bill will serve as the continuing resolution to provide interim funding to federal government agencies through December 23, 2022. On December 15, the bill passed the Senate by a vote of 71-19. On December 16, the President signed the bill into law. Bill text House press release Senate press release White House press release
Also on December 14, the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Reauthorization Act of 2022 (S. 3846) passed the Senate by unanimous consent. The bill would reauthorize the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program. The bill now heads to the President to sign into law. Bill text Press release
Also on December 14, the Eradicating Narcotic Drugs and Formulating Effective New Tools to Address National Yearly Losses of Life (END FENTANYL) Act (S. 4460) passed the Senate by unanimous consent. The bill would require the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to regularly review and update policies and manuals related to inspections at ports of entry. The bill now heads to the House for consideration. Bill text Press release
On December 15, the VA Employee Fairness Act of 2021 (H.R. 1948) passed the House by a vote of 219-201. The bill would modify authorities relating to the collective bargaining of employees in the Veterans Health Administration. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration. Bill text Press release
Also on December 15, the VA Peer Support Enhancement for MST Survivors Act (H.R. 2724) passed the Senate by unanimous consent. The bill would provide for peer support specialists for claimants who are survivors of military sexual trauma. The bill now heads to the President to sign into law. Bill text
Also on December 15, the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (S. 4543) passed the Senate by a vote of 83-11. The bill would authorize Department of Defense (DOD) activities for FY2023. The bill now heads to the President to sign into law. Bill text Press release

Introduced Legislation –

On December 12, Reps. Castor (D-FL), Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Underwood (D-IL) introduced the Advancing Safe Medications for Moms and Babies Act (H.R. 9487), which would implement certain recommendations to promote the inclusion of pregnant and lactating women in clinical research. Press release Section-by-section
Also on December 12, Reps. Foster (D-IL) and Leger Fernandez (D-NM) introduced the National Laboratory Biotechnology Research Act (H.R. 9489), which would establish a National Laboratory Biotechnology Program to address biotechnology threats. Sen. Lujan (D-NM) introduced companion legislation in the Senate (S. 1624) on May 13, 2021. Bill text Press release
Also on December 12, Rep. Torres (D-NY) introduced the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Expansion Act (H.R. 9499), which would clarify the meaning of psychiatric rehabilitation services under demonstration programs to improve community mental health services. Press release
Also on December 12, Sens. Capito (R-WV) and Shaheen (D-NH) introduced the Medicaid and CHIP Access to Prescription Digital Therapeutics Act (S. 5238), which would provide guidance regarding coverage of prescription digital therapeutics under Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. Press release
On December 13, Rep. DeLauro (D-CT) and eight bipartisan cosponsors introduced the Find It Early Act of 2022 (H.R. 9505), which would provide for health coverage with no cost-sharing for additional breast screenings for certain individuals at greater risk for breast cancer. Press release
Also on December 13, Reps. Jayapal (D-WA) and Spartz (R-IN) introduced the Stop Anticompetitive Healthcare Act (H.R. 9510), which would make hospital organizations and cooperative hospital service organizations subject to the law relating to unfair methods of competition. Press release
Also on December 13, Rep. Stewart (R-UT) introduced the Stop Adversarial Funding Expenditures for Laboratories Act (H.R. 9521), which would prohibit any head of a Federal agency from providing assistance to the Wuhan Institute of Virology and other laboratories in certain other foreign nations. Press release
On December 14, Reps. Frankel (D-FL), Salazar (R-FL), and Burgess (R-TX) introduced the Connected Maternal Online Monitoring (MOM) Act (H.R. 9546), which would identify and address barriers to coverage of remote physiologic devices under State Medicaid programs to improve maternal and child health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women. Sens. Cassidy (R-LA), Hassan (D-NH), Carper (D-DE), Young (R-IN), Rosen (D-NV), and Thune (R-SD) introduced companion legislation in the Senate (S. 801) on March 17, 2021. Press release
Also on December 14, Reps. Gomez (D-CA) and Davis (D-IL) introduced the Fostering Secure Family Partnerships Act (H.R. 9549), which would support the ability of kinship caregivers to provide safety and stability for the children placed in their homes. Bill text Press release
Also on December 14, Rep. Schiff (D-CA) and seven cosponsors introduced the Student Loan Relief for Medicare and Social Security Recipients Act (H.R. 9558), which would forgive the Federal student loans of borrowers who are enrolled for benefits under part A of title XVIII of the Social Security Act. Bill text Press release
Also on December 14, Reps. Takano (D-CA), Garcia (D-TX), Pappas (D-NH), Jones (D-NY), Porter (D-CA), and Evan (D-PA) introduced the Right to Private Conduct Act (H.R. 9564), which would establish the right of adults to engage in private, non-commercial, consensual sexual conduct in the exercise of their liberty. Press release
Also on December 14, Reps. Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and DeSaulnier (D-CA) introduced the Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act (CCSA) (H.R. 9565), which would address the health of cancer survivors and unmet needs that survivors face through the entire continuum of care from diagnosis through active treatment and posttreatment, and to improve survivorship, treatment, transition to recovery and beyond, quality of life and palliative care, and long-term health outcomes, including by developing a minimum standard of care for cancer survivorship, irrespective of the type of cancer, a survivor’s background, or forthcoming survivorship needs. Bill text Press release Section-by-section One-pager
Also on December 14, Sens. Barrasso (R-WY) and Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced the Preserving Access to Value Based Care Act (S. 5249), which would encourage participation in advanced payment models. Bill text Press release
Also on December 14, Sens. Markey (D-MA), Blumenthal (D-CT), and Merkley (D-OR) introduced the Community Mental Wellness and Resilience Act (S. 5251), which would promote mental wellness and resilience and heal mental health, behavioral health, and psychological problems through age and culturally appropriate community programs, and award grants for the purpose of establishing, operating, or expanding community-based mental wellness and resilience programs. Rep. Tonko (D-NY) and nine bipartisan cosponsors introduced the companion legislation (H.R. 9201) in the House on October 18, 2022. Bill text Press release
On December 15, Reps. Curtis (R-UT) and Dingell (D-MI) introduced the Increasing Access to Dental Insurance Act (H.R. 9567), which would allow additional individuals to enroll in standalone dental plans offered through Federal Exchanges. Press release
Also on December 15, Rep. Boebert (R-CO) and 14 cosponsors introduced the No Taxpayer Funds for Illegal Alien Abortions Act (H.R. 9575), which would prohibit any employee or contractor of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or HHS from transporting any alien across State lines for the purpose of procuring an abortion for such alien. Bill text Press release
Also on December 15, Rep. Underwood (D-IL) introduced the Maternal Health Pandemic Response Act of 2022 (H.R. 9602), which would improve the public health response to addressing maternal mortality and morbidity during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Sens. Warren (D-MA), Booker (D-NJ), Gillibrand (D-NY), and Smith (D-MN) introduced companion legislation in the Senate (S. 5284). Bill text Press release
Also on December 15, Sens. Kaine (D-VA) and Collins (R-ME) introduced the Investing in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Act (S. 5266), which would reauthorize the program for infant and early childhood mental health promotion, intervention, and treatment. Bill text Press release
Also on December 15, Sens. Menendez (D-NJ) and Collins (R-ME) introduced the NIH Clinical Trial Diversity Act (S. 5268), which would increase clinical trial diversity. Press release
Also on December 15, Sens. Duckworth (D-IL), Murray (D-WA), Gillibrand (D-NY), and Baldwin (D-WI) introduced the Right to Build Families Act of 2022 (S. 5276), which would prohibit the limitation of access to assisted reproductive technology, and all medically necessary care surrounding such technology. Press release One pager
Also on December 15, Sens. Lujan (D-NM), Whitehouse (D-RI), and Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced the Improving Treatment for Pregnant and Postpartum Women Act 2.0 (S. 5285), which would extend the residential treatment program for pregnant and postpartum women pilot program. Bill text Press release Bill summary
On December 16, Reps. Maloney (D-NY) and Pressley (D-MA) introduced the Equity in Agency Planning Act of 2022 (H.R. 9610), which would improve the equitable provision of services to underserved communities and individuals. Bill text Press release One-pager
Also on December 16, Reps. Maloney (D-NY) and Pressley (D-MA) introduced the Federal Government Equity Improvement Act of 2022 (H.R. 9609), which would establish an Agency Equity Advisory Team and ensure the use of equity. Bill text Press release One-pager

Health Care Policy Update – Weekly Wrap-up and What’s Ahead – December 19, 2022

Events: