When is Congress in session? House 2024 Calendar Senate 2024 Calendar
What’s Ahead: This Week
Hearings and Markups – No notable hearings this week due to holiday recess. Congress will reconvene on January 3 to inaugurate its 119th session.
Notable Policy Events – No notable policy events for this week.
Weekly Wrap-Up: Notable Health Care Developments from Last Week
Government Funding – On December 20, the House passed the American Relief Act of 2025 (H.R. 10545) by a vote of 366-34, which would fund the government through March 14, 2025. On December 21, the Senate passed the bill by a vote of 85-11 and the President signed the bill into law. Health care provisions include a 90-day extension for Medicare telehealth flexibilities and the acute hospital care at home waiver. Bill Text Press Release
Medicare & Medicaid –
- On December 16, CMS approved California’s section 1115 demonstration, Behavioral Health Community-Based Organized Networks of Equitable Care and Treatment (BH-CONNECT). The demonstration is effective through December 31, 2029. Approval Press Release
- Also on December 16, CMS approved an amendment to California’s Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) section 1115 demonstration. This demonstration is effective through December 31, 2026. Approval Press Release
- Also on December 16, Sen. Warren (D-MA) and Rep. Doggett (D-TX) sent a letter to CMS Administrator Brooks-LaSure, urging the agency to finalize the Calendar Year (CY) 2026 Medicare Advantage rule. Letter Press Release
- On December 18, HHS issued a report examining the use of Medicare-covered telerehabilitation for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology services during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Press Release Report
- Also on December 18, CMS published an article in the New England Journal of Medicine detailing recent primary care payment policies. Article
- On December 19, CMS issued a request for information on the use of Medicare beneficiary identifier (MBI) lookup tools. Comments are due February 17, 2025. MBI Lookup Tools RFI Website Press Release
- Also on December 19, CMS issued a State Health Official (SHO) letter and frequently asked questions (FAQs), which provides guidance to states regarding new requirements for Medicaid and CHIP coverage for youth who are being released from public institutions. Press Release SHO and FAQs
- Also on December 19, the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a report, which finds that twelve selected states did not accurately calculate the federal share of Medicaid collections subject to the increased COVID-19 Federal Medical Assistance Percentages. Highlights Report
- Also on December 19, HHS OIG issued a report, which finds that Medicaid gross spending on 10 selected diabetes and two selected weight loss drugs totaled more than $9 billion in 2023, an increase of 540 percent from 2019. Press Release Report
- On December 20, CMS released an informational bulletin on ensuring seamless coverage transitions for children. Informational Bulletin Press Release
- Also on December 20, CMS released an informational bulletin on Medicaid and CHIP renewal form requirements. Informational Bulletin Press Release
- Also on December 20, CMS announced that some Medicare enrollees will pay less for 64 drugs available through Medicare Part B. Fact Sheet Press Release
- Also on December 20, CMS approved an amendment to Arkansas’ ARHOME section 1115 demonstration. The demonstration is effective through December 31, 2026. Approval Press Release
Payment & Delivery System Models –
- On December 16, CMS announced it is terminating the Medicare Advantage Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) model at the end of 2025 due to the model’s substantial and unmitigable costs to the Medicare Trust Funds. Press Release
- On December 18, CMS announced that Oklahoma and sub-state regions of Michigan, New York, and South Carolina were selected to participate in the Innovation in Behavioral Health (IBH) Model. Model implementation will begin on January 1, 2025. Announcement
- On December 20, HHS issued a report, which estimated the effects of the proposed Medicare $2 Drug List Model on Part D enrollees. Press Release Report
- Also on December 20, CMS released the fourth annual report and associated materials for the Pennsylvania Rural Health Model (PARHM). PARHM
- Also on December 20, CMS issued a request for applications (RFA) for new participants for the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration. Applications are due March 1, 2025. Demonstration RFA
Public Health Prevention, Preparedness, Surveillance – On December 20, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report detailing HHS interagency agreements for public health preparedness. Press Release Report
Health IT, Privacy, & Digital Health –
- On December 16, HHS issued the Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability: Protecting Care Access (HTI-3) final rule, which finalizes certain proposals from the HTI-2 proposed rule to support the access, exchange, and use of electronic health information. Press Release Rule
- On December 17, the bipartisan House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence (AI) issued a report with guiding principles, recommendations, and policy proposals pertaining to AI. Press Release Report
- On December 20, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it is beginning early-stage planning to deploy the Federal Electronic Health Record (EHR) system to four Michigan facilities in mid-2026. Press Release VA EHR Modernization Effort
- Also on December 20, HHS issued a report on trends in Medicaid and CHIP telehealth utilization by enrollee and provider rurality. Press Release Report
Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Policy –
- On December 16, HHS issued a report, which provides a compendium of federal funding of crisis services. Press Release Report
- On December 17, GAO issued a report, which examines opportunities to improve data collection, share information, and ease reporting burden for opioid use disorder grants. Highlights Report
- On December 19, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) released its annual veteran suicide prevention report. Press Release Report
- Also on December 19, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) published a guide, which provides considerations for the appropriate use of 988 and 911. Guide Press Release
Prescription Drugs & Health Innovation – On December 16, HHS published an issue brief examining trends related to market size measured via sales revenues and volume of prescription drug use between the U.S. and other countries. Issue Brief Press Release
Non-Medical Drivers of Health –
- On December 18, the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced a resolution agreement with the State of Delaware Department of Health and Social Services to enforce federal disability rights laws. Press Release
- On December 19, HHS OCR entered into a proposed consent decree with the State of Rhode Island to resolve findings that Rhode Island’s unnecessary placement of children with behavioral health disabilities in a psychiatric hospital violated federal civil rights laws. Press Release Proposed Consent Decree
Misc. – On December 18, Sen. Scott (R-FL) and 27 Republicans sent a bicameral letter to GOP congressional leadership, outlining their vision for using reconciliation next year to pass party-line bills. Letter
Legislative Activity
Votes and Committee Activity –
- On December 16, the House passed the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act (S. 141) by a vote of 382 – 12. The bill would address home care and caregiver programs provided by the VA. The bill heads to the President for consideration. Bill Text Press Release
- On December 17, the House passed the Midnight Rules Relief Act (H.R. 115) by a vote of 210 – 201. The bill would allow Congress to disapprove multiple regulations under one joint resolution of disapproval if the regulations were submitted for review during the last 60 legislative days of the final year of a President’s term. The bill heads to the Senate for consideration. Bill Text Press Release
- On December 18, the Senate passed the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025 (H.R. 5009) by a vote of 85 – 14. The bill would prescribe various authorities and policies that govern national defense and foreign affairs. The bill heads to the President for consideration. Bill Text Press Release
Introduced Legislation –
- On December 16, Reps. Cárdenas (D-CA), Veasey (D-TX), Schweikert (R-AZ), and Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced the Crisis Care Access and Response Expansion (CARE) for Behavioral Health Act (H.R. 10419), which would establish a Medicare demonstration program relating to crisis response services. Press Release
- Also on December 16, Reps. Schrier (D-WA) and Underwood (D-IL) introduced the Helping Families Access Pediatric Care Act (H.R. 10438), which would expand cost-sharing reductions with respect to qualified health plans offered through an Exchange. Press Release
- Also on December 16, Sens. Marshall (R-KS) and Bennet (D-CO) introduced the No Surprises Act Enforcement Act (S. 5535), which would increase penalties for group health plans and health insurance issuers for practices that violate balance billing requirements. Bill Text Press Release
- On December 17, Rep. Kelly (D-IL) introduced the Healthcare Cybersecurity Improvement Act (H.R. 10455), which would establish the Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center. Press Release
- On December 19, Sen. Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced the Prior Authorization Relief Act (S. 5612), which would provide for prior authorization reforms under the Medicare Advantage program. Press Release
- Also on December 19, Sens. Heinrich (D-NM) and Durbin (D-IL) introduced the Fueling Optimal Outcomes through Diet (FOOD) for Health Act (S. 5632), which would establish and administer a pilot program to provide grants to support Food is Medicine programs. Press Release
- Also on December 19, Sens. Warren (D-MA) and Smith (D-MN) introduced the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Defense and Enhancement Act (S. 5638), which would secure the supply of drugs in the United States. Bill Text One Pager Press Release