When is Congress in session? House 2025 Calendar Senate 2025 Calendar
What’s Ahead: This Week
Hearings and Markups – No notable hearings this week. Following the swearing in of new members on January 3, Congressional members will certify the election on January 6. The federal government will be closed on January 9 for funeral services for former President Jimmy Carter.
Notable Policy Events – No notable policy events for this week.
Weekly Wrap-Up: Notable Health Care Developments from Last Week
119th Congress – The 119th Congress began on January 3, with Republicans holding the majority in both the House (220-215) and Senate (53-47). Following the official swearing in, House Speaker Johnson (R-LA) was reelected on the first ballot by a vote of 218-215. Speaker Johnson (R-LA) published an op-ed detailing the Republican priorities for the 119th Congress and outlined the Republican agenda and budget reconciliation priorities in an interview.
Medicare –
- On December 23, the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a Medicare home health agency provider compliance audit. Highlights Report
- Also on December 23, HHS OIG released a Medicare Advantage (MA) compliance audit of diagnosis codes that an MA organization submitted to CMS. Highlights Report
- On December 26, HHS OIG released an MA compliance audit of diagnosis codes that a health maintenance organization (HMO) plan submitted to CMS. Highlights Report
- Also on December 26, HHS OIG released an MA compliance audit of diagnosis codes that a non-profit health provider submitted to CMS. Highlights Report
- On December 27, CMS released the latest enrollment figures for Medicare. As of September 2024, 33,644,475 people are enrolled in Medicare fee-for-service and 34,317,902 are enrolled in Medicare Advantage or other health plans. Medicare Enrollment Data
- On December 31, HHS released an evaluation framework for how to evaluate each Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) Medicare drug-related provision. Framework
- On January 3, HHS OIG issued a report, which found that Medicare could save billions with comparable access for enrollees if Critical Access Hospital payments for swing-bed services were similar to those of the Prospective Payment System. Highlights Report
- On December 23, CMS released the 2023 Medicaid and CHIP Child and Adult Core Set data products. Announcement Core Set Date Products
- On December 26, CMS approved Pennsylvania’s Keystones of Health section 1115 demonstration. Approval Demonstration
- On December 27, CMS released the latest enrollment figures for Medicaid and CHIP. As of September 2024, 79,362,864 people are enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP. Medicaid Enrollment Data
- Also on December 27, CMS approved Michigan’s Reentry Services section 1115 demonstration. Demonstration Approval
- On December 30, CMS announced that Nevada submitted its section 1115 demonstration, “Reentry Demonstration Waiver,” for approval. Comments are due January 29, 2025. Pending Application Submit Comments
- Also on December 30, HHS released a report on children’s and adolescents’ mental health service use in Medicaid and CHIP during the pandemic. Report
- On December 31, CMS published metrics on state plan amendments (SPA) and 1915(b) and (c) waivers to Medicaid.gov. Bulletin Processing Page
- On January 2, HHS OIG released findings from an audit of the Florida Home and Community-Based Services Waiver program. Highlights Report
Marketplaces – On December 23, the Biden Administration withdrew the Coverage of Certain Preventive Services Under the ACA proposed rule, which would have prohibited employers from claiming an exemption based on “non-religious moral objections” to the ACA’s contraception mandate. The withdrawal signals the Biden Administration’s recognition of the incoming Trump Administration’s differing priorities on this issue. Proposed Rule Proposed Rule Withdrawal
Payment & Delivery System Models – On December 30, CMS released data from the Accountable Health Communities (AHC) Model, available to researchers through the CMS Research Data Assistance Center (ResDAC). AHC Model Data ResDAC
Health IT, Privacy, & Digital Health –
- On December 24, Reps. DeGette (D-CO) and Bucshon (R-IN) released a white paper outlining next steps for Cures 2.1 and the 21st Century Cures initiative. Recommendations include creating an environment that enables rapid and appropriate deployment of innovative technologies, building a health infrastructure that enables information sharing, and fostering innovations to improve health outcomes. Press Release Summary White Paper
- On December 27, the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Security Rule to Strengthen the Cybersecurity of Electronic Protected Health Information proposed rule. The rule would revise existing standards to better protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of electronic protected health information (ePHI). Comments are due March 7, 2025. Fact Sheet Press Release Proposed Rule
- On January 3, HHS released a study which examined the extent to which Medicaid providers who deliver behavioral health services shifted their practices to mostly tele-behavioral health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Study
- On December 23, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) issued an advisory examining the role and limitations of genetic testing in assessing substance use disorder vulnerability. Advisory Press Release
- On December 31, SAMHSA awarded funding for the Community-Based Maternal Behavioral Health Services Program, which would support the behavioral health of pregnant and postpartum women. Community-Based Maternal Behavioral Health Services Program Press Release
- On December 31, HHS released an evaluation framework for the Inflation Reduction Act’s Medicare prescription drug-related provisions. Overview Report
- Also on December 31, HHS released a brief examining the return on investment of generic injectable prescription drugs. Brief
- On December 30, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) issued a notice which proposed updates to the HRSA-supported Women’s Preventive Services Guidelines. Notice
- Also on December 30, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) issued a notice for information collection, which would allow state agencies to request program waivers and submit state plans to FNS. Comments are due February 28, 2025. Notice
Votes and Committee Activity –
- On December 23, President Biden signed into law the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (H.R. 5009), which authorizes fiscal year 2025 appropriations principally for Department of Defense programs and military construction, Department of Energy national security programs, Intelligence programs, and Department of State programs. Bill Text Press Release
- On January 2, President Biden signed into law the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act (S. 141), which improve certain programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs for home- and community-based services for veterans. Bill Text Press Release
- On January 4, President Biden signed into law the Think Differently Database Act (H.R. 670), which would establish a website to provide information on resources available to individuals with a disability and their caregivers and families. Bill Text Press Release