When is Congress in session? House 2024 Calendar Senate 2024 Calendar
What’s Ahead: This Week
Hearings and Markups –
- Wednesday, May 15
- House Appropriations, “Budget Hearing — Fiscal Year 2025 Request for the Federal Trade Commission.” Additional Information
- House Education & Workforce Committee, “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Department of Health and Human Services.” Additional Information
- Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, “Frontier Health Care: Ensuring Veterans’ Access No Matter Where They Live.” Additional Information
- Thursday, May 16
- Senate Finance Committee, “Rural Health Care: Supporting Lives and Improving Communities.” Additional Information
Notable Policy Events –
- Tuesday, May 14
- Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC), “State Long-term Care Progress: A Blueprint for Federal Solutions.” Free, Virtual. Additional Information
- Wednesday, May 15
- Alliance for Health Policy, “2024 Voter Priorities in Health Care: Telling the Policy Story.” Free, Virtual. Additional Information
- Blue Shield of California Industry Initiatives, “Co-opetition in Action: California Advanced Primary Care Initiative.” Free, Virtual. Additional Information
- Fierce Healthcare, “The State of the Health Care Industry in 2024.” Free, Virtual. Additional Information
- Thursday, May 16
- Center for American Progress, “State Policy Efforts to Enhance Consumer Protections in Health Care and Improve the Value of Insurance.” Free, Virtual. Additional Information
- Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), “ONC Health IT Advisory Committee Meeting.” Free, Virtual. Additional Information
- The Hill, “Mom’s Matter: Closing the Maternal Mental Health Gap.” Free, Virtual. Additional Information
- Friday, May 17
- AHIMA, “Preparing for Regulatory Compliance: Screening for Social Drivers of Health.” Free, Virtual. Additional Information
- Georgetown University Center on Health Insurance Reforms, “Understanding Hospital Financing Webinar Series.” Free, Virtual. Additional Information
Weekly Wrap-Up: Notable Health Care Developments from Last Week
Medicare & Medicaid–
- On May 6, CMS announced that Massachusetts submitted a request to amend its section 1115 demonstration to support new demonstration initiatives and provide new federal support for existing state operated programs that serve low-income and vulnerable populations in Massachusetts. The public comment period is open through June 5, 2024. Application Submit Comments
- Also on May 6, the Department of the Treasury (USDT), HHS, and the Social Security Administration (SSA) released the annual Social Security and Medicare Trustees Reports. The Hospital Insurance (HI) Trust Fund will be able to pay 100 percent of total scheduled benefits until 2036, five years later than reported last year. Fact Sheet Medicare Trustee Report Press Release White House Statement
- On May 7, CMS announced that Michigan requested to extend the Michigan 1115 Behavioral Health Demonstration for five years. The federal public comment period will be open through June 6, 2024. Application Submit Comments
- On May 9, CMS updated its mental health and substance use disorders (SUD) content to clearly outline the Behavioral Health Strategy. Behavioral Health Strategy Informational Bulletin Webpage
- Also on May 9, CMS announced a second extension of unwinding-related waivers through June 30, 2025. Informational Bulletin
- On May 10, CMS released an informational bulletin on opportunities for improving access to mental health and substance use disorder services for Medicaid and CHIP Enrollees experiencing homelessness. Informational Bulletin
- Also on May 10, HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a report on potential vulnerabilities in CMS’s oversight of Medicare add-on payments for COVID-19 tests. Full Report Press Release
- Also on May 10, HHS OIG released an audit report, which examine whether Medicaid State agencies (State agencies) properly invoiced for, and collected, rebates for physician-administered drugs. Full Report Report in Brief
Marketplaces –
- On May 6, CMS released an updated statement on Agent and Broker Marketplace Activity. Consumer Assistance Infographic Press Release
Payment & Delivery System Models –
- On May 8, CMS released participation and performance data for the 2022 performance year of the Quality Payment Program (QPP), including both Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Alternative Payment Model (APM) participation. Between 2021 and 2022, there was a 26 percent increase in Advanced APM participation. Report At-A-Glance Report
- Also on May 8, CMS released a proposed rule on the Increasing Organ Transplant Access (IOTA) Model, a new mandatory Medicare payment model that aims to increase access to kidney transplants for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). This proposed rule also includes standard provisions that would apply to Innovation Center models, including beneficiary protections, monitoring and compliance, and model termination by CMS. Comments are due July 16, 2024. Fact Sheet Model Webpage Press Release Proposed Rule
Health IT, Privacy, & Digital Health –
- On May 7, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced requests for nomination including an appointment to the National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee, among other committees. Nominations will be accepted on an ongoing basis. Request for Nominations
Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Policy –
- On May 8, HHS announced $46.8 million in notices of funding opportunities (NOFOs) which would address mental health and overdose crises. Press Release
- On May 9, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) released the 2024 National Drug Threat Assessment (NDTA). The assessment reviews fraud related to electronic prescriptions, the stimulant prescription drug shortages, among others. Assessment Press Release
- Also on May 9, HHS released a report “Feasibility of Calculating Measures to Monitor Quality Performance of Behavioral Health Programs.” Available Report
- Also on May 9, the CDC released a blog CDC released a blog post, “Tackling Mental Health Challenges in the Public Safety Sector: Implementing and Evaluating Mental Health Programs,” Blog Post
- On May 10, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) announced new resources on behavioral health integration in early childhood programs. Press Release
Prescription Drugs & Health Innovation –
- On May 9, Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Cassidy (R-LA) released a white paper detailing proposals to improve the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Press Release White Paper
SDOH & Health Equity –
- On May 7, CMS released a resource document of health equity-related data definitions, standards, and stratification practices. Resource Document
Health Systems & Health Care Workforce –
- On May 7, House Energy & Commerce Committee Ranking Member Pallone (D-NJ) sent a letter to Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Administrator Johnson urging the agency to increase the per resident allocation for the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) program by $10,000 before July 1, 2024. Letter Press Release
- Also on May 7, Senate Veterans’ Affairs (VA) Committee Chairman Tester (D-MT), and Sens. Brown (D-OH), and King (I-ME) sent a letter to VA Secretary McDonough urging to take action to improve oversight of its Community Care Network contracts. Letter Press Release
- On May 9, the Department of Justice announced the formation of the Antitrust Division’s Task Force on Health Care Monopolies and Collusion (HCMC), which will guide the division’s enforcement strategy and policy approach in health care, including by facilitating policy advocacy, investigations and, where warranted, civil and criminal enforcement in health care markets. Press Release
Legislative Activity –
Votes and Committee Activity –
- On May 8, the House Ways & Means Committee advanced several notable bills. Blog Press Release
- The Preserving Telehealth, Hospital, and Ambulance Access Act (H.R. 8261) passed, as amended, by a roll call vote of 41-0. This bill would extend certain flexibilities and payment adjustments under the Medicare program. Bill Text One-Pager
- The Preserving Emergency Access in Key Sites (PEAKS) Act (H.R. 7931) passed, as amended, by a roll call vote of 24-18. This bill would update the fee schedule for ambulance services provided by critical access hospitals. Bill Text One-Pager
- The Rural Hospital Stabilization Act (H.R. 8245) passed, as amended, by a roll call vote of 24-18. This bill would establish the Rural Hospital Stabilization Pilot Program to provide grants to rural hospitals for purposes of ensuring local access to services. Bill Text One-Pager
- The Ensuring Seniors’ Access to Quality Care Act (H.R. 8244) passed, as amended, by a roll call vote of 25-18. This bill would ensure appropriate approval for certain skilled nursing facilities and nursing facility nursing aide training and competency evaluation programs under the Medicare and Medicaid program. Bill Text One-Pager
- The Rural Physician Workforce Preservation Act (H.R. 8235) passed, as amended, by a roll call vote of 24-16. This bill would modify the distribution of certain additional graduate medical education positions under the Medicare program. Bill Text One-Pager
- The Second Chances for Rural Hospitals Act (H.R. 8246) passed, as amended, by a roll call vote of 24-16. This bill would modify the criteria for designation of rural emergency hospitals. Bill Text One-Pager
Introduced Legislation –
- On May 6, Reps. Wenstrup (R-OH) and Blumenauer (D-OR) introduced the Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act (H.R. 8260), which would extend acute hospital care at home waiver flexibilities. Press Release
- On May 7, Reps. Davis (D-NC) and Pfluger (R-TX) introduced the Old Drugs, New Cures Act, which would prohibit priority research drugs from being treated as line extensions of existing drugs for purposes of calculating manufacturer rebates under the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Press Release
- Also on May 7, Rep. Miller (R-WV) introduced the Hospice Recertification Flexibility Act (H.R. 8278), which would extend certain telehealth flexibilities with respect to hospice care under the Medicare program and establish a modifier for recertifications of hospice care eligibility conducted through telehealth. Press Release
- On May 8, Reps. Moore (D-WI), Underwood (D-IL), Adams (D-NC), Pressley (D-MA), and Dingell (D-MI) introduced the Mamas First Act (H.R. 8317), which would provide coverage under the Medicaid program for services provided by doulas and midwives. Sen. Warren (D-MA) and seven cosponsors the companion legislation in the Senate (S. 4304) on May 9. One Pager Press Release
- Also on May 8, Rep. Raskin (D-MD) and 82 Democratic cosponsors introduced the Comprehensive Addiction Resources Emergency (CARE) Act (H.R. 8323), which would provide emergency assistance to states, territories, tribal nations, and local areas affected by substance use disorder, including the use of opioids and stimulants, and make financial assistance available to states, territories, tribal nations, local areas, public or private nonprofit entities, and certain health providers to provide for the development, organization, coordination, and operation of more effective and cost efficient systems for the delivery of essential services to individuals with substance use disorder and their families. Sen. Warren (D-MA) and 16 Democratic cosponsors introduced companion legislation (S. 4286) in the Senate. Press Release
- Also on May 8, Reps. Ruiz (D-CA), Joyce (R-PA), Porter (D-CA), and Murphy (R-NC) introduced the Physician and Patient Safety Act (H.R. 8325), which would require the HHS Secretary to issue regulations to ensure due process rights for physicians before any termination, restriction, or reduction of the professional activity of such physicians or staff privileges of such physicians. Sens. Marshall (R-KS) and Warren (D-MA) introduced companion legislation in the Senate (S. 4278). Bill Text Press Release
- Also on May 8, Reps. Stevens (D-MI) and Joyce (R-PA) introduced the Stop Nurse Shortages Act (H.R. 8330), which would increase access to accelerated nursing degree programs. Press Release
- Also on May 8, Rep. Tenney (R-NY) and 15 bipartisan cosponsors introduced the Essential Caregivers Act (H.R. 8331), which would require skilled nursing facilities, nursing facilities, intermediate care facilities for the intellectually disabled, and inpatient rehabilitation facilities to permit essential caregivers access during any period in which regular visitation is restricted. Sens. Blumenthal (D-CT) and Cornyn (R-TX) introduced companion legislation (S. 4280) in the Senate. Press Release
- Also on May 8, Rep. Van Orden (R-WI) introduced the Rural Healthcare Revitalization Act of 2024 (H.R. 8294), which would provide for a waiver of certain criteria with respect to the designation of a critical access hospital. Bill Text Press Release
- Also on May 8, Reps. Buchanan (R-FL), Soto (D-FL) and Miller-Meeks (R-IA) introduced the Maximizing Israel-U.S. Research Advancement and Collaborative Leadership in Emerging Medical Technology Act (H.R. 8299), which would require the HHS Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, the Council for Technology and Innovation of CMS, and the FDA Commissioner, to carry out a program to facilitate and coordinate efforts between the United States and Israel to expand and enhance collaboration on the development and delivery of health care products and services. Press Release
- Also on May 8, Reps. Raskin (D-MD) and 82 cosponsors introduced the Comprehensive Addiction Resources Emergency (CARE) Act (H.R. 8323), which would provide emergency assistance to States, territories, Tribal nations, and local areas affected by substance use disorder, including the use of opioids and stimulants, and to make financial assistance available to States, territories, Tribal nations, local areas, public or private nonprofit entities, and certain health providers, to provide for the development, organization, coordination, and operation of more effective and cost efficient systems for the delivery of essential services to individuals with substance use disorder and their families. Bill Text Press Release
- On May 9, Sen. Britt (R-AL) and 13 cosponsors introduced the More Opportunities for Moms to Succeed (MOMS) Act (S. 4296), which would provide more opportunities for mothers to succeed. Bill Text One-Pager Press Release
- Also on May 9, Sens. Fetterman (D-PA) and Smith (D-MN) introduced the United States Senate Commission on Mental Health Act of 2024 (S. 4312), which would establish a United States Senate Commission on Mental Health for the purpose of providing to Congress and the President independent, expert policy recommendations to improve access to and affordability of mental health care services. Press Release