Health Care Policy Update – Weekly Wrap-up and What’s Ahead – September 16, 2024

• Monday, September 16 to Tuesday, September 17
  • AcademyHealth, “2024 Health Datapalooza.” Paid, In-Person. Additional Information
  • HHS, “Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee.” Free, Hybrid. Additional Information
• Tuesday, September 17
  • American Medical Association (AMA), “Patients with Pain Need Individualized Care: How Policy is Shifting.” Free, Virtual. Additional Information
  • The Hill, “Boosting the Status Quo.” Free, Virtual. Additional Information
• Wednesday, September 18
  • Axios, “Advancing Our Understanding of Aging & the Brain.” Free, Virtual. Additional Information
  • CMS, “Eliminating Congenital Syphilis Through Improved Pregnancy Care.” Free, Virtual. Additional Information
  • Politico, “The Future of Patient Care and Access.” Free, In-Person. Additional Information
• Thursday, September 19 to Friday, September 20
  • Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), “September 2024 Public Meeting.” Free, Virtual. Additional Information
• Thursday, September 19 to Saturday, September 21
  • AMA, “CPT Editorial Panel Meeting.” Free, Hybrid. Additional Information
• Thursday, September 19
  • Alliance for Health Policy, “Demystifying AI Tools in Health Care: An Introduction for Federal Policymakers.” Free, Virtual. Additional Information
• Friday, September 20
  • Johns Hopkins University, “What Will it Take to Crate and Scale a Home-Based Care Ecosystem?” Free, Virtual. Additional Information

Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Policy – 

• On September 9, the Department of Labor (DOL), Department of Treasury (DOT), and HHS issued the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 final rule. The rule amends certain provisions of the existing MHPAEA regulations and adds new regulations to set forth content requirements and timeframes for responding to requests for Non-Quantitative Treatment Limitation (NQTL) comparative analyses required under MHPAEA, as amended by the CAA, 2021. The rule is effective November 22, 2024. DOL Fact Sheet Final Rule HHS Press Release White House Fact Sheet
• Also on September 9, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report on the Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) transition programs, which includes recommendations for improving mental health support. Highlights Report
• On September 10, the CDC published a report on visit rates for adolescents and adults with mental health disorders and/or substance use disorders at health centers. Report
• Also on September 10, HHS announced $68 million in awards for suicide prevention and mental health care programs. Press Release
• Also on September 10, Rep. Matsui (D-CA) and 26 colleagues sent a letter to California Health and Human Services Secretary Ghaly, urging California to apply for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)’s FY 2025 Cooperative Agreements for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Planning Grants. Letter Press Release
• Also on September 10, the CDC published an article on suicide rates and selected county-level factors in 2022. Article

Prescription Drugs & Health Innovation – 

• On September 12, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) announced an agreement of approximately $14 million for innovative manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States. Essential Medicines Press Release
• On September 13, House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chair Comer (R-KY) and Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services Chair McClain (R-MI) sent a letter to Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Milgram requesting information on the shortage of schedule II drugs. Letter Press Release

• On September 9, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to establish state-based Healthcare Extension Cooperatives. Applications are due December 12, 2024. Healthcare Extension Cooperatives NOFO Press Release
• On September 10, Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Cassidy (R-LA) sent a letter to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Administrator Johnson, raising concerns over its delays in implementing the Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act. Letter Press Release
• On September 12, Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Cassidy (R-LA) sent a letter to DOL Acting Secretary Su, raising concerns over delays in medical care to American energy workers. Letter Press Release

Legislative Activity –
Votes and Committee Activity –

• On September 11, the House Education and the Workforce Committee passed the Healthy Competition for Better Care Act (H.R. 3120) by voice vote. The bill would ban anticompetitive terms in facility and insurance contracts that limit access to higher quality, lower cost care. The bill now heads to the House for consideration. Bill Text Press Release
• Also on September 11, the House Education and the Workforce Committee passed the Transparent Telehealth Bills Act of 2024 (H.R. 9457) by a vote of 34-0. The bill would ban hospital facility fees for telehealth services. The bill now heads to the House for consideration. Bill Text Press Release

Introduced Legislation –

• On September 10, Rep. Hayes (D-CT) and 26 cosponsors introduced the Student Food Security Act of 2024 (H.R. 9521), which would expand the eligibility of students to participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and establish college student food insecurity demonstration programs. Sen. Warren (D-MA) and 11 cosponsors introduced companion legislation in the Senate (S. 5004). Press Release
• Also on September 10, Rep. Ruiz (D-CA) and seven cosponsors introduced the Sustained Allocations For Evaluations and Reviews of Nursing Homes Act (SAFER Nursing Homes Act) (H.R. 9529), which would provide funding for skilled nursing facility and nursing facility survey and certification activities under the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Bill Text Press Release
• On September 11, Sens. Cassidy (R-LA), Booker (D-NJ), and Heinrich (D-NM) introduced the Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act (S. 5018), which would clarify and preserve the breadth of the protections under the Medicare Secondary Payer Act. Press Release
• Also on September 11, Sen. Welch (D-VT) introduced the 340B Pharmaceutical Access To Invest in Essential, Needed Treatments & Support (PATIENTS) Act (S. 5021), which would ensure the accessibility of drugs furnished through the 340B drug discount program. Press Release
• Also on September 11, Sens. King (I-ME), Rounds (R-SD), and Kelly (D-AZ) introduced the Stand Strong Falls Prevention Act (S. 5023), which would improve falls prevention research and activities. Press Release
• On September 12, Reps. Murphy (R-NC), Ruiz (D-CA), Joyce (R-PA), Schrier (D-WA), and Panetta (D-CA) introduced the No Surprises Act Enforcement Act (H.R. 9572), which would increase penalties for group health plans and health insurance issuers for practices that violate balance billing requirements. Press Release
• Also on September 12, Reps. Raskin (D-MD) and Bacon (R-NE) introduced the Stabilization to Prevent (STOP) Suicide Act (H.R. 9577), which would establish a grant program to support models for providing stabilization services to individuals with serious thoughts of suicide. Bill Text Press Release