This Week in Washington: Supreme Court Rules in Favor of 340B Hospitals, FDA Approves COVID-19 Vaccines for Children Under Five
Congress
House
House Veterans Affairs Committee to Hold Legislative Hearing on Healthcare Bills
On June 22, the House Committee on Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health will hold a legislative hearing on the following bills related to healthcare:
- H.R. 291, the VA COST SAVINGS Enhancements Act,
- H.R. 345, the Reproductive Health Information for Veterans Act,
- H.R. 1216, the Modernizing Veterans’ Health Care Eligibility Act,
- H.R. 1957, the Veterans Infertility Treatment Act of 2021,
- H.R. 6273, the VA Zero Suicide Demonstration Project Act of 2021, and
- H.R. 7589, the REMOVE Copays Act.
House Rules Committee to Consider Four Healthcare Bills
On June 21, the House Rules Committee will meet to discuss the following four healthcare bills. Bills typically go to the House Rules Committee before they go to the House floor, as the Rules Committee sets rules that govern how the bills will be considered.
- H.R. 7666, the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022,
- H.R. 5585, the Advanced Research Projects Agency–Health Act,
- H.R. 4176, the LGBTQI+ Data Inclusion Act, and
- Senate Amendment to H.R. 3967, the Honoring our PACT Act of 2022.
Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA and Related Agencies Votes to Approve FY 2023 Funding Bill
On June 15, the House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Related Agencies approved the fiscal year 2023 funding draft bill. The bill provides $27.2 billion in funding, an increase of $2.075 billion from 2022, and includes measures to strengthen the safety of the baby formula market, add more fruits and vegetables to government nutrition assistance programs, invest in rural broadband and fund grants to promote equitable participation in USDA programs. The full Appropriations Committee will mark up the bill on June 23.
Reps. Pallone and Scott Call on FTC to Protect Consumers Buying Infant Formula Online
On June 13, Reps. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Bobby Scott (D-VA) wrote to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) calling on the agency to address the failure of online marketplaces to protect consumers from fraudulent and deceptive practices in the sales of infant formula.
Senate
Senate Commerce Committee to Consider Healthcare Bills
On June 22, the Senate Commerce Committee will hold an executive session on a number of bills. The bills to be considered that are related to healthcare can be found below.
- S. 2510, Preventing HEAT Illness and Deaths Act of 2021, and
- S. 4293, Pharmacy Benefit Manager Transparency Act of 2022.
Senate Passes Bill to Expand Veterans’ Access to Healthcare Related to Burn Pit Exposure
On June 16, the Senate voted 84-14 to pass the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, which would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to cover veterans’ healthcare services related to toxic exposure due to burn pits. The bill now goes to President Biden’s desk to be signed.
Sens. Wyden, Crapo, Carper and Cassidy Release Discussion Draft on Youth Mental Health
On June 15, Sens. Ron Wyden (R-OR), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Tom Carper (D-DE) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) released a discussion draft on youth mental health policies. The discussion draft includes policies that would allow all providers to receive Medicaid reimbursement for behavioral and physical health services on the same day, update Medicaid guidance on mental health care in schools and improve oversight of Medicaid’s Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment benefit.
Sens. Murray, Cantwell and Casey Call on FTC to Investigate Retail Chains’ Infant Formula Pricing Practices
On June 14, Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Bob Casey (D-PA) wrote to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), directing the agency to investigate whether national retail chains have engaged in unfair practices by raising specialized infant formula prices during the shortage.
Read more on healthcare policy in McGuireWoods Consulting’s Washington Healthcare Update.