 Health Care |
Health Care |
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Senators flag drug pricing as key common-ground issue |
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) opened his first session as chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee today, issuing a laundry list of issues he plans on tackling and emphasizing areas he believes should be nonpartisan. | The opioid crisis, dental care, mental health and the exodus of teachers from public schools were only a few of the problems Sanders cited during the session. High prescription drug fees appeared to be one issue where both parties indicated a significant degree of interest. "We pay by far the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs," Sanders said. "And in some cases, we pay ten times more than the Canadians and people around the world pay. What to me is totally insane." Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), the committee's ranking member, agreed that lowering the cost of prescription drugs was an area of "common ground" for Democrats and Republicans. Lowering the high price of prescription drugs has routinely been a popular issue across the aisle. During his State of the Union address this week, President Biden bemoaned how much Americans pay for prescriptions compared to other countries and warned he would veto any bills that increased drug costs. Cassidy, a physician, argued that the committee will have to be "conscious of the tension between affordability and innovation," which he stated was driven by profit. The need for medical innovation has been a common argument against lowering drug costs among lawmakers, with some Republicans blasting the price-lowering measures in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The drug cost provisions in the IRA are set to go into effect this year, including the one provision that will allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices for the first time, though these negotiated prices won't be available until 2026. Also starting this year, the federal government will also require drug companies to pay a quarterly rebate if the price increases of their medications covered by Medicare Part B exceed the rate of inflation. |
Welcome to The Hill's Health Care newsletter, we're Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health. |
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How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond: |
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COVID-19 vaccines are now included among the routine shots recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for children, adolescents and adults. The 2023 list includes shots for the flu, measles mumps and rubella, polio, and other inoculations. The vaccine schedule represents the current recommendations for people as a regular part of their vaccinations against common infectious diseases. It does not mean … |
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| American personal protective equipment (PPE) companies are forming a lobbying group to push the U.S. away from buying Chinese-made masks, gowns and gloves. The American Medical Manufacturers Association aims to boost domestic production of PPE to ensure that the U.S. never has another shortfall as it did at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, when China briefly restricted exports. "When there’s massive supply chain … |
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Legislation that would eliminate a requirement that most foreign travelers arriving in the U.S. be vaccinated against COVID-19 passed the House Wednesday. Under the requirement imposed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), all adult visitors who are not citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. are required to show proof of COVID vaccination before boarding their flight to the country. The legislation passed … |
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Barriers often keep Black community from seeking help for mental health |
All ethnicities and cultures experience mental health conditions, but according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, only one in three Black adults who need mental health care actually receive it. |
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Local and state headlines on health care: |
- Maryland Democrats seek to create 'safe haven for abortion' (Washington Post)
- Twelve NC counties expand harm reduction services (North Carolina Health News)
- Hospital mask mandates may change soon, Oregon Health Authority says (KOIN)
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Health news we've flagged from other outlets: |
- More than half of US nursing homes are unprofitable—and it's about to get a lot worse (Quartz)
- The high cost of diabetes drugs has led to a flourishing black market (NBC)
- Why the Odds Are Stacked Against a Promising New Covid Drug (The New York Times)
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Most read stories on The Hill right now: |
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A classified briefing for House lawmakers on the Chinese spy balloon turned tense on Thursday when Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) went after administration … Read more |
| "This decision was not made lightly and was reached only after a thorough review process," a Walmart spokesperson told Nexstar. Read more |
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You're all caught up. See you tomorrow! |
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