Health Care — Presented by CAPD — Gearing up for the Senate's hearing-palooza

Welcome to The Hill's Health Care newsletter

View Online Health Care Health Care                       PRESENTED BY The Big Story  The Senate health care hearing-palooza is here Senators are holding multiple health-centric hearings Wednesday, focusing on Biden's budget, medication shortages and hikes in COVID-19 vaccine prices. © Greg Nash, The Hill Some of the biggest fireworks will likely come when Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) grills Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel on his company's reported plans to quadruple the price of its COVID-19 vaccine.   Bancel will be the sole witness in the first part of the hearing. Sanders has called Moderna the "poster child" for corporate greed and high drug prices, and he's accused Bancel and Moderna's other co-founders of profiteering off of the taxpayer-funded research that went into making the vaccine.   The reported price range of Moderna's shot would match what competitor Pfizer said it is considering charging, though both are far more than what the federal government pays. However, Pfizer did not receive federal support for the development of its vaccine.   Shortly after Sanders called for Bancel to testify, the company announced it would keep its vaccine free for consumers after the federal government stops paying for them.    Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra will be defending President Biden's budget in front of two Senate committees Wednesday — Appropriations and Finance panels — as lawmakers dissect the measures that the White House has proposed.   One of the most contentious lines included in the budget is a tax hike on people making more than $400,000 a year, which Biden has proposed in order to keep Medicare solvent.   The Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs will also be holding a hearing on national drug shortages on Wednesday, with experts from the policy and nonprofit sphere invited to speak.   Several commonly used drugs including Adderall and albuterol have recently or are currently considered to be in shortage. Many retailers across the country resorted to limiting sales of common flu medicines over the winter as acetaminophen and ibuprofen became hard to find.    Reports cropped up of patients rationing their medications and congressional interest in this issue has persisted. While several experts will testify on Wednesday, representatives from the pharmaceutical industry were notably absent from the list. 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. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Essential Reads  How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond: Oklahoma Supreme Court finds 'limited right' to abortion in state constitution, leaving access out-of-reach for many The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that the state’s constitution guarantees a “limited right” to abortions after reproductive rights activists challenged the abortion ban that was signed into law last year, with the court issuing a partial injunction on a bill prohibiting women from terminating their pregnancies while upholding another. In May, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) signed into law two pieces …  Full Story House Republicans turn to Biden administration response to infant formula crisis House Republicans are turning to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) response to the baby formula shortage as part of its oversight of the Biden administration.  Reps. James Comer (R-Ky.), the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, and Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), the chairwoman of the Health Care and Financial Services Subcommittee, sent a letter to FDA Commissioner Robert Califf on Tuesday saying that the committee …  Full Story Cases of rare tick-borne disease on the rise in 8 states, CDC says NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) – Tick-borne illness cases in the United States are up 25% since 2011, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including a rare disease now spreading in the U.S. Northeast. The CDC says cases of babesiosis, which can cause illness ranging from asymptomatic to severe, have increased significantly in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New …  Full Story On Our Radar  Upcoming news themes and events we're watching: Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel will testify before the Senate HELP Committee on the price of his company's COVID vaccine. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra will testify in the Senate Finance Committee on Biden's budget proposal. Becerra will also testify at a Senate Appropriations subcommittee. The Senate Homeland Security Committee will hold a hearing on the causes of national drug shortages. A MESSAGE FROM THE COALITION FOR AFFORDABLE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS  Our pharmacy benefit protects us from big drug companies Big drug companies keep raising prices. But my small business has a pharmacy benefit, saving us each $1,040 a year. Congress should focus on the real cause of high drug prices - Big Pharma. Learn more.    In Other News  Branch out with a different read from The Hill: Rapidly spreading fungus already in 28 states presents 'urgent' threat, CDC warns Candida auris, or C. auris, is so concerning because it is often resistant to anti-fungal drugs, making it hard to treat infections. It can also be hard to identify with standard lab tests, making it even more difficult to treat properly and early. Full Story The Hill Event  Women Out Front, March 22, 2-4 p.m. ET   Each March we honor the role women have played in society with Women's History Month. The Hill will host a national, virtual summit with trailblazing lawmakers, activists and other female leaders who have paved the way. Jennifer Klein, assistant to the president & director of the White House Gender Policy Council, Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa), Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), Gisele Fetterman and Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) join.   Reserve your spot now Around the Nation  Local and state headlines on health care: Nebraska filibuster over trans rights echoes Wendy Davis' 2013 abortion standoff (The 19th News) Coloradans with health conditions call on state to do more to clear the air (KUNC) Idaho House kills Medicaid budget (Idaho Capital Sun) What We're Reading  Health news we've flagged from other outlets: Mental health care by video fills gaps in rural nursing homes (Kaiser Health News) 'We were helpless': despair at the C.D.C. as the pandemic erupted (The New York Times) What to know about xylazine, the drug authorities are calling a public safety threat (NPR) Birth control methods that use one hormone raise breast cancer risk as much as those with a combo, study finds (NBC News) What Others are Reading  Most read stories on The Hill right now: Jackson pens solo dissent as Supreme Court vacates abortion ruling The Supreme Court on Monday struck down a federal court ruling upholding the right for a minor to go to court to get permission to undergo an abortion, … Read more Rand Paul tweets NY DA 'should be put in jail' Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Tuesday suggested that the Manhattan district attorney “should be put in jail” amid anticipation that … Read more What People Think  Opinions related to health submitted to The Hill: How to ensure social determinants of health actually improve health care   You're all caught up. See you tomorrow!  Check out The Hill's Health Care page for the latest coverage. Like this newsletter? Take a moment to view our other topical products here 📩 Privacy Policy  |  Manage Subscriptions  |  Unsubscribe  1625 K Street NW, 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20006 Copyright © 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved.

If you believe this has been sent to you in error, please safely unsubscribe.