 Health Care |
Health Care |
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Becerra to face GOP-controlled House committees for the first time |
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra is set to appear in front of three House committees this week to defend the Biden administration's budget request. |
Becerra is slated to testify in front of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Appropriations Committee tomorrow. On Wednesday, he'll face the House Energy and Commerce health subcommittee. If his hearings in the Senate last week are any indication, Becerra will likely face pointed questions about the administration's plans to tackle prescription drug prices, Alzheimer's research and the coverage of Alzheimer's drugs, and the administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Alzheimer's advocates attended last Wednesday's Senate Finance Committee hearing, to show support for lawmakers that wanted to press Becerra on why the Medicare program has been reluctant to cover new treatments for the disease. Becerra faced a Democratic-controlled Senate last week, and largely avoided engaging GOP members on the contentious issues. This week is the first time he'll testify in front of GOP-run House panels. The Biden administration's budget is seeking a a $14.8 billion, or nearly 12 percent, increase from the 2023 enacted level in discretionary funding for HHS in its proposed 2024 budget. One of the proposed measures that Republican House members are likely to needle Becerra is the tax hike on wealthy Americans to keep Medicare solvent. GOP leaders have all but deemed any tax increases to be dead-on-arrival. |
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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Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) is asking the Federal Trade Commission to investigate reports that drug distributor AmeriSourceBergen is refusing to distribute Mifeprex to retail pharmacies in certain states, but was continuing to sell directly to health providers. In a letter sent Monday to FTC Chair Lina Kahn, Duckworth accused the company of exploiting the political climate around abortion medication in order to maximize profits. … |
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| The majority of Senate Democrats on Monday pressed Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to maintain access to abortion care for service members and their dependents, warning that restricting such care could hurt national security. In a letter led by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), a senior member of the Armed Services Committee, the 38 lawmakers tell Austin that "it is imperative that the Department of Defense continue … |
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Teen overdose deaths have doubled in three years, an alarming trend amid a historic decline in drug and alcohol use among high school students. The main reason is fentanyl. Teens consume the powerful opioid unwittingly, packaged in counterfeit pills tailored to resemble less potent prescription medications. Drug traffickers lace pills with fentanyl to boost the black-market high. Dangerously addictive, fentanyl … |
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We perceive. We prepare. We protect. |
For the public health threats our world faces, Emergent develops, manufactures, and delivers protections against the things we hope never happen — just in case they ever do. Learn more. |
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Upcoming news themes and events we're watching: |
- A House Appropriations subcommittee will hold a hearing on Biden's FY24 HHS Budget, with HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra on Tuesday
- The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic on Tuesday holds a hearing on COVID-19 school closures
- A House Oversight subcommittee will hold a Tuesday hearing on FDA's response to the infant formula shortage
- The House Ways and Means Committee will hold a hearing with HHS Secretary Becerra on Biden's FY24 HHS Budget.
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Branch out with a different read from The Hill: |
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Disconnecting part of the brain helps kids with rare form of epilepsy |
Disconnecting half the brain to stop seizures sounds unthinkable, but it's an actual procedure to help children with a rare form of epilepsy. | |
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Local and state headlines on health care: |
- As Colorado reels from another school shooting, Study finds 1 in 4 teens have quick access to guns (Kaiser Health News)
- Philly water is safe to drink until at least Tuesday afternoon after chemical spill, officials say (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
- Kansas Supreme Court will weigh abortion rights for first time since overturn of Roe (The Kansas City Star)
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"Pathways to Patient Affordability" – Thursday, March 30, 10:30 a.m. ET What will the post-IRA health care landscape look like? And what hurdles remain for patients seeking quality care? The Hill will host a deep-dive discussion on the complexities within the American health care system and the path to patient affordability. Join Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) in conversation with The Hill's Bob Cusack at the Hilton Washington DC Capitol Hill. Breakfast begins at 10:30 AM ET and programming begins at 11 a.m. ET. The event will also be streamed nationally. Reserve your spot now |
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Health news we've flagged from other outlets: |
- A half century after Prozac, a new generation of depression drugs is bringing hope to a long-stagnant field (Stat)
- Drug combo may extend the lives of women with advanced endometrial cancer (NBC News)
- These women survived combat. Then they had to fight for health care. (The Washington Post)
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We perceive. We prepare. We protect. |
For the public health threats our world faces, Emergent develops, manufactures, and delivers protections against the things we hope never happen — just in case they ever do. Learn more. |
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Most read stories on The Hill right now: |
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Fox News host Brian Kilmeade on Monday called it "insane" for former President Trump to kick off his first official 2024 rally with a national anthem … Read more |
| A 28-year-old woman shot and killed three children and three adult staff members at a school in Nashville, Tennessee on Monday before being killed … Read more |
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You're all caught up. See you tomorrow! |
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