 Health Care |
Health Care |
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Markup postponed after chaotic Senate hearing |
What was meant to be a bipartisan hearing to consider legislation on drug costs was derailed on Tuesday and postponed until next week. |
The Senate HELP Committee hearing was held up over internal process complaints, and lawmakers said they hope it won't hurt bipartisan momentum on tackling health care costs. The panel met to consider four bills on increasing competition for generic drugs, increasing access to medicine for rare diseases and reforming PBM business practices.
But in his opening statement, the committee's ranking member Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) said he felt Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) blindsided him in the legislative process.
"I am concerned that today the Chair seems inclined to abandon the carefully balanced, bipartisan legislation we negotiated for the last several weeks," Cassidy said.
Chief among his concerns were that despite agreeing certain policies would be excluded from the legislative package, Sanders was going to allow them back in the form of amendments.
Cassidy said even though he may have agreed with the content of some of those amendments in the past, Republicans did not have a chance to fully vet them because key information wasn't shared with GOP staff.
"At some point, process matters," Cassidy said.
Republicans were left confused and frustrated about whether to vote for amendments they would have supported, and they urged Sanders to postpone the markup by a week until after a scheduled hearing with executives from PBMs and insulin manufacturers. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) joined in, saying it made sense to wait on amendments until after hearing from industry executives. "It would seem to me the goal would be to get this bill out of committee with as much momentum as possible so it has the greatest likelihood on the floor," Kaine said. "It's a little unusual to be in a posture where we have some people today who are voting against amendments that they kinda want to vote for," he added. After a recess during which Sanders left to discuss the matter with Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer (N.Y.), he agreed to push back the markup until May 10.
"The bottom line here is, look, guys — I know we had disagreements today, but I think Sen. Cassidy and I, Sen. [Susan] Collins (R-Maine), all of us want to accomplish important goals so let's go forward together," Sanders said. |
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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A group of more than 250 Democratic Congress members signed an amicus brief urging the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse its ruling to limit access to the abortion pill mifepristone, which is currently paused as it goes through the appeals process. In their brief, the lawmakers argued that Congress granted the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority to review and approve drugs and “did not invite federal courts … |
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| Children in poverty tend to have healthier brains and fewer mental health problems if they live in states with more generous welfare programs, according to a new study supported by the National Institutes of Health. The findings, from researchers at Harvard and Washington University in St. Louis, suggest that well-funded anti-poverty measures can improve both brain development and mental health in children. Past research … |
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| The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed it’s conducting an investigation into several dozen COVID-19 cases linked to the agency’s annual conference that occurred in Georgia last week. The CDC’s three-day 2023 Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) conference began April 24 in Atlanta, Ga., where the agency is headquartered. The purpose of the meeting is for EIS members to share their … |
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Upcoming news themes and events we're watching: |
- Administration officials will testify Thursday at a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing on the White House fiscal year 2024 budget request for NIH.
- The Senate HELP Committee on Thursday will hold a hearing on reauthorizing the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act, a major must-pass health bill.
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Expanding Access to Alzheimer's Care & Treatment, May 11, 2-4 p.m. ET About 1 in 9 Americans over 65 suffers from Alzheimer's disease. Unfortunately, treatment options are still limited. Why is CMS declining coverage, and where are we in terms of new treatments on the horizon? The Hill brings together Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.); Reps. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), Darin LaHood (R-Ill.) and Nanette Barragan (D-Calif.); along with researchers, doctors, caregivers and patients to explore the latest treatments and roadblocks and discuss what more needs to be done. |
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Branch out with a different read from The Hill: |
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Toddler with rare condition is called 'Little Ninja Turtle' |
James McCallum's parents said their son's condition resulted in a growth on his back that resembled a turtle shell. |
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Local and state headlines on health care: |
- After Idaho's strict abortion ban, OB-GYNs stage a quick exodus (KFF Health News)
- Louisiana's health care deserts, racial discrimination and "fear" put women and babies at risk, advocates say (CBS News)
- Rabies in Alaska bats is very rare, but caution is warranted, state medical experts say (Alaska Beacon)
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Health news we've flagged from other outlets: |
- Why tuberculosis cases have risen in recent years after decades of decline (NBC News)
- Pfizer leans on COVID products to top estimates (Reuters)
- Gene therapy for muscular dystrophy stirs hopes and controversy (NPR)
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Opinions related to health submitted to The Hill: |
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You're all caught up. See you tomorrow! |
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