Congressional Update
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CONGRESS
Bipartisan House and Senate Bills Introduced to Extend F2F Funding
On May 17, Representatives Mikie (Michelle) Sherrill (D-NJ) and Fred Upton (R-MI) introduced the Family-to-Family Reauthorization Act of 2019 (H.R. 2822). The bipartisan bill would extend funding for the grant program that funds Family-to-Family Health Information Centers (F2Fs) for an additional five years, through federal FY 2024, at the current level of $6 million per year. (Read the press release issued by Rep. Sherrill's office.) The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Energy & Commerce, which has jurisdiction over the F2F program and many other health programs.
On May 23, Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) introduced the Supporting Family-to-Family Health Information Centers Act (bill number not assigned as of this writing). Like the House bill, their bill would extend F2F funding through federal FY 2024 at the current funding level. (Read the press release issued by Senator Menendez's office.) The Finance Committee has jurisdiction over the F2F program in the Senate. Senator Grassley chairs that committee, and Senator Menendez is a long-time committee member. Family Voices will be encouraging other Members of the House and Senate to cosponsor these bills. The legislation is needed for continuation of the F2F program beyond the end of the current federal fiscal year (FY 2019).
Senate Bipartisan Bill on Health Care Costs
On May 23, the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) - Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Patty Murray (D-WA), respectively - released a discussion draft of legislation titled the Lower Health Care Costs Act of 2019. The bill has five titles: Ending Surprise Medical Bills; Reducing the Prices of Prescription Drugs; Improving Transparency in Health Care; Improving Public Health; and Improving the Exchange of Health Information. Links to the bill summary and summaries of each title can be found in the committee press release. See also Bipartisan Senators Reveal Sweeping Health Care Package (The Hill, 5/23/19); A New Senate Health Package Includes Surprisingly Aggressive Drug Pricing Reforms (STAT, 5/23/19). As reported in the May 17 Update. It has been reported that Chairman Alexander is aiming to have the legislation considered by the committee in June and brought before the full Senate in July.
The committee is requesting comments on the Alexander-Murray discussion draft.Comments must be submitted to LowerHealthCareCosts@help.
Surprise Medical Bills
The Alexander-Murray discussion draft, discussed above, includes a title on surprise medical bills. As reported in the May 17 Update, other bills or discussion drafts on this topic have been introduced in both the House and Senate. The various proposals differ in the ways that insurers and providers would get paid if the consumer is no longer "balance billed" for the difference between what the provider charges and the insurers pay. See Dueling Surprise Bill Measures Were Introduced on Capitol Hill. Here's Where They Differ (Fierce Healthcare, 5/16/19); Providers, Insurers Parse What They Could Support - And What They Won't - In Surprise Billing Solution (Fierce Healthcare, 5/22/19). Although there is great interest in this issue on the part of Congress and the president, figuring out payment issues may be difficult.
House Passes Health Care Bill
On May 16, the House passed the Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act (H.R. 987). As reported in the May 17 Update, the measure combined separate bills that had been approved by the Energy & Commerce Committee. The legislation would: rescind the administration's rule allowing the sale of "short-term, limited-duration" health plans; provide funding for the Affordable Care Act's Navigator program; restore funding for outreach to consumers about enrolling in health plans; provide funding to states for establishing their own marketplaces; and facilitate the production and marketing of generic drugs. See The House's Big Bill to Lower Drug Prices and Shore up Obamacare, Explained (Vox, 5/13/19). The measure to promote generic drugs had been supported on a bipartisan basis in committee, but only five Republicans voted for the final, larger bill because it would reverse some of the administration's Affordable Care Act (ACA) regulations. See House Passes Legislation to Strengthen the ACA, Boost Generic Drugs (Washington Post, 5/16/19); House Vote Combining Drug, Health Law Bills Irks Republicans (Roll Call, 5/16/19).
More on FY 2020 HHS Appropriations - Increase for Title V MCH Block Grant
As reported in the May 17 Update, the House Appropriations Committee approved, on a party-line vote, its federal fiscal year (FY) 2020 bill to fund the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (known as the "Labor-HHS" bill). Included in the bill is an increase in funding for the Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grant - to $705 million - $27,300,000 above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level, $44,300,000 above the president's budget request, and seven million more than the $698 million requested by the Maternal and Child Health Coalition. See a summary of the House Labor-HHS appropriations bill; the bill text; and the bill report.
Disaster Relief Bill - Includes Funds for Territories
The Senate passed a broad disaster relief package after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), told his colleagues that they were not leaving town for the Memorial Day recess without passing it. See Senate Passes Long-Delayed Disaster Relief Bill that Addresses Hurricanes, Flooding, and Fires (The Weather Channel, 5/23/19). The Senate passed the measure on May 23 by a bipartisan vote of 85 to 8. The House was expectedto pass the bill Friday, by voice vote, but a single House Member opposed it, so it could not pass in this manner. See Texan Chip Roy Single-Handedly Stalls Disaster Legislation In Congress (Texas Standard, 5/27/19).The bill may pass the House once the full body returns from recess, and the president would likely sign it. The legislation had been delayed earlier because the president did not want to provide relief funds to Puerto Rico, while many in Congress did. The president also wanted the bill to include funding for the U.S.-Mexican border activities. The final bill does include funding for Puerto Rico and does not include the border funding.) Deal Struck to Pass $19 Billion Disaster Relief Package Without Border Funds (CNN, 5/23/19). The bill would provide nutrition assistance funding for both Puerto Rico and American Samoa. A press release from the office of Senator Menendez lists some of the relief measures for Puerto Rico. Read more about the bill on the website of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
On May 20, the House passed the Stronger Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act(H.R.2480) by voice vote. The bill would reauthorize the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), which provides federal funding to states to prevent and address maltreatment. (See fact sheet.)
(Finance Committee press release, 5/21/19)
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) sent a letter on May 16 to Seema Verma, the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The letter asks for a broad set of data regarding insulin costs, an issue the two Senators have been investigating since February.
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