WASHINGTON WIRE
March 20, 2009
Issue 194
Grassley: There is Bi-Partisan Support for Healthcare Reform This Year
As Expected, Obama Selects Hamburg for FDA
NIH Might Receive Additional Funding in 2010 Appropriations
GAO Finds Fraud Accounts for Nearly Half of Increased Home Health Spending
HHS Names Members of Comparative Effectiveness Council
House Lawmakers Debate Major Provisions of Healthcare Reform
Top Story
Grassley: There is Bi-Partisan Support for Healthcare Reform This Year
On Thursday, March 19 Senate Finance Committee ranking minority member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) told reporters that there is bi-partisan support to pass healthcare reform this year, and said that if healthcare reform legislation fails to pass this year it is likely not to pass until after the next presidential election. Democratic Leaders in Congress also are intent on passing a bill this year, and are considering the use of a budget tactic to overcome opposition if a consensus is not met by September.
Whether Democrats use budget reconciliation, a strategy to ensure only 51 votes are needed to pass legislation in the Senate, to pass healthcare reform might depend on the fate of major components of Administration's plan. For example, Grassley told reporters that there is not yet a compromise solution to the debate over a public plan or to cap the federal tax exclusion for employer-provided health insurance. Grassley also said that health care reform would not preclude reform of Medicare and Medicaid. If Congress fails to act, Medicare providers will face a 21 percent cut in fees at the end of this year.
Health Care News
As Expected, Obama Selects Hamburg for FDA
On March 21, President Obama appointed Margaret Hamburg as commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, an authority on public health and emergency preparedness. Hamburg is a former New York City health commissioner, assistant secretary for planning and evaluation at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service and assistant director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Obama is expected to name Baltimore health commissioner Joshua Sharfstein as principal deputy to Hamburg.
NIH Might Receive Additional Funding in 2010 Appropriations
At a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing March 18, medical research stakeholders argued for a 7 percent hike in 2010 funding for the National Institutes of Health. Earlier this year, Congress passed legislation that provides over $38 billion for NIH over the next two years. But the research advocates argue that NIH will need the extra funding to stay on track with research projects once the stimulus funding is spent. The American College of Cardiology, the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research and the Federation of Behavioral, Psychological, and Cognitive Sciences were among those testifying. Among other funding increases, the groups are asking for an additional $573 million for Clinical and Translational Science Awards, a $6 million increase for the University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities and $2 million more for Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities.
GAO Finds Fraud Accounts for Nearly Half Of Increased Home Health Spending
The Government Accountability Office released a report March 13 that found fraud and abuse contributed to a 44 percent rise in Medicare home health spending and use from 2002-2006. The report also found that between 2002 and 2006, the number of home health agencies increased by over 25 percent, with half of that increase in Florida and Texas. In 2008, CMS altered its home health payment process to include a case-mix model, a change that the report faults for leaving the benefit open to fraud and abuse. The report was requested by Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee.
HHS Names Members of Comparative Effectiveness Council
Anne C. Haddix
Chief Policy Officer, Office of Strategy and Innovation, CDC
Thomas B. Valuck
Medical Officer and Senior Advisor, Center for Medicare Management, CMS
Peter Delany
Director, Office of Applied Studies, SAMHSA
Carolyn M. Clancy
Director, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, HHS
Deborah Parham Hopson
Associate Administrator, HIV/AIDS Bureau, HRSA
David Hunt
Chief Medical Officer, Office of the National Coordinator
James Scanlon
Acting Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, HHS
Elizabeth Nabel,
Director, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH
Garth N. Graham
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Minority Health, HHS
Jesse L. Goodman
Acting Chief Medical Officer; Director, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, FDA
Michael Marge
Acting Director, Office on Disability
House Lawmakers Debate Major Provisions of Healthcare Reform
At a House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee Hearing on March 17, lawmakers debated whether a public plan option and a cap on the tax exclusion for employer-provided health insurance should be part of a healthcare reform package. Some Republicans argue that a public plan option gives the government an unfair advantage over private insurers. A number of lawmakers expressed concern about eliminating or capping the tax exclusion.
Upcoming Events
Hearings
Tuesday, March 24
Health Insurance Market Overhaul
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 430 Dirksen Bldg.
Improving Health Care Access
House Energy and Commerce - Subcommittee on Health
10 a.m., 2322 Rayburn Bldg.
Wednesday, March 25
Role of Long-Term Health Care in Health Care Revision
Senate Finance - Subcommittee on Health Care
2:30 p.m., 215 Dirksen Bldg.
Thursday, March 26
Health Insurance Industry
Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee
Full Committee Hearing
10:30 a.m., 253 Russell Bldg.
For More Information
For further information on any topics discussed or publications listed, or to get copies of anything mentioned in this alert, please call (202) 466-6550 and ask for the Legislative Practice Group.
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