WASHINGTON WIRE
May 15, 2009
Issue 200
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE HOSTS FINAL REFORM ROUNDTABLE, RELEASES COVERAGE OPTIONS
House Democrats Say House will Pass Healthcare Reform Bill by August Recess
House Committee Holds Hearing on Medical Device Legislation
Trustees Release Annual Reports on Bleak Outlook for Medicare and Social Security Funds
Top Story
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE HOSTS FINAL REFORM ROUNDTABLE, RELEASES COVERAGE OPTIONS
The Senate Finance Committee held its third and final healthcare reform roundtable this week, wrapping up discussions a month before it and the Senate HELP Committee are expected to release healthcare reform legislation. The roundtables were on the delivery system, coverage expansion and financing of reform, and the committee has released policy options on the delivery system and on coverage expansion. A policy options document on financing is expected the week of May 18.
The coverage document includes a broad range of policy options, including an expansion of the Medicaid program, more incentives for states to offer home and community based services and approaches to including a public plan option in a National Insurance Exchange. Comments on the coverage document are due Friday, May 22.
Health Care News
House Democrats Say House Will Pass Healthcare Reform Bill By August Recess
At a meeting with President Obama at the White House, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said that the House will pass healthcare reform legislation by August recess. House Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) also released details of the committee's draft reform plan that includes a public insurance option and private insurance market reforms. A vote by August recess could put House lawmakers in lockstep with Senate Democratic leaders, who have pledged to mark up legislation in mid-June and pass it by recess.
But consensus has yet to be made regarding many components of a potential healthcare reform plan, including a public plan option, individual and employer mandates and whether to create a federal healthcare board. Republicans and Democrats alike are gearing up for a tough fight - on the Hill and nationwide - this summer.
House Committee Holds Hearing on Medical Device Legislation
The House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing May 12 on a bill that would allow medical device companies to be sued for liability under state law. The legislation, the Medical Device Safety Act of 2009, responds to a 2008 Supreme Court ruling in Riegel v. Medtronic that medical devices that receive FDA pre-market approval are preempted from liability suits under state law.
HR 1346 was introduced by Health Subcommittee Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NY) in March. A companion bill was introduced in the Senate by Senate HELP Chairman Ted Kennedy (D-MA).
Trustees Release Annual Reports on Bleak Outlook for Medicare and Social Security Funds
On Tuesday, May 12, the Trustees of the Medicare and Social Security trust funds released their reports showing that the economic recession is accelerating the pace at which Social Security and Medicare could become financially unsustainable. The newest information shows that, without intervention, the Medicare trust fund is expected to be depleted by 2017. The fund for Social Security is expected to be exhausted in 2037. Again this year, a Medicare warning will be triggered because general revenues will account for 45 percent of Medicare outlays.
Upcoming Events
Hearings
Monday, May 18
Improving Quality of Health Care
Congressional Health Care Caucus
Panel Discussion
11:30 a.m., HVC-201 Capitol Bldg.
Tuesday, May 19
Employment Support for the Disabled
House Ways and Means - Subcommittee on Social Security
2 p.m., 1100 Longworth Bldg.
VA Medical Care
House Veterans' Affairs - Subcommittee on Health
2 p.m., 334 Cannon Bldg.
Wednesday, May 20
Prosecuting Health Care Fraud
Senate Judiciary - Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs
2:30 p.m., 226 Dirksen Bldg.
Cancer Legislation
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
Full Committee Markup
2:30 p.m., 430 Dirksen Bldg.
Thursday, May 21
Fiscal 2010 Appropriations: Labor, HHS, Education
Senate Appropriations - Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
10:30 a.m., 138 Dirksen 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.
Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville P.C. is a full service law firm specializing in health care and education law and located at 1501 M St., NW 7th Floor, Washington DC 20005
© Copyright 2009, Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville P.C.
All rights reserved.
