Tag Archives: legislation

Capitol Hill Healthcare Update

Photo of Mike FergusonPhoto of Chris JonesPhoto of Adam HigginsPhoto of Tyler ThompsonBy Mike Ferguson, Chris Jones, Adam Higgins and Tyler Thompson on Posted in Uncategorized
Trump order seeks to undermine ACA President Donald Trump didn’t mention the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in his inaugural address but later that night he signed a sweeping executive order that directs federal agencies to effectively undermine the health law. The executive order doesn’t repeal the ACA, and it’s mostly symbolic – but it is … Continue Reading

Capitol Hill Healthcare Update

Photo of Mike FergusonPhoto of Chris JonesPhoto of Adam HigginsPhoto of Tyler ThompsonBy Mike Ferguson, Chris Jones, Adam Higgins and Tyler Thompson on Posted in Uncategorized
Congress sets up bill to repeal ACA The House on Friday gave final congressional approval to a budget blueprint that authorizes separate filibuster-proof legislation Republicans will use next month to repeal much of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Republican-led committees in the House and Senate now will begin drafting the so-called reconciliation legislation that will … Continue Reading

Capitol Hill Healthcare Update

Photo of Mike FergusonPhoto of Chris JonesPhoto of Adam HigginsPhoto of Tyler ThompsonBy Mike Ferguson, Chris Jones, Adam Higgins and Tyler Thompson on Posted in Uncategorized
A growing number of moderate and conservative Republicans in Congress are voicing concerns about the party’s strategy to repeal the Affordable Care Act (Act) in February but then wait months – and possibly even into 2018 – before developing a replacement plan. Republicans, including President-elect Trump, have said the party’s No. 1 priority is repealing … Continue Reading

Capitol Hill Healthcare Update

Photo of Mike FergusonPhoto of Chris JonesPhoto of Adam HigginsPhoto of Tyler ThompsonBy Mike Ferguson, Chris Jones, Adam Higgins and Tyler Thompson on Posted in Uncategorized
New Congress targets ACA repeal Republican congressional leaders overseeing the new 115th Congress will trigger a legislative process this week which will likely culminate in February with the repeal of most of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Senate will vote on a budget framework that will authorize separate legislation known as budget reconciliation. That … Continue Reading

21st Century Cures: Not Just a Biomed Bill

Photo of Kristen McDermott WoodrumPhoto of Ernessa McKieBy Kristen McDermott Woodrum and Ernessa McKie on Posted in Uncategorized
The 21st Century Cures Act signed into law on December 13, 2016 is gaining significant attention as landmark legislation promoting medical innovation. But the massive Cures Act goes much further and includes some relief (though not a complete cure) for certain hospitals impacted by the site-neutral payment policies of Section 603 of the Bipartisan Budget … Continue Reading

21st Century Cures: Ambitious Medical Innovation Bill Has Broad Focus

Photo of Lee H. RosebushPhoto of Lindsay HolmesBy Lee H. Rosebush, Lindsay Holmes and Allison Rochford on Posted in Uncategorized
In a health policy landscape fraught with partisan rancor, congressional members from both sides of the aisle came together to pass the 21st Century Cures Act. Championed over the past three years by bill sponsor and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI), the Cures Act primarily overhauls the FDA’s drug and device … Continue Reading

Capitol Hill Healthcare Update

Photo of Mike FergusonPhoto of Chris JonesPhoto of Adam HigginsPhoto of Tyler ThompsonBy Mike Ferguson, Chris Jones, Adam Higgins and Tyler Thompson on Posted in Uncategorized
House Oks “Cures,” Senate Votes This Week The Senate this week is likely to give final congressional approval to legislation that adds billions of dollars for biomedical research and aims to speed the discovery and development of new drugs and medical devices. The “21st Century Cures” legislation won House approval last week 392-26. Although several … Continue Reading

The Wait is Over: CMS Delivers Post-BBA Provider-Based Policies in Final 2017 OPPS

Photo of Kristen McDermott WoodrumPhoto of Ernessa McKieBy Kristen McDermott Woodrum, Susan Feigin Harris and Ernessa McKie on Posted in Uncategorized
Now that the rule is out, work to implement the BBA changes begins in earnest. CMS commemorated the one-year anniversary of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 (BBA) with the traditional gift of paper, offering long-awaited guidance to hospitals on how the agency will implement the site-neutral payment policies of BBA Section 603 in the … Continue Reading

Trump Administration: Impact on Healthcare Policy

Photo of Mike FergusonPhoto of Chris JonesBy Mike Ferguson, Susan Feigin Harris and Chris Jones on Posted in Uncategorized
Republicans’ biggest issue will be what to do with the 20 million Americans who have gained coverage under the ACA. Congress reconvened this week for the first time since Donald Trump’s stunning victory, and just as his election was a political earthquake, the impact of the Trump administration and the Republican Congress on healthcare policy promises … Continue Reading

Capitol Hill Healthcare Update

Photo of Mike FergusonPhoto of Chris JonesPhoto of Adam HigginsPhoto of Tyler ThompsonBy Mike Ferguson, Chris Jones, Adam Higgins and Tyler Thompson on Posted in Uncategorized
Congress Adjourns, Eyes Election Then Lame Duck Congress completed work last week on a stopgap budget that keeps the government open until a post-election lame-duck voting session in December, when lawmakers are expected to move on legislation dealing with medical innovation, mental health reform and possibly efforts to stop CMS’s proposed Medicare Part B drug … Continue Reading

Capitol Hill Healthcare Update

Photo of Mike FergusonPhoto of Chris JonesPhoto of Adam HigginsPhoto of Tyler ThompsonBy Mike Ferguson, Chris Jones, Adam Higgins and Tyler Thompson on Posted in Uncategorized
New Bill Targets Drug Prices Bipartisan legislation introduced in the Senate last week would require pharmaceutical manufacturers to alert the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) before increasing prices more than 10 percent, continuing congressional pressure on the industry over drug pricing. The bill’s authors – including Sen. John McCain, (R-AZ) – say … Continue Reading

Capitol Hill Healthcare Update

Photo of Mike FergusonPhoto of Chris JonesPhoto of Adam HigginsPhoto of Tyler ThompsonBy Mike Ferguson, Chris Jones, Adam Higgins and Tyler Thompson on Posted in Uncategorized
Upton Acknowledges ‘Cures’ Stalled House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) acknowledged publicly last week what has been widely suspected on Capitol Hill – his “21st Century Cures” medical innovation legislation will not pass Congress before the November elections. Upton had hoped to push through even a scaled-back version. But lack of consensus … Continue Reading

Congress is Back in Session – So What Now for Healthcare?

Photo of Mike FergusonPhoto of Chris JonesPhoto of Adam HigginsPhoto of Tyler ThompsonBy Mike Ferguson, Chris Jones, Adam Higgins and Tyler Thompson on Posted in Uncategorized
With Congress reconvening after a seven-week summer recess, we wanted to provide you with a quick topline of key healthcare issues lawmakers are expected to consider this week. Zika Funding The Senate voted September 6 – and as expected – failed to overcome a Democratic filibuster of new funding to combat the Zika virus. Congress earlier this … Continue Reading

Medicare: Congress Ends 2015 With Some Last-Minute Reforms

Photo of Robert M. WolinBy Robert M. Wolin on Posted in Uncategorized
Congress chose to end 2015 with some last-minute Medicare reforms impacting healthcare providers. Significantly, the Patient Access and Medicare Protection Act, signed into law by President Obama on December 28, 2015, includes provisions aimed at identity theft protections, exception from meaningful use requirements, radiation therapy rates, fee awards for Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs), and payment for … Continue Reading

House Passes Bill to Help Prevent Prescription Drug Abuse

Photo of Lee H. RosebushBy Lee H. Rosebush and Nita Garg on Posted in Uncategorized
On September 8, 2015, the House of Representatives passed a bill intended to combat prescription drug abuse through the reauthorization of a program that provides federal grants to states for prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMP). The National All Schedule Prescription Electronic Reporting (NASPER) Reauthorization Act, (H.R. 1725), authored by Rep. Edward Whitfield (R-Ky.) and Rep. … Continue Reading

Pharmacy Benefit Manager Group Opposes 21st Century Cures Act’s Cost Offset

Photo of Lee H. RosebushBy Lee H. Rosebush and Dena Kessler on Posted in Uncategorized
The trade coalition representing pharmacy benefit managers is raising concerns about major bipartisan legislation aimed at streamlining the approval of new medicines and medical devices. However, the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association’s (PCMA) opposition to the legislation is not about the content of the bill but rather how Congress intends to pay for it. The 21st … Continue Reading

Proposed FDA Overhaul to Improve Biomedical Discovery and Development

Photo of Lance L. SheaBy Dena Kessler and Lance L. Shea on Posted in Uncategorized
The House of Representatives and the Senate are assessing significant reforms to the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. The reforms are aimed at accelerating the approval of new drugs, medical devices and other products regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). On January 27, 2015, the House Energy and Commerce Committee released draft legislation. … Continue Reading

Late Push to Reauthorize CHIP Funding This Session

By Susan Feigin Harris and Lucy Calautti on Posted in Uncategorized
Approximately eight million children currently covered by the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) may lose access to their pediatric-specific benefits and provider networks if legislation is not passed to extend federal funding for CHIP beyond its slated expiration at the end of FY 2015. CHIP is designed to provide coverage to children and pregnant women … Continue Reading

Will Camp Tax Plan Impact Charitable Giving and Tax-exempt Organizations?

By William J. Culbertson on Posted in Uncategorized
Editor’s Note: The following article was originally published to BakerHostetler’s WealthDirector blog. In late February 2014, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.) released a nearly 1,000 page discussion draft addressing tax reform. Chairman Camp’s proposal includes changes to numerous sections of the Internal Revenue Code (Code), including changes with respect to the … Continue Reading
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