Tag Archives: policy

House Passes 21st Century Cures Act

Photo of Lance L. SheaBy Lance L. Shea and Nita Garg on Posted in Uncategorized
On July 10, 2014, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed legislation intended to speed the approval of drugs and medical devices and increase funding for medical research. The central aim of H.R. 6, the “21st Century Cures Act” (Cures bill), is to accelerate the drug development process by reducing or removing regulatory obstacles. Specifically, … Continue Reading

ACOs: The Next Generation of Coordination Care

Photo of Laurice Rutledge LambertBy Laurice Rutledge Lambert and Josiah Heidt on Posted in Uncategorized
An Overview of the Medicare Shared Savings Program/Accountable Care Organization Final Rules The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a final rule (Final Rule) that makes changes to the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP). The Affordable Care Act (ACA) created the MSSP as one of several delivery system reform initiatives. The goal … 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

21st Century Cures Act Passes House Committee

Photo of Lance L. SheaBy Lance L. Shea and Nita Garg on Posted in Uncategorized
The House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously approved H.R. 6, the “21st Century Cures Act,” on May 21, 2015, after reaching a bipartisan agreement to fund the legislation (Cures bill). Often described as a “landmark medical innovation” bill, key provisions of the Cures bill are intended to speed marketing approval of drugs and medical devices. … Continue Reading

Five Things to Know About the Medicare SGR Fix

Photo of Robert M. WolinPhoto of Kathleen P. RubinsteinBy Robert M. Wolin, Susan Feigin Harris and Kathleen P. Rubinstein on Posted in Uncategorized
H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA), was signed into law by President Obama on April 16, 2015. A broad bipartisan compromise measure, MACRA repeals the much-maligned sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula used to determine physician payment rates and replaces it with a new incentive payment system; extends funding for the Children’s … Continue Reading

Annual Legislative Seminar Celebrates 25 Years

Photo of BakerHostetlerBy BakerHostetler on Posted in Uncategorized
This year’s Annual Legislative Seminar, held on May 7, marked the event’s 25th anniversary and featured a distinguished lineup of speakers, including 19 members of the Senate and the House who addressed issues, such as federal tax reform, the federal budget, implementation of the Affordable Care Act and proposed legislation addressing patent reform. The event, … Continue Reading

Five Health Policy Issues to Watch in 2014

Photo of Kathleen P. RubinsteinBy Susan Feigin Harris and Kathleen P. Rubinstein on Posted in Uncategorized
As we head into the mid-term election cycle, the ongoing implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) continues to consume the nation’s healthcare industry and political leaders in 2014. On the horizon are several issues likely to dominate congressional time, despite the health policy fatigue felt by most legislators. Below is a … Continue Reading

A Look Back at 2013

Photo of BakerHostetlerBy BakerHostetler on Posted in Uncategorized
In this posting: A Look Back at 2013 Antitrust and Competition Policy, Advocacy and Legislative Strategy Development FDA and Life Sciences Privacy and Data Protection Enforcement and Compliance Transactions and Finance Reimbursement, Licensing and Certification Fraud and Abuse Laws Tax-Exempt Organizations Honors and Recognition Was it the number 13? There’s an old superstition about the … Continue Reading
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