WASHINGTON D.C. UPDATE

Congressional members return to Washington D.C. this week after their Thanksgiving recess. During the lame duck session, Congress may take on a package or packages of health care legislation, possibly coupled with a few remaining spending bills, before Democrats take over the House of Representatives in the new year.

Legislative health topics covered in the next few weeks may include:

• 42 CFR Part 2 privacy legislation;  to modify privacy protections for addiction treatment facilities. This was not included in the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act (HR 6) signed into law by the President last month.  There is an effort to pass the legislation through the Senate, which passed the House as a standalone bill back in June, either by itself or as part of a legislative package.
• Affordable Care Act tax on high-cost insurance plans
• Maternal morality
• Pandemic preparedness
• PhRMA is lobbying for legislation to reduce drug makers’ contributions towards closing the Medicare Part D coverage gap

CONGRESSIONAL HEALTH LEADERSHIP IN 2019

Final committee rosters and leadership will not be finalized until January, but insider sources reveal that the following Members may be likely to lead key health care committees in 2019:

Senate Finance Committee

• This morning Sen. Grassley (R-IA) officially announced his intent to re-take the helm of the Senate Finance Committee. Sen. Wyden (D-OR) will stay on as ranking Member.

Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee

• Senator Alexander (R-TN) is expected to remain chairman and Sen. Murray (D-WA) is expected to remain ranking member.

Senate Appropriations Committee

• Sen. Shelby (R-AL) is expected to remain chairman and Sen. Leahy (D-VT) is expected to remain ranking member.
• Sen. Blunt (R-MO) is expected to remain chairman and Sen. Murray (D-WA) will likely remain ranking member of the Labor-HHS Subcommittee.

House Ways and Means Committee

• Rep. Neal (D-MA) is expected to chair the Committee and Rep. Brady (R-TX) is expected to be the ranking member.
• Either Rep. Doggett (D-TX) or Rep. Thompson (D-CA) will likely chair the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee.
• Either Rep. Buchanan (R-FL) or Rep. Smith (R-NE) will likely serve as ranking member of the Health Subcommittee.

House Energy and Commerce Committee

• Rep. Pallone (D-NJ) is expected to chair the Energy and Commerce Committee and Rep. Walden (R-OR) will serve as ranking member.
• Rep. Eshoo (D-CA) is expected to chair the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee and Rep. Burgess (R-TX) is expected to serve as ranking member on the Health Subcommittee.

This Policy Update was generously provided by Holly Strain & Carol McDaid of Capitol Decisions