Health Programs Brace For Shutdown As Congressional Options Shrink
While most attention is focused on the shutdown clock that will count down to zero on Saturday night without lawmakers' action, there are some other issues being discussed on Capitol Hill, including Medicare solvency, AI, and reproductive data privacy.
The Hill:
McCarthy Options On Shutdown Endgame Shrinking
Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is running short on viable options to get House Republicans some wins while averting a shutdown. Outside the House, the Democratic-controlled Senate — with the help of Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) — has aimed to take the reins on a continuing resolution (CR), advancing a stopgap that Republicans say is dead on arrival in the House. (Brooks, 9/28)
The Hill:
How A Shutdown Would Impact Key Health Care Programs
The federal government is staring down a shutdown as a handful of ultra-conservative House Republicans remain opposed to a short-term agreement to keep the government funded. The current spending laws expire at 11:59 p.m. Sept. 30. Without a deal by that night, funding will lapse and many government functions, including some health care programs, will temporarily stop. Here’s how a shutdown will, and won’t, impact health agencies and services. (Weixel, 9/28)
Axios:
Abortion Pill Measure Likely Dooms GOP Spending Bill
House Republicans appear to be well short of the votes they need to pass a spending bill for the USDA and FDA due to language that would restrict access to abortion pills. The bill's failure would further complicate the already difficult path to keeping the government open, with a shutdown by Sept. 30 growing increasingly likely. It’s also the latest sign of GOP divisions on how to handle abortion in the wake of last year’s Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade. (Solender and Knight, 9/27)
In other congressional news —
Stat:
Senate Starts Talks On Medicare Solvency
The Senate Budget Committee started what could become a bipartisan effort to extend Medicare’s solvency for seniors and people with disabilities. The fund for Medicare’s hospital benefit is scheduled to run dry by 2031, according to Medicare trustees. However, Budget Committee members in both parties said they expect that the government would borrow money to cover benefits once the fund runs out, adding to a deficit that is already well more than $1 trillion annually. (Wilkerson, 9/27)
Politico:
Congress Doc Wants States To Regulate AI
Rep. Greg Murphy (R-N.C.), a co-chair of the GOP Doctors Caucus, called for artificial intelligence in health care to be regulated at the state level first, not nationally, Ben reports. Speaking Tuesday at the Connected Health Initiative’s AI and the Future of Digital Healthcare event in Washington, D.C., Murphy warned against the FDA “controlling” AI regulation, saying the agency should be viewed as a partner in regulation. (Cirruzzo and Leonard, 9/27)
Politico:
Markey Calls For Legal Crackdown When Tech Companies Endanger Children
Markey sent a letter today to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, obtained by POLITICO, asking the company to pause the release of AI-powered chatbots it plans to integrate into its social media platforms. Markey, at the summit, cited statistics on suicide among minors and pointed to a May advisory from the Surgeon General that social media has a significant effect on their mental health.“Just wait a minute here. We’re not going to be able to handle devices talking to young people in our society without understanding what the safeguards are going to be,” Markey said. (Robertson, 9/27)
Roll Call:
Lawmakers Look At Data Privacy In Post-Dobbs World
Personal health data collected via apps, other technology becomes subject of congressional scrutiny in the aftermath of Roe reversal. Advocates worry there are limited guardrails protecting data from law enforcement during abortion investigations. (Bridges, 9/28)
