House Democrats May Have Had Busy Year, But There’s Little Progress To Show Their Constituents
House Democrats have passed legislation on gun control, immigration and health care, yet the measures die in the Senate. As they head home to face constituents during recess, it's unclear if that message will translate. "I go home and people say, ‘How come your party isn’t helping me with the cost of inhalers or EpiPens, or health care in general?’" said Rep. Elissa Slotkin, Democrat of Michigan. In other news from Capitol Hill: surprise medical bill votes, mental health clinics and cannabis products.
The New York Times:
Heading Into Long Recess, House Democrats Take Home A Mixed Record
At critical moments, disconnects between liberals and moderates on both policy and style have exploded into public view, and Mr. Trump has diverted attention from key Democratic victories at almost every turn. A vote on a meticulously negotiated agreement among Democrats on legislation to raise the minimum wage was overshadowed this month after Mr. Trump made an incendiary attack on four freshman congresswomen of color; House Democrats spent the first half of their week debating and passing a resolution to condemn his comments as racist. “He knows exactly how to distract us, and we take the bait — we take the bait every time,” said Representative Elissa Slotkin, Democrat of Michigan, another first-term lawmaker from a Trump district. “And then I go home and people say, ‘How come your party isn’t helping me with the cost of inhalers or EpiPens, or health care in general?’ And we do care about those things; it’s just not what makes sexy headlines.” (Hirschfeld Davis, 7/28)
Modern Healthcare:
Lawmakers Lobby For Vote On Provider-Friendly Surprise Billing Ban
Two lawmakers have banded together to whip members of a U.S. House of Representatives health panel to vote on an alternative policy to ban "surprise" medical bills. The effort by Reps. Donna Shalala (D-Fla.) and Phil Roe (R-Tenn.) within the House Committee on Education and Labor focuses on a bill more generous to physicians and hospitals than legislation already approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The move could further tangle the already contentious debate over how the feds should end the practice of balance billing. The issue of "surprise" medical bills is often instigated by specialty physician groups that contract with hospitals without joining their insurance networks. (Luthi, 7/26)
Modern Healthcare:
Senate Extends Funding For Mental Health Clinics
The Senate on Thursday passed a two-month extension of a Medicaid demonstration enabling innovative mental health centers in eight states to offer broad, coordinated services for serious mental illness and substance use disorders. Advocates hope the House will approve the temporary funding measure next week as a routine, consent calendar item. The Senate bill, sponsored by Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), would provide about $60 million to the program through Sept. 13. It previously was delayed by holds by Republican senators. Two-year funding for the $1 billion certified community behavioral health clinic (CCBHC) ended on July 14. (Meyer, 7/26)
CQ:
States Want Cannabis Products, And Federal Help Regulating Them
States have led the way in pushing Congress to lighten up about marijuana and other products that come from the cannabis plant. That’s because they see the potential for new industries benefiting their residents, and new tax revenue. But now that Congress is helping, it turns out the states will need a lot of help from Washington regulators to make sure the products don’t hurt people.Earlier this month, attorneys general from 33 states filed comments with the Food and Drug Administration letting the agency know just how much they would need its help now that Congress has authorized the sale of some cannabis-related products (though not marijuana). (Zeller, 7/29)
