Grassley Urges Tighter Scrutiny Of Medicare Advantage Plans; House ‘Cures’ Bill Mark Up Delayed
In other Capitol Hill happenings, supporters of the 340B Drug Discount program urge lawmakers not to make changes in it as part of the "Cures" bill that would overhaul the FDA's drug approval process. Meanwhile, House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, gives a bleak VA progress report.
NPR/Center for Public Integrity:
Grassley To Justice Department: Crack Down On Medicare Advantage Overbilling
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley has asked Attorney General Loretta Lynch to tighten scrutiny of Medicare Advantage health plans suspected of overcharging the government, saying billions of tax dollars are at risk as the popular senior care program grows. (Schulte, 5/20)
The Hill:
Medical Cures Bill Hits Setback
The House Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday abruptly delayed a markup of its bipartisan medical cures bill for 24 hours over the question of how to pay for the legislation. The 21st Century Cures measure, aimed at streamlining the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval process for new cures, was scheduled for a markup Wednesday morning, but the committee delayed it until Thursday with less than two hours' notice. The committee’s chairman, Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), told reporters Wednesday that members are still in talks about cuts to mandatory spending programs in order to offset the cost of the bill. (Sullivan and Ferris, 5/20)
CQ Healthbeat:
Medical Cures Markup Scrapped Amid Concern Over Pay-Fors
Concerns over how to pay for a package costing as much as $13 billion that would overhaul how the government regulates medical products led the House Energy and Commerce Committee to postpone a markup of the bill on Wednesday. (Zanona, 5/20)
The Wall Street Journal's Pharmalot:
Hospitals Urge Congress Not To Change A Drug Discount Program
As a Congressional committee readies legislation designed to jump start medical innovation, executives representing more than 500 hospitals are urging Congressional leaders not to make changes to a prescription drug program that serves indigent patients and bolsters their own bottom lines. At issue is the 340B Drug Discount program that requires drug makers to offer discounts of up to 50% on all outpatient drugs – for everything from AIDS to diabetes – to hospitals and clinics that are known as safety net hospitals, because they serve indigent populations. (Silverman, 5/20)
CQ Healthbeat:
Drug Discount Program Backers Tell Congress To Wait For Regulations Before Legislating
Supporters of a federal program that requires drug companies to give certain hospitals and other providers discounts on medications urged House lawmakers Wednesday to wait to see new draft guidance from the Health Resources and Services Administration before revising the program. The Office of Management of Budget now has under review two proposals from HRSA that would change the so-called 340B program, which has been controversial in recent years. (Young, 5/20)
The Associated Press:
Boehner: Little Progress At VA Year After Shinseki Departure
The Department of Veterans Affairs is no better off a year after former VA Secretary Eric Shinseki resigned amid a scandal over long wait times for veterans seeking health care and falsified records to cover up the delays, House Speaker John Boehner charged Wednesday. In a speech on the House floor, Boehner said the VA has made little progress since Shinseki resigned, despite a new law that overhauled the agency and authorized $16 billion in new spending over three years. (5/20)
In other congressional news -
The New York Times:
House Sends Human Trafficking Bill To President’s Desk
The House overwhelmingly approved the Senate’s much debated human trafficking bill on Tuesday, sending legislation that stalled in the Senate for six weeks to President Obama’s desk with little fanfare. ... Moving past the disagreement over a provision that would block money in a victims’ fund from being used to pay for abortions, the Senate passed the bill, 99 to 0, in April after party leaders agreed to split the fund. Though money for health care would be subject to an existing ban on using federal money to pay for abortions, many victims would be able to obtain abortions in cases of rape. (Huetteman, 5/20)
