Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
With Votes Planned, House Democrats Try To Whip Up Spending Bills Support
AP: Biden's Big Bill On Brink Of House Votes, But Fights Remain
Democrats in the House appear on the verge of advancing President Joe Biden’s $1.85 trillion-and-growing domestic policy package alongside a companion $1 trillion infrastructure bill in what would be a dramatic political accomplishment — if they can push it to passage. The House scrapped votes late Thursday but will be back at it early Friday, and White House officials worked the phones to lock in support for the president’s signature proposal. After months of negotiations, House passage of the big bill would be a crucial step, sending to the Senate Biden’s ambitious effort to expand health care, child care and other social services for countless Americans and deliver the nation’s biggest investment yet to fight climate change. (Mascaro and Fram, 11/5)
The Hill: House Sets Up Friday Votes For Biden Agenda
The House will convene at 8 a.m. Friday to begin work on passing President Biden's $1.75 trillion social spending and climate package, which has been stuck in a battle within the party between liberals and centrists fighting over its size and shape. The internal battles, which have also gridlocked a bipartisan infrastructure bill already approved by the Senate, have been blamed for pulling down Biden's approval ratings, and for a dismal showing by the party in Tuesday's off-year elections, when Democrats lost the governor's race in Virginia — where Biden won by 10 points just a year ago. (11/5)
The Wall Street Journal: Nancy Pelosi’s Push For Quick Votes On Bills Hits Snags
The timetable for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to bring up Democrats’ healthcare, education and climate package slipped to Friday after lawmakers hit snags on immigration and the state and local tax deduction. The California Democrat initially told House Democrats in a closed-door meeting on Thursday that she hoped the House would vote on the bill later that day, and then vote on the Senate-passed infrastructure bill on Friday, according to people familiar with her remarks. Progressives have been blocking the roughly $1 trillion infrastructure bill until they were satisfied with the language in the social-spending and climate-change bill. (Duehren, Wise and Hughes, 11/4)
The latest on drug pricing and Medicare measures —
The Hill: House Leaders Make Last-Minute Change On Drug Pricing After Dispute
House Democratic leaders are making a last-minute change to their deal to lower prescription drug prices to resolve a dispute that arose over the wording of the measure, according to a source familiar with the process. The compromise follows a meeting Thursday night between Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) and other lawmakers to resolve the issue as House leaders race to line up the votes for President Biden's social spending package. (Sullivan, 11/4)
Axios: Medicare Prescription Drug Negotiations May Not Be As Limited As We Thought
Here's one wonky but meaningful clarification, at least for us: Democrats' drug pricing bill would allow Medicare to negotiate the prices of up to 20 new drugs a year, but the prices negotiated in previous years would remain in effect until a competitor enters the market. Which drugs can be negotiated is still much more limited than Democrats' original plan. But this means that, eventually, Medicare will likely be able to negotiate the prices of a lot more than just 20 drugs. (Owens and Herman, 11/5)
KHN: Despite Restraints, Democrats’ Drug Pricing Plan Could Still Aid Consumers
The Medicare prescription drug pricing plan Democrats unveiled this week is not nearly as ambitious as many lawmakers sought, but they and drug policy experts say the provisions crack open the door to reforms that could have dramatic effects. Tamping down drug expenses has been a longtime rallying cry for consumers beset by rapidly rising prices. Although people in private plans had some protections, those on Medicare often did not. They had no out-of-pocket caps and frequently complained that federal law kept them from using drugmakers’ coupons or other cost-cutting strategies. (McAuliff, 11/5)
KHN: Democrats Plan To Expand Medicare Hearing Benefits. What Can Consumers Expect?
President Joe Biden’s mammoth domestic spending bill would add hearing benefits to the traditional Medicare program — one of three major new benefits Democrats had sought. The Biden administration appears to have fallen short of its ambition to expand dental and vision along with hearing benefits. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and other progressives have long pushed for more generous benefits for seniors. Citing the cost, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) opposed such expansion. (Pradhan, 11/5)
KHN: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: Compromise Is Coming — Maybe
Democrats on Capitol Hill hope they are nearing the finish line in their months-long quest to enact President Joe Biden’s social spending agenda. After briefly dropping from the massive bill provisions aimed at lowering prescription drug costs, lawmakers in the House and Senate reached a compromise on that issue over the weekend. Also back in the bill — at least in the House — are provisions for paid family leave. But the bill cannot get to Biden without the signoff of every Democrat in the Senate, which has not happened yet. (11/4)
In other news from Capitol Hill —
Roll Call: House Democrats, Republicans Clash Over Texas Abortion Law
Questions about the role of government in abortion policy arose during a House hearing Thursday, days after the Supreme Court heard oral arguments challenging a Texas abortion law. The Supreme Court heard arguments Monday over challenges to a Texas law that bans almost all abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, with no exceptions for rape or incest. The law also incentivizes private citizens to sue any individual who aids in an abortion after that point, offering a minimum of $10,000 in a successful suit. (Raman, 11/4)
Roll Call: Republicans Stall SBA Nominee, Citing Planned Parenthood Loans, Muslim Group
Senate Republicans on Thursday again boycotted a committee vote to advance Dilawar Syed to be deputy administrator of the Small Business Administration, stalling action on a nominee who would be the highest-ranking Muslim in the Biden administration amid accusations of bigotry from some groups. (Reilly, 11/4)
