Incoming Senate Finance Committee chairman Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) on Friday asked the Trump administration to put in place by year’s end its proposal to require drug manufacturers disclose list prices in direct-to-consumer advertising, and they also called on HHS and CMS to adopt additional drug-price disclosure measures.

The American Medical Association is recommending processes and parameters for prior authorization, which the doctor group says are aimed at improving the experience of Medicare and Medicaid patients while making things easier for doctors.

Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) is returning to chair the Finance Committee after a hiatus as Judiciary chair, and the move gives advocates for lower drug prices an ally on the committee with jurisdiction over Medicare and Medicaid that they do not have in the current Finance Chair Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), who is retiring.

The White House budget office on Tuesday (Nov. 13) began reviewing HHS’ request for feedback on ways to revamp the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act to boost efforts to coordinate care.

Lead sponsors Sens. Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) are divided on whether they would still back a bill to support generic drug development if a pro-pharma provision were added to reverse changes Congress made to Medicare Part D payments in the coverage gap.

Republican senators who introduced a bill to protect the Affordable Care Act’s coverage of preexisting conditions are waiting on a ruling in the controversial ACA case in Texas before charting their next steps, which could include adding a severability clause to the health law.

In a highly anticipated move, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb on Thursday (Nov. 15) announced a number of new tobacco-related initiatives the agency is undertaking, including revisiting the deeming rule compliance policy to restrict access to flavored electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS).

In a slate of tobacco-related policy proposals issued Thursday (Nov. 15), FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said the agency will move forward with a proposed ban on menthol in combustible tobacco products, including cigars and cigarettes, as well as a ban on all flavored cigars.