Congress

Sens. Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Todd Young (R-IN) on Wednesday (Sept. 30) introduced legislation that would establish a payment model under which antibiotic developers could get upfront payment for new antibiotics.

FDA has already shared its criteria for vaccine emergency use authorization directly with vaccine makers, even though the White House continues to stall publication of the guidance, former FDA chief Mark McClellan told House lawmakers Wednesday (Sept. 30).

The House on Tuesday (Sept. 29) passed a bipartisan bill that would create a new state plan option to extend Medicaid eligibility for up to one year after a beneficiary gives birth, which maternal health advocates applauded.

House Democrats unveiled a revised $2.2 trillion version of their HEROES legislation that creates a special enrollment period in healthcare.gov and ACA tax credits for anyone who has lost a job, and increases Medicaid matching funds, but does not include subsides for COBRA that large employers, unions and other stakeholders have sought.

Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) said President Donald Trump and HHS Secretary Alex Azar need to “be quiet” and let FDA move forward on guidance that’s expected to strengthen the criteria for emergency use authorization of COVID-19 vaccines.

House Energy & Commerce Democratic leaders asked the HHS Inspector General to investigate possible political interference into the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 response following multiple reports of political appointees attempting to edit and delay scientific reports and conflicting messages from CDC and other parts of the administration.

The House Energy & Commerce oversight subcommittee will hold a hearing on Sept. 30 to hear from scientists and public health experts on what criteria they think COVID-19 vaccines should be required to meet before being approved or authorized by FDA for distribution in the United States, the subcommittee announced Wednesday (Sept. 23).

HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Brett Giroir tried to assure senators Wednesday (Sept. 23) that HHS’ decision to require all health agency rules to be formally signed by HHS Secretary Alex Azar will not interrupt agencies’ rulemaking processes.

About 1.53 million people have insurance purchased through Covered California, the highest number since the exchange went live in 2014, which indicates the Affordable Care Act is providing the safety net that Congress intended, exchange executive director Peter Lee announced Tuesday (Sept. 22), a day before he urged Congress to adopt nationwide solutions to lower marketplace premiums, provide options to consumers with inadequate employer coverage and address the health disparities exposed by the pandemic.