Congress

The House Energy & Commerce Committee released a pandemic relief proposal that would give HHS $46 billion to implement a national strategy for testing, contact tracing, surveillance and mitigation of COVID-19 and to support development, manufacturing, procurement, distribution and administration of COVID-19 tests and supplies.

Brand drug makers are targeted for up to $20 billion in offsets in the House Energy & Commerce Committee bill to increase federal government funding of state Medicaid programs: The bill would penalize companies that quickly raise prices by eliminating the cap on Medicaid inflation rebates.

Newly named Senate Finance Committee ranking Republican Mike Crapo (ID) dubbed Medicare solvency one of his top health care priorities on Tuesday (Feb. 9), along with making sure those on federal health programs have access to the latest health technology -- including telehealth.

The American Hospital Association placed a priority on COVID-19 relief in its 2021 policy agenda document, which asks Congress and the Biden administration for increased support for providers, protection for patients’ access to insurance and permanent telehealth flexibilities.

Employees who lost job-based coverage due to lay-offs or furloughs could get fully subsidized COBRA coverage under legislation introduced Thursday (Jan. 28) by a group of 11 Democratic senators led by Majority Whip Dick Durbin (IL) and Catherine Cortez Masto (NV).

The Senate late Thursday (Feb. 4) agreed to add to the budget resolution a bipartisan amendment sponsored by Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) that aims to replenish the Provider Relief Fund by $35 billion, with 20% set aside for rural hospitals. Only one senator, Mike Lee (R-UT), voted against the language, which now could be included as congressional committees write legislation for Democrats’ $1.9 trillion COVID-19 package.

Former FDA and HHS officials told lawmakers during a Wednesday (Feb. 3) hearing that the United States needs to invest in reforming key components of the U.S. health care system to better respond to COVID-19 by, among other things, implementing a national COVID-19 testing strategy that establishes standards for testing and contact tracing and provides Americans with digital access to their test information, and using emerging technology to better coordinate vaccination records between states and jurisdictions.

President Joe Biden is seeking $4 billion to build and equip two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities with the capacity to produce and fill 100 million COVID-19 vaccine doses per month, according to a breakdown of the president's broader $160 billion direct pandemic relief request shared by Protect Our Care.

Congressional Democratic leaders Monday (Feb. 1) kicked off the fast-track process for passing a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package based on President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, which includes temporary subsidies for COBRÅ and enhanced ACA tax credits in addition to boosting funds for vaccinations, testing and more.