The House and Senate were both in session this week, with healthcare activity at the committee level. The House Ways and Means Committee held a markup focused on healthcare transparency and consolidation legislation. The...more
The US House and Senate returned from recess, beginning a three-week sprint toward the August break. The bipartisan healthcare legislation on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and healthcare transparency is moving through both...more
Deputy Secretary and CMS Administrator Picks Would Fill Two Critical Policy Positions - On Thursday, the Senate Finance Committee held a confirmation hearing for two of the most important health policy officials nominated...more
In a letter dated June 11, 2020, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) urged HHS Secretary Alex Azar to take measures to increase transparency around funds...more
On December 17, 2019, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) reintroduced legislation to address the backlog of Medicare appeals cases awaiting review before an...more
Congress returns to session this week with days to pass a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government open. The House of Representatives passed a short term bill to keep the government open through November 21st, but a...more
In both chambers of Congress, passing legislation to bring down drug prices is a policy priority—and the savings from such possible legislation is slated to offset other healthcare legislative proposals (such as addressing...more
Although adjournment Sine Die remains two weeks away, the end felt nearer under the Gold Dome today. As legislators and lobbyists shook out the cobwebs from St. Patrick’s Day weekend, end-of-session strategizing filled the...more
On February 26, 2019, the Senate Finance Committee heard testimony from top executives representing seven high-profile drug manufacturers. This hearing was the second to examine drug pricing in America. The Committee’s...more
Foley & Lardner LLP’s (“Foley”) Bipartisan Public Policy Team is pleased to share our “Public Policy Weekly* Health Care Newsletter” in which we compile the latest Health care policy news and legislation. *Please note that we...more
On Friday, May 25, 2018, the Senate unanimously approved a $41.49 billion budget for FY2019. The Senate’s passage of its annual spending plan follows Governor Charlie Baker’s budget proposal made in January and the House...more
On January 9, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a new voluntary bundled-payment demonstration program, also known as Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI) Advanced. The new model will test...more
On December 6, 2016, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued a Committee staff report detailing concurrent and overlapping surgery practices. The report also offers...more
On June 30, 2016, the Senate Finance Committee’s Republican staff issued a 20-page report discussing comments made by industry stakeholders after a December 2015 round-table on the future of the physician self-referral law,...more
This Week: The President took a victory lap in Wisconsin, announcing that 20 million people have gained health insurance through the Affordable Care Act... That figure includes people newly covered through insurance...more
This Week: The House is not in session this week... The Senate returns today... Committees in the Senate will hold hearings on co-ops and mental health... Vice President Biden will attend the World Economic Forum in...more
On June 3, 2015, the Senate Finance Committee passed an original bill that aims to streamline and improve the Medicare Audit and Appeals Process. The Medicare appeals process has recently faced scrutiny from industry leaders...more