In This Issue:

- 21st Century Cures Remains Top Bi-Partisan Priority for 2015

- Senate Passes Critical Access Hospital Direct Supervision Bill

- Implementation of the Affordable Care Act

- Other Federal Regulatory Initiatives

- Congressional Initiatives

- Ongoing Ebola Response

- Other Health Care News

- Upcoming Congressional Hearings

- Excerpt from 21st Century Cures Remains Top Bi-Partisan Priority for 2015:

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) reiterated his intent to push for a bi-partisan 21st Century Cures Initiative bill in early 2015. Rep. Upton recently remarked that the bill(s) would be on the House floor for a vote before Memorial Day and on the President’s desk by the end of next year. Upton’s timeline includes outreach to the Senate in December and a discussion draft introduced as early as January in the new Congress. Foreshadowing components of the legislation, Upton said the bill could contain additional research funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), provisions to further drug and device development, and structural changes for the FDA.