Today, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health Subcommittee held a markup to consider five bills. Each piece of legislation was amended and passed the Subcommittee. Bills pertaining to prior authorization (PA) in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, providing mobile health care funding, and reauthorizing grants to address trauma care services were all approved on a bipartisan basis. Notably, the Subcommittee’s passage of the MA bill occurred just before the bill’s unanimous passage by the full House. However, disagreements arose regarding a bill that would reauthorize the Flint, Michigan Lead Exposure Registry. Republicans offered a series of amendments that would expand funding for the registry to other communities experiencing similar water resource issues, as well as provisions that would require state and local funding to supplement federal funding. Despite these conflicts, the Republican amendments failed, and the underlying bill was passed — as amended — due to the Democrat’s majority.
Specifically, the bills under the purview of yesterday’s hearing included:
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Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act of 2021 (H.R. 3173) — This legislation would establish several requirements related to the PA process under the MA program. Specifically, MA plans must (1) establish an electronic PA program that meets specified standards, including the ability to provide real-time decisions in response to requests for items and services that are routinely approved; (2) improve transparency by requiring MA plans to report to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on the extent of their use of PA and the rate of approvals or denials; and (3) meet other standards relating to the quality and timeliness of PA determinations.
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Vaccine Injury Compensation Modernization Act of 2021 (H.R. 3655) — The legislation would make several changes to the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP), including: (1) removing the current cap of eight special masters and replacing it with a floor of at least ten Special Masters; (2) updating reporting requirements; requiring the table to be updated more quickly as new vaccines are recommended; increasing compensation caps; and (3) changing the statute of limitations from 36 months after the date of the occurrence of the first symptom or manifestation or significant aggravation of injury to five years after such date.
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Maximizing Outcomes through Better Investments in Lifesaving Equipment for (MOBILE) Health Care Act (H.R. 5141) — This legislation would allow Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) to use New Access Point grants for establishing mobile health units, building renovation, and acquisition and construction costs to increase access to health care in rural and underserved communities.
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Improving Trauma Systems and Emergency Care Act (H.R. 8163) — The legislation reauthorizes grants through fiscal year (FY) 2027 for trauma care to support the improvement of emergency medical services and trauma care readiness and coordination. The bill requires the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) to develop guidance for and otherwise support states—and consortia of states—to coordinate and improve emergency medical services and trauma care during declared emergencies. It also expands eligibility and revises grants for improving emergency medical services and trauma care in rural areas and competitive grants for improving regional emergency medical and trauma systems.
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Flint Registry Reauthorization Act (H.R. 6737) — The legislation would amend the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WINN) Act, enacted in December 2016, to reauthorize the Lead Exposure Registry program at $5 million annually for FY 2023 through FY 2033.
