Health Care Checkup
January 27, 2023
|
|
This week, the House and Senate continued to finalize their committee and subcommittee assignments. Links to the lists of these assignments can be found below in our “Deep Dive” section.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a report, which found that if the IRA’s provision that caps the cost of insulin at $35 per month for Medicare beneficiaries had been in effect in 2020, 1.5 million beneficiaries would have saved an average of $500 on insulin for the year. Since January 1, 2023, out-of-pocket costs for insulin are capped at $35 per month for Medicare Part D enrollees. Beginning July 1, 2023, cost sharing for Medicare Part B beneficiaries will be $35 for a month’s supply of insulin as well.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace enrollment grew by 21%, compared to last year. The open enrollment period ran from November 1, 2022-January 15, 2023. Due to expanded tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), four out of five people returning to HealthCare.gov qualified for a plan for $10 or less per month.
CMS approved a “first-of-its-kind” section 1115 demonstration in California that will allow for substance-use treatment before a Medicaid beneficiary is released from jail, prison, or youth correctional facility. Further, California will be able to connect individuals to community-based Medicaid providers 90 days prior to their release to ensure that their treatment can continue once they are back in the community.
|
What to Expect Next Week: In the House, the Rules Committee will meet on Monday to consider the following bills: H.J. Res. 7 – Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020, H.R. 139 – SHOW UP Act, H.R. 382 – Pandemic is Over Act, and H.R. 497 – Freedom for Health Care Workers Act. Also, House committees are expected to be fully assembled next week and will begin holding hearings. On Wednesday, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health will hold a hearing titled, “Lives Worth Living: Addressing the Fentanyl Crisis, Protecting Critical Lifelines, and Combatting Discrimination Against Those with Disabilities.” Also on Wednesday, the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability will hold a hearing titled, “Federal Pandemic Spending: A Prescription for Waste, Fraud, and Abuse.”
The Senate will continue to focus on nominations. Additionally, committees in the Senate are expected to be finalized.
|
|
Congress Continues to Populate Committee and Subcommittee Assignments
This week, the House Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee announced Republican subcommittee assignments. Notably, Congressman Brett Guthrie (R-KY) will Chair the E&C Health Subcommittee. The Health Subcommittee will hold its first legislative hearing on Wednesday, February 1, 2023 at 10:00 AM ET. The hearing is titled, “Lives Worth Living: Addressing the Fentanyl Crisis, Protecting Critical Lifelines, and Combatting Discrimination Against Those with Disabilities.” The full list of these subcommittee assignments can be found here.
Additionally, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) announced that the House Democratic Caucus affirmed the recommendations of the Steering and Policy Committee for members of the House Administration, Appropriations, E&C, Financial Services, Rules, and Ways and Means (W&M) committees for the 118th Congress. These assignments can be found here.
Democratic assignments to the House committees on Agriculture; Armed Services; Foreign Affairs; Homeland Security; Judiciary; Natural Resources; Oversight and Accountability; Science, Space and Technology; Small Business; Transportation and Infrastructure; and Veterans’ Affairs can be accessed here.
On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced Senate Democratic committee memberships for the 118th Congress. These assignments can be found here.
On Friday, House Appropriations Chairwoman Kay Granger (R-TX) announced Republican Appropriations subcommittee Rosters. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL) will Chair the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Subcommittee. The full list can be found here. Additionally, E&C Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ) announced the full Democratic rosters for each of the six subcommittees and W&M Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) released the W&M subcommittee assignments.
HHS Report Finds that $35 Monthly Insulin Cap Would Have Saved Medicare Beneficiaries an Average of $500 in 2020
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a report, which found that if the IRA’s provision that caps the cost of insulin at $35 per month for Medicare beneficiaries had been in effect in 2020, 1.5 million beneficiaries would have saved an average of $500 on insulin for the year. Since January 1, 2023, out-of-pocket costs for insulin are capped at $35 per month for Medicare Part D enrollees. Beginning July 1, 2023, cost sharing for Medicare Part B beneficiaries will be $35 for a month’s supply of insulin as well. This week, CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure told Inside Drug Pricing that the report demonstrates the impact insulin copay caps could also have in the commercial market, and for uninsured Americans. She said that CMS will continue to work with lawmakers to extend these caps to the private insurance market. More can be found here.
ACA Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Concludes with Over 3.6 Million New Enrollees, and 12.7 Million Returning Enrollees
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace enrollment grew by 21%, compared to last year. The open enrollment period ran from November 1, 2022-January 15, 2023. Due to expanded tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), four out of five people returning to HealthCare.gov qualified for a plan for $10 or less per month. The agency also noted that the 2023 Marketplace open enrollment period saw the highest number of plan selections of any year since the launch of the ACA Marketplaces a decade ago. Additional information can be found here.
CMS Approves California Medicaid Pilot to Provide Behavioral Health Care to Justice-Involved People
CMS approved a “first-of-its-kind” section 1115 demonstration in California that will allow for substance-use treatment before a Medicaid beneficiary is released from jail, prison, or youth correctional facility. Further, California will be able to connect individuals to community-based Medicaid providers 90 days prior to their release to ensure that their treatment can continue once they are back in the community. More on this initiative can be found here.
|
|
House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health Hearing
“Lives Worth Living: Addressing the Fentanyl Crisis, Protecting Critical Lifelines, and Combatting Discrimination Against Those with Disabilities.”
Wednesday, February 1, 2023 at 10:00 AM ET
House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Hearing
“Federal Pandemic Spending: A Prescription for Waste, Fraud, and Abuse.”
Wednesday, February 1, 2023 at 10:00 AM ET
|
|
ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCEMENTS |
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Food and Drug Administration
Guidance Documents from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Institutes of Health
|
|
1341 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20005
202-585-0258
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
