Senate Steers Toward Summer Break

With the House already on August recess, the Senate will consider several of President Trump’s nominees, including Gustav Chiarello III to be an assistant secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Michael Stuart to be HHS general counsel. The Committee on Appropriations will mark up Defense and Labor, HHS, and Education appropriations bills.

The Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions will hold a hearing on making healthcare affordable and another hearing to review several pieces of legislation, including the Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act and Over-the-Counter Monograph Drug User Fee Amendments.

Last Wednesday, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce reported its version of the bipartisan Over-the-Counter Monograph Drug User Fee Amendments to the full House with unanimous support. We will be watching to see if the Senate version can move quickly by unanimous consent.

The administration could release the Medicare Inpatient Prospective Payment System proposed rule this week. We expect it to propose significant policy changes, as did the Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Physician Fee Schedule proposed rules.

Today’s Podcast

Debbie Curtis and Rodney Whitlock join Julia Grabo to reflect on the year so far and look into their crystal ball for August recess and beyond.