By Connor Semelsberger | April 19, 2021 | 5:21pm EDT
Joe Biden gives a campaign speech. (Photo credit: Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)
As the old adage goes, personnel is policy. Nearing his 100
th day in office, President Biden has made it abundantly clear that he plans to implement a radically liberal social agenda in America, demonstrated by who he s nominated to run the federal government.
Biden has already filled his entire cabinet faster than both Presidents Trump and Obama did before him. He accomplished this despite his nominees being, arguably, the most pro-abortion in history, and working with a 50-50 Senate in which Democrats had little to no room for error. While some Republicans stood up admirably to Biden s extreme, unqualified nominees, too many of them failed to raise legitimate opposition. Indeed, many voted to confirm these nominees, providing Biden s nominees with more bipartisan support than President Trump s received.
House Passes Eight Health Care Bills
House Members Divided on Fentanyl Analogue Scheduling
Rep. Kevin Brady to Retire
Senate
Bipartisan Bill Would Require Cost-Free Breast Cancer Diagnostic Tests
Senators Ask HHS Secretary Becerra to Enforce Hospital Price Transparency Rule
Administration
HHS Secretary Becerra Approves Illinois Waiver for One-Year Postpartum Coverage
HHS to Roll Back Title X “Gag Rule”
HHS Secretary Becerra Confirms That Department Will Have Feedback Process on Surprise Billing
CMS Extends 2022 Deadline for Primary Care First Demonstration
Consumers First Coalition Recommends CMS Undertake Medicare Reforms
IRS Suspends Requirement That Taxpayers Repay Advanced Premium Tax Credits
FDA Details Plan for Remote Facility Inspections
Below is Alston & Bird’s
Health Care Week in Review, which provides a synopsis of the latest news in healthcare regulations, notices, and guidance; federal legislation and congressional committee action; reports, studies, and analyses; and other health policy news.
Week in Review Highlight of the Week:
This week, President Biden signed a bill extending a moratorium on Medicare sequestration through the end of 2021. Read more about the law and other news below.
I. Regulations, Notices & Guidance
On April 15, 2021, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued guidance entitled,
Remote Interactive Evaluations of Drug Manufacturing and Bioresearch Monitoring Facilities During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. FDA is issuing this guidance to describe how the agency will request and conduct voluntary remote interactive evaluations at facilities where drugs are manufactured, processed, packed, or held; facilities covered under FDA’s bioresearch monitoring (BIMO) program; an
Friday, April 16, 2021
This Week’s Dose
Congress returned from recess and took up sequester relief and confirmations for key healthcare positions. The White House released the President’s fiscal year (FY) 2022 discretionary budget request late last week.
Congress
President Signed Sequester Relief
The House of Representatives passed a bill by a vote of 384 to 38 to suspend the Medicare sequester through the end of 2021. President Biden swiftly signed the legislation, which the Senate passed last month. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) had held provider claims with dates of service on or after April 1, 2021, to give Congress time to avert the 2% cut and is expected to resume payments shortly. While this is welcome relief for providers and plans, they will need to plan for the possibility of greater cuts triggered by the American Rescue Plan (ARP), unless Congress can be persuaded to waive Statutory Pay-As-You-Go requirements later t
HEALTH CARE BRIEFING: CDC Advisers Punt on J&J Vaccine Decision bgov.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from bgov.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.