Speaker Johnson Pulls Continuing Resolution from House Floor: House Speaker Johnson, eyeing a potential government shutdown at the end of the month, placed a six-month continuing resolution on the House Floor calendar. The proposal quickly failed, as Democrats were against language included with the continuing resolution that required proof of citizenship to vote. While some Rebulicans supported the CR, others were opposed to any continued spending at current levels. According to sources, some within Johnson’s caucus are already pushing for a “clean” continuing resolution, keeping government spending at current levels while appropriations committees conference their toplines and priorities.

House Judiciary Committee Holds Hearing on PBM Practices and Consolidation: On Wednesday, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust held a hearing on the role of PBMs in American healthcare, with committee members voicing the potential risks for independent pharmacies or mid-size PBMs without insurance company ties. Panelists were less critical of PBMs than in previous hearings, saying the costs they save patients warrant certain rebates and spread pricing – still, there remained some bipartisan support for antitrust policy.

House Education and Workforce Committee Holds ERISA Hearing: On Tuesday, the House Education and Workforce subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions held a hearing commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. Subcommittee Chair Bob Good (R-VA) said any attempts to undermine ERISA’s preemption provisions across state lines must be addressed, and also said more transparency is vital for employers and patients.

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Lawmakers Grill Former New York Governor Cuomo Over Coronavirus Response: On Wednesday, the House Oversight Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic questioned former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo regarding his guidance and handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cuomo blamed former President Donald Trump for delays in the Federal response, but faced sharp criticism from the panel regarding his administration’s decision to allow Covid-positive patients into nursing home facilities.

House Education and Workforce Committee Holds Health Policy Markup: On Wednesday, the full House Education and Workforce Committee held a markup on certain health policies. Lawmakers considered a resolution to stop a Biden-Harris rule limiting small businesses from accessing AHPs, the Healthy Competition for Better Care Act, and the Transparent Telehealth Bills Act. The telehealth bill, which would ban certain fees for telehealth services, passed with a unanimous vote, while the resolution passed with Republican-only votes.

Senators Seek Contempt of Congress Charge Against Steward Health CEO: Senate HELP Committee Chair Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Ranking Member Bill Cassidy (R-LA) will pursue contempt of Congress charges against Steward Health Care CEO Ralph de la Torre after he defied a subpoena and failed to attend a Senate hearing Thursday. The committee is interested in questioning De la Torre on how he made millions while Steward Health was failing towards bankruptcy.

HHS Seeking to Expand HIV Organ Transplant Access in HOPE Act Rule, House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Ongoing Organ Donation System Reforms: On Thursday, the Department of Health and Human Services released a notice of proposed rulemaking to expand access to organ transplantation for people with HIV and increase overall transplant volumes for all Americans regardless of HIV status by allowing transplants from HIV-positive donors to HIV-positive recipients outside of clinical IRB protocols, as are currently used under the HOPE Act. Public comments are allowed until October 15. The House Energy and Commerce Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee also held a hearing this week on ongoing reforms to the U.S. organ donation system. Republican members of the committee voiced concern about the new board of directors of the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network.

Biden Administration Finalizes Mental Health Parity Rules: On Monday, the Biden Administration finalized Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act rules placing new requirements on health plans to cover mental health and addiction care on the same terms as other physical care. Under the new rules, health plans found to be providing inadequate access to mental health or substance use care will be required to analyze their provider networks, prior authorization policies, and out-of-network payment rates.  

Rep. Horsford Back on Ways and Means Committee: Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV) has rejoined the House Ways and Means Committee following the death of Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ). Horsford held a seat on the committee for two terms and prioritized the health care and unemployment insurance system in his previous legislative work.

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