Jan 27, 2025
Click in for more news from The Hill{beacon} Health Care Health Care   The Big Story Republicans weigh path forward for advancing PBM reformHouse Energy and Commerce Committee leaders are confident the unfinished business of changes to the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) industry will pass this year, but it’s unclear if Democrats will still vote for it.   © Greg Nash, The Hill“I would love to see it as it is, in some bill early [in the year],” Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) told The Hill late last week.  “The good thing about that was it was bipartisan ... But if not, we'll continue to work ... So we'll be able to, I think we'll be able to make the PBM reform and other things in that bill a reality.”  Lawmakers ended 2024 on the cusp of advancing a significant health package, including changes to the PBM industry payments to community health centers, a rollback of physician payment cuts and more. But the policies put forward in December never passed amid an 11th-hour revolt by conservatives.   The language is already written and could be inserted ready-made into a new bill or passed as a standalone under a suspension of the rules.   But Democrats are concerned the provisions will be added to the Republicans’ reconciliation bill, which will be a vehicle to cut spending to pay for an extension of President Trump’s 2017 tax cuts.  Guthrie, and health subcommittee chairman Buddy Carter (R-Ga.), acknowledged that could be a possibility.    “Leadership might want to use it as a pay-for but, you know, there are extenders in there, and that's the most important thing to keep in mind that need to be addressed,” Carter said, referring to short-term extensions for telehealth flexibilities and health center funding that expire in mid-March.   “This is a reconciliation bill. I wouldn't expect any Democrats to vote for the reconciliation bill” even if there are bipartisan provision in it, Guthrie said.   Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), ranking member of the Energy and Commerce health subcommittee, said the policies in the health package were bipartisan and shouldn’t be added to a partisan reconciliation bill that will get no Democratic votes.   “I think that I would worry if it got caught up in the reconciliation negotiations, because [the provisions] expires in March, and I think there would be substantial bipartisan support if it came up as a standalone package,” DeGette said. “I have assured the Republicans that if they did bring it up, and it was the same package as December, probably every Democrat in House would vote for it.”     Welcome to The Hill’s Health Care newsletter, we’re Nathaniel Weixel, Joseph Choi and Alejandra O'Connell-Domenech — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health.   Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.  Essential Reads How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond:  Democrats call on White House to restore NIH operationsA trio of Democrats on Monday called on the Trump administration to restore full operations at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) warning that the halt in the agency’s grant process could cause “disastrous” consequences domestically and abroad. Democratic Maryland Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) wrote to acting Health and Human Service (HHS) Secretary Dorothy …  Full Story  Trump to reinstate military members dismissed over COVID-19 shot refusalService members dismissed from the military for failing to get vaccinated against COVID-19 will be reinstated with full back pay and benefits under an executive order President Trump is expected to sign Monday.  The move makes good on a Trump campaign promise and is something he previewed during his inaugural address. It’s part of a series of actions and orders the new administration has taken to undo many Biden policies …  Full Story  After new CIA finding, China says ‘extremely unlikely’ COVID-19 came from a lab China on Monday dismissed the possibility that the virus that caused COVID-19 leaked from a lab, after the CIA said it now favors the so-called lab leak theory over natural transmission.  “It is extremely unlikely the pandemic was caused by a lab leak,” Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters. “This has been widely recognized by the international community, including the scientific community,” she …  Full Story   On Our Radar Upcoming news themes and events we're watching: HHS Secretary designate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appears before the Senate Finance Committee for a confirmation hearing Wednesday and before the Senate HELP Committee on Thursday.   In Other News Branch out with a different read: CDC ordered to stop working with WHO immediately, upending expectations of an extended withdrawal NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. public health officials have been told to stop working with the World Health Organization, effective immediately. A U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention official, John Nkengasong, sent a memo to senior leaders at the agency on Sunday night telling them that all staff who work with the WHO must immediately stop their collaborations and “await further guidance.” Full Story   Around the Nation Local and state headlines on health care: Proud Boys march with anti-abortion activists in California (The San Francisco Standard)  Montana eyes $30 million revamp of mental health, developmental disability facilities (KFF Health News)  Wisconsin state health officials use social media to discourage menthol tobacco use (Wisconsin Public Radio)  What We're Reading Health news we've flagged from other outlets: Is Xavier Becerra’s next move running for governor? He’s not saying. Yet. (The LA Times)  ‘A Dangerous Virus’: Bird flu enters a new phase (The New York Times)  U.S. health agencies see some chaos — but an FDA approval gets through (Stat) What Others are Reading  Most read stories on The Hill right now: Live updates: Trump addresses House Republicans at retreat Monday kicks off the second week of President Trump’s return to the White House, and it’s slated to be a busy one. House Republicans are … Read more Senate confirms Scott Bessent as Trump’s Treasury secretary Scott Bessent on Monday secured confirmation to lead the Department of the Treasury, putting President Trump’s top economic nominee in place ahead … Read more What People Think Opinions related to health submitted to The Hill: The FDA’s proposed ‘very low nicotine’ standard has a very low chance of helpingYou think red dye no. 3 is dangerous? This is much worse.   You're all caught up. See you tomorrow!  Close Thank you for signing up! 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