POLICY BRIEFINGS

BARDA Celebrates More than 50 FDA Products for Health Security


The HHS Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) announced that the Biomedical Applied Research and Development Authority (BARDA) achieved a major milestone this month when it realized the FDA approval, licensure or clearance for more than 50 health security products. BARDA, which was established in law to secure the nation from chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats, engages in public-private partnerships with industry to advance research, development, and manufacturing of medical countermeasures and products to address emerging threats, including pandemic influenza and emerging infectious diseases. BARDA Director Rick Bright, PhD, announced this achievement in the ASPR Blog, further noting that BARDA and its private sector partners “achieved eight of these in the past year alone, substantially increasing the nation’s health security preparedness.”


Upcoming Congressional Hearings and Markups


House Ways and Means Committee markup of H.R. 3, The Lower Drug Costs Act Now Act of 2019; H.R. 3398, The Pathways to Health Careers Act of 2019; H.R. 4650, The Medicare Dental Act of 2019; HR. 4665, The Medicare Vision Act of 2019; and H.R. 4618, the Medicare Hearing Act of 2019; 9:30 a.m., 1100 Longworth Bldg., October 22

Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Science, Oceans, Fisheries, and Weather hearing to “examine research and innovation, focusing on ensuring America’s economic and strategic leadership;” 2:15 p.m., 562 Dirksen Bldg.; October 22

House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing “Sabotage: The Trump Administration’s Attack on Health Care;” 10:00 a.m., 2123 Rayburn Bldg.; October 23

Senate Finance Committee hearing “Treating Substance Misuse in America: Scams, Shortfalls, and Solutions;” 10:30 a.m., 215 Dirksen Bldg.; October 24


Recently Introduced Health Legislation


H.R.4669 — To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for intelligent assignment of certain subsidy eligible individuals auto-enrolled under Medicare prescription drug plans and MA-PD plans. Sponsor: Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11]; Cosponsors: (3) Committees: House - Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means

H.R.4667 — To amend the 21st Century Cures Act to reauthorize funding for NIH innovation projects, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Sherrill, Mikie [D-NJ-11]; Cosponsors: (2) Committees: House - Energy and Commerce

H.R.4666 — To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide certain low-income territorial residents with automatic eligibility for premium and cost-sharing subsidies under the Medicare program, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Shalala, Donna E. [D-FL-27]; Cosponsors: (1) Committees: House - Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means

H.R.4665 —To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide coverage for certain vision items and services under part B of the Medicare program. Sponsor: Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8]; Cosponsors: (3) Committees: House - Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means

H.R.4663 — To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require drug manufacturers to pay a Medicare part B rebate for certain drugs if the price of such drugs increases faster than inflation. Sponsor: Rep. Porter, Katie [D-CA-45]; Cosponsors: (3) Committees: House - Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means

H.R.4661 — To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for the automatic qualification of certain Medicaid beneficiaries for premium and cost-sharing subsidies under part D of the Medicare program, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1]; Cosponsors: (1) Committees: House - Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means

H.R.4655 — To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for certain rules regarding the treatment of eligible retirement plans in determining the eligibility of individuals for premium and cost-sharing subsidies under part D of the Medicare program, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3]; Cosponsors: (2) Committees: House - Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means

H.R.4652 — To establish an Individual Market Reinsurance fund to provide funding for State individual market stabilization reinsurance programs. Sponsor: Rep. Langevin, James R. [D-RI-2]; Cosponsors: (2) Committees: House - Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means

H.R.4651 — To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand health savings accounts, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. King, Steve [R-IA-4]; Cosponsors: (0) Committees: House - Ways and Means

H.R.4650 — To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide coverage for certain dental items and services under part B of the Medicare program. Sponsor: Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]; Cosponsors: (1) Committees: House - Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means

H.R.4649 —To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for a cap on beneficiary liability under part D of the Medicare program, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4]; Cosponsors: (1) Committees: House - Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means

H.R.4640 — To require persons who undertake Federally funded research and development of drugs to enter into reasonable pricing agreements with the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Sponsor: Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4]; Cosponsors: (0) Committees: House - Energy and Commerce



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