POLICY BRIEFINGS

GOP Rep. Hagedorn Dies at 59


Rep. Jim Hagedorn (R-Minn.) died at the age of 59 on Thursday. The congressman had been diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2019 and tested positive for COVID-19 last month. He is the son of former Minnesota congressman Tom Hagedorn. Hagedorn was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2018 and served on the Agriculture and Small Business committees. A special election will be held in Minnesota’s First Congressional District on August 9 to fill Hagedorn’s seat on Capitol Hill.


NY Rep. Rice to Retire


Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-N.Y.) has announced that she will not be seeking reelection this November. She is the 30th Democrat in the House of Representatives to announce their retirement from the House this election cycle. Rice is a moderate Democrat and former Republican who switched parties in 2005. She was first elected to Congress in 2015, and currently serves on the Energy and Commerce and Homeland Security Committees.


Sen. Lujan Returns to DC


Sen. Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) has returned to Washington, D.C. where he will complete his recovery after suffering from a stroke in late January. He tweeted that he is “back at work and will return to the Senate floor soon.” Lujan is expected to be present to vote by the time the Senate takes up President Joe Biden’s nominee to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer.


Sen. Wicker, Surgeon General Murthy Test Positive for COVID-19


Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) has tested positive for COVID-19. This is the second time he has tested positive for the virus, despite being fully vaccinated. Wicker says that he is “in good health” and will work from home for the next several days. U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy also announced that he, his wife, and his five-year-old son have tested positive for COVID-19.


FTC Deadlocks on PBM Probe


The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) deadlocked along party lines last week about whether to launch a study of U.S. pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). Republican commissioners voted against the proposal because it would not, as drafted, consider concerns with the impact of PBMs on out-of-pocket costs for consumers. The study could have been used to inform future efforts to open investigations into certain PBMs.


AMA Releases New Data on Burden of Prior Authorization


The American Medical Association (AMA) released new data last week on how prior authorization delays timely access to care, adversely impacts patient outcomes, and places unnecessary burdens on health care providers. According to the AMA’s survey, more than half of physicians report that prior authorization interfered with their patient’s access to care. Four-in-five physicians report that their patients abandoned treatment due to prior authorization struggles with their health plan, and more than one-third report that prior authorization led to serious adverse events including hospitalization, disability, and even death. Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.) and Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), sponsors of the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act (S. 3018/H.R.3173), each issued a statement asserting that this new data further underscores the shortcomings of current prior authorization practices and urging their colleagues to support the legislation to streamline the prior authorization process.


Recently Introduced Health Legislation


H.R.6713 — To amend the Controlled Substances Act with respect to the scheduling of fentanyl-related substances, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Johnson, Mike [R-LA-4]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce; Judiciary

H.R.6711 — To prohibition Federal spending on funding research in China, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Herrell, Yvette [R-NM-2]; Committees: House - Science, Space, and Technology

H.R.6710 — To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, to submit to Congress a report on barriers, including regulatory inefficiencies, to domestic manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients, finished drug products, and devices, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Herrell, Yvette [R- NM-2]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce

H.R.6709 — To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to include certain mental health professionals as specialized instructional support personnel. Sponsor: Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-10]; Committees: House - Education and Labor

H.R.6704 — To prohibit the use of Federal funds to purchase, or support the purchase of, drug paraphernalia. Sponsor: Rep. Bishop, Dan [R-NC-9]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce

S.J.Res.39 — A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Health and Human Services relating to “Vaccine and Mask Requirements To Mitigate the Spread of COVID-19 in Head Start Programs; Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]; Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

S.3641 — A bill to extend protections to part-time workers in the areas of family and medical leave and pension plans, and to ensure equitable treatment in the workplace; Sponsor: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]; Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

S.3645 — A bill to prohibit the use of Federal funds for local substance use disorder services for the purchase of sterile needles or syringes for the injection of illegal drugs, or to procure, supply, or distribute pipes, cylindrical objects, or other paraphernalia that can be used to smoke, inhale, or ingest narcotics; Sponsor: Sen. Manchin, Joe, III [D-WV]; Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

S.3648 — A bill to amend the DNA Sexual Assault Justice Act of 2004 to increase access to Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]; Committees: Senate – Judiciary

H.R.6733 — To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to prohibit the Internal Revenue Service from requiring taxpayers to provide biometric information; Sponsor: Rep. Huizenga, Bill [R-MI-2]; Committees: House - Ways and Means

H.R.6735 — To amend the DNA Sexual Assault Justice Act of 2004 to increase access to Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Rep. Joyce, David P. [R-OH-14]; Committees: House – Judiciary

H.R.6744 — To prohibit the use of Federal funds for local substance use disorder services for the purchase of sterile needles or syringes for the injection of illegal drugs, or to procure, supply, or distribute pipes, cylindrical objects, or other paraphernalia that can be used to smoke, inhale, or ingest narcotics; Sponsor: Rep. McKinley, David B. [R-WV-1]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce



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