The Family Smoking and Prevention Tobacco Control Act Tobacco became law in June 2009 and gave the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority to regulate the manufacture, distribution, and marketing of all tobacco products. On May 5, 2016, the FDA finalized a rule that brought all tobacco products under its authority, including Electronic Nicotine Delivery […]
The House of Representatives and the Senate are vigorously working to pass a tax reform package before the end of the year. Both the House and Senate passed their budget resolutions with reconciliation instructions by Thanksgiving, a necessary step in order to craft their respective tax reform packages. The entire House passed their tax reform […]
On Wednesday, November 1, 2017, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a new rule that will lower costs to taxpayers and Medicare beneficiaries for certain outpatient pharmaceuticals purchased under the 340B drug discount program. According to CMS Administrator Seema Verma, “As part of the President’s priority to lower the cost of prescription […]
On October 31, 2017, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt announced a new directive to ensure anyone serving on a Federal Advisory Committee (FAC) for the agency are “independent and free from any real, apparent, or potential interference with their ability to objectively serve as a committee member.” The new directive requires that anyone […]
Today, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Ranking Member Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), held a press conference to engage in their usual screed against pharmaceutical companies and provide a “solution” to lower drug costs in Medicare Part D. Rep. […]
Late Thursday night last week, President Trump announced his administration would stop providing Cost-Sharing Reduction (CSRs) payments to insurers. What are CSRs? They are subsidies, or reimbursements, given to insurers by federal taxpayers for issuing reduced deductibles and copayments to low-income individuals that participate in the Obamacare exchanges. CSRs are not payments given directly to […]
Today, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order (EO), “Promote Healthcare Choice and Competition Across the United States,” with the goals of bringing financial relief and more healthcare choices to millions of Americans. Since the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), or Obamacare, was signed into law, Americans have seen their health insurance options limited while […]
For seven years, Republicans in Congress have promised that repealing Obamacare would be a top priority. They have failed, at least for now. The Republican Senate made the decision yesterday not to have a vote on the Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson legislation that would have repealed and replaced the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), or Obamacare. At least […]
Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Dean Heller (R-Nev.), and Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) introduced a replacement plan for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), better known as Obamacare, on September 13, 2017. The Graham-Cassidy bill is expected to be considered on the floor of the Senate next week. As it gains support […]
On Wednesday, two important healthcare bills were introduced in the Senate to replace the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), or Obamacare. One bill, introduced by Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Dean Heller (R-Nev.), and Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.), would amend the healthcare reform legislation that passed the House in May, the American […]
