Thursday, October 24, 2024

Committee jockeying is underway

Presented by PhRMA: Delivered daily by 10 a.m., Pulse examines the latest news in health care politics and policy.
Oct 24, 2024 View in browser
 
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By David Lim

Presented by 

PhRMA

With Ben Leonard and Sophie Gardner

Driving the Day

Vehicles are parked outside the U.S. Capitol.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee is set to have a skirmish for the top GOP slot. | Joe Readle/Getty Images

COMMITTEE CHECK-IN — With a new Congress to come in just over two months, members are jockeying for key positions on committees with significant power to impact health policy, Ben reports.

Which party will lead the House and Senate is up in the air ahead of November’s elections. Democrats face long odds of holding the Senate, and control of the House will likely come down to a small number of races. Either way, leaders in Congress will likely have to face a number of pressing health care issues in the next term, including drug pricing and the Inflation Reduction Act, pharmacy benefit manager reform, abortion rights, the growth of Medicare Advantage and the future of telehealth access.

With plenty still unclear, here are the committee dynamics we’re keeping an eye on: House Energy and Commerce: Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) is not seeking reelection, leaving a race between E&C Health Subcommittee Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) and Technology Subcommittee Chair Bob Latta (R-Ohio) to replace her as the top Republican on the panel.

Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), who chairs the National Republican Congressional Committee, also is weighing a run.

A spokesperson for Guthrie told Pulse that he’d prioritize IRA oversight, bolstering drug and device supply chains, boosting transparency to lower drug prices, improving the opioid crisis response and “ensur[ing] the unborn are protected.”

A spokesperson for Latta told Pulse that he’d prioritize lowering drug prices, investing in technology to bolster health outcomes, pushing policies to “protect moms, babies and the unborn,” modernizing the approval process for over-the-counter drugs and reducing “bureaucratic hurdles” to accessing care, including telehealth across state lines.

New Jersey’s Frank Pallone will likely become chair if Democrats gain a House majority, or remain ranking member if they don’t.

Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions: Chair Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) told POLITICO in late September that it was “too early to be talking about” whether he’d continue as chair in the next Congress if Democrats retain the majority.

“Let’s see what happens,” said Sanders, who has taken an aggressive approach as HELP chair ruffling some feathers. He’s focused on drug pricing and has pushed pharmaceutical company executives to lower drug costs — leading some to take limited action. Sanders, 83, is running for another six-year term this cycle and is likely to win.

If Democrats lose control of the Senate, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), the panel’s ranking member, could take over as chair.

Senate Veterans’ Affairs: Chair Jon Tester (D-Mont.) — in Congress since 2007 — faces a tough reelection bid in deep-red Montana. It’s unclear who would replace him as the panel’s top Democrat if he loses, but Sen. Patty Murray(D-Wash.) is the next-most senior. She chairs the Appropriations Committee. After her, Sanders is next in line based on seniority, followed by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), who is in a tough reelection race and chairs the Banking Committee. Senators can’t chair two major committees.

Kansas Republican Jerry Moran is the ranking member and could move up if Republicans take control.

Replacing Eshoo: Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) is in line to be chair of the E&C Health Subcommittee if Democrats win a majority or ranking member if they don’t — replacing Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), who is not seeking reelection.

WELCOME TO THURSDAY PULSE. Pinch hitting on World Polio Day: FDA reporter David Lim. Send your tips, scoops and feedback to bleonard@politico.com and ccirruzzo@politico.com and follow along @_BenLeonard_ and @ChelseaCirruzzo.

 

A message from PhRMA:

Drug price “negotiations?” Higher costs and less access to medicines are not what seniors were promised when the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was signed into law. Learn more about the IRA’s unintended consequences.

 
2024 ELECTION

HARRIS DOUBLES DOWN — Vice President Kamala Harris reaffirmed several of her top health care priorities during a CNN Town Hall in Pennsylvania Wednesday night. With less than two weeks until the election, her remarks signaled that health care is key to her closing argument to voters, Sophie reports.

Here are some takeaways:

Ending the filibuster to codify abortion rights: Harris said she would be open to ending the filibuster — the 60-vote threshold needed to advance most legislation in the Senate — to codify abortion rights.

“You need to take a look at the filibuster to be honest with you,” Harris said, responding to a question from Anderson Cooper about how she would push through her abortion-rights agenda through Congress.

Harris, who has previously supported the filibuster move , will hold an abortion-related rally in Houston on Friday, hoping to appeal to moderate voters.

Leaning in on Medicare senior plan: Harris spoke about her Medicare home care plan, which would help families afford the cost of caring for seniors at home instead of a health care setting.

“You shouldn't have to wipe out all your savings to qualify for Medicaid, to be able to get support, to hire somebody to help you cook for your parents or help them put on a sweater,” Harris said.

Harris’ campaign estimated the cost at $400 billion over 10 years, but it suggested she will use savings from the federal drug price negotiation program and pharmacy benefit manager reforms to pay for it.

The plan, which would require support from Congress, is light on details, POLITICO has reported.

Dealing with fentanyl: Harris accused former President Donald Trump of torpedoing a bipartisan border security bill that included measures to help stem the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. The bipartisan bill ultimately was blocked by the Senate after Trump encouraged Republicans not to compromise with Democrats on the legislation.

“I don't need to tell this state and people around the country what is happening in terms of the scourge of fentanyl and how it is literally killing Americans,” Harris said. “It would put resources into stemming the flow.”

Harris has said stopping fentanyl smuggling is a “top priority.”

BIRD FLU

QUEST WINS BIRD FLU TEST CONTRACT — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has tapped diagnostic testing company Quest Diagnostics to help test for avian influenza.

The company won contracts to stand up testing readiness in case a national commercial lab is needed to help bolster public health lab testing in the event of an outbreak.

By the end of the month, Quest will bring a new multi-target molecular lab-based test to evaluate people for bird flu. Doctors can order testing from a national commercial lab if testing needs increase, the company said.

“The test helps detect influenza A H5 virus, including A(H5N1), but does not detect seasonal influenza A subtypes, influenza B or other respiratory viruses,” the company said in a press release.

 

A message from PhRMA:

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Covid

A podium with the logo for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The latest recommendations come as the respiratory illness season kicks in. | Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

MORE COVID SHOTS — CDC Director Mandy Cohen has endorsed the recommendation of the agency's outside advisers to add a dose of a 2024-2025 Covid vaccine for some people at higher risk of the disease.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted 15-0 across three votes to recommend:

– A second dose for adults 65 years and older

– A second dose of the vaccine for people ages 6 months to 64 years old who are moderately or severely immunocompromised

– Additional doses for people ages 6 months and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised under shared clinical decision making

In other vaccine news: Cohen also endorsed lowering the age of pneumococcal vaccination from 65 to 50, following a recommendation from the advisory committee.

Pneumococcal disease can cause severe infections, including pneumonia and meningitis, and young children and older adults are most at risk.

Pharma Worldwide

NORTH AMERICAN PANDEMIC PREP — U.S., Canadian and Mexican government agencies on Wednesday unveiled the North American Preparedness for Animal and Human Pandemics Initiative — an effort to boost regional health security and pandemic readiness born out of the 2021 and 2023 North American Leaders’ Summits.

The new push includes a new body to help provide a forum for decision-making.

“To be successful we must coordinate closely across governments, as well as with industry and community leaders,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said.

WHAT WE'RE READING

Reuters reports that Roche CEO Thomas Schinecker said it appears there are more cases of mpox infection in Europe than reported.

The Government Accountability Office reports that researchers estimate the number of people living with limb loss in the U.S. — which sits at more than 2 million individuals — will nearly double by 2050.

The New York Times reports that participants in clinical trials for Alzheimer’s drugs Leqembi and Kisunla were not told the result of genetic testing intended to show whether their genetic profile suggested an increased risk of brain swelling or bleeding before or during the studies.

 

A message from PhRMA:

Seniors are feeling the true cost of drug price “negotiations.”

Instead of saving money, some Medicare patients will pay more for medicines.

Others may not be able to get their medicines – 89% of insurers and PBMs say they plan to reduce access to medicines in Medicare Part D because of the Inflation Reduction Act.

Higher costs and less access. That’s not what seniors were promised.

Learn more.

 
 

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