Thursday, November 14, 2024

Meet the new Senate class

Presented by The Campaign for Sustainable Rx Pricing: Delivered daily by 10 a.m., Pulse examines the latest news in health care politics and policy.
Nov 14, 2024 View in browser
 
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By Ben Leonard and Chelsea Cirruzzo

Presented by The Campaign for Sustainable Rx Pricing

Driving the Day

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), at center, is seen with, from left, Senators-elect Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), and Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) in Schumer's office.

On Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, center, welcomed the new crop of Democratic senators-elect, from left, Andy Kim, Ruben Gallego, Angela Alsobrooks, Adam Schiff, Lisa Blunt Rochester and Elissa Slotkin. | Francis Chung/POLITICO

NEW NAMES TO WATCH — The Senate is welcoming a crop of new lawmakers to the chamber that will look to make their mark on health policy in the next Congress.

They’ll grapple with the future of the Affordable Care Act, Medicare drug price negotiations under the Inflation Reduction Act and Medicaid, among many other issues.

Here are some of the names to watch and their positions on health policy:

Republicans: 

The new members are generally less in favor of abortion rights than Democrats, and many have been critical of the ACA. Three to watch:

— John Curtis, Utah: The House member is moving to the Senate to fill Republican Mitt Romney’s seat. The moderate former Democrat co-chairs the Biomedical Research Caucus, has supported legislation to weaken the IRA’s Medicare drug price negotiating power and led legislation to bolster private dental coverage.

— Jim Banks, Indiana: As a result of GOP Sen. Mike Braun’s run to become the state’s governor, Banks moves from the House to the upper chamber. The staunch President-elect Donald Trump supporter previously chaired the Republican Study Committee from 2021 to 2023. The group endorsed “bold Medicare reform” to make it more “market oriented” and effectively raising the eligibility age to boost its long-term solvency, as well as block-granting Medicaid to ensure it focuses on those who “truly need it.”

Jim Justice , West Virginia: The state’s governor is coming to Capitol Hill after independent Sen. Joe Manchin’s retirement. Justice signed a near-total abortion ban into law in his state and vetoed a bill this year that would have removed vaccine requirements for students in private and parochial schools. He also signed a bill restricting access to gender-affirming care for minors.

Democrats: 

The new members are abortion-rights supporters. Here’s more on three of their priorities:

  Lisa Blunt Rochester , Delaware: The House member will replace Democratic Sen. Tom Carper. She’s been a leading telehealth proponent, has pushed pharmacy benefit manager reform and has favored a menthol cigarette ban.

   Elissa Slotkin, Michigan: A House member, Slotkin will replace Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow. In Congress, she has been a major proponent of bolstering domestic manufacturing of pharmaceuticals. She leaned into lowering health care costs in her campaign and said she had been motivated to run for office because of GOP attempts to repeal Obamacare.

 Angela Alsobrooks, Maryland: The Prince George’s County, Maryland, executive replaces Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin . She’s supported enacting a Medicare buy-in proposal and boosting Medicare’s drug price negotiation power. As county executive, she focused on addressing mental health and addiction issues.

WELCOME TO THURSDAY PULSE. French bulldog Deco has been a welcome addition at House votes this week. Send your tips, scoops and feedback to bleonard@politico.com and ccirruzzo@politico.com and follow along @_BenLeonard_ and @ChelseaCirruzzo.

 

A message from The Campaign for Sustainable Rx Pricing:

Big Pharma games the system to keep prescription drug prices high. Brand name drug companies build blockades of patents to extend monopolies and block competition from more affordable alternatives – costing patients, taxpayers and the U.S. health care system billions of dollars each year. Market-based solutions to hold Big Pharma accountable for their egregious anti-competitive tactics, especially patent thickets, have broad bipartisan support. Congress must pass these solutions into law. Learn more.

 
In Congress

Sen. John Thune arrives for a meeting in Mitch McConnell's office.

Sen. John Thune, who will replace Sen. Mitch McConnell as Senate majority leader, says he has no plans to do away with the filibuster. | Francis Chung/POLITICO

THUNE IS PRO-FILIBUSTER — Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), who won the race to be Senate majority leader in the next Congress Wednesday, told reporters the Senate filibuster will stay intact under his leadership.

If that holds true, it could be a thorn in the side of Republicans, who would need 60 votes to pass legislation — meaning they’d need to rely on Democrats. That could include changes to the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid and more. Thune has focused on issues including the 340B drug discount program and pharmacy benefit manager reform.

President-elect Donald Trump has pushed the Senate GOP to ditch the filibuster and could do so again if his priorities aren’t deemed eligible for the wonky budget reconciliation process that helps the Senate pass legislation with a simple majority.

“At the end of the day, we’re going to have more limitations on what we’re able to use reconciliation for than perhaps a number of our House colleagues would like,” Thune told POLITICO’s Jennifer Scholtes and Caitlin Emma this summer.

SITE-NEUTRAL UPDATE — Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) told Pulse he hasn’t yet reviewed a recent proposal from Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) to stop Medicare from paying hospitals more for the same care provided in a doctor’s office.

Wyden reiterated concerns about how site-neutrality impacts rural hospitals’ bottom lines. He has previously pledged to work with Hassan on the issue and has been open to the idea.

The proposal from Cassidy and Hassan would bring hospital outpatient clinic payment in line with what independent practices get paid.

Wyden’s persistent skepticism could be an obstacle to getting the legislation done this Congress despite a broad bipartisan push including House Energy and Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), ranking member Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and a wide array of health groups across the political spectrum. Hospital groups have been fiercely opposed to site-neutral payments.

Hassan and Cassidy want to use savings to invest in rural and so-called safety-net hospitals.

The House passed the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act last year, but the Senate hasn’t taken up the bill. The bill ensures older Americans pay the same out-of-pocket costs for a prescription in an off-campus outpatient department as in a doctor’s office. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated those provisions would save nearly $4 billion over a decade.

Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) told Pulse that site-neutrality could be an option in a broader package next Congress through reconciliation, which allows bills to pass the Senate with a simple majority.

“That’s exactly what we’re looking at,” Carter said.

MAHA GOES TO THE HILL — Congressional staffers will be pitched on Robert F. Kennedy’s plans to “make America healthy again” on Wednesday, POLITICO’s Brittany Gibson and Daniel Payne report.

Kennedy and his allies want to fire government regulators, crack down on pesticides and food additives, halt fluoridation of drinking water and examine the safety data for vaccines, among other far-reaching changes to the public health system.

Jeff Hutt, spokesperson for the Make America Healthy Again PAC and former national field director for Kennedy’s presidential campaign, will speak with staffers on Capitol Hill following a similar briefing in September from Kennedy ally Calley Means, a former food-industry lobbyist who’s become a prominent voice in the debate about President-elect Donald Trump’s health policy platform.

Why it matters: Trump told Kennedy he’d allow him to oversee the government’s health agencies.

Hutt has said MAHA allies are working with the Trump transition team to vet potential nominees for the incoming administration — though the Trump team declined to comment on their involvement.

 

The lame duck session could reshape major policies before year's end. Get Inside Congress delivered daily to follow the final sprint of dealmaking on defense funding, AI regulation and disaster aid. Subscribe now.

 
 
AROUND THE AGENCIES

GAETZ FOR AG? President-elect Donald Trump said Wednesday he has chosen Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) to be his attorney general nomination, a pick that would have to be confirmed by the Senate.

The attorney general will be tasked with defending a plethora of controversial Trump policies — from immigration crackdowns to anti-abortion initiatives — that are sure to spark legal challenges. He’s also one of the more pro-cannabis lawmakers in the GOP.

HHS GETS DINGED ON CYBER —  Amid a scourge of cyberattacks hitting health organizations, HHS could do more to stem the tide and has “challenges” as the sector’s lead agency to oversee cybersecurity, a Government Accountability Office report has found.

Data breaches have exploded in recent years, and ransomware attacks have threatened patients’ lives and health care organizations’ bottom lines.

Despite HHS’ initiatives to blunt ransomware risks, it hasn’t implemented past GAO recommendations intended to aid the agency, the watchdog said in a report Wednesday. For example, the GAO found that the agency failed to sufficiently track how healthcare organizations protect against ransomware.

According to the GAO, HHS agreed with its recommendations but claimed it had already fulfilled them through an “initial evaluation” of the sector’s cybersecurity challenges and progress.

“Until HHS implements our prior recommendations related to improving cybersecurity, the department risks not being able to effectively carry out its lead agency responsibilities, resulting in potential adverse impact on healthcare providers and patient care,” the GAO wrote.

HHS didn’t respond to a request for comment.

 

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Names in the News

Kenneth Fasola, the president of Centene, plans to retire in July 2025.

Dr. Namrata Saroj has joined Ocular Therapeutix as chief business officer. She was previously at Regeneron.

Eric Gascho is joining CRD Associates as vice president. He was previously at the National Health Council.

 

Policy change is coming—be the pro who saw it first. Access POLITICO Pro’s Issue Analysis series on what the transition means for agriculture, defense, health care, tech, and more. Strengthen your strategy.

 
 
WHAT WE'RE READING

The Wall Street Journal reports on “the sickest patients ... fleeing” Medicare Advantage plans.

KFF Health News reports on Maryland expanding the types of medical professionals that can perform abortions.

 

A message from The Campaign for Sustainable Rx Pricing:

Big Pharma's abuse of the patent system is designed to maintain monopolies over their biggest money-makers, boosting brand name drug makers’ profits at the expense of American patients and taxpayers. One of their anti-competitive tactics involves filing dozens, sometimes hundreds, of patents on blockbuster products to build extensive “patent thickets,” completely disconnected from any true innovation. An economic analysis found Big Pharma’s patent thickets on just five drugs cost American patients and the U.S. health care system more than $16 billion in a single year.

The Congressional Budget Office has confirmed bipartisan, market-based solutions to hold Big Pharma accountable for patent abuse will lower drug prices and the U.S. Senate unanimously passed one solution, Cornyn-Blumenthal (S.150), earlier this year. Now is the time for Congress to finish the job – and pass solutions to lower drug prices by cracking down on patent abuse and promoting competition. Learn more.

 
 

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