President Donald Trump’s administration took aim at drug-pricing reform this month by holding listening sessions with industry groups and advocates. His administration is pursuing actions it can take with and without Congress to combat the industry’s high drug prices, according to a report from The Hill. The pharmaceutical industry, traditionally a powerful lobbying force on Capitol […]
Capitol Hill
AdvaMed president Whitaker talks Trumpcare and tax reform
Minutes before AdvaMed president Scott Whitaker took the stage at MassMEDIC’s annual conference last week, he got word from a Washington colleague that Reps. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Billy Long (R-Mo.) said they would vote for the Republican’s healthcare bill, the American Health Care Act. Both lawmakers had opposed the legislation, citing concerns that it wouldn’t protect people […]
In a narrow vote, House passes ‘Trumpcare’ bill
In a legislative win for President Donald Trump, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass a bill today that would repeal major parts of Obamacare and replace it with the Republican’s plan, the American Health Care Act. After a 217-213 vote that was split down party lines, the bill moves to the Senate for consideration. […]
BREAKING: Senate panel approves FDA nominee Gottlieb
A U.S. Senate panel voted today to approve Dr. Scott Gottlieb to lead the FDA, sending his nomination to the full Upper Chamber for a confirmation vote. The Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee approved Gottlieb on a 14-9 vote. The full Senate is also expected to approve the nomination. Gottlieb, 44, is a former FDA deputy […]
Trump administration fires Surgeon General Mathy
US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has been fired by the Trump administration, according to a report from The Hill. Murthy, an Obama appointee that has served as US Surgeon General since 2014, will be temporarily replaced by Rear Adm. Sylvia Trent-Adams, who currently serves as deputy Surgeon General. “Today, Dr. Murthy, the leader of the […]
Medicaid expansion tied to increase in prescriptions for diabetes drugs, birth control
The number of prescriptions filled by adults using Medicaid rose 19% in states that expanded Medicaid compared to states that did not under the Affordable Care Act, according to a new study from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The largest increases were for drugs that help patients deal with chronic conditions, including […]
Report: GOP nearing completion on new Healthcare bill, but finds support split
Republican lawmakers are closing in on a reworked healthcare bill that looks to begin dismantling and replacing Obamacare, according to a report from The Hill. Freedom Caucus chair Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) and moderate Tuesday Group co-chair Rep. Tom MacArther (R-N.J.) are brokering the compromised piece, according to the report. The revised plan would reportedly […]
Report: House bill would raise the bar for medical malpractice plaintiffs
Republican legislators reportedly want to put a $250,000 cap on the damages plaintiffs can win from physicians in medical malpractice lawsuits, raising concerns among medical device makers. The bill would impose new limits on lawsuits involving care covered by government health insurance programs, including some product liability suits, according to the New York Times. White House spokesman […]
Senate, House committees float stop-gap user fees bill
Aiming to avoid laying off thousands of workers at the FDA, legislators on Capitol Hill last week floated a bill to reauthorize the user fee agreement between industry and the federal safety watchdog. Medical device and drug companies pay user fees to have the FDA review their products. The last Medical Device User Fee Act in 2012 […]
Trump threatens to hold Obamacare subsidies hostage to force Dems to table
After facing defeat at that hands of its own party, GOP lawmakers are looking to resurrect the Trumpcare bill and force Democrats to the table by withholding approximately $7 billion in insurance subsidies. On Wednesday, Trump said he was considering withholding cost-sharing reduction subsidies slated to go to health insurers to help cover out-of-pocket medical […]
AdvaMed CEO expects medical device tax repeal this year
Since the Republican plan to replace the Affordable Care Act failed in the House last month, the medical device industry’s trade group has been looking for another piece of legislation to repeal the medical device tax. In a call with reporters yesterday, AdvaMed CEO Scott Whitaker predicted that the 2.3% levy introduced under Obamacare will be repealed this […]