House Energy and Commerce Holds HHS Budget Request Hearing: On Wednesday, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on the FY2025 HHS budget request, featuring HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. Legislators from both sides of the aisle asked Sec. Becerra pointed questions, most notably Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX), who said, “this administration prefers larger healthcare systems and neglects smaller providers,” when pushing against consolidation; and Full Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), who noted, “we've been waiting for years for this administration to enforce price transparency requirements for pharmacy benefit managers and insurance.”

House Energy and Commerce Committee Holds Hearing on Change Cyberattack Effects: On Tuesday, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on the effects and potential policy solutions from February’s cyberattack on Change Healthcare, a subsidiary of United Healthcare. Panelists, including AHA cybersecurity advisor John Riggi, said health system consolidation allows disruptions at such a scale and offers more centralized information for hacks. Other panelists pressed for funding or tax incentives for providers to invest in cyber technologies.  

House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Health Holds ERISA Hearing: On Tuesday, the House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions held a hearing both marking the 50th anniversary of ERISA benefits and seeking future legislative improvements for the plans. Subcommittee Chair Bob Good (R-VA) praised ERISA plans, saying government interference and “price setting” through CMS hurts innovation and patient outcomes. Russell DuBose, VP of Human Resources for Phifer Inc., called for greater federal regulation of PBMs in his testimony.

Senate Appropriations Holds Hearing on FY2025 HHS Budget: On Tuesday, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor and Health held a hearing on the FY2025 HHS budget request, featuring HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. Full Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) said she supported President Biden’s provision to null the Hyde Amendment that could conceivably ban the use of any federal funds for abortion access. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) called for CMS to share relevant telehealth data as Congress considers policy to extend flexibilities, perhaps permanently, by the end of the year.  

House Appropriations Committee Holds Hearing on FDA Budget: On Thursday, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration held a hearing on the FY2025 FDA budget, featuring FDA Commissioner Robert Califf. Subcommittee Chair Andy Harris (R-MD) brought attention to the 300-plus drugs in shortage, pressing Califf on FDA’s oversight of foreign manufacturing facilities. Califf said the budget request specifically calls for $12.3 million for drug supply chain oversight.  

House Energy and Commerce Committee Holds Hearing on Improper Payments: On Tuesday, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight held a hearing on the cost and causes of improper CMS payments. HHS Inspector General testified that their office declined investigating “300 to 400 viable fraud cases” involving Medicare and Medicaid each year “because we don’t have the agents to work them.” Overall, GAO estimated CMS paid over $100 billion in improper payments in 2023.

Federal Agencies Launch Healthcare Competition Complaint Portal: On Thursday, Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Justice, and HHS unveiled HealthyCompetition.gov, an online portal to submit healthcare competition complaints for potential investigation. Complaints received through the portal will receive a preliminary review by FTC and DOJ Antitrust Division staff, per the announcement. According to the release, the plan hopes to investigate consolidation, price fixing, unnecessary healthcare provider recertification or accreditation requirements, and health system contracts that limit care with rival health insurance companies.