Senate
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Senators Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Impose Harsher Penalties On Those Who Assault Healthcare Staff
This week, senators introduced a bipartisan bill that would make it a federal crime to assault hospital workers. Even though nearly 40 states have passed laws to intensify penalties for violent acts committed against healthcare personnel, there is currently no federal law protecting hospital employees from assault or intimidation.
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Senate Bill Proposes Slashing ‘Red Tape’ Around Biosimilar Interchangeability
Legislation introduced by Utah Senator Mike Lee would eliminate testing to show a biosimilar can be substituted for a reference biologic product. Lee contends the current testing requirement adds costs and delays market access for these lower-cost biological medicines.
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Payer’s Place: Dawn Maroney
Dawn Maroney, President, Markets of Alignment Health and CEO of Alignment Health Plan, to discuss how they are using technology to provide better service and care to consumers.
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Senate Finance Committee Advances Bill Targeting PBMs
The Senate Finance Committee voted 26-1 to advance the Modernizing and Ensuring PBM Accountability Act. The bill has several provisions, including delinking PBM income from prescription drug prices under Medicare Part D and banning spread pricing in Medicaid.
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Health IT, Telemedicine, Policy
Senators pick two telehealth policy changes that should stay
During a Monday hearing, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions discussed which changes to telehealth coverage made during the Covid-19 pandemic should stay.
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Health IT, Health Tech, Policy
Lawmakers introduce dueling Covid-19 privacy bills
Congressional Democrats and Republicans introduced privacy bills that attempt to rein in what companies can do with data collected during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Senators threaten to subpoena Cigna in insulin cost probe
Senators Chuck Grassley and Ron Wyden are demanding that Cigna turn over documents on insulin pricing, as part of a larger probe on rising insulin costs. The lawmakers claim that large pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts, which Cigna acquired in 2018, is failing to comply with the investigation.
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Senators urge greater FTC scrutiny over large biopharma mergers
Nine senators sent a letter to FTC Chairman Joseph Simons urging greater scrutiny over like the one between BMS and Celgene, expressing concern over antitrust issues, innovation and drug pricing.
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Senators urge action in Novartis gene therapy data manipulation scandal
Five Democratic senators – two running for president – wrote in a letter to the FDA’s acting commissioner that the scandal highlighted industry “privilege and greed.”
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Senate committee panel puts drug industry CEOs on defensive over pricing
The Senate Finance Committee grilled executives from seven of the biggest drugmakers about the dramatic rise in drug costs.
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Applying Remote Patient Monitoring to Surgery Prep and Recovery, Oncology and Women’s Health
Join us to learn about the latest trends in remote monitoring and how to extend its benefits beyond chronic conditions to more patients – all while using fewer staff resources.
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Senate Democrats say Novartis’s deal with Trump attorney Michael Cohen more extensive than reported
Novartis spokesperson says company cooperated with inquiries and disputes conclusions in the report.
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Right-to-try bill passes in House, heads to president’s desk for signature
The legislation, which has drawn criticism from researchers, patient advocates and industry, would enable patients to request experimental drugs while bypassing the FDA.
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Senate bill zeroes in on hearing aids, audiologist reimbursement
A bill introduced by Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) and Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) in March would allow patients to visit an audiologist to get a hearing test to diagnose a hearing problem without first being referred by a physician or nurse practitioner.
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Senate confirms Alex Azar as HHS Secretary
In a 55-43 vote, the Senate has confirmed Alex Azar as the new secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. President Donald Trump nominated Azar in November following the resignation of Tom Price.
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Who will lead effort to refund Children’s Health Insurance Program?
CHIP has had a dramatic effect in lower income states like Alabama, where the childhood uninsured rate dropped from 20 percent in 1997 to under 3 percent in 2015.
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Experts offered Senate HELP committee 9 proposals to cut drug prices. Here are the odds of passage
At a hearing held by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, experts made nine proposals to lower drug prices. Here’s an analysis on the likelihood of action being taken on each of them.
Promoted
Payer’s Place: Dr. Anil Singh
Dr. Anil Singh shares his insights into the strategies employed by the organization to identify the most effective digital solutions for their members.
Promoted
Discover the Next-Gen Platform for Integrated Collaborative Care
Beyond EHRs and digital front doors, reducing the gaps in patient care journeys.
