End-of-2026 Health Policy Landscape: What Congress Could Address Before Year-End

Trump Administration Proposes Changes to Part 2 Privacy Rules Last Thursday, the Trump administration released a much-anticipated rule which proposes updates to the consent requirements governing the release of patient information for individuals seeking treatment for substance use disorder. The rule, developed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is designed to […]

White House: Trump Will Announce IPI Model in September President Trump is expected give a major health policy speech in September, including a roll-out of an international reference price system for prescription drugs. As reported last week in Bloomberg News, the President’s senior adviser, Kellyanne Conway, said that an international pricing index (IPI) for purchasing […]

The Week in Review Senators reconvened last week to address key legislative priorities ahead of the August recess.  In addition to a host of presidential nominations, the Senate addressed budgetary spending caps and the federal debt ceiling by clearing the House-passed budget agreement. The deal — which approves $321 billion in new spending and suspends […]

The Week in Review House lawmakers cleared (284-149) the sweeping budget package (text; summary) last week, addressing key fiscal deadlines prior to leaving for the six-week August recess. Struck by top negotiators early last week, the deal provides for a $321 billion boost in federal spending over the next two years, while also suspending the debt ceiling for two years. The bill is expected to pass […]

The Week in Review Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced last week that the White House and Congressional leaders have agreed on terms for a sweeping budget deal that would address spending levels for fiscal years (FY) 2020 and 2021 and the debt ceiling. According to Mnuchin, Congressional leaders agreed to offset the increased spending limits […]

The Week in Review House lawmakers completed work on the lower chamber’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), passing the $733 billion measure to end last week’s work session. Prior to final passage, the House tacked on several provisions— including: (1) repealing the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF); (2) preventing the Trump administration from deploying troops to the U.S.-Mexico border; and (3) requiring Congressional authorization […]

The Week in Review Lawmakers wrapped up the month of June with a busy week of floor activity that saw significant legislative items pass both chambers. In the House, lawmakers resumed their push to clear fiscal year (FY) 2020 spending bills, passing the second five-bill “minibus” — which includes the Agriculture, Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS), Interior-Environment, Military Construction-Veterans’ Affairs (VA) and Transportation-Housing and Urban […]

The Week in Review House lawmakers finished a marathon debate on the first appropriations “minibus” package consisting of the Labor-Health and Human Services-Education, Energy and Water Development, Defense, and State-Foreign Operations spending bills. The bill passed the lower chamber on near party lines (226-203), with seven Democrats joining all House Republicans in voting against the four-bill package. The House also began […]

The Week in Review The House kicked off a multi-day process to approve the first fiscal year (FY) 2020 "minibus” last week. While House Democrats were hopeful to wrap up consideration of the four-bill spending package last Thursday, House conservatives stymied progress on the bill by requesting a recorded vote on every amendment that was […]

The Week in Review President Donald Trump signed a $19.1 billion disaster relief bill a months-long delay over issues related Puerto Rico and border security. The bill passed under suspension of the rules early last week after House conservatives blocked the bill from being passed during pro forma sessions over the Memorial Day district work […]

The Week in Review While most lawmakers were out of town for a Memorial Day district work period, House Republicans continued to block unanimous consent (UC) of a bipartisan $19.1 billion disaster relief bill during last week’s informal “pro forma” sessions. Rep. John Rose (R-TN) joined fellow conservatives Reps. Chip Roy (R-TN) and Thomas Massie […]

The Week in Review Senators broke a months-long impasse on disaster relief aid by passing (85-8) a $19.1 billion measure prior to leaving Washington. Congressional negotiators clinched a deal on a final package that would provide: (1) $3 billion for farm disaster assistance; (2) $2.4 billion for Community Block Development Grants; and (3) $3.25 billion […]