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Health Policy Updates for the Week of May 20, 2019

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The Headlines

The House and Senate are in recess next week. Stay tuned to our Twitter for any updates. 

  1. Congressman G.K. Butterfield (D-NC-01) and Federal Communications Commissioner Geoffrey Starks visit Duke Health to discuss telehealth priorities. 
  2. Eight of the twelve FY2020 spending bills have made it through the House Appropriations Committee. 
  3. Legislation was introduced in the Senate to increase the tobacco purchasing age to 21. 
  4. The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions introduced legislation to combat the rising health care costs. 
  5. Catherine Liao, Assistant Vice President of Duke Health Government Relations, spent the day advocating for telehealth with her Carol Emmott Fellowship colleagues on Capitol Hill. 
  6. More committee updates below!

The Details

1. Congressman Butterfield and Federal Communications Commissioner Geoffrey Starks Visit Duke Health
Congressman G.K. Butterfield (D-NC-01) and Federal Communications Commissioner Geoffrey Starks are visiting Duke Health today to discuss telehealth and the work Duke is doing to make health care more accessible in rural communities. The Congressman recently joined the House Task Force on Rural Broadband, which seeks to increase access to high-speed internet by 2025. 

2. Appropriations
Eight of the twelve spending bills have made it through the House Appropriations Committee, with all on track to be considered by the House by the end of June. 

3. Legislation Introduced to Increase Smoking Age
On Monday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) introduced bipartisan legislation to raise the tobacco purchasing age to 21. The bill covers all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. Unlike previously discussed, this bill also would apply to military members. Leader McConnell has indicated that he will make enacting the bill one of his highest priorities, although no vote has been scheduled.
 
4. Senate Committee on Health Education Labor and Pensions (HELP) Legislation
On Thursday, the Senate HELP Committee introduced draft legislation to help combat rising health care costs by ending surprise billing, reducing prescription drug prices, improving transparency, focusing on public health initiatives and enhancing health information technology.  The HELP Committee plans to hold a mark up on Lower Health Care Costs Act of 2019 mid-June, with hopes to pass it out of committee by the Fourth of July recess. A section by section summary of the legislation can be found here.

5. Carol Emmott Fellowship Capitol Hill Day
Catherine Liao, Assistant Vice President of Duke Health Government Relations, visited Capitol Hill on Tuesday with her colleagues from the Carol Emmott Fellowship program. Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) met with the group to share her leadership experience and to give a legislative update. The cohort then divided up to meet with their Members of Congress about telehealth, including the Office of Rep. David Price (D-NC).

Capitol Hill Day

6. Committee Hearings