The House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health is scheduled this week to discuss the association-endorsed CONNECT for Health Act of 2023, which would expand the use and scope of telehealth services for patients and remove barriers for essential hospitals to meet the needs of their communities.
Consideration of the bill will happen at an April 10, 10 am ET hearing, titled, “Legislative Proposals to Support Patient Access to Telehealth Services.” Lawmakers are expected to focus on making pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities permanent for Medicare beneficiaries and providers and will consider a spate of other telehealth legislation.
Field Hearing on Transparency
Last week, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions held a field hearing in Boston to examine how “corporate greed” adversely impacts patient care and health workers.
Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), chair of the Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security, led the meeting. He expressed a desire for greater transparency in health care transactions, especially those involving private equity. He has also released a discussion draft of the Health Over Wealth Act, which would require a certain level of transparency in health care entity ownership and put certain safeguards in place to protect patients and health care workers.
Committee Activity This Week
The Senate is in session all week, with the House also convening Tuesday through Friday.
The Senate Committee on Finance Subcommittee on Health Care will hold a hearing Tuesday, April 9, at 2:30 pm ET, titled, “Closing Gaps in the Care Continuum: Opportunities to Improve Substance Use Disorder Care in the Federal Health Programs.”
The Senate Committee on Finance will also hold a full committee hearing Thursday, April 11, at 10 am ET, titled, “Bolstering Chronic Care through Medicare Physician Payment.” This will consider Medicare physician payment reform and how the program can motivate providers to best treat and manage chronic conditions.
The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability will hold a hearing Thursday, April 11, at 1 pm ET, titled “Oversight of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.” The agency’s commissioner, Robert Califf, MD, is set to testify on a number of issues, including drug shortages.
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