The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health continues to mark up legislation to reform the Medicare physician payment system based on the sustainable growth rate. The bill is bipartisan but does not include fiscal offsets to pay for the cost of the reforms. Committee leaders expect both the subcommittee and full committee to pass the bill before the August recess.
On Wednesday, the Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing regarding health information technology as a means to improve health care.
Senate immigration bill authors, the Gang of Eight, held a meeting with 50 business lobbyists, encouraging them to apply pressure to the House to pass immigration reform. House Republicans announced they would not take up the Senate bill but have not determined if there is a path forward for comprehensive reform. Reports from the meeting indicate both the lobbyists and House Republicans are not pleased with the Senators’ efforts. House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) had hoped to pass an immigration bill before the August recess, but is reluctant to referee the House immigration debate.
