Hearings

House Committee on Energy and Commerce: “Priced Out of a Lifesaving Drug: The Human Impact of Rising Insulin Costs”
Tuesday, April 2, 2019: The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the Committee on Energy and Commerce will hold a hearing to address the consequences of rising insulin costs. This was the second hearing on the rising prices of insulin. The subcommittee chair, Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), is also chair of the House Diabetes Caucus. Insulin has become an example of a drug for which prices have increased significantly. Find a link to witness testimonies, member statements and the hearing live feed here.

Why this is important: The subcommittee is focused on the cost of insulin and putting pressure on manufacturers as they work to address high drug prices. Three companies control 99 percent of the world’s insulin, and Rep. Diana DeGette), chairwoman of the House Energy and Commerce oversight subcommittee, is leading the initiative on bipartisan and bicameral probes into the insulin market.

House Committee on Energy and Commerce: Full Committee Markup
Wednesday, April 3, 2019: The House Committee on Energy and Commerce held a full committee markup that included 12 health care-related bills—six bills were part of a drug package to lower prescription drug costs and the remaining six make reforms to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Find a link to the legislation discussed and vote tallies here.

Find a full summary of the markup here. 

House

• Meadows Introduces the State-Based, Market-Oriented Prescription Drug Negotiations Act
• Bipartisan House, Senate Bill Aligns 42 CFR Part 2 with Less-Strict HIPAA
• Eight Republicans Condemn Administration’s Stance in ACA Lawsuit
• House and Senate Pass Short-Term Money Follows the Person Extension

Senate

• Senate HELP Chair: Goal to Have Finance, Health Bills by June to Lower Health Care Costs
• Democrats Reintroduce Bill to Add Public Option to ACA Marketplaces
• Bennet, Kaine Announce “Medicare X” Bill to Expand Coverage
• Senate Passes First Drug-Pricing Bill of Session, Sent to President

Read more on healthcare policy on the McGuireWoods Consulting website.