Category: Washington Focus

Washington Focus

Washington Focus

FDA Funding Hangs in the Balance as Congress Struggles with FY 2023 Budget, User Fee Reauthorization

FDA Funding Hangs in the Balance as Congress Struggles with FY 2023 Budget, User Fee Reauthorization

Aug. 30, 2022 – When members of the House and Senate return to Washington Sept. 6 following the Labor Day holiday, they face competing priorities and tight timeframes to take action on the federal budget and user fees, which expire on Sept. 30. Failure to pass the fiscal year 2023 (FY 2023) budget and reauthorize […]

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Washington Focus

Medicare Advantage Plans May Promise More but Deliver Less

Medicare Advantage Plans May Promise More but Deliver Less

May 2, 2022 – Although Medicare Advantage (MA) plans often are touted for delivering more benefits at a lower cost than traditional Medicare, some critics argue that MA organizations (MAOs) deny beneficiaries coverage that they would receive under Medicare rules – including MRIs and post-acute care – in order to increase profits. As MA plan […]

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Washington Focus

Biden’s 2023 Budget: Big Increases for FDA, CDC, Pandemic Preparedness

Biden’s 2023 Budget: Big Increases for FDA, CDC, Pandemic Preparedness

April 4, 2022 – The fiscal year (FY) 2023 budget proposed by President Joe Biden last week emphasizes fiscal restraint more than new, big spending programs, but it does ask for increased funding for pandemic preparedness, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and projects such as the Cancer Moonshot and the Advanced Research Projects Agency […]

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Regulatory/FDA

Califf Confirmation in Jeopardy?

Califf Confirmation in Jeopardy?

Feb. 7, 2022 – Although the nomination of Dr. Robert Califf to return as FDA Commissioner was advanced by the Senate House, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee just weeks ago and it appeared Califf was poised to be confirmed by the full Senate, new opposition to his nomination reportedly has switched at least some […]

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Washington Focus

Califf Answers Tough Questions, Sets Top Priorities During Senate HELP Hearing

Califf Answers Tough Questions, Sets Top Priorities During Senate HELP Hearing

Dec. 20, 2021 — Dr. Robert Califf, President Joe Biden’s nominee for the FDA Commissioner position, spent roughly two hours answering questions volleyed his way during last week’s Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee’s hearing on his nomination. Califf’s answers, peppered with details, facts and figures, references to senators’ home-state concerns, anecdotes about […]

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Washington Focus

Califf Nominated as FDA Commissioner, Confirmation Fight Ahead, CHC’s Bigelow Says

Califf Nominated as FDA Commissioner, Confirmation Fight Ahead, CHC’s Bigelow Says

Nov. 15, 2021 – Many in the healthcare space are breathing a sigh of relief that President Joe Biden finally announced his nominee to be the new FDA Commissioner on Nov. 12: former FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, M.D. Although Coalition for Healthcare Communication Executive Director Jon Bigelow believes Califf will win Senate confirmation  for a […]

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Washington Focus

Build Back Better Act Update: Drug Price Limits Back in Spending Bill

Build Back Better Act Update: Drug Price Limits Back in Spending Bill

Nov. 4, 2021 – Update on spending bill from Coalition for Healthcare Communication Executive Director Jon Bigelow: On Oct. 28, President Joe Biden announced a new “framework” for the Build Back Better Act, reducing the scope to $1.8 trillion and dropping several initiatives, conspicuously including measures to limit the cost of prescription drugs. Very quickly, […]

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Washington Focus

Build Back Better Act: Expanded Healthcare Coverage, FDA Funds, But So Far, No Drug Pricing Reforms

Build Back Better Act: Expanded Healthcare Coverage, FDA Funds, But So Far, No Drug Pricing Reforms

Nov. 1, 2021 – As Congress and the White House parry back and forth over specific provisions in President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better Act, the proposed legislation currently includes some expansion of healthcare coverage, new infrastructure money for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but no significant actions to tackle drug prices – yet […]

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Washington Focus

Pressure Mounting for FDA Commissioner Among Reports that Califf Will Be Biden’s Choice

Pressure Mounting for FDA Commissioner Among Reports that Califf Will Be Biden’s Choice

Oct. 21, 2021—Nine months into President Joe Biden’s administration, he has still not nominated a candidate to take the helm at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Amid the COVID-19 pandemic and other pressing healthcare issues, the pressure is rising for a permanent FDA commissioner, but many of the frequently-named frontrunners for the position appear […]

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