Category: Washington Focus

Washington Focus

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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Washington Focus

Register Now: CHC Webinars Tackle Data Privacy Issues and the Future of the FDA

Register Now: CHC Webinars Tackle Data Privacy Issues and the Future of the FDA

April 26, 2021 – What happens in Washington doesn’t stay in Washington, and upcoming webinars will examine two of the areas most critical to healthcare marketing and communications: the use of personal data and protecting privacy, and what’s ahead for the FDA under new leadership. Registration is now open here for the two webinar programs, […]

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Washington Focus

Biden’s FY 2022 Proposed Budget Plan Would Boost Spending on Public Health

Biden’s FY 2022 Proposed Budget Plan Would Boost Spending on Public Health

April 12, 2021 – President Joe Biden signaled his administration’s public health priorities in an outline of the fiscal year 2022 (FY 22) budget released last week. These proposed investments include substantial increases in funding for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), creation of […]

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Biden’s “Health Care Day” Previews Next Steps

Biden’s “Health Care Day” Previews Next Steps

Feb. 1, 2021 – President Joe Biden presented his current vision for the state of the nation’s healthcare during last week’s “Health Care Day,” one of several themed presentations his administration is holding to roll out key policies. Describing Executive Orders that he signed in the healthcare arena, Biden stated that the best way to […]

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Washington Focus

Senate Delay in Confirming HHS Secretary Could Stall Biden’s Healthcare Plans

Senate Delay in Confirming HHS Secretary Could Stall Biden’s Healthcare Plans

Jan. 25, 2021 – As of Jan. 25, and five days after the inauguration of President Joe Biden, the Senate has not yet scheduled confirmation hearings for Xavier Becerra, Biden’s nominee for Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Any delay in his confirmation will cause a leadership gap at a critical […]

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Washington Focus

Marketing Tax, Pricing Limits, Other Measures May Pass as Add-ons to Omnibus Bills

Marketing Tax, Pricing Limits, Other Measures May Pass as Add-ons to Omnibus Bills

Jan. 5, 2021 – The just-enacted COVID-19 relief bill may be a harbinger of what is to come in 2021 for drug pricing and marketing tax proposals, according to Coalition for Healthcare Communication Executive Director Jon Bigelow. In a memo to Coalition members and industry leaders, Bigelow noted that it had been fairly clear weeks […]

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Washington Focus

Biden Plans Include Key Healthcare Appointments, ACA and, Maybe, Drug Pricing

Biden Plans Include Key Healthcare Appointments, ACA and, Maybe, Drug Pricing

Dec. 7, 2020 – President-elect Joe Biden announced on Dec. 7 his plans for filling key public health positions, including nominations for California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to be the next secretary of Health and Human Services and Dr. Rochelle Walensky, currently an infectious disease specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital, to become director of the […]

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Washington Focus

Rawson Previews Biden COVID-19 Approach and Vaccine Roll-out

Rawson Previews Biden COVID-19 Approach and Vaccine Roll-out

Nov. 30, 2020 – Job one for President-elect Joe Biden is the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which will represent a “marked difference in energy and tone” than that offered by the current administration and likely will include a new FDA Commissioner as well as the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines, according to Kate Rawson, senior […]

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Washington Focus

Biden Gears Up After Win, Announces COVID-19 Advisory Board

Biden Gears Up After Win, Announces COVID-19 Advisory Board

Nov. 9, 2020 – Just two days after his election victory became apparent, President-elect Joe Biden signaled his number one priority by naming the co-chairs and membership of his COVID-19 Advisory Board. “Dealing with the coronavirus pandemic is one of the most important battles our administration will face, and I will be informed by science […]

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