Congressional Hearings
The new 112th Congress has already held a number of hearings on health policy issues and other policy areas that also can impact the health industry. For instance, with regard to health reform, the House Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on the “Health Care Law’s Impact on Jobs, Employers, and the Economy.” In addition, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee examined the ACA’s insurance market reforms, and the House Budget Committee focused on the ACA’s fiscal impact. In other areas, a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing focused on “Protecting American Taxpayers: Significant Accomplishments and Ongoing Challenges in the Fight Against Fraud." Separately, the House Judiciary Committee held hearings on "Medical Liability Reform - Cutting Costs, Spurring Investment, Creating Jobs," and on H.R.10, the "Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act," which would require Congress to vote on every new major rule (economic effect of at least $100 million) before it could be enforced. Coming up, on February 2, the Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled a hearing on the Constitutionality of the ACA, and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will review S. 99, the American Medical Isotopes Production Act of 2011.
