The House Energy and Commerce Committee Health Subcommittee recently held a hearing on “FDA User Fees 2012: How Innovation Helps Patients and Jobs,” focusing on reauthorization of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act and the Medical Device User Fee Act.  In addition, the Senate Aging Committee examined the “Future of Long-Term Care: Saving Money by Serving Seniors.” The Senate Budget Committee also has begun to debate a long-term budget proposal based on the bipartisan Fiscal Commission plan, also known as the Bowles-Simpson plan.  Looking ahead:

  • On April 24, the Senate Finance Committee is holding a hearing on “Anatomy of a Fraud Bust: From Investigation to Conviction,” focusing on lessons learned from a recent Justice Department sting that resulted in charges against 91 people for defrauding Medicare of nearly $300 million.
  • The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee has scheduled an April 25 markup of the “Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act.”
  • The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is holding a hearing April 25 entitled, “Is Government Adequately Protecting Taxpayers from Medicaid Fraud?
  • The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is holding an April 26 hearing on “Biological Security: The Risk of Dual-Use Research.
  • On April 27, the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee will examine proposals to reform Medicare through a premium support model.