Health Industry Washington Watch : Washington DC Healthcare Industry Law Firm : Reed Smith : Health Industry Washington Watch : Regulations, Medicare/Medicaid, Governmental Organizations

Congressional panels have held several health policy hearings recently, including the following: 

• A House Science and Technology Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation Committee hearing on "Standards for Health IT: Meaningful Use and Beyond"; 
• A House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health hearing on “Cutting Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in Medicare and Medicaid”; 
• A House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee hearing on “Veterans Health Administration Contracting and Procurement Practices”; 
• A Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on "Defending Against Public Health Threats"; and 
• A House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing entitled "From Molecules to Minds: The Future of Neuroscience Research and Development."

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The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a report entitled "VA Drug Formulary: Drug Review Process Is Standardized at the National Level, but Actions Are Needed to Ensure Timely Adjudication of Nonformulary Drug Requests." According to the GAO, regional Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN) and medical centers vary in how they implement the nonformulary drug request process, including how they: adjudicate such requests; collect and report required data to VA’s pharmacy benefit manager; and address appeals of denied requests. Moreover, while nonformulary drug requests must be adjudicated within 96 hours, this deadline is not always met. The GAO also reports that VA officials are considering options for increasing beneficiary input on the national formulary and improving the transparency of the drug review process. The GAO recommends that VA establish additional mechanisms to ensure nonformulary drug requests are adjudicated in a timely fashion; the VA concurred. 

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A number of Congressional committees have held hearings recently on health policy issues, including the following:

• A Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on "Effective Strategies for Preventing Health Care Fraud." 
• A House Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing on “The High Cost of Small Business Health Insurance: Limited Options, Limited Coverage.”   
• A Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on "H1N1 Flu: Monitoring the Nation's Response."
• A Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing on a variety of bills to modify health care programs for veterans, including legislation to establish pay-for-performance compensation mechanisms into Department of Veterans Affairs contracts with community-based outpatient clinics. 

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A number of Congressional committees have held hearings recently on health policy issues, including the following:

• An Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing on breast cancer prevention, research, treatment, and quality of care legislation (H.R. 995, H.R. 1691, H.R. 1740, and H.R. 2279).  
• House Oversight and Government Committee hearings on Medicaid pediatric dental services and the Administration's flu vaccine program. 
• A Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing on the Department of Veterans’ Affairs contracts for health services.
• Senate Aging Committee hearings on how successful health systems keep costs low and quality high, and the cost of federal long-term care insurance.
• A Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on "Prohibiting Price Fixing and Other Anticompetitive Conduct in the Health Insurance Industry," focusing on legislation to repeal a federal antitrust exemption for health insurance and medical malpractice insurance companies.  

In addition, several hearings are scheduled for October 15.  The Senate Small Business Committee is holding a hearing on "Sensible Health Care Solutions for America's Small Businesses." The Senate HELP Committee will examine health care equality for women.  The Energy and Commerce Oversight Subcommittee is holding a hearing on the problem of underinsurance.

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A number of Congressional committees have held hearings recently on health policy issues, including the following:

• A House Science and Technology Committee hearing on "The Potential Need for Measurement Standards to Facilitate the Research and Development of Biologic Drugs." 
• A House Veterans Affairs Health Subcommittee hearing on the Veterans Affairs (VA) Department’s pharmaceutical policy, including an examination of formulary, patient safety, and management issues.   
• A Senate Judiciary Committee Terrorism and Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing on "Strengthening Security and Oversight at Biological Research Laboratories." 
• House Energy and Commerce Committee hearings on pandemic flu preparedness, "Solving the Medical Isotope Crisis," and the Ryan White Extension Act of 2009.

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On September 29, 2009, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is holding a hearing on the "Administration's Flu Vaccine Program: Health, Safety, and Distribution." On September 30, the Senate HELP Committee is scheduled to vote on the “Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009.” Also on September 30, the Senate VA Committee is holding a hearing on VA's contracts for health services, the Aging Committee will examine how successful health systems keep costs low and quality high, and the Senate Homeland Security Committee is holding a hearing on controlled substance abuse in Medicaid. On October 1, the Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on S. 369, the "Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act."

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