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

• The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held hearings on FDA’s foreign drug inspection program, and the Health Subcommittee meet to discuss Chairman Dingell’s draft legislation, the “Food and Drug Administration Globalization Act“. Likewise, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) held a hearing entitled “Restoring FDA’s Ability to Keep America’s Families Safe”.
• The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee held a hearing on hospital emergency surgery capacity; hearings continue May 7.
• The House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee held a hearing on implementation of the upcoming Medicare durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) competitive bidding program. At the hearing, CMS stated that it expected to announce the names of the winning bidders next week.
• The Senate Finance Committee held a hearing entitled “Seizing the New Opportunity for Health Reform”.