Federal health policy is an early focus for Congressional committees. In addition to several hearings held in January, Congressional hearings in February have concentrated on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and primary care, including the following:
- A House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on the Texas v. United States court case challenging the constitutionality of the ACA and its potential impact on individuals with pre-existing conditions.
- A House Education and Labor Committee hearing entitled “Examining Threats to Workers with Preexisting Conditions.”
- A House Appropriations Committee hearing regarding the “Impact of the Administration’s Policies Affecting the Affordable Care Act.”
- A Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing on “How Primary Care Affects Health Care Costs and Outcomes.”
Additional health policy-related hearings are scheduled for this week, including:
- A February 12 House Ways and Means Committee hearing on “The Cost of Rising Prescription Drug Prices.“
- A February 12 Senate HELP Committee hearing on managing pain during the opioid crisis.
- A February 13 Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee legislative hearing entitled “Strengthening Our Health Care System: Legislation to Reverse ACA Sabotage and Ensure Pre-Existing Conditions Protections.”