On September 29, 2016, President Obama signed into law HR 5325, which averts a government shutdown by continuing funding for the federal government through December 9, 2016. The legislation also includes $1.1 billion in supplemental funding to combat the Zika virus (including vaccine and diagnostic test development, public health, and other functions), along with
Zika virus
House and Senate Pass Dueling Zika Funding Bills; House Bill Faces Veto Threat
By Debra A. McCurdy on
On May 18, 2016, the House of Representatives approved H.R. 5243, the Zika Response Appropriations Act, by a vote of 241-184. The bill would provide $622.1 million to the federal agencies to fight the Zika virus, offset by rescissions of existing funds (including unobligated resources left over from the 2014 Ebola outbreak). According to the…
President Obama Signs Zika Priority Review, Controlled Substances Laws
By Debra A. McCurdy on
President Obama has signed into law S. 2512, which adds Zika virus to the Food and Drug Administration priority review voucher program to encourage the development of treatments for neglected tropical diseases. In addition, the President has signed S. 483, the “Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act of 2016. This law…
House Approves Legislation to Speed Development of Zika Virus Treatments
By Debra A. McCurdy on
On April 12, 2016, the House of Representatives gave final approval to S. 2512, which would add the Zika virus to the FDA Priority Review Voucher Program that encourages treatments for tropical diseases. The bill, which was passed by the full Senate on March 18, 2016, is now cleared for the President’s signature.
March Congressional Health Policy Hearings
By Debra A. McCurdy on
Congressional committees have held hearings recently on various health policy issues, including:
- Energy and Commerce Committee hearings on CMS implementation of the Medicare physician fee schedule reform provisions included in the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA), financing and delivery of long-term care, and the public health response to the Zika virus.
- A Ways
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