June 24, 2005

MEMORANDUM

TO: Board of Directors

FR: Kevin J. Burke
Director, Division of Government Relations

CC: Doug Henley
Todd Dicus
Rosi Sweeney

RE: State and Federal Legislative Update (Week of June 20)

Appropriations

On Friday, June 24, by a vote of 250-151, the House of Representatives approved H.R. 3101, the appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies. The measure provides zero funding for the Section 747 Primary Care and Dentistry Cluster, which supports family medicine training. In addition, $60 million was allocated for rural health programs. This would be a cut of $84.5 million below FY 2005, but $30 million more than the President’s request. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is slated to receive $318.7 million, which is the same as last year.

Drug Tracking

The Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday, June 22, approved the National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Act (H. R. 1132), which would require HHS to award one-year grants to states to establish or improve a state-controlled substance monitoring program. Such a program would use a uniform electronic database system for physicians and pharmacist to flag drug interactions or patients who abuse prescription drugs. It would require HHS to develop minimum standards for states to ensure security of information collected.

Next Week in Congress

On Tuesday, June 28, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law will hold a hearing on medical liability legislation.
On Tuesday, June 28, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health will hold a hearing on legislation that would create a national marketplace for individual health insurance.
On Tuesday, June 28, the Senate Special Aging Committee will hold a hearing on the structure of the Medicaid program and how Congress can find savings in the program.
On Tuesday, June 28 and Wednesday, June 29, the Senate Finance Committee will hold hearings on fraud, waste and abuse in the Medicaid program.
On Thursday, June 30, the Senate Special Aging Committee will hold a hearing on the importance of prevention programs in improving Medicare.
On Thursday, June 30, the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation’s Subcommittee on Technology, Innovation and Competitiveness will hold a hearing on the importance of developing interoperable electronic medical records.