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We recap what HHS Secretary Becerra said yesterday about everything from drug pricing to PBMs, and get ready for more hearings today, including the USITC’s hearing on the COVID IP waiver. (674 words, 3 minutes, 22 seconds) |
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HHS Secretary talks price controls, CMS, AMR on busy day in the House
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Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra, in a hearing yesterday, faced questions on drug coverage and pricing, while members of Congress called for action on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).
What happened: Secretary Becerra discussed President Biden’s 2024 health budget at the House Appropriations Subcommittee on HHS and House Ways and Means Committee.
On price controls: Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith (R-MO) said Biden’s budget “doubles down” on innovation-killing price controls, making “access and affordability of care worse.” Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK) said price controls threaten the goals of the Orphan Drug Act.
On CMS: Reps. Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN) of Appropriations and Vern Buchanan (R-FL) of Ways and Means asked why the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) limited coverage of Alzheimer’s drugs when the Veteran’s Administration has determined they should be approved.
Becerra praised advances in treating Alzheimer’s, but said CMS makes decisions separately.
That’s not all: Members of Congress raised pandemic preparedness, with Republicans demanding HHS do more, as well as antimicrobial resistance, with Secretary Becerra agreeing we need alternative pricing mechanisms (like the PASTEUR Act)—watch.
What’s next: Becerra testifies today on Biden’s health budget before the House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee. Also, the Senate Finance Committee holds a hearing tomorrow titled Pharmacy Benefit Managers and the Prescription Drug Supply Chain: Impact on Patients and Taxpayers as the House just last week passed the PBM Transparency Act, sending it to the Senate. Watch this space for more coverage of this week's hearingpalooza.
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Meanwhile, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) came up in several hearings—here’s what they said. By the numbers: During a House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing on "transparency and competition" also held on Tuesday, Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY) said the U.S. spends 31% of health expenditures on hospitals, 20% on physicians, and 9% on prescription medications, and called on lawmakers to make PBMs “more transparent.”
In the budget hearings: Ways and Means Committee member Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) mentioned PBM concerns, while Rep. Jake LaTurner (R-KS) noted during the Appropriations Committee hearing that PBMs use 340B to distort drug pricing. Becerra said HHS will continue to push PBM reform, despite litigation.
Bipartisan calls for PBM reform: Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Anna Eshoo (D-CA) echoed Chair Guthrie’s support for further examination of PBMs, saying she wants to work with Republicans on PBM reform.
What’s next: PBM transparency legislation (which BIO supports) is already in the works—read more. |
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U.N. agencies unite on One Health |
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U.N. agency heads on Monday called for global action to take a One Health approach, addressing the well-being of animals, humans, and the environment holistically.
The coalition: The chiefs of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the U.N. Environment Programme, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the U.N.-backed World Organisation for Animal Health issued a joint call for action.
What they want: prioritizing One Health on international and national policy agendas, supporting One Health development, building One Health workforces with intersectoral expertise, building scientific knowledge, strengthening pandemic prep, and increasing investment in One Health.
Why it matters: Human health threats are increasingly linked to our relationship with animals and the environment and made worse by climate change.
Is avian flu next? The ongoing historic avian flu outbreak sparks concerns about a human epidemic, though it hasn’t happened yet. Biotech and a One Health approach are needed.
Biotech boosts One Health by developing birds resistant to avian flu, gene editing crops to withstand disease and climate change, and addressing soil salinization. But achieving these advances requires updated regulatory approval pathways.
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