WASHINGTON, DC - Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Greg Walden (R-OR) and Health Subcommittee Republican Leader Dr. Michael Burgess (R-TX) released the following statement applauding House passage of five bipartisan Energy and Commerce bills to advance public health.
“These bipartisan bills represent the Energy and Commerce Committee’s longstanding commitment to increase health care transparency and ensure America has a skilled health workforce to care for our communities. Together, these bills boost critical training and educational services, strengthen recruitment and retention of specialized health professionals, and bring greater transparency to our health care system. We appreciate this bipartisan work and urge swift action on these bills in the Senate," said Walden and Burgess.
Background:
Yesterday, the House passed the following bills
H.R. 2781, EMPOWER for Health Act of 2019: reauthorizes the Title VII health professions education and training programs from Fiscal Year 2020 through Fiscal Year 2024.
H.R. 728, Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2019: reauthorizes Title VIII nursing workforce development programs, which support the recruitment, retention, and advanced education of skilled nursing professionals from Fiscal Year 2020 through Fiscal Year 2024.
H.R. 647, Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act: authorizes grants to improve the training of health professionals in palliative care, increases education and awareness about palliative care, and enhances research on palliative care through leveraging existing authorities and funds at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
H.R. 1781, Payment Commission Data Act of 2019: provide the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) and the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) with access to drug pricing and rebate data under Medicare Parts B and D, as well as under Medicaid.
H.R. 2115, Public Disclosure of Drug Discounts Act: increase transparency by requiring HHS to publicly post aggregate rebate data and generic dispensing rates-data Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) already report by law as well as encourages the use of real time benefits tool which will help providers aid in lowering drug prices for consumers.
