Health Care Checkup
May 7, 2021
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On Friday, Pfizer and its partner BioNTech submitted an application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for full approval of its COVID-19 vaccine for individuals 16 years of age and older. Pfizer’s vaccine is currently available through an emergency use authorization (EUA) from the FDA.
On Wednesday, a federal judge voided the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) eviction moratorium. The eviction moratorium had barred landlords from evicting tenants for non-payment of rent during the coronavirus pandemic. The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it will appeal the court’s decision and seek a stay of the ruling pending the appeal.
On Thursday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it increased the Medicare payment rate for administering monoclonal antibodies to treat beneficiaries with COVID-19. The agency increased the payment rate from $310 to $450 for “most health care settings.” CMS also increased the payment rate to $750 for monoclonal antibodies administered in the beneficiary’s home.
On Tuesday, President Joe Biden announced several new efforts that his Administration will be taking to promote increased COVID-19 vaccinations across the country. The new strategies include making access to vaccines more convenient, supporting local outreach efforts, strengthening efforts to reach rural populations, and launching a comprehensive plan to vaccinate adolescents.
This week, HHS announced various funding allocations from the American Rescue Plan (ARP). The agency announced that $250 million will be allocated to foster a community-based workforce to promote COVID-19 vaccine confidence in the public. Additionally, HHS announced that $1 billion will be made available to bolster COVID-19 response efforts in rural communities. The Administration announced that $1.4 billion from the ARP will be allocated to Older Americans Act programs.
Also this week, two House Committees, the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health and the Education and Labor Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions held hearings on lowering the cost of prescription drugs. Both hearings discussed H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act. The bill would allow for Medicare to directly negotiate with pharmaceutical companies for lower prices on select prescription drugs. MCRT’s summary of the Energy and Commerce hearing can be found here.
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What to Expect Next Week: The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health will hold a hearing on Wednesday, May 12 with Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra on the fiscal year 2022 discretionary budget request for HHS and its agencies. Another noteworthy hearing next week will be held by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Tuesday, May 11. The hearing is titled “An Update from Federal Officials on Efforts to Combat COVID-19.” The federal officials who will testify at the hearing include the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Rochelle Walensky. Also next week, the Senate is scheduled to resume consideration of the nomination of Andrea Palm to be deputy secretary of HHS, with a vote to limit debate on the nomination at 5:30 PM on Monday, May 10.
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Federal Judge Rules CDC’s Eviction Moratorium Unlawful
On Wednesday, a federal judge voided the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) eviction moratorium. The eviction moratorium had barred landlords from evicting tenants for non-payment of rent during the coronavirus pandemic. The CDC originally established the moratorium in September 2020 based on a public health law from 1944 that gives the agency powers to prevent the spread of communicable diseases across state lines. Although the CDC had recently extended the moratorium’s expiration date, a federal judge ruled that the CDC exceeded its statutory authority in imposing the moratorium. The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it will appeal the court’s decision and seek a stay of the ruling pending the appeal.
CMS Increases Medicare Payment for COVID-19 Treatment
On Thursday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it increased the Medicare payment rate for administering monoclonal antibodies to treat beneficiaries with COVID-19. The agency increased the payment rate from $310 to $450 for “most health care settings.” CMS also increased the payment rate to $750 for monoclonal antibodies administered in the beneficiary’s home. More information can be found here.
Research Finds Medicaid Enrollment Increased by Over 5 Million Amid Pandemic
A report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that Medicaid enrollment grew by approximately 5.2 million amid the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the research, Medicaid enrollment surged in March 2020 when the pandemic hit. Among states that have expanded Medicaid, enrollment grew from 48.2 million in January 2019 to 51.8 million in September 2020. In non-expansion states, enrollment increased from 17.2 million to 18.8 million. The report also found that enrollment growth was greater in states with smaller changes in unemployment during 2020. The authors said that this “may indicate that Medicaid growth is associated with factors other than job loss, including reduced work hours making more people eligible [and a] greater focus on health care during the pandemic.”
Biden Administration Carves Out New Strategies to Vaccinate the Nation
On Tuesday, President Joe Biden announced several new efforts that his Administration will be taking to promote increased COVID-19 vaccinations across the country. The new strategies include making access to vaccines more convenient, supporting local outreach efforts, strengthening efforts to reach rural populations, and launching a comprehensive plan to vaccinate adolescents. To help make vaccination sites more convenient for people, the Administration will work with its federal pharmacy partners to increase walk-in vaccinations at local pharmacies. Additionally, FEMA will create small pop-up vaccination clinics and increase the number of mobile vaccination clinics. The Administration is awarding $250 million to states and “select large city governments” to help with their next phase of community outreach efforts to educate communities on the COVID vaccine. To help support rural communities, the Administration is going to begin sending vaccines directly to rural health clinics (RHCs). If the FDA chooses to issue an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of the Pfizer vaccine for individuals from ages 12 to 15, the Administration has directed states to make children in that age group eligible for the vaccine immediately. President Biden said that he will encourage states to vaccinate as many youths as possible by July 4 so that students will be fully vaccinated before school starts in the fall. The President also set a goal of July 4 for 70% of adults in the U.S. to receive at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose.
HHS Launches Reimbursement Program for COVID-19 Vaccine Administration Fees Not Covered by Insurance
On Monday, the Department of Health Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), announced a new program that will cover the costs of administering COVID-19 vaccines to patients enrolled in health plans that “either do not cover vaccination fees or cover them with patient cost-sharing.” Providers cannot bill patients for COVID-19 vaccination fees, so the new program, the COVID-19 Coverage Assistance Fund (CAF), will help to compensate providers who administer COVID vaccines to underinsured patients. The agency noted that CAF will compensate providers for eligible claims at the rates set for Medicare. The Medicare reimbursement rates for administering the COVID-19 vaccine went up in March to “reflect newer information on the true costs associated with administering the vaccines.” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra noted, “No healthcare provider should hesitate to deliver these critical vaccines to patients over reimbursement cost concerns.”
HHS Announces Funding Allocations from the American Rescue Plan
This week, HHS announced various funding allocations from the American Rescue Plan (ARP). The agency announced that $250 million will be allocated to foster a community-based workforce to promote COVID-19 vaccine confidence in the public. Additionally, HHS announced that $1 billion will be made available to bolster COVID-19 response efforts in rural communities. The $1 billion allocation includes $460 million to more than 4,600 RHCs across the country, as well as $398 million to existing grantees of the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (SHIP) to work with nearly 1,730 small rural hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals on COVID-19 testing and prevention efforts. RHCs will also receive an additional $1 million to help close health equity gaps. The Administration announced that $1.4 billion from the ARP will be allocated to Older Americans Act programs. This includes $750 million for meal programs for older adults, $460 million for Home and Community Based Services (HCBS), $44 million for evidence-based health promotion and disease prevention, $145 million for the National Family Caregiver Support Program, and $10 million for programs that advocate for residents of long-term care facilities.
Pfizer Submits Application to FDA for Full Approval of its COVID-19 Vaccine
On Friday, Pfizer and its partner BioNTech submitted an application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for full approval of its COVID-19 vaccine for individuals 16 years of age and older. Pfizer’s vaccine is currently available through an emergency use authorization (EUA) from the FDA. The company also submitted an application to expand the current EUA for its COVID-19 vaccine to include individuals 12 to 15 years of age. If the FDA grants full approval of Pfizer’s vaccine, then the company would be able to market its shot directly to consumers. More can be found here.
House Holds Hearings on Cost of Prescription Drugs
This week, two House Committees, the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health and the Education and Labor Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions held hearings on lowering the cost of prescription drugs. Both hearings discussed H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act. The bill would allow for Medicare to directly negotiate with pharmaceutical companies for lower prices on select prescription drugs. Congressional Democrats are continuing to push for H.R.3’s approval, but Congressional Republicans and the pharmaceutical industry are pushing back. The American Action Network, a conservative advocacy group, announced it will spend more than $4 million on an ad campaign opposing H.R. 3. MCRT’s summary of the Energy and Commerce hearing can be found here.
CMS Issues RFI Seeking Input from Stakeholders on Ways to Advance Equity for Underserved Communities
CMS has issued a request for information (RFI), asking stakeholders to give recommendations on how to ensure greater equity for underserved communities through federal programs. The agency seeks “effective methods for assessing whether agency policies and actions equitably serve all eligible individuals and communities, particularly those that are currently and historically underserved.” CMS’ RFI is in sync with President Biden’s January 2021 Executive Order, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government. CMS asks that responses to the RFI be given by July 6, 2021.
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SENATE HEARINGS AND EXECUTIVE SESSIONS |
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee - Hearing
Full Committee Hearing: "An Update from Federal Officials on Efforts to Combat COVID-19."
Tuesday, May 11 at 10:00 AM ET
Senate Foreign Relations Committee - Hearing
Full Committee Hearing: "COVID-19 Pandemic and the International Response."
Wednesday, May 12 at 10:00 AM ET
Senate Indian Affairs Committee - Hearing
Oversight Hearing “Examining the COVID-19 Response in Native Communities: Native Tourism Economies One Year Later”
Wednesday, May 12 at 2:30 PM ET
Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee - Hearing
Full Committee Hearing: Supporting Disabled Veterans: The State of Claims Processing During and After COVID-19
Wednesday, May 12 at 3:00 PM ET
Senate Finance Committee - Hearing
Subcommittee on Health Care Hearing: "The COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond: Improving Mental Health and Addiction Services in Our Communities."
Wednesday, May 12 at 3:00 PM ET
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HOUSE HEARINGS AND EXECUTIVE SESSIONS |
House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology - Hearing
Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight Hearing: COVID-19 Variants and Evolving Research Needs
Wednesday, May 12 at 10:00 AM ET
House Committee on Veterans' Affairs - Hearing
Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Hearing: Military Transition During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Wednesday, May 12 at 10:00 AM ET
House Committee on Energy and Commerce - Hearing
Subcommittee on Health Hearing: "The Fiscal Year 2022 HHS Budget"
Wednesday, May 12 at 10:30 AM ET
House Committee on Appropriations - Hearing
Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Hearing: Mental Health Emergencies: Building a Robust Crisis Response System
Thursday, May 13 at 10:00 AM ET
House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure - Hearing
Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Hearing: "Federal Real Estate Post-COVID-19 Part One: A View from The Private Sector."
Thursday, May 13 at 2:00 PM ET
House Committee on Foreign Affairs - Hearing
Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Civilian Security, Migration and International Economic Policy Hearing: A Race Against Time: Deploying Vaccines and Addressing the Disproportionate Impacts of COVID-19 in Latin America and the Caribbean
Thursday, May 13 at 2:00 PM ET
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ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCEMENTS |
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Food and Drug Administration
Guidance Documents from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Institutes of Health
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1341 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20005
202-585-0258
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