Policy Corner: October 13, 2023
Categories: Policy Corner Archives
House Republican Conference Continues to Meet to Elect a Speaker of the House
Although the House of Representatives was slated to be on recess for in-district work this week, the Republican Conference met throughout the week to elect a Speaker of the House to replace Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) who was ousted as Speaker last week. Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) is the Acting Speaker, but does not have constitutional authority. As of this morning, two representatives had placed their hats in the ring to be considered and the Republican Conference was to meet Friday afternoon to consider whether one of these can obtain the necessary votes to be elected. Without a Speaker, House business is not being conducted, including committees and deliberations on the FY 2024 appropriation bills. Government will face another shut down should appropriations not be extended after Nov. 17.
House Subcommittee to Consider Bill to Strengthen Patient Access to Care in Medicare
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris-Rodgers (R-Wash.) and Subcommittee on Health Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) have announced a legislative subcommittee hearing next week titled, “What’s the Prognosis?: Examining Medicare Proposals to Improve Patient Access to Care & Minimize Red Tape for Doctors.” The hearing is to be held Thurs., Oct. 19. Several bills addressing Medicare are slated to be discussed, including the legislation, Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act of 2023, which would modernize the antiquated prior authorization process in Medicare Advantage. The bill is sponsored by Reps. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), Larry Bucshon, M.D. (R-Ind.), and Ami Bera, M.D. (D-Calif.).
Senate HELP Committee to Hold Hearing on NIH Director Nomination
Next Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), chaired by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), will hold a hearing on the nomination of Monica Bertagnolli as the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Last May, President Biden announced his nomination of Dr. Bertagnolli, who is known as a world renown oncologist and is the director of the National Cancer Institute. Lawrence A. Tabak, D.D.S., Ph.D. is currently the Acting Director of NIH. He assumed this role on December 20, 2021.
President Signs Proclamation for National Disability Employment Awareness Month
On Sept. 20, President Joe Biden signed a proclamation to proclaim October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month, 2023. During October, numerous federal and national agencies and organizations recognize the significant contributions of Americans with disabilities to the nation’s economy. In the proclamation President Biden acknowledged significant federal legislation that has elevated awareness and promoted equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities to obtain employment, including the Rehabilitation Act and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). He has charged federal agencies to further promote accessible and inclusive job opportunities and urges all Americans to support equal employment opportunities for workers with disabilities.
CDC Names New Leadership
Over the past few months, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has named new leaders for the agency and its centers. Sam Posner, Ph. D., is currently serving as the Acting Director of CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) where he leads CDC’s innovative research and science-based programs to prevent injuries and violence and to reduce their consequences. Dr. Posner’s permanent role is Principal Deputy Director for CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), where he oversees the center’s surveillance, epidemiology, laboratory, and data science programs to expand and refine CDC’s capacity to detect, prevent, and respond to vaccine-preventable and respiratory infectious disease threats.
The Injury Center houses the traumatic brain injury (TBI) program authorized by the TBI Act of 1996. Matt Breiding, PhD, continues to serves as team lead of the TBI Team in the Division of Injury Prevention at CDC’s Injury Center. His work at CDC has been focused on surveillance of TBI, intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and child abuse—both domestic and international.
During the summer, President Biden named Mandy K. Cohen, MD, MPH, as the Director for CDC and the Administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Dr. Cohen is an internal medicine physician and led the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, where she was lauded for her outstanding leadership during the COVID crisis, focusing on equity, data accountability, and transparent communication. She was sworn in as the director on July 11.