WASHINGTON, D.C. – The healthcare industry continues to face challenges and scrutiny, as senators confront drug-industry CEOs and political concerns impede infectious-disease help in certain regions.
In the House, Rep. Michael Burgess of Texas, a senior physician in Congress, discusses his Health Care Task Force and the focus on health policy issues in his final year in the lower chamber.
Burgess emphasizes the importance of addressing the cost of breakthrough drugs and the overall savings that can be delivered. He also highlights the need to reconcile the cost of new therapies with their potential benefits, emphasizing the Preventive Health Savings Act as a solution to bridge this gap.
In the Senate, Senators Bernie Sanders and Ed Markey are working to subpoena drug-industry CEOs to testify about high prescription drug prices. The senators are pushing for transparency in pricing practices and advocating for a healthcare system that delivers innovative medications at affordable prices.
Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has faced delays in deploying experts to prevent the spread of infectious diseases due to political concerns within the World Health Organization about U.S. support for Israel.
As healthcare continues to be a pressing issue, both at home and abroad, lawmakers are also challenging the assisted living industry over poor care, seeking federal regulations similar to those for nursing homes.
In addressing generic drug shortages, Senators Ron Wyden and Mike Crapo are exploring policy options under Medicare and Medicaid to stabilize drug supply and reduce shortages.
Amid these healthcare challenges, the Biden administration has been vocal about federal abortion laws proposed by the GOP, emphasizing the contentious nature of healthcare policy in the current political climate.