Episode Details

Former Congressman Tom Price is our new Secretary of Health and Human Services, making him the chief law enforcement officer of health care policy in the United States. In this episode, hear highlights from his Senate confirmation hearings as we search for clues as to the Republican Party plans for repealing the Affordable Care Act. We also examine the 21st Century Cures Act, which was signed into law in December. Please support Congressional Dish: Click here to contribute with PayPal or Bitcoin Click here to support Congressional Dish for each episode via Patreon Mail Contributions to: 5753 Hwy 85 North #4576 Crestview, FL 32536 Thank you for supporting truly independent media! Recommended Congressional Dish Episodes CD048: The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) CD123: Health or Profits Bill Outline H.R. 34: 21st Century Cures Act Bill Highlights Title I: Innovation Projects & State Response to Opioid Abuse Authorizes funding for research programs, if money is appropriated Authorizes $1 billion for grants for States to deal with the opioid abuse crisis The effects of this spending on the Pay as you Go budget will not be counted Title II: Discovery Creates privacy protections for people who participate as subjects in medical research studies Orders the Secretary of Health and Human Services to a do a review of reporting regulations for researchers in search of regulations to cut, including regulations on reporting financial conflicts of interest and research animal care. Allows contractors to collect payments on behalf of the Secretary of Health and Human Services Title III: Development Gives the Secretary of Health and Human Services additional data options for approving drug applications Expedites the review process for new "regenerative advanced therapy" drugs, which includes drugs "intended to treat, modify, reverse or cure a serious or life-threatening disease or condition" or is a therapy that involves human cells. Allows antibacterial and antifungal drugs to be approved after only being tested on a "limited population" The drugs will have have a "Limited Population" label Speeds up the FDA approval process for new medical devices that help with life-threatening or irreversibly debilitating conditions and that have no existing alternatives. Devices addressing rare diseases or conditions are allowed be approved with lower standards for effectiveness; this provision expands the definition of "rare" by doubling the number of people affected from 4,000 to 8,000. Each FDA employee involved in drug approvals will get training for how to make their reviews least burdensome. Title IV: Delivery The new Secretary of Health and Human Services will have to develop a strategy to "reduce regulatory and administrative burdens (such as doucmentation requirements) relating to the use of electronic health records" Prohibits health information technology developers from certification if their system allows information blocking. Developers, networks, or exchanges caught blocking information can be fined $1 million per violation. "Public-private partnerships" will develop the rules for exchanging health record information. Creates a job in the Medicare & Medicaid Services department for an investigator of pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturer complaints. Title V: Savings Reduced funding for the Prevention and Public Health Fund Sells more oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Title VII: Ensuring Mental and Substance Use Disorders Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Programs Keep Pace With Technology Authorizes money to be used for mental health services and substance abuse treatment Title IX: Promoting Access to Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Care Creates a telephone and online service to help people locate mental health services and substance abuse treatment centers. Title XIV: Mental health and safe communities Creates a pilot program to test the idea of having court cases with mentally ill defendants heard in "drug or m