Weekly Healthcare Policy Round-Up

In this week’s Health Policy Round-Up, ALF shares the most up to date news happening in Washington DC.

• On April 14^th, 12 House Republicans sent a letter to GOP leadership stating that they will not support a reconciliation package which includes massive cuts to Medicaid. The 12 Republican Representatives expressed their support for upholding Medicaid for the most vulnerable individuals as well as the support Medicaid provides to hospitals, nursing homes, and safety net providers. ALF will continue to monitor these developments to determine any potential impact to liver patients. Read the letter here.

• On April 15^th, President Trump signed an executive order to revamp a law that allows Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices. President Trump cannot implement the change through executive order because the negotiation process is outlined in legislation, but his order instructs Health and Human Services (HHS) to work with Congress on changing it. The President’s order also seeks to align Medicare payments for drugs with those of hospitals and calls for standardizing patient payment rates across locations so that people are not charged different rates depending on where they receive care. ALF will continue to monitor these developments to determine any potential impact to our liver patients. Read more about the executive order here.

• The House and Senate are in recess, returning to Washington DC on April 28^th, just in time for ALF’s Liver Life Advocacy Summit!