Congress has been busy this month, holding multiple hearings related to health care delivery as lawmakers continue their search for ways to reduce health care costs while encouraging innovation. In the House of Representatives, subcommittees discussed the cost of prescription drugs and how fraud and waste drive up costs. In the Senate, lawmakers sat with NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to unpack how we might accelerate medical breakthroughs. The Senate also discussed fraud, expressing concerns about potential gaming of childcare assistance programs.  

• Prescription Drug Costs: On February 11th, the House Energy and Commerce (E&C) Subcommittee held a hearing to examine the role of drug manufacturers, Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) and insurers in drug pricing. The conversation heavily focused on vertical integration and how it might impede competition. The 340B program was once again under fire, prompting a strong response from the American Hospital Association. 

• Fraud, Waste and Abuse: On February 3rd, the House E&C Subcommittee held a hearing titled, “Common Schemes, Real Harm” focused on fraudulent activities within Medicare and Medicaid. Lawmakers expressed concerns over an estimated $100 billion annual lost to health care fraud. Highlights of their discussion include the vulnerability of hospice and home-based care to fraudulent individuals and ways to improve auditing across care settings. 

• Modernizing the National Institutes of Health (NIH): Also on February 3rd, Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee hosted Dr. Bhattacharya as the sole witness. HELP Senators were most interested in how the NIH might increase accountability and accelerate the delivery of cures. Dr. Bhattacharya shared his future vision will include increasing transparency through open science and targeting specific health priorities, like the opioid crisis and vaccines.