MHA's Executive Briefing

Bill would expand safety net drug program to inpatient drugs, CAHs

Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, R-MO, on July 28 introduced the Safety Net Inpatient Drug Affordability Act (H.R. 3547), American Hospital Association-backed legislation that would expand the 340B drug discount program for certain safety net hospitals to include inpatient drugs and critical access hospitals. The program allows eligible safety net providers to buy drugs for patient use at a significant discount, on average about 50% less than average wholesale prices. However, it's currently limited to outpatient drugs and excludes critical access hospitals. "This legislation would further strengthen the viability of these vital health care providers," said Anne Ubl, AHA's vice president for legislative affairs. (via AHA News)

Senate panel approves Labor, HHS spending bill

The Senate Appropriations Committee on July 14 approved a fiscal year 2006 spending bill that leaves intact the health care funding recommendations set by its Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education subcommittee earlier this week. The Senate is expected to take up the bill next week. The legislation, approved unanimously by the committee, recommends $454 million for health professions, including $155.6 million for nursing programs. The bill also would appropriate $300 million for pediatric graduate medical education, $39.2 million for rural outreach grants, $8.8 million for rural health policy development, $39.2 million for rural FLEX grants, $8.3 million for state offices of rural health, $510 million for hospital bio-terrorism, and $95.2 million for health information technology. (via AHA News)

‘Patient navigator’ bill clears Congress

Congress last week approved legislation that provides $25 million in grants over five years for hospitals and other health care providers to recruit and train "patient navigators" to help underserved populations navigate the health care system and receive the care they need. Sponsored by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-TX, and Rep. Robert Menendez, D-NJ, the Patient Navigator Outreach and Chronic Disease Prevention Act passed the Senate June 22 and the House June 13.

House Subcommittee Passes Legislation To Track Prescription Drug Abuse

A House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on June 23 passed legislation that calls for the formation of electronic databases to monitor prescription drug abuse, TechnologyDaily

reports. The National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Act of 2005 (HR 1132) will go before the full committee.

The legislation would require and provide funding for all states to create an electronic system to track prescription information. Law enforcement agencies would have access to the data.

Drug abuse of prescription pain killers has increased 200% and abuse of stimulants has increased 150% in recent years, said Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), a co-sponsor of the bill. "The problem isn't going away, it's exploding," Brown said.

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) said he opposes the bill because of privacy concerns. Waxman pledged to work with the bill's supporters to add privacy provisions before the full committee votes.

Last year, a similar bill was passed in the House but was not taken up in the Senate (TechnologDaily, 6/22). (via iHealthBeat)

Bill Would Require Hospitals to Offer Rape Victims Emergency Contraception

Hospitals that receive federal funds would have to advise rape victims of the availability of emergency contraception to prevent pregnancy under bipartisan legislation introduced in the U.S. House and Senate recently.

House Appropriations Committee approves spending bill

NA House Appropriations Committee panel on June 9 approved a bill recommending $142.5 billion in discretionary spending for Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education programs in fiscal year 2006. The HHS appropriations include $500 million for hospital bioterrorism preparedness, $19 million less than this year; nearly $150 million for nursing programs, about the same level as this year; and $60.13 million for rural health programs, $84.58 million less than this year, including a $28.5 million decline in funding for rural health outreach grants. The bill also provides $75 million for the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology to help develop and adopt a standards-based, interoperable electronic health records system, $58 million more than this year but $3 million less than the administration's request. The full committee is expected to consider the spending bill next week. (via AHA News)