The Washington Report

December 13, 2023

Note to Subscribers

While we do our best to provide timely updates, it is possible that the information shared in the newsletter may change after our publication deadline.

Legislative

 

House Approves Health Care Price Transparency Bill
On December 11, 2023, the House approved with a 320–71 vote the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act (H.R. 5378). Among other provisions, the bill would promote price transparency in the health care sector and require health care providers and insurers to disclose certain information about health care costs. The bill would establish requirements for certain payment methodologies under Medicare and Medicaid and extend several public health programs. Additionally, the legislation would require pass-through pricing models, and prohibit spread-pricing for payment arrangements with Pharmacy Benefit Managers under Medicaid. The bill would also require Medicare payments for certain drug administration services at off-campus hospital outpatient departments to be the same as that for other provider settings (i.e., physician offices). The bill moves to the Senate where passage is uncertain.

The full text of H.R. 5378 is available here.

Other HR/Employment

 

Fall 2023 Regulatory Agenda Released
On December 6, 2023, the Biden Administration released its Fall 2023 Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions, which provides an updated report on the actions federal departments and administrative agencies (e.g., the Department of Labor, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Department of the Treasury, Department of Health and Human Services, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, etc.) plan to issue in the near and long term. The agendas include regulatory plans and priorities and provide a framework of activity expected throughout the year. (Departments and agencies may delay the release of regulations at any time, so it is important to note that projected timelines are estimates and may not be met by the date(s) indicated in the agendas.) A variety of regulations are scheduled to be issued in the months ahead potentially impacting health care, retirement, compensation, and employment. For additional information, please refer to the specific agendas.

The White House press release is available here.

The link to the current Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions (i.e., updated Regulatory Agendas and Plans, searchable by department and agency) is available here.

The complete Semiannual Agenda website is available here.