Category: Legislation

Federal news Senate bill would give NIH $3 billion in 2020, or 7.7% boost (Science, 9/18/2019) “Like the House bill, the Senate measure rejects Trump’s proposal to move the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality into NIH.” Pelosi unveils signature plan to lower drug prices (The Hill, 9/19/2019) Political tensions escalate as drug pricing bills…

Federal news New Law Will Require Breastfeeding Rooms in Federal Buildings (FedSmith.com) “The Fairness for Breastfeeding Mothers Act (H.R. 866) … stipulates that these lactation rooms will be hygienic places provided in addition to the restrooms that are ‘shielded from view’, ‘free from intrusion’ and ‘contains a chair, a working surface, and, if the public…

Federal News Trump Administration Moves To Make Health Care Costs More Transparent [from Kaiser Health News] A recap of Wednesday’s Democratic debate, with a focus on healthcare remarks: Biden-Harris Debate Rematch Highlights Health Plan Differences [from Kaiser Health News] Juul [e-cigarette company] Targeted Schools and Youth Camps, House Panel on Vaping Claims [from The New…

Federal news Exclusive: FDA enforcement actions plummet under Trump (from Science: https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/07/exclusive-fda-enforcement-actions-plummet-under-trump) From the MLA Stay apprised on the CASE Act of 2019, which proposes a change to copyright policy, especially with regard to online copyright infringement (https://www.mlanet.org/p/cm/ld/fid=1122&&blogaid=2621). Scholarly Communications Slide Decks — prepared by health sciences librarians during the last 3 years (Must be…

Federal news President Trump signed an executive order for the development of rules requiring hospitals to inform patients of their treatment costs prior to receiving the services. [The Hill] New research indicates that the Affordable Care Act has lowered racial disparities in cancer care. [The Washington Post] The House voted to block Trump’s recent policy…

Federal news A slew of health-related stories are the news this month: Update: House spending panel restores U.S. ban on gene-edited babies (Science) Obamacare rate hikes appear modest for 2020 (Politico) Even if Roe is upheld, abortion opponents are winning (Politico) Trump administration moves to revoke transgender health protection (PBS News Hour) White House runs…

Federal news Bipartisan-proposed health care legislation by Chair of the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Lamar Alexander (R-TN), and ranking member Patty Murray (D-WA) focuses on five issues ranging from medical costs to improving public health and health information technology. From Roll Call: http://www.rollcall.com/news/congress/alexander-murray-outline-plan-lower-health-costs Draft legislation: https://www.help.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/LHCC%20Act%20Discussion%20Draft%205_23_2019.pdf In the House, Democrats have removed…

Federal: The Congressional Budget Office released its report on a single-payer healthcare system: Key Design Components and Considerations for Establishing a Single-Payer Health Care System. The document addresses such questions as: How would the government administer a single-payer health plan? Who would be eligible for the plan, and what benefits would it cover? What role,…

Federal With measles outbreaks spreading, vaccination law may become a partisan issue. From Politico. Abortion legislation is in the news as many states vote on proposed abortion bills. The Guttmacher Institute has a summary of abortion laws enacted in each state. The CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics recently released a Data Brief (no. 333)…

Federal news With President Trump’s renewed interest in health care, the Supreme Court might render a decision on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act prior to the 2020 election. From CNN. The Violence Against Women Act is up for reauthorization. It’s passed in the House and awaits vote in the Senate. The National Rifle…