Title: 5 Health Care Policy Issues To Follow In 2018 - Food, Drugs, Healthcare, Life Sciences - United States
Headings: United States:
5 Health Care Policy Issues To Follow In 2018

CONTRIBUTOR
United States: 5 Health Care Policy Issues To Follow In 2018
Affordable Care Act "Repeal and Replace"
Entitlement Reform
Prescription Drug Pricing
340B Drug Pricing Program
Opioids
Potential Legislative Vehicles
Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act
President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
Health Care Workforce Programs
Footnotes
AUTHOR (S)
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Content: This year, legislators introduced over 25 bills and several congressional health care and oversight committees held hearings to investigate the issue. We expect that congressional attention on this issue will continue in 2018. While the parties have generally not been aligned on drug pricing reforms, proposals aimed at increasing competition have attracted bipartisan interest. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration Reauthorization Act of 2017, which nearly unanimously passed both chambers, codified an expedited pathway for certain generics if the secretary determines that there is "inadequate generic competition." Additionally, during a recent Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing, bipartisan members voiced support for addressing anti-competitive practices in bringing generics and biosimilars to the market, as well as prohibiting pay-for-delay agreements. 340B Drug Pricing Program
2018 could be the year that Congress enacts reforms to the 340B Drug Pricing Program. Over the past several years, the 340B program has been marked by considerable uncertainty, driven, in part, by tension over the intent of the program and debate over the Health Resources and Services Administration 's (HRSA) oversight and regulatory authority over the program. The House Energy & Commerce Committee has taken the lead on 340B reform, with its Oversight Subcommittee expected to release a report on 340B early next year. Committee members, Reps. Chris Collins, R-N.Y., and Buddy Carter, R-Ga.,