November 3, 2020 Dear Friends, The Department of Health and Human Services(HHS) is contracting to produce vaccine ancillary supply kits in preparation for vaccine distribution. HHS published a Frequently Asked Questions document on vaccine allocation and distribution. HHS and the Department of Defense established a $119 million contract with Hologic, Inc. to increase domestic production of diagnostic COVID-19 tests. HHS issued a clarification that health care related expenses will not be netted against patient care loss revenue for providers that receive Provider Relief Fund payments. The Sub... Read More »
Washington, D.C. – Last month the nation watched as the debate on the next Supreme Court Justice turned from her merits to the future of the American health care system. Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), a member of the House Rules Committee and Republican Leader of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, penned an op-ed for The Hill about how Republicans continue to work to protect those with pre-existing conditions. The truth, the whole truth about protecting preexisting conditions By Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. The Hill October 30, 2020 U.S. Supreme Court J... Read More »
by Marty Stempniak Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle introduced legislation Friday aimed at averting reimbursement reductions to radiologists and other specialists, drawing praise from the physician community. The “Holding Providers Harmless from Medicare Cuts During COVID-19 Act” would do so by providing docs with temporary additional payments, covering the difference between 2020 and 2021 for two years. Reps. Ami Bera, MD, D-Calif., and Larry Bucshon, MD, R-Ind., sponsored the bill, and are acutely aware of the headwinds physicians are facing during the pandemic. “No doctor should have ... Read More »
In response to the Empowering Olympic, Paralympic, and Amateur Athletes Act of 2020 being signed into law, Ju’Riese Colón, Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Center for SafeSport, released the following statement: “The Empowering Olympic, Paralympic, and Amateur Athletes Act substantially strengthens the U.S. Center for SafeSport’s independence and ability to pursue our mission of ending abuse in sport. This law ensures the millions of athletes in the Olympic and Paralympic Movement can continue to have a centralized, safe, and confidential place to report abuse and misconduct. Seeing legisla... Read More »
October 30, 2020 Dear Friends, Today Republicans in the House of Representatives introduced H.R. 14, the Commitment to Defeat the Virus and Keep America Healthy Act, which focuses on increasing COVID-19 testing capacity, preparing for a vaccine, and deploying more resources to the American people. I cosponsored this legislation which incorporates several bills I have worked on or cosponsored: H.R. 5199, the ECHO Act- Improving health outcomes by extending telehealth and technology-enabled collaborative learning for health care providers H.R. 2862, the VACCINES Act- Informing Americans about t... Read More »
Washington, DC – Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Greg Walden (R-OR), Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee Republican Leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Republican Leader Brett Guthrie (R-KY), and Health Subcommittee Republican Leader Dr. Michael Burgess (R-TX) released the following statement after Russian ransomware attacks targeted hundreds of U.S. hospitals. “To attack hospitals, especially during the COVID pandemic, and threaten the health and safety of vulnerable Americans is heartless and cruel. These attackers should ... Read More »
Washington, D.C. – Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Greg Walden (R-OR) and Health Subcommittee Republican Leader Dr. Michael Burgess (R-TX) released the following statement on the Trump administration’s final rule on price transparency. “In order to truly lower health care costs, we need more transparency across our entire health care system. No president has done more to give Americans increased health care options, more decision-making power, and lower costs across the board than President Trump. This rule is welcome news, and we thank the Trump administration for their work t... Read More »
Washington, D.C. - Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Greg Walden (R-OR), Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Republican Leader Brett Guthrie (R-KY), and Health Subcommittee Republican Leader Dr. Michael Burgess (R-TX) sent a letter to National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Francis Collins, M.D., Ph.D., to request a briefing and a written response on how data from NIH-supported studies can be used to maximize effectiveness of different COVID-19 testing technologies in order to slow the spread of COVID-19 and ensure all states can open and operate safely. “The NIH Rapid... Read More »
October 29, 2020 Dear Friends, In the past several months, the U.S. has built a massive testing program from the ground up that has helped slow the spread of COVID-19 in many areas. It’s important that insights regarding testing discovered at the federal level are shared with states. Testing remains one of our most powerful resources in defeating this virus and reopening the economy. That’s why I joined a letter to National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Francis Collins, M.D., requesting that the NIH brief Congress on how the data from the NIH Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics initiative... Read More »
by Sean Lyngaas A day after U.S. federal agencies warned of an “imminent” ransomware threat to hospitals, it’s an all-hands-on deck mentality for a health sector already strained by the coronavirus pandemic. Private threat briefings are being held for hospital executives, federal officials are appealing for more data on the cybercriminals and hospitals are hardening their computer networks. The defensive measures follow an advisory Wednesday from the FBI and departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services that cybercriminals were deploying Ryuk ransomware to disrupt IT networks ... Read More »
