Weekly Update

from GovTrack.us September 23, 2018

Sep 17, 2018 5:43 p.m. — Vote

S.Amdt. 4011 (Lee) to S. 2554: To limit application of the gag clause to self-insured group health plans.

Amendment Rejected 11/89

Sen. Hirono [D-HI]: Nay

Sen. Schatz [D-HI]: Nay

Trackers: Roll Call Votes.

Sep 17, 2018 6:16 p.m. — Vote

S. 2554: Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act

Bill Passed 98/2

Sen. Hirono [D-HI]: Yea

Sen. Schatz [D-HI]: Yea

Americans overspend by an estimated $135 million on prescriptions through their insurance, in cases when they would cost less out of pocket. Yet pharmacists are often under gag orders from telling customers about that discrepancy.

A new bill introduced in the Senate would end this practice.

Context

A “pharmacy gag clause” is a tactic under which a pharmacist may not inform customers which of the two options would cost less for a certain product: using their health insurance or paying fully out of pocket.

These clauses are usually instituted by an insurer or pharmacy benefit manager (PBM), the most famous of which include CVS Health, Express Scripts, or United Health. They’re put in for cases in which most consumers ...

Trackers: Roll Call Votes.

Sep 17, 2018 6:35 p.m. — Vote

H.R. 6: SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act

Bill Passed 99/1

Sen. Hirono [D-HI]: Yea

Sen. Schatz [D-HI]: Yea

H.R. 6 includes Medicaid, Medicare, and public health reforms to combat the opioid crisis by advancing treatment and recovery initiatives, improving prevention, protecting communities, and bolstering efforts to combat illicit synthetic drugs like fentanyl. The policies contained in the legislation were advanced through regular order by the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Ways and Means Committee. A detailed section-by-section can be found here. Major provisions include:

Medicaid

• Require state Medicaid programs to not terminate a juvenile’s medical assistance eligibility because the juvenile is incarcerated. A state may suspend coverage while the juvenile is an inmate, but must restore coverage upon release without requiring a new application unless the individual no longer meets the eligibility requirements for ...

Trackers: Roll Call Votes.

Sep 18, 2018 12:05 p.m. — Vote

Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 6157

Cloture Motion Agreed to 92/8

Sen. Hirono [D-HI]: Yea

Sen. Schatz [D-HI]: Yea

Trackers: Roll Call Votes.

Sep 18, 2018 12:45 p.m. — Vote

H.R. 6157: Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019

Conference Report Agreed to 93/7

Sen. Hirono [D-HI]: Yea

Sen. Schatz [D-HI]: Yea

H.R. 6157 provides $674.6 billion in total discretionary budget authority for the Department of Defense for fiscal year (FY) 2019. The bill provides $606.5 billion for the Department of Defense base budget, which is an increase of $17.1 billion above FY18 levels, and $68.1 billion for the Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) account to support the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). This funding level is consistent with the National Defense Authorization Act as well as the recently enacted budget agreement.

The major provisions of the bill are as follows:

Title I—Military Personnel

The bill provides a total of $144 billion - $139.3 billion for base requirements and $4.7 billion for OCO/GWOT requirements – to ...

Trackers: Roll Call Votes.