The House Ways and Means Committee today approved legislation (H.R. 6142) that would require the Health and Human Services secretary to develop with stakeholders a plan to reduce waste related to single-use drug vials, and report to Congress on options for any needed legislative action to reduce drug waste and better manage costs. AHA has urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to incentivize drug makers to align package sizes with the most common dosage amounts. The committee also approved legislation (H.R. 4952) that would direct the HHS Secretary to study and report to Congress on whether including quality percentage increases in the blended benchmark amounts subject to the benchmark cap for Medicare Part C plans undermines quality goals. AHA has expressed ongoing concerns about CMS including quality bonus payments in the calculation of Medicare Advantage benchmark caps. Among other bills approved today, H.R. 4952 would require HHS to include at least one ambulatory surgical center representative on the expert advisory panel that reviews hospital outpatient payment rates under Medicare Part B and require CMS to specify its reasons for excluding services at ASCs. 

Related News Articles

Chairperson's File
Public
The recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act will bring big changes to health care. AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack joined me for a Leadership Dialogue…
Headline
The House Ways and Means Subcommittees on Health and Oversight held a joint hearing today to discuss lessons learned, challenges and opportunities to improve…
Chairperson's File
Public
This month Congress enacted the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — a sweeping package that contained many of President Trump’s legislative priorities on taxes,…
Headline
The AHA July 2 expressed support for the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act (H.R. 3890), bipartisan legislation that would add 14,000 Medicare-funded…
Headline
The House July 3 voted 218-214 to pass the final version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), which enacts many of President Trump’s legislative…
Headline
The AHA July 3 released the Health Care Plan Accountability Update for the second quarter of 2025. The update covers the latest developments in Medicare…