November Capitol Hill Fly-In Recap
As the record 43-day government shutdown came to a close, nearly 50 coalition directors, staff, and employers took to Capitol Hill to advocate for increased price transparency, 340B reform, PBM reform, and surprise billing reform.
By the Numbers
- 20 meetings with Congressional offices across the House and Senate, including the Senate HELP Committee and Chairman Smith of the House Ways and Means Committee.
- Meetings spanned over 13 states
- 16 coalitions represented
Key Takeaways
- Healthcare reform remains a priority, particularly after the shutdown fight over ACA subsidies. Members are looking to pass healthcare reform measures as the pressure mounts to do something about healthcare affordability. However, we are unlikely to see these efforts by the end of the year. As committees in both the House and Senate get back to work on price transparency and PBM reform, we expect additional movement after the new year.
- Bipartisan reform is crucial to success. We consistently heard from congressional offices that meaningful reform on PBMs, 340B, and price transparency will only move if it is bipartisan. Members and staff emphasized that, given today’s heightened partisanship, any legislation that stands a chance of advancing will require support from both parties to overcome political rifts and deliver meaningful change for employers and working families.
- Offices repeatedly emphasized how valuable it was to hear directly from employers and coalition leaders. They noted that employer perspectives are often underrepresented in health policy debates, and encouraged us to continue showing up and sharing real-world impact to help guide bipartisan reform efforts. The National Alliance will continue to engage as legislation moves through committees.
Looking Ahead
- The Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on healthcare affordability this week. The hearing exposed the lack of agreement between parties on how to move forward on the expiring ACA subsidies. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) discussed his plan to redirect funds into health savings accounts (HSAs), but Democrats are standing firm on getting an extension of the subsidies, rather than a replacement. Given the promise of a standalone vote on the subsidies in December, it will be difficult for any new GOP proposals to get enough support by then.
- Chair Crapo (R-ID) and Ranking Member Wyden (D-OR) announcedthey will release a proposal to rein in pharmacy benefit managers(PBMs) in the next few weeks. As stated above, while Committeeleadership wants a vote this year, it is more likely to see movement inJanuary.