Last week:
In DC, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) had released initial guidance in March outlining how they intend to implement the negotiation program in the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). CMS offered the opportunity for stakeholders to submit comments on this proposal by Friday, April 14.
In Massachusetts, the House released their tax relief and reform bill on Tuesday. H3770 – An Act to improve the Commonwealth’s competitiveness, affordability, and equity was debated and approved during the House formal session on Thursday. This bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.
The House Committee on Ways and Means released their FY2024 Budget recommendations on Wednesday. As of the 5pm filing deadline on Friday, April 14, there were 1566 amendments filed. The House budget debate will begin on Monday, April 24.
At their Board Meeting on Wednesday, the Health Policy Commission voted to keep cost growth benchmark at 3.6%, with 2 of the 11 commissioners voted against this number. This is the same benchmark as last year and allows for $2.5 billion growth in spending. A slide presentation from the meeting can be found here.
This week:
In DC, the Senate HELP Committee mark-up of a bipartisan drug pricing bill has been postponed. The Committee, led by Senator Bernie Sanders, had hoped to mark up the yet-to-be-seen legislation focused on pharmaceutical middlemen and generic drug policy on April 19.
In Massachusetts, the Commonwealth marked the 10th Anniversary of the Marathon bombing with the running of the 127th Boston Marathon on Monday, Patriots Day.