LAST WEEK
On Wednesday, Massachusetts’ House Committee on Ways and Means released its Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Recommendations. The House did not include in its proposal the language included in Governor Baker’s budget to penalize drug manufacturers that increase their drug prices excessively. House members filed 1157 amendments to the budget by the Friday, 5 pm deadline. Of note to the life sciences industry are certain amendments seeking to regulate drug pricing including #742, #795, and #1128. Debate on the House budget and all amendments will begin on Monday, April 26.
Additionally, the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission (HPC) Board voted on Wednesday to set the 2022 Health Care Cost Growth Benchmark at 3.1%.
THIS WEEK
On Thursday, the United States Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee will hold a hearing entitled, “Protecting U.S. Biomedical Research: Efforts to Prevent Undue Foreign Influence” at 10:00 a.m.
Beginning Monday, all individuals 16 and older are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Massachusetts and across the United States, according to the Biden Administration. Massachusetts residents can preregister online and look for available appointments here.