Health Care

Policy Accomplishments for 2007

• Successfully supported passage of the Food and Drug Administration Authorization Act, including the Prescription Drug User Fee Act and the Medical Device User Fee Act. Defeated numerous problematic provisions in the act, including a ban on advertisements, onerous penalty fees, provisions that would delay or derail lifesaving products from the market, and invasive marketing disclosures.
• Expanded funding opportunities for the Critical Path Initiative, which aims to streamline a medical product's research, development, and approval process.
• Created an opportunity for patients with life-threatening diseases and patients in rural areas to have access to drugs with serious risks that are otherwise difficult to obtain under proposed drug safety legislation.
• Clarified a trial lawyer-favored anti-preemption provision that would allow state governments to undermine the FDA's authority to effectively regulate drugs, biologics, and medical devices. 

• Successfully opposed congressional efforts to remove the "non-interference" language from Medicare Part D, which prohibits the government from negotiating directly with manufacturers, pharmacies and prescription drug plan sponsors. Repeal of this provision would give the Secretary of Health and Human Services potential de facto control to set prices for prescription drugs. Such an outcome could increase the burden on employers and the private sector already buckling under current health care costs.

• Successfully lobbied for inclusion in a bill, now pending in Congress, promoting the widespread adoption of HIT interoperability standards such key provisions as: (1) codification of the Office of the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology to ensure that federal HIT programs are meeting the objectives of developing a HIT infrastructure; (2) issuance of federal grants to stimulate adoption of HIT; and (3) disclosure of a Medicare claims database to promote transparency and consumerism.

• Successfully supported extension of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) without substantially increasing the federal tobacco tax and without reducing payments to Medicare Advantage Plans to offset program spending.

• Ensured passage of Senate mental health parity legislation that takes a balanced and reasoned approach to addressing mental health parity insurance issues. Working with stakeholders to promote the Senate bill over the House bill.

• Published a booklet highlighting corporate best practices in reducing health care costs and in implementing effective employee health management programs.

• Hosted and participated in two congressional briefings on worksite wellness to educate House and Senate staff on the important role that employers can play in driving lifestyle changes and healthier behaviors.
• Launched the U.S. Workplace Wellness Coalition to promote and expand wellness and prevention programs for employees.