John K. McGlew
Director of Government Affairs

Twelve months after Donald Trump’s stunning victory in the 2016 election, the administration faces ongoing frustration in its efforts to advance the agenda that swept it to power. On Capitol Hill, despite controlling both the Senate and the House of Representatives, Republicans have stalled in their efforts to comprehensively reform immigration policy and repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Meanwhile, the president finds himself in the crosshairs of Robert Mueller’s special investigation and faces historically low approval ratings.

Undeterred by Congress’s failure to formally repeal the ACA, Republicans continue their rumbling effort to unravel former President Barack Obama’s signature policy achievement behind the scenes. Trump has issued an executive order that would scrap the critical payments to health insurers that help millions of lower-income Americans afford coverage. In addition, House Republicans may actively be considering a repeal of the ACA’s individual mandate as part of a much broader tax reform effort.

On the Democratic side, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) introduced S. 1804, the Medicare for All Act of 2017, which would replace the existing private health insurance market with a single-payer structure built around a massive extension of the Medicare program. Of note, the legislation was introduced with 16 original cosponsors, in stark contrast to a 2013 version of the proposal, which received no support, even within the Democratic caucus. However, much of the support for the Sanders bill comes from senators positioning themselves for potential 2020 presidential bids, with most of the party’s congressional leaders and vulnerable senate incumbents steering clear. In any case, the Sanders bill has almost no chance of advancing in a Republican-controlled Congress.

Since returning from its August recess, Congress has, however, managed to move beyond partisan squabbling to pass the FDA Reauthorization Act of 2017, including reauthorization of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, which provides the FDA with the resources to maintain a predictable and efficient review process for human drug and biologic products.

For the remainder of 2017, Congress will consider several other health care–related initiatives, including:

• Reauthorization of Medicare “extenders,” which provide additional funding for physicians practicing in rural or underserved areas, funding to facilitate ongoing National Quality Forum quality measures, and funding for outreach and assistance to low-income populations.
• Reauthorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program, which provides low-cost health coverage to children in low-income families who do not qualify for Medicaid.
• The Prescription Drug Price Transparency Act, which would require greater pricing transparency from pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). ACCP-PAC recently attended a fundraiser in support of Buddy Carter (R-GA), the only pharmacist currently serving in Congress and a vocal champion of the PBM pricing transparency effort.

ACCP’s Government and Professional Affairs staff will continue to explore legislative and regulatory opportunities to secure the integration of comprehensive medication management services within evolving Medicare alternative payment models that both Congress and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have formally embraced.

For more information on any of ACCP’s advocacy efforts, please contact:

John K. McGlew
Director, Government Affairs
American College of Clinical Pharmacy
1455 Pennsylvania Ave. Northwest
Suite 400
Washington, DC 20004-1017
(202) 621-1820
[email protected]