After elections, a lame-duck Congress will need to pass appropriations bills and hopefully “clear the decks” by passing long-awaited health reforms

Members of Congress will return to Washington, DC, after the elections. Hopes remain for a productive November legislative session where some legislative priorities may finally make it to final passage.

Join GLI in Pushing for the VA to Celebrate Veterans Day by Giving Patients Access to Care for NASH/MASH
Veterans continue to be denied coverage for NASH/MASH treatment without a biopsy or experiencing delayed care due to requirements to receive “comprehensive lifestyle intervention” for 6 months before being eligible for treatment. The VA’s decision is contrary to the label from the Food and Drug Administration and clinical guidelines. As part of GLI’s Beyond the Biopsy initiative, GLI and its partners sent a letter to the VA with 24 signatures from individuals and organizations. We continue to encourage signatures here on a petition to all payers calling for coverage without biopsy!

Advocates Continue Efforts to Advance Equitable Access to Hepatitis C Treatments

Efforts continue to advance the Hepatitis C Elimination Plan proposed in the President’s Budget for FY 2024. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), responsible for calculating how much a plan will cost the federal budget, is expected to provide feedback soon on the expected budget impact. The Senate Appropriations Committee stated in its report accompanying the Labor/HHS appropriations bill that it supports efforts to increase access to diagnostic testing, including rapid diagnostics; expand the availability of treatment; and bolster public health strategies to prevent hepatitis C. The House of Representatives’ FY 2025 bill increased proposed funding for the CDC’s Division of Viral Hepatitis from its FY 2024 level of $43 million to $53 million. As Congress considers end-of-year appropriations and health policy priorities, GLI will strongly advocate for legislation to advance the President’s Hepatitis C Elimination Program. 

CMS Rule Expands Access to Hepatitis B Vaccine 
GLI is thrilled to share that in the recent final physician fee schedule, CMS expanded coverage of hepatitis B vaccinations to include individuals who have not previously received a completed hepatitis B vaccination series or whose vaccination history is unknown. CMS stated, “This policy expansion will help protect Medicare beneficiaries from acquiring hepatitis B infection and contribute to eliminating viral hepatitis as a viral health threat in the United States.” The rule also clarifies that a physician’s order will no longer be required to administer a hepatitis B vaccine under Part B. Additionally, CMS finalized a policy to set payment for hepatitis B vaccines and their administration at 100% of reasonable cost in RHCs and FQHCs to streamline payment for all Part B vaccines in those settings. Hepatitis B is a vaccine-preventable, communicable disease of the liver. View the rule here.

Congress Must Take Action to Keep Government Funded

Congress passed H.R.9747, a Continuing Resolution that funds the government through December 20th. That means Congress must act after the elections and before the new year to hash out appropriations and funding levels for the government, including health care programs. Congress will debate topics such as whether to increase funding for the CDC’s Division of Viral Hepatitis or reduce funding for the NIH’s National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) as proposed by the House. GLI supports the higher Senate funding levels for most HHS programs, while supporting the increased funding level proposed by the House for the CDC’s work on viral hepatitis. 

Patient Highlight

GLI Ambassador and passionate advocate Terri has shared her story that underscores why it is imperative to advance the use of noninvasive diagnostics for fatty liver disease. Terri’s condition deteriorated rapidly after her biopsy, from being asymptomatic to experiencing ascites, compensated cirrhosis, hepatic encephalopathy, and brain fog. This experience has fueled her passion, and she shared “I will use my voice to advocate giving doctors – and the patients and veterans that depend on them – an updated toolkit for a smoother journey to wellness.”

GLI Continues to Advocate for End-of-Year Action on Key Bills

• The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA, H.R.4818/S.2407): On June 27, 2024, The U.S. House Ways and Means Committee marked up legislation to extend Medicare coverage to obesity care. GLI supported the amended bill that passed out of committee. GLI and its Liver Action Network partners have sent letters supporting Congressional action to the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Finance Committee. 
• Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act (H.R. 2407/S.2085): The bill was marked up by the House Ways and Means Committee on a unanimous vote to increase access to cancer screenings. View the press release from the lead sponsor, Rep. Sewell.
• Telehealth: Congress must pass legislation soon to extend COVID-Era Telehealth and Supervision Flexibilities. The House Energy and Commerce Committee marked up the Telehealth Modernization Act.
• Saving Access to Laboratory Services Act (SALSA, H.R.2377/S.1000): Avoiding cuts of up to 15 percent to laboratory services will require Congressional action before year end.
• Protecting Health Care for All Patients Act (H.R.485): The House of Representatives passed legislation earlier this year to extend protections against the use of discriminatory value assessments (QALYs and similar measures) in Medicare to other federal health programs. It remains a priority for the Chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers.

Safe Step Act (H.R.2630/S.652): The legislation is being considered as part of reforms to PBMs (S.1339) and would protect patients from insurers preventing access to prescribed care.

GLI Works to Build Momentum to Move More Legislative Priorities for Patients

Congress returns in September for one last push to advance key legislative priorities out of the committees of jurisdiction and onto a floor vote. GLI is deeply engaged in efforts to advocate and build momentum for several pieces of legislation:

• Old Drugs, New Cures Act (H.R.8267): Incentivizes the development of new uses for existing drugs to improve access to lifesaving medications that benefits low-income Americans who rely on Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, or Medicare Part D low-income subsidies.
• The Liver Illness, Visibility, Education and Research Act (LIVER Act, H.R.8601): Increases federal assistance to study, prevent, and treat liver cancer.
• Medical Nutrition Equity Act (H.R. 6892): Ensures both public and private insurance cover medically necessary foods as a treatment option, since they are required to support proper growth and development and to prevent medical complications, severe disabilities, and death.
• Living Donor Protection Act (H.R.2923/S.1384): Would protect living organ donors and remove barriers to greater donation.
• John Walsh Home Infusion Act (H.R.4438): Would change the Medicare law to improve access to augmentation therapy infusions at home for individuals with Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (Alpha-1) under Medicare Part B.

The Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act Passed the House

H.R.2706/S.1183, the Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act, passed the full House of Representatives in late September. Advocates now turn their focus to the Senate in hopes the bill will make progress before Congress ends. The National Down Syndrome Society has provided supporters with advocacy tools. View the action alert here to send a message to your Senators. View an email template here to send a more personalized message to your Senators. View more information, including social media templates, here.