Overnight Healthcare: GOP pushing forward with opioid bill over Dem objections

Republicans on Wednesday rejected Democratic attempts to add $920 million in funding to the work of a conference committee on opioid abuse.

Republicans are pressing forward, with a vote expected Friday in the House and next week in the Senate.

{mosads}Democrats are denouncing Republicans for the lack of new funding, but are stopping short of blocking the underlying bill.

The White House declined to issue a veto threat, and Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) said Senate Democrats are still deciding how to proceed.

Read more in our stories on all the happenings today.

White House veto threat: http://bit.ly/29zwPiZ

GOP rejects new funding: http://bit.ly/29oPT2n  

House passes long-delayed Murphy mental health bill

The House on Wednesday overwhelmingly passed a long-delayed mental health bill that Republicans have cast as their response to recent mass shootings.

The measure from Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Pa.), which passed 422-2, had been stalled and mired in controversy for years, but lawmakers in recent months dropped or scaled back many of the most contentious, sweeping measures.

That process has led to a bill that is much more modest than the original plan but that advocates are still praising as a good first step. Democrats stressed that more funding is still needed.

The bill aims to improve the oversight and effectiveness of federal mental health programs and authorizes a range of grants for treatment.

Mental health reform has been a rare area where both parties are looking to enact legislation, but a parallel effort in the Senate has been stalled over gun politics, and it is unclear whether a bill can be signed into law this year. Read more here. http://bit.ly/29oFHt4

Meanwhile, things aren’t looking good for Zika funding at the moment

The prospect of Congress approving any new Zika virus funding before a seven-week recess is bleak, with both parties ready to blame the other side for the stalemate.

Public health experts have warned that the mosquitoes that carry the virus, which is known to cause birth defects, will increase in the hot summer months, worsening the virus’ spread.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) left open the possibility that he would only bring the GOP measure up for another vote at the end of next week, essentially leaving no time for negotiations after another failed vote.

“I’ll let you know,” he said, when asked about the timing of the vote.

Democrats are already preparing to blame Republicans.

Asked what Democrats will tell their constituents when they return home without funding, Sen. Dick Durbin (Ill.), the No. 2 Democrat, said, “We’re going to say they played games.”

“We passed a bipartisan bill in the Senate,” he added. “They had a chance to pass it before we left.” Read more here. http://bit.ly/29jLugv

House GOP unveils health spending bill

House Republicans on Wednesday released their healthcare spending bill for fiscal 2017, boosting funding to fight opioid abuse and the Zika virus while taking aim at ObamaCare and abortion.

The measure from the House Appropriations Committee includes extra funding in hot-button areas where Democrats have demanded immediate funding outside of the regular appropriations process.

The bill includes a $525 million increase over this year’s funding level for opioid abuse programs. Democrats are currently threatening to block an opioid policy bill unless $920 million in extra funding is added.

The spending measure also includes $390 million to fight the Zika virus. Democrats have said that the regular appropriations process is not enough and are pushing for up to $1.9 billion in emergency funds. Read more here. http://bit.ly/29oFciT

ON TAP TOMORROW

The House Ways and Means Committee will press administration officials on ObamaCare’s “cost sharing reductions” at a hearing at 10 a.m.

WHAT WE’RE READING

Disturbing acts of physician sexual abuse have been reported in every state, and some hospitals and healthcare groups have chosen not to report the perpetrators. (Atlanta Journal Constitution).

Some public health experts say Brazilian officials are downplaying the risks of Zika virus during the Olympics. (Washington Post)

Challenges lie ahead for the latest ACA effort to enroll young adults in health coverage. (Kaiser Health News)

IN THE STATES

More than 40 percent of people killed by Massachusetts police over the last decade were suicidal, mentally ill, or showed clear signs of crisis. (Boston Globe)

Ohio is seeking federal approval to charge new Medicaid fees. (Associated Press)

Send tips and comments to Sarah Ferris, sferris@digital-staging.thehill.com, and Peter Sullivan, psullivan@digital-staging.thehill.com. Follow us on Twitter: @thehill, @sarahnferris, @PeterSullivan4