OVERNIGHT HEALTH: GOP hints at replacement agenda

E&C Oversight: Republicans on the Energy and Commerce Committee are flexing their new oversight powers by calling on the Department of Health and Human Services to explain why some groups were given waivers to a key requirement of the reform law and why the department recently reorganized an office created just months ago. http://bit.ly/gWughw

Oversight panel plans reg review: The Energy and Commerce’s oversight subcommittee will question the Obama Administration’s regulatory chief about the president’s plan to review existing and pending regulations. http://bit.ly/fS2DSV

King thinks Senate would repeal: With Senate Democrats promising to block a vote on repealing healthcare reform, Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) said the repeal measure would pass in the upper chamber. http://bit.ly/frhERW

Some Dems vote for ‘replace’ resolution: Fourteen Democrats voted with Republicans on a resolution instructing committees to consider alternatives to the reform law. http://bit.ly/gYPP02

Upton unsure why more Dems didn’t support repeal: Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) said he wasn’t sure why only three Democrats voted for repeal. The powerful Republican predicted earlier this month that the repeal bill would have “significant” Democratic support. http://bit.ly/h0RmPc

House approves doc fix amendment: The House approved a measure calling on Congress to find a permanent fix to the Medicare physician payment schedule. Congress voted five times last year to stave off scheduled cuts to Medicare docs. The noncontroversial amendment passed 428-1 on Thursday morning. http://bit.ly/eWKxjb

Obama headlines pro-reform event: President Obama will address Families USA’s annual conference on Jan. 27, the healthcare advocacy group announced Thursday. The president will be joined by congressional Democratic leaders and Medicare chief Donald Berwick. http://bit.ly/ghU64W

Senate Dems push for 1099 repeal: Sens. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) urged Boehner to pass a bill that removes the reform law’s 1099 requirement. http://bit.ly/eRuDp9

New grants for insurance exchanges: HHS announced new grants Thursday afternoon to help states implement health insurance exchanges, a key provision of the reform law. http://bit.ly/gEXk5l

Top Dem named on Oversight health subpanel: Seven-term Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.) was named Thursday as the ranking member on the House Oversight health subcommittee.

Drug official joins Bono Mack’s office: Ken Johnson, a top spokesman for the prescription drug lobby for the past five years, has joined the office of Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-Calif.) as senior adviser for policy and communications. http://bit.ly/g13NHI

Report cards out: Americans United for Life released its annual ranking of how states deal with life issues, including euthanasia and abortion. Top five: Oklahoma, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Arkansas and Texas. Bottom five: New Jersey, Vermont, Hawaii, California and Washington. http://bit.ly/gTufxc

The American Lung Association released its annual report on tobacco control laws and regulations. Only five states were able to muster passing grades: Arkansas, Maine, Montana, Oklahoma and Vermont. “Sadly, most of our states are failing miserably when it comes to combating tobacco-caused disease,” the group said. http://bit.ly/80di2Q

Surgeon General boosts breastfeeding: President Obama’s top health advocate issued “a call to action” for communities, employers and care providers to eliminate barriers to breastfeeding, citing the practice’s numerous health benefits. http://bit.ly/e8qHIm

The American Medical Association outlines changes it wants to the healthcare reform law in a memo to members.

On the agenda for Friday:

Friday is expected to be a quiet day. The House made its final votes Thursday morning, and House Democrats are in Maryland for their annual retreat. 

Next week, however, new Republican-led House committees will start to investigate the reform law. On Jan. 26, the Budget Comittee will hear about the “fiscal consequences” of the reform law. Meanwhile, the Ways and Means Committee on the same day will hold a hearing on the law’s impact on jobs, employers and the economy.

Around the Web:

Insurers are recording healthy profits, the New York Times reports. http://nyti.ms/f5CP5A

A new CBS News/New York Times survey finds that just 18 percent of Americans think Congress should focus on healthcare, while 43 percent say jobs should be the top priority. http://bit.ly/hejtJA

Dozens of pharmaceutical companies are trying to prevent federal regulators from producing documents used to generate studies of so-called “pay-for-delay” settlements, Pharmalot reports. http://bit.ly/gXw4p8

Following the Tucson shooting this month, Arizona lawmakers are looking at mental health laws, the Washington Post reports. http://wapo.st/fo958h

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Julian Pecquet: jpecquet@digital-staging.thehill.com / 202-628-8527

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