Week ahead: New score for healthcare law

{mosads}The CBO report will likely become debate fodder for opponents of the
Affordable Care Act who hope to keep the divisive measure in the
spotlight.

In another part of Washington, thousands of experts and advocates will
converge next week for the international AIDS conference — an event that
hasn’t been held in the United States in more than two decades.

The
conference will devote six full days to the theme of “Turning the Tide
Together” and rekindling public commitment to fighting AIDS worldwide.

Major
leaders are scheduled to speak, including President Clinton, Secretary
of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of Health and Human Services
Kathleen Sebelius and World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Former First
Lady Laura Bush, philanthropist Bill Gates and entertainers Elton John
and Whoopi Goldberg will round out the list of well-known speakers.

Notably missing from the list is President Obama, one of the few heads of state not to attend the conference in his own country. He will deliver a video message to welcome attendees, according to the White House.

In hearings, Capitol Hill will also give its attention to several health issues this week.

On Tuesday, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will hold a hearing to review state and federal efforts to fight the production of methamphetamine.

Also on Tuesday, the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee will look at physician organization efforts to improve patient care. The hearing’s broader context is the challenge of reforming how physicians are reimbursed through Medicare — another topic that will likely receive attention at the hearing.

That day, Reps. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) and Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) will also host a briefing on the use of antibiotics in livestock production.

And on Wednesday, the Oversight Committee will meet again to examine the Medicare Advantage Quality Bonus Payment Demonstration.

The Senate will also hold several healthcare-related events next week.

On Tuesday, the Environment and Public Works Committee’s subgroup on environmental health will look at federal efforts to control exposure to toxic chemicals.

On Wednesday, the Commerce Science and Transportation Committee will hold a hearing to examine shortages in U.S. supplies of prescription drugs.

And on Thursday, the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee on Children and Families will hold a hearing on the Child Care and Development Block Grant reauthorization.