Week ahead: White House to hold mental health summit

by Elise Viebeck - 06/03/13 1:00 PM ET

{mosads}Participants will include mental health providers, educators and advocates. Officials from local and state governments, as well as faith leaders, will also attend.

The rest of the week promises a full plate of healthcare issues for lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

In the House, members are expected to approve legislation creating national rules to trace pharmaceutical products throughout the supply chain. The Safeguarding America’s Pharmaceuticals Act (H.R. 1919) was written to combat the entry of counterfeit drugs into the U.S. market. Votes are expected on Monday.

The House Education and Workforce Committee will take its turn reviewing Obama’s 2014 budget request with witness testimony from Sebelius.

The panel’s hearing, which will focus on Head Start and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, is scheduled for Tuesday.

On Wednesday, the House Energy and Commerce Health subcommittee will look at reforming Medicare’s flawed physician payment formula, the sustainable growth rate (SGR), with a focus on care quality.

The Ways and Means subcommittee on Social Security will also hold a hearing Wednesday to examine the program and the looming onslaught of Baby Boomer beneficiaries.

On Thursday, Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.) will host a briefing on how the immigration system impacts children’s health. Several advocacy groups will unveil a study proposing “family-focused immigration reform” at the event in the Rayburn House Office Building.

Off Capitol Hill, the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living will hold their annual Congressional Briefing on Monday and Tuesday at the Hyatt Regency.

Several lawmakers are scheduled to speak, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.). Topics of interest include the SGR “doc fix” and observation stays.

Also on Monday, the American Hospital Association will release a report on hospital mergers and acquisitions.

The medical device and diagnostics industry will hold its annual congress on Tuesday and Wednesday in Pentagon City, Va.

And starting Friday, hundreds of patients living with a genetic condition known as Alpha-1 will gather in Crystal City, Va., for the Alpha-1 National Education Conference.