Overnight Healthcare: Late objections cast doubt on cures bill

by Peter Sullivan - 07/09/15 7:34 PM ET

Objections from both sides of the aisle are stirring doubts about a bipartisan medical cures bill that is slated to hit the House floor on Friday.

The 21st Century Cures Act was reported out of committee in May on a resounding 51-0 vote. Supporters of the bill hoped the unanimous endorsement would lead to an overwhelming vote in the House, but they are running into last-minute opposition on the eve of the vote.

The bill includes $8.75 billion over five years in new funding for medical research at the National Institutes of Health.

{mosads}That spending is drawing fire from conservatives because it is mandatory, meaning it is not revisited each year through the appropriations process. Some Republicans oppose adding another spending program to the books and are upset that the move would bust the budget caps put in place in 2011.

“After Medicare Part D, we ended up with ObamaCare, which is a huge increase in spending, and now we’re wanting to have this,” said Rep. John Fleming (R-La.), a medical doctor who works on health issues in the conservative House Freedom Caucus. “Look what’s happening in Greece and Puerto Rico.”

Meanwhile, some Democrats are railing against a late addition to the bill that includes Hyde Amendment language restricting federal funds from abortion.

“I cannot stand by while these provisions are slipped into an otherwise excellent bill through underhanded maneuvers that run contrary to our democratic process,” Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) said Thursday, claiming the language was added “in the dead of night.”

Speier, who was one of the original co-sponsors, pulled her support from the bill on Thursday. A spokesman said that at least five other Democrats are planning to oppose the bill, adding, “I think there’s some momentum.”

Reps. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) also spoke out against the abortion language in the bill.

“Why in the world would you put in an abortion rider on a thing for medical research?” Slaughter asked during floor debate.

Still, the bill has 230 cosponsors in the House, more than a majority. House Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.), the bill’s main Republican champion, said Wednesday that he still hopes to get 300 votes in favor. Read more here.

‘AT LEAST FIVE’ DEMS TO OPPOSE CURES BILL: Both Reps. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) vowed to oppose the medical cures bill if it includes a controversial abortion rider.

At least five other Democrats plan to join them, a spokesman for Speier’s office said Thursday afternoon, adding, “I think there’s some momentum.”

The bill’s top Democratic supporters said they still believed the majority of the party would back the bill, which will be up for a vote Friday. Read more here.

OBAMA NOMINATES NEW MEDICARE HEAD: President Obama on Thursday nominated a new head of the federal Medicare agency, which also helps oversee ObamaCare, making it likely that there will be partisan fireworks at confirmation hearings.

Obama nominated Andy Slavitt to be head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Slavitt is already serving as the acting administrator. He moved to that role from the deputy position in March. Before joining the administration in July 2014, Slavitt was an executive at Optum, a healthcare technology company.

As part of that role he helped work on HealthCare.gov when it was plagued by problems in the fall of 2013.

The White House on Thursday touted him as “a key member of the team brought on to turn around HealthCare.gov during the first open enrollment period.” Read more here.

ANOTHER OBAMACARE RULE DELAY: Chain restaurants and grocery stores will have an extra year to comply with an FDA rule requiring them to disclose all calories in their foods, offering a buffer for the 2016 elections.

The controversial menu labeling requirements issued late last year would require major restaurants and grocery stores to share calorie counts. Lawmakers sought to delay the menu labeling requirements through a spending bill provision that would have pushed the effective date back to Dec. 1, 2016. Read more here.

END OF ‘GLOBAL GAG RULE’?: The Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday backed an effort to repeal a controversial U.S. policy known as the “global gag rule,” which blocks funds from any international group offering abortion services.

In a surprising show of support, three Republicans backed the amendment: Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.). Read more here.

Friday’s schedule:

The House will vote on the 21st Century Cures Act.

The Society for Women’s Health Research will hold a briefing on biological gender differences in medical research.

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