Overnight Healthcare: New questions for Planned Parenthood

Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee are asking new questions of Planned Parenthood concerning how it oversees fetal tissue donation at its affiliates.

In a letter to Planned Parenthood, the committee cited a decade-old audit of Planned Parenthood’s fetal tissue program, which was intended to show that clinics were receiving proper reimbursement for donations. That direction was reiterated in 2011, the committee says, but any information about it is not included in Planned Parenthood’s current guidance.

{mosads}Planned Parenthood “has not produced any evidence regarding how affiliates are required to account for reimbursement costs related to fetal tissue donation,” the letter states.

Three congressional committees are investigating Planned Parenthood, focusing specifically on a clinic in California that was secretly recorded by anti-abortion activists in a video campaign targeting fetal tissue donations and abortion in general.

Cecile Richards, the head of Planned Parenthood, testified before Congress for the first time Wednesday, appearing before the House Oversight Committee. But members of the Energy and Commerce Committee said they had more questions. Read more here.

REPUBLICANS INVESTIGATING COLLAPSE OF CO-OPS: The House Ways and Means Committee is launching a probe into ObamaCare’s startup insurers, known as co-ops, which Republicans warn could collapse before repaying government dollars.

“We have long been concerned about the financial solvency of CO-OPs,” three subcommittee chairmen wrote in a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday.

The committee is demanding more details about the oversight of the co-op program less than a week after a fourth co-op was shuttered in New York because of financial struggles.

That co-op was one of 23 that received seed money from the federal government to help create alternatives to traditional insurers — money that Republicans say won’t be repaid. Read more here.

IS CONGRESS READY TO FIX OBAMACARE?:  Democrats have long accused Republicans of being unwilling to make even minor fixes to the healthcare reform law, arguing the party’s fixation on repeal was standing in the way.

But after a Supreme Court decision over the summer that kept ObamaCare intact for a second time, legislative tweaks – like this week’s change to the small group market – are getting a second look.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), a top player in healthcare issues, said the House’s action on the small-employer bill could move things forward.

“Anything that will help bring about any kind of bipartisan transformation gives me hope, because I think that was an interesting move by the House,” Hatch said. Read more here.

But will Obama sign it? The Senate officially sent to bill to his desk on Thursday. Read about that here.

PELOSI WON’T TAKE ‘IDEOLOGICAL’ ABORTION QUESTION: House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Thursday refused to answer a conservative reporter’s question about at what point she believes human life begins.

“I do not intend to respond to your questions, which have no basis in what public policy is that we do here,” Pelosi told the CNS News reporter, who spoke over other reporters to raise the question.

“I think I know more about this subject than you, with all due respect,” Pelosi said, citing the birth of her five children. Read more here.

What we’re reading

Federal health program for Sept. 11 responders expires

Rubio misses multiple votes on Planned Parenthood funding

Chaffetz goes head-to-head with Wolf Blitzer on Planned Parenthood

Hospitals’ ICD-10 ‘war room’ quiet but on guard

State by state

Arson reported at Planned Parenthood clinic in California

Lawmaker wants Colorado to opt out of ObamaCare — for universal coverage

Major hikes expected as Minnesota releases 2016 rates

What you might have missed from The Hill

Clinton calls for wider use of costly heroin overdose antidote

Economists rush to defense of ‘Cadillac’ tax

Cassidy calls for ‘more sophisticated‘ debate on drug prices

GOP senators warn Obama on tobacco carve-out

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