Healthcare
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April 21, 2021
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Chairman of the House Ways & Means Health Subcommittee, praised the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) for withdrawing a Trump Administration rule that would have stripped consumer protections from the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). The VICP was established in 1986 to provide fair compensation to the very few, an estimated 1 in 1 million vaccine recipients, who are injured by a covered vaccination. Under former President Trump, HHS had rushed a final rule to eliminate protections for two of the most common vaccine injuries: SIRVA and syncope. SIRVA, an injury to the shoulder caused by an error in administration, accounts for over half of recent vaccine injuries. Trump ignored the facts and the experts in pushing this rule, despite unanimous opposition by the Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines, and strong opposition by vaccine manufacturers, pediatricians, and pharmacists. Today, under a humane Administration, HHS officially withdrew this dangerous rule. Rep. Doggett released the following statement:
April 21, 2021
Health care advocates in Texas say they see an opportunity to address the state’s rising uninsured rate after the Biden administration announced last week that it is rescinding a health care deal the Trump administration cut with Texas.
Issues:Healthcare
April 17, 2021
Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday said the Biden administration is “obstructing healthcare access for vulnerable Texans” after officials rescinded approval for a waiver that delivers billions in federal dollars to hospitals in Texas.
Issues:Healthcare
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April 16, 2021
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Chair of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, just released the following statement reacting to the Biden Administration this afternoon rescinding a ten-year Medicaid Section 1115 waiver extension that the Trump Administration had rushed through in January:
Issues:Healthcare
April 16, 2021
AUSTIN (Nexstar) — The Biden administration removed a Trump-approved extension for Texas’ Medicaid program, explaining the federal government “materially erred” in granting the state’s request for a sped-up extension.
Issues:Healthcare
April 2, 2021
PFIZER, MODERNA, AND other coronavirus vaccine makers have said repeatedly that they intend to hike prices on vaccines as early as this year, as the potential need for additional booster shots and future demand could lead to an unprecedented financial windfall.
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March 31, 2021
Two weeks before President Donald Trump left office, his administration bestowed a parting gift on the U.S. prescription drug industry. It proposed a rule to block the government from citing exorbitant prices to seize control of a drug’s production.
Issues:Healthcare
March 30, 2021
Democrats Raise Alarm Over Trump Drug Pricing Tool: A group of Democrats in Congress, led by House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Chair Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), submitted a public comment opposing a Trump-era proposed rule they say would revoke the government’s ability under the Bayh-Dole Act to protect taxpayer investments and reasonable prices for prescription drugs and other patented inventions that were partially funded by U.S. taxpayer dollars, according to a statement. Read the comment here.
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March 29, 2021
Washington, D.C. — Today, over 35 bicameral members of Congress, led by U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Chairman of the House Ways & Means Health Subcommittee, submitted a public comment opposing a Trump-era proposed rule to revoke the federal government’s ability to protect taxpayer investments and reasonable prices for prescription drugs and other patented inventions. The 32 House members were joined by Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR).
Issues:Healthcare
March 24, 2021
Progressives are increasing pressure on President Biden to support a waiver for COVID-19 vaccine patent protections at the World Trade Organization (WTO), arguing the move is crucial for helping lower-income countries fight the coronavirus.