Pelosi Says Republicans Will ‘Overplay Their Hands’ If They Try To Cut Medicare
The House Democratic leader pledges to fight any GOP efforts to overhaul the health program that serves older Americans.
Fiscal Times:
Pelosi Warns Trump And Ryan Are Overplaying Their Hands On Medicare
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi vowed on Monday to lead the fight to defeat any GOP effort to overhaul and cut Medicare. The veteran California lawmaker warned that President-elect Donald Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan would be seriously overpaying their hands if they try to tamper with the nation’s premier health care programs for seniors. (Pianin, 11/22)
In other national health care news —
Modern Healthcare:
Anthem, DOJ Attorneys Present Opening Statements In Merger Trial
Attorneys for the U.S. Department of Justice and Anthem laid out their arguments Monday in opening statements of a court battle over what would be the largest ever health insurer mergers in the country. The sides clashed over how to define the commercial insurance market and what the merger could mean for the future of value-based payment models. Anthem and Cigna are proposing a $54.2 billion deal that would scramble the health insurance industry by combining two of the “big five” national insurers. Two others—Aetna and Humana—are defending their own merger that is being challenged by the DOJ. That case will be heard next month. (Muchmore, 11/21)
The Associated Press:
EpiPen Manufacturer Will Be A No-Show At Senate Hearing
Pharmaceutical company Mylan is refusing to testify at a congressional hearing next week on a settlement between the company and the Justice Department over its life-saving EpiPen. In a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee, an attorney for Mylan said company executives wouldn't testify at the Nov. 30 hearing because the settlement is a pending matter and the Justice Department would also not be attending. (Jalonick, 11/21)
Stat:
Could The FDA Be Dismantled Under President Trump?
Has President-elect Donald Trump put a bull’s-eye on the Food and Drug Administration? It’s been less than a year since Robert Califf was sworn in as the Food and Drug Administration’s chief, but already the agency is facing post-election upheaval. Public health advocates are bracing for a seismic shift: a surrender of the agency’s rules for off-label promotion of drugs; the importation of more drugs from other countries; and fewer requirements for clinical trials — long the gold standard for determining whether medicines are safe and effective. (Kaplan, 11/22)