Senate, House Negotiators To Begin Talks On Reconciling Zika Funding
The Senate approved a bill providing $1.1 billion in funding for efforts to combat the virus while the House approved $622 million. The conference committee will try to find a compromise.
The New York Times:
Congress Will Work On $1.1 Billion Measure To Fight Zika, McConnell Says
With public health officials warning of a fast-spreading emergency, House and Senate negotiators will work to reconcile legislation aimed at providing up to $1.1 billion to combat the Zika virus and the mosquitoes that carry it, Senator Mitch McConnell said on Wednesday. The Senate last month approved $1.1 billion — far less than the $1.9 billion sought by the Obama administration — in a regular appropriations measure, after four months of sparring with the White House. The House, in turn, approved $622 million in a stand-alone measure that requires all of the money to be reallocated from existing programs, including efforts to fight Ebola. (Herszenhorn, 6/8)
In other national health care news —
The Wall Street Journal:
Bill Would Require Doctors To Report Medical-Device Hazards
Doctors would be required to report potentially serious problems with medical devices they use to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, under a new bill that a pair of lawmakers is expected to introduce in Congress Wednesday. The proposed legislation, known as the “Medical Device Guardian’s Act," is intended to help raise awareness of the possible risks of medical devices that could cause harm to patients. Sponsors of the bill said they were motivated to change the law after the long delay in public awareness of the risks of a women’s surgical tool called the laparoscopic power morcellator. (Levitz, 6/8)
The Hill:
Biotech Lobby Plunges Into Drug Pricing Debate
The head of the nation’s largest biotech lobby declared Wednesday he is fighting back against the raging debate over drug prices that he said has turned his industry into “an easy scapegoat” in 2016. Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) President Jim Greenwood announced a sweeping plan to reclaim the pharmaceutical industry’s reputation. ... The plan includes more paid advertisements and a campaign-style “rapid-response” team – which includes a former Jeb Bush campaign aide. BIO is also going "door-to-door" in Congress, where lawmakers have been quick to scrutinize the industry. (Ferris, 6/9)
The Associated Press:
Study: Most Antidepressants Don't Work For Young Patients
Scientists say most antidepressants don't work for children or teenagers with major depression, some may be unsafe, and the quality of evidence about these drugs is so bad the researchers cannot be sure if any are truly effective or safe. In the biggest analysis yet conducted of previously published studies, researchers studied 14 antidepressants and found only one drug that seemed to be useful. (Cheng, 6/9)