Federal news
Biden uses executive orders to address COVID-19, other health care issues [Roll Call, 1/21/21]
Early signings indicate a desire to quickly reverse Trump administration policies and outline his own priorities
READ: Biden administration’s COVID-19 response and pandemic preparedness strategy [The Hill, 1/21/21]
Democrats aim to move health care agenda despite slim majorities [Roll Call, 1/7/21]
COVID-19 aid, health insurance and prescription drug issues are priorities
Health groups’ push to end donations may lack political punch [Roll Call, 1/21/21]
Trade groups stop donations to Republicans who voted against certifying election results
ALA Condemns Violence on Capitol Hill, Calls for Advocacy [American Libraries, 1/7/21]
MLA affirmed ALA’s statement in an email sent Jan. 12, 2021.
Laws passed
The No Surprises Act to prevent surprise medical bills is in H.R.133/Public Law 116-260 – Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (which was previously highlighted in the 1/7/21 Legislative News post). Find it on p. 1576+.
H.R.4704 – Advancing Research to Prevent Suicide Act [became Public Law No. 116-339 on 1/13/21]
Directs the National Science Foundation (NSF) to award competitive, merit-reviewed grants to institutions of higher education (or their consortia) to support multidisciplinary, fundamental research with potential relevance to suicide, including potential relevance to prevention and treatment.
H.R.3153 – EFFORT (Expanding Findings for Federal Opioid Research and Treatment) Act [became Public Law No. 116-335 on 1/13/21]
Directs the National Science Foundation to support merit-reviewed and competitively awarded research on the science of opioid addiction.
H.R.1418 – Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act of 2020 [became Public Law No. 116-327 on 1/13/21]
Declares that nothing in the McCarran-Ferguson Act modifies, impairs, or supersedes the operation of antitrust laws with respect to the business of health insurance, including the business of dental insurance.