CQ's Carey Discusses SCHIP Debate, Weems, Patent System Overhaul Bill

Main Category: Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Also Included In: Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry;  Public Health
Article Date: 12 Sep 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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Mary Agnes Carey, associate editor of CQ HealthBeat, discusses the debate surrounding SCHIP reauthorization and expansion, President Bush's appointment of an acting CMS administrator and House approval of legislation that would overhaul the U.S. patent system in this week's "Health on the Hill from kaisernetwork.org and CQ."

Carey says there are "many differences" between the House and Senate versions of SCHIP legislation that must be reconciled before the program expires Sept. 30, including the scope of an expansion and provisions in the House bill that would make changes to Medicare. Senate Republicans have blocked the appointment of House and Senate conferees to negotiate a compromise bill, saying they want to ensure it will more closely resemble the Senate measure than the House legislation. House Democrats have said they will begin informal negotiations with Senate Democrats if Republicans continue to block the conference, according to Carey. Both sides could approve a short-term extension of the program, but that could delay action on other issues, such as preventing a scheduled 10% cut in Medicare physician payments, Carey says.

In addition, Carey discusses Kerry Weems, who was appointed acting CMS administrator last week while his nomination continues through the Senate process. A spokesperson for the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over the nomination, said the committee had been informed of the appointment and is expected to continue with the nomination process, according to Carey.

Carey also says the House has approved legislation that would overhaul the system for awarding patents and awarding damages for patent infringement. According to Carey, supporters of the legislation say "this year represents their best chance to end a multiyear logjam that has pitted the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries against technology firms." Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said he will try to bring patent legislation to the Senate floor this fall, and negotiations are ongoing to resolve differences between the two versions (Carey, "Health on the Hill from kaisernetwork.org and CQ," 9/10).

The complete audio version of "Health on the Hill," transcript and resources for further research are available online at kaisernetwork.org.

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation© 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.