Healthcare Policy Prospects in the 118th Congress

Republican Health Subcommittee Members:
- Brett Guthrie (Ky.), Chair
- Michael Burgess (Texas)
- Bob Latta (Ohio)
- Morgan Griffith (Va.)
- Gus Bilirakis (Fla.)
- Bill Johnson (Ohio)
- Larry Bucshon (Ind.), Vice Chair
- Richard Hudson (N.C.)
- Buddy Carter (Ga.)
- Neal Dunn (Fla.)
- Greg Pence (Ind.)
- Dan Crenshaw (Texas)
- John Joyce (Pa.)
- Diana Harshbarger (Tenn.)
- Mariannette Miller-Meeks (Iowa)
- Jay Obernolte (Calif.)
- Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Wash.), Ex Officio
Democratic Health Subcommittee Members
- Anna G. Eshoo (Calif.), Ranking Member
- John Sarbanes (Md.)
- Tony Cárdenas (Calif.)
- Raul Ruiz, MD (Calif.)
- Debbie Dingell (Mich.)
- Annie Kuster (N.H.)
- Robin Kelly (Ill.)
- Nanette Diaz Barragán (Calif.)
- Lisa Blunt Rochester (Del.)
- Angie Craig (Minn.)
- Kim Schrier, MD (Wash.)
- Lori Trahan (Mass.)
- Frank Pallone, Jr. (N.J.), Ex Officio

House Ways & Means Committee: This committee’s jurisdiction includes Medicare and the CMS as well as taxation, tariffs and other revenue-raising measures, such as Social Security.

The House Ways & Means Committee Subcommittee on Health is another target group for ACR advocacy, because it leads on policies that relate to programs providing payments (from any source) for health care, health delivery systems or health research.
1. Republican Health Subcommittee Members
  - Vern Buchanan (Fla.), Chair
  - Adrian Smith (Neb.)
  - Mike Kelly (Pa.)
  - Brad Wenstrup (Ohio)
  - Greg Murphy (N.C.)
  - Kevin Hern (Okla.)
  - Carol Miller (W. Va.)
  - Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.)
  - Claudia Tenney (N.Y.)
  - Blake Moore (Utah)
  - Michelle Steel (Calif.)
2. Democratic Health Subcommittee Members
  - Lloyd Doggett (Texas), Ranking Member
  - Mike Thompson (Calif.)
  - Earl Blumenauer (Ore.)
  - Brian Higgins (N.Y.)
  - Terri Sewell (Ala.)
  - Judy Chu (Calif.), Vice Ranking Member
  - Dwight Evans (Pa.)
  - Danny Davis (Ill.)

House Appropriations Committee: The House Appropriations Committee has one of the largest jurisdictions of any committee because it is responsible for appropriating funding for most of the functions of the federal government, including NIH and CDC funding. It has 12 subcommittees with jurisdictions over specific factions.

In the Senate, the committees of jurisdiction for healthcare policy include:

Senate Health, Energy, Labor & Pensions Committee (HELP): This committee’s jurisdiction encompasses programs authorized under the Public Health Service (such as clinical laboratories, allied health and nurse training) and the Federal Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act. This committee has no jurisdiction over Medicare and Medicaid, but members hold hearings on expanding healthcare access for the medically indigent, healthcare costs containment and workforce issues, including Medicare payment for graduate and medical education. HELP also addresses issues related to education, labor and pensions.
- The Senate HELP Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security has jurisdiction over a wide range of issues, including Health Resources & Services Act, substance abuse and mental health, oral health, health care disparities and private retirement plans.
- Membership is available online
Senate Finance Committee: This committee has jurisdiction over all of the CMS and Medicare, as well as matters related to taxation and other revenue and health programs under the Social Security Act, including Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). These issues are centered mainly in the committee’s subcommittee on health. The policy in this committee encompasses nearly three-fifths of the federal budget.

Republican Bid to Gut Obamacare Fails in Senate

U.S. Republicans Left Scrambling After Healthcare Bill Sinks Again

New ACR/ARP Committee Members Are Ready to Work

U.S. Senate Mulls Bare-Bones Healthcare Bill; Marathon of Voting Expected

Related Articles