AGD Capitol Connections

In 2023, the President signed the Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act into law as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. This legislation established a new requirement that prescribers of certain controlled substances complete a one-time, eight-hour training before registering or renewing their registration with the Drug Enforcement Administration.

On April 16, 2025, Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) and Health Subcommittee member Greg Murphy, M.D. (R-NC) called for the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate the vertical consolidation of Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations (MAO) and its impact on Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) calculations.

On April 10, 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 216-214 to approve a budget resolution negotiated between House and Senate leadership with the full support of the Trump Administration.

On April 7, 2025, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told the Associated Press that he plans to tell public health officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to stop recommending the fluoridation of community drinking water as part of his Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda.

On April 9, 2025, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a request for information (RFI) to “[solicit] ideas for deregulation from across the country.” According to the request, “commenters should identify rules to be rescinded and provide detailed reasons for their rescission.”

On March 27, 2025, Utah Governor Spencer Cox signed a law to outlaw the addition of fluoride to public drinking water in the state. The legislation will take effect on May 7, 2025. Utah is the first state to enact such legislation, in a time when fluoride has come under increased criticism.

On March 27, 2025, Representatives Mark Green (R-TN), Kim Schrier (D-WA), and Greg Murphy (R-NC) re-introduced H.R. 2433, the Reducing Medically Unnecessary Delays in Care Act of 2025.

On February 27, 2025, Representatives Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ) and Yvette Clarke (D-NY) re-introduced H.R. 1758, the Dental Loan Repayment Assistance Act. On March 14, 2025, Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) reintroduced S. 1080, the companion bill in the Senate.

On March 27, 2025, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that it would be undergoing a significant workforce reduction alongside a number of additional administrative and organizational changes.

On March 13, 2025, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee voted to favorably report the nominations of Dr. Martin Makary to be Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to be Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), by votes of 14-9 and 12-11, respectively.

On March 14, 2025, Congress passed a six-month continuing resolution. The narrowly focused bill largely extends current funding for most federal agencies and programs through September 30, 2025 – the end of the fiscal year.

On February 25, 2025, the House of Representatives passed a budget resolution in a 217-215 vote. Unlike the Senate’s two reconciliation bill approach with their first bill focusing on border security, defense and energy policies, the House is pursuing a single reconciliation bill approach.

On February 25, 2025, the White House issued an EO entitled, “Making America Healthy Again by Empowering Patients with Clear, Accurate, and Actionable Healthcare Pricing Information.”

Advocacy doesn’t just happen in Washington, DC or in your state capital. This week U.S. Representatives and Senators are home for Presidents’ Day recess. During this week they will be meeting with their constituents just like yourself.

On February 13, 2025, the Senate voted to confirm Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), by a vote of 52-48. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) was the lone Republican to vote against Mr. Kennedy’s confirmation, in addition to every Democratic Senator.

On January 27, 2025, the Trump Administration, through the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), released a memorandum entitled, Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan, and Other Financial Assistance Programs to the heads of executive departments and agencies.

On January 29 and 30th, 2025, the Senate Finance and Senate Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions (HELP) Committees respectively held confirmation hearings for Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) nominee Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

On January 15, 2025, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) released a proposed rule establishing a framework for practitioners to prescribe Schedule II-V controlled substances via telemedicine without a prior in-person medical evaluation entitled, Telemedicine Prescribing of Controlled Substances When the Practitioner and the Patient Have Not Had a Prior In-Person Medical Evaluation.

On January 7, 2025, Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) was named Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee for the 119th Congress, a key position overseeing more than 50 percent of federal spending with jurisdiction over federal tax policy; federal social safety net and health care programs, including Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid; and implementation of foreign trade agreements.

On January 20th Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States, beginning his second term. Shortly after taking office, President Trump signed a multitude of executive orders and national proclamations, including actions to strengthen border security, increase domestic energy production, and reduce the size of the federal workforce.