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Democrats are weighing impeachment of RFK Jr. while courting his supporters

Democrats are weighing impeachment of RFK Jr. while courting his supporters

When Democrats take over Congress in January, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will be a major oversight target
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Reps. Smith and Dingell Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand Medicare Care at Home Options

Reps. Smith and Dingell Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand Medicare Care at Home Options

Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) have introduced the 'Bringing Rehabilitation, Integrated Delivery, and Greater Extended (BRIDGE) Care at Home Act.' This bipartisan bill aims to modernize Medicare by allowing beneficiaries to receive skilled nursing and rehabilitation services in their homes after a qualifying hospital stay. The proposed legislation would establish a five-year Medicare 'SNF-at-Home' pilot program. This program would enable the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary to compare the costs, outcomes, and patient characteristics of home-based care versus facility-based care. Supporters of the bill view it as a means to expand patient choice, alleviate pressure on hospitals and nursing facilities, and potentially reduce healthcare costs.
ReutersReuters
US Congress Democrats plot 'must-have' victories in 2027

US Congress Democrats plot 'must-have' victories in 2027

By Richard Cowan WASHINGTON, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Democrats poised to take full control of the US Congress next year are aiming for a fast start in the opening weeks of January, with what they say will be a response to voters' top concerns in the aftermath of the party's huge wins on November 3.
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Former Washington Representative Jim McDermott Dies at 89, Leaving Legacy in Healthcare and Anti-War Advocacy

Former Washington Representative Jim McDermott Dies at 89, Leaving Legacy in Healthcare and Anti-War Advocacy

Former U.S. Representative Jim McDermott, a Democrat from Washington, passed away on Thursday at the age of 89. McDermott served 28 years in Congress, where he was known for his strong advocacy for universal healthcare and his outspoken opposition to war. Throughout his nearly 50-year career in state and federal office, the liberal lawmaker from Seattle championed an aggressive agenda focused on expanding healthcare access for all Americans. As the leading Democrat on the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, McDermott was a staunch defender of the 2010 Affordable Care Act, which significantly expanded health insurance coverage. He also consistently voted against military interventions, including the 2002 resolution authorizing the use of military force in Iraq and U.S. intervention in Syria in 2013. His retirement from Congress in 2016 was met with praise from then-President Barack Obama, who recognized him as a vital voice for vulnerable constituents.
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Representatives Smith and Dingell Introduce Bipartisan BRIDGE Care at Home Act to Expand Home Healthcare Services

Representatives Smith and Dingell Introduce Bipartisan BRIDGE Care at Home Act to Expand Home Healthcare Services

Representatives Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI) have jointly introduced the BRIDGE Care at Home Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to broaden healthcare options by allowing skilled nursing and intensive rehabilitation services to be delivered in patients' homes. The initiative builds upon the success of the 'Hospital at Home' model, seeking to provide an alternative to traditional facility-based care. The proposed act will establish a framework to evaluate whether eligible Medicare beneficiaries can safely receive these services at home, while also assessing the impact on readmission rates, patient functional status, satisfaction levels, and the costs associated with providing skilled nursing facility care in a home setting compared to inpatient care. This move is designed to offer patients greater choice in their recovery environment, support family caregivers, and create new opportunities for healthcare professionals to deliver care outside institutional settings.
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'TrumpCare' and commemorative plaques — how Democrats are pitching deal-making with the president

'TrumpCare' and commemorative plaques — how Democrats are pitching deal-making with the president

Democrats who swept into power fueled by voter backlash to President Donald Trump are now pitching ways to collaborate with the Republican in the White House
USA TodayUSA Today
Trump to Stephen A. Smith: 'I'm going to be vetoing a lot of things'

Trump to Stephen A. Smith: 'I'm going to be vetoing a lot of things'

Trump, in a new interview with Stephen A. Smith, said he plans to veto "a lot of things" the newly Democrat-controlled Congress sends to his office.
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U.S. Lawmakers Face Deadline on Bipartisan Bills Targeting Drug Patents Amidst Congressional Shift

U.S. Lawmakers Face Deadline on Bipartisan Bills Targeting Drug Patents Amidst Congressional Shift

U.S. lawmakers are in a race against time to pass a series of bipartisan bills aimed at curbing drugmakers' use of patents to delay cheaper generic competition. These measures, which address tactics like accumulating numerous patents around a single drug, risk being restarted from scratch if they do not pass before the new Congress convenes in January. Several key bills include the ETHIC Act, which would limit the number of related patents a company can use in lawsuits against rivals, and the Drug Competition Enhancement Act, designed to prevent companies from shifting patients to slightly altered drug versions to extend patent protection. The urgency is heightened as some bill sponsors are leaving office, and the new Democratic-majority Congress will have a packed health agenda. Industry groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, are actively opposing these bills, arguing they would weaken patent rights and stifle innovation.
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Rubio acknowledges 'people are struggling' economically in speech after GOP midterm wipeout

Rubio acknowledges 'people are struggling' economically in speech after GOP midterm wipeout

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has acknowledged that Americans are struggling in the current economy
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House Passes SBA Cybersecurity and Manufacturing Onshoring Bills to Aid Small Businesses

House Passes SBA Cybersecurity and Manufacturing Onshoring Bills to Aid Small Businesses

House Passes SBA Cybersecurity and Manufacturing Onshoring Bills to Aid Small Businesses
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PATIENT AI Act Introduced to Address FDA and Reimbursement Gaps for AI-Enabled Health Technology

PATIENT AI Act Introduced to Address FDA and Reimbursement Gaps for AI-Enabled Health Technology

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA), has introduced a discussion draft of the Protecting Americans Through Intelligent, Ethical, and Transparent Artificial Intelligence in Health Care Act (PATIENT AI Act). This proposed legislation aims to establish a comprehensive federal framework for AI-enabled health technologies by tackling existing regulatory and commercial hurdles. The bill seeks to create new pathways within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for evaluating coverage, coding, and payment of AI-based services, including a payment model from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) for applications that deliver autonomous care. Additionally, the PATIENT AI Act proposes expanding the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) authority to oversee iterative software changes and explore modernized postmarket surveillance. It also broadens the 'Certified Health IT' framework to include certain clinical research technologies and AI applications not regulated as medical devices, and ...
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Senator Marsha Blackburn's Veterans Health Care Freedom Act Stalls Amidst Broader Legislative Package Concerns

Senator Marsha Blackburn's Veterans Health Care Freedom Act Stalls Amidst Broader Legislative Package Concerns

Senator Marsha Blackburn's Veterans Health Care Freedom Act, which aims to allow veterans to bypass Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) authorization for outside care, has been introduced three times since 2022 without becoming law. This act is part of a larger legislative discussion surrounding the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act (TCAVA), a comprehensive package of 60 bills currently under consideration for a floor vote in the House. Critics argue that TCAVA, particularly its two grant programs—the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program and the RECOVER Act—could weaken the VA's authority to coordinate and decide on veterans' outside care. The Fox program, initially designed for non-clinical support and referrals to the VA, is reportedly being used by some grantees to fund routine mental health treatment, contrary to its original intent. The RECOVER Act, championed by organizations like the Cohen Veterans Network (CVN), seeks to establish a pilot grant program for nonprofit o...