In This Issue:

Leading the News; Implementation of the Affordable Care Act; Other HHS and Federal Regulatory Initiatives; Other Congressional and State Initiatives; Other Health Care News; and Hearings and Mark-Ups Scheduled.

Excerpt from Leading the News -

House Passes CR Funding the Government, Defunding ACA -

On September 20, the House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution (CR) funding the government until December 15th and defunding the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The bill now moves to the Senate, where Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has said that Democrats will use a simple majority vote to strip out the provision defunding the ACA. Following House passage of its CR, Senator Reid and Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) released a letter from Secretary Sebelius, in which she responded to their concerns about the effect of the Republican CR on Medicare, Medicaid, and Children’s Health Insurance Plan beneficiaries. In the letter, Secretary Sebelius stated that the CR would have disastrous effects by removing necessary reforms, disrupting payments, and potentially requiring beneficiaries to pay thousands of dollars out-of-pocket for care.