| | | | |  | | By Daniel Payne | Presented by Kaiser Permanente | With help from Daniel Lippman and Shawn Zeller
| | |  It’s unlikely that Covid will lead to systemic changes in health care. | Molly Riley/AP Photo | WHAT COVID COULDN’T CHANGE — The “new normal” of post-pandemic U.S. health care is shaping up to be similar to the old normal, your host reports. As the U.S. takes another step toward the end of the pandemic, policymakers and public health experts realize that even a catastrophe like Covid-19 can’t shake up the entrenched health care system that’s stymied with roadblocks like deep-pocketed lobbyists and unmovable partisan divides. Hopes that a pandemic could change U.S. health care at its core — whether by bolstering arguments for more government involvement or a permanent rollback of regulations — are fading. Money talks: Public health experts and policymakers said that, as much as the pandemic changed health delivery, it didn’t change the interests of the big players in the business of care. Lobbyists for hospitals, doctors, insurers and drugmakers have largely been pushing for the same changes they pushed for before the pandemic like boosted government payments and fewer rules to follow. Political divides: Though the government’s pandemic response began with broad agreement between Democrats and Republicans, politics has again quickly divided lawmakers on how much the government should be involved in Covid responses — and health care more generally. Covid is more politicized than most health care issues, making the continuation of pandemic programs less likely. Equity issues: The rush of pandemic funding to close gaps in health outcomes is drying up, and programs stood up with that money are struggling. Though some health-equity activists use the progress from the pandemic to argue for funding increases, many said they’re concerned Covid-era funding won’t come back. Hopes for change: Some areas could see long-term changes from Covid. Though telehealth and vaccine development policies probably won’t fundamentally change U.S. health care, they seem to have legs beyond the pandemic. But even those issues — largely because of the entrenched forces — face significant hurdles to survive beyond Covid. WELCOME TO FRIDAY PULSE, where we learned — just in time for warmer weather — that some soaps could make people less attractive to mosquitos. But it probably won’t work for everyone, according to the small study. Send tips, news and mosquito repellent recommendations to dpayne@politico.com. TODAY ON OUR PULSE CHECK PODCAST, host Ruth Reader talks with Megan Messerly about the Democratic lawmakers in some states who are hesitant to expand health coverage to low-income undocumented immigrants because of budgetary concerns, leading some immigration advocates wondering how committed to the issue those Democrats really are.
| | | | | | | A message from Kaiser Permanente: Some health care experiences can be fragmented and impersonal, with the responsibility on the patient to make it work. But at Kaiser Permanente, everything works together to provide care and coverage that support the unique needs of more than 12.6 million members. Our health plan, primary care physicians, specialists, hospitals, labs and pharmacies are connected to enable personalized care that delivers high-quality clinical outcomes. See all that health care can be at kp.org/allcarecanbe. | | | | | | | 
Lawmakers are concerned that the practices of pharmacy benefit managers aren’t benefiting consumers enough. | Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP Photo | PBM PACKAGE ADVANCES — The Senate HELP Committee, with broad bipartisan agreement, passed a package Thursday that looks to boost generic drug competition and reign in pharmacy benefit managers, POLITICO’s David Lim reports. Lawmakers expressed concerns that the practices of PBMs — the pharmaceutical middlemen that manage prescription drugs for health insurers — aren’t transparent and not benefiting consumers enough. They also hope increased generic drug competition will lead to lower prices for patients. Four bills were passed, which would: — Allow the FDA to deny citizen petitions that don’t raise valid scientific or regulatory issues or those submitted primarily to delay competition — Seek to speed competition by preventing generic “parking” — a practice in which the first successful generic drug applicant delays marketing — Specify that the seven-year orphan drug market exclusivity period for rare disease drugs would ban the approval of other drugs for the same approved use or indication, not the same disease or condition — Restrict spread-pricing, require pass-through of rebates to insurance plans and compel annual reports about PBM operations CONGRESS LOOKS INTO TRANQ — The House unanimously passed bipartisan legislation Thursday to task the federal government with studying synthetic opioids and the additives drug dealers are mixing them with, Shawn reports. The TRANQ Research Act is named for the horse sedative that the White House named an “emerging threat” to public health last month because it’s showing up in an increasing number of fatal fentanyl overdoses. The act would put the mandate of more research in the hands of the Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology. Dealers are adding tranq, formally known as xylazine, to the synthetic opioid to enhance the feeling of euphoria it gives users. But the drug also undermines the efficacy of overdose reversal medications. Reps. Mike Collins (R-Ga.), chair of the Science Research and Technology Subcommittee, and Yadira Caraveo (D-Colo.) led a group of sponsors that includes Science Committee Chair Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) and ranking member Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.). The Senate Commerce Committee approved a companion version by Ted Cruz (R-Texas) by voice vote on Wednesday.
| | NEW MPOX ERA — The World Health Organization said Thursday that mpox, a disease that quickly spread across continents and spawned outbreaks in the U.S., is no longer a public health emergency of international concern, POLITICO’s Ashleigh Furlong reports. New mpox cases have significantly dropped in recent months, especially as the vaccine and treatment stockpile was distributed, though the CDC is investigating a recent uptick in U.S. cases. The decision comes days after WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared the end of the Covid-19 global health emergency.
|  | | Mpox, formerly monkeypox, was declared a public health emergency of international concern in July 2022, when more than 16,000 cases had been reported to the WHO. Now, more than 87,000 cases have been confirmed in 11 countries, with 140 people dying from the infection, which causes a painful rash and other symptoms such as fever and muscle aches. In August 2022, the U.S. declared mpox a national public health emergency, which ended in January 2023. The outbreaks, which came in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, spurred international health leaders to call for new international infrastructure to respond to disease outbreaks.
| | | | GET READY FOR GLOBAL TECH DAY: Join POLITICO Live as we launch our first Global Tech Day alongside London Tech Week on Thursday, June 15. Register now for continuing updates and to be a part of this momentous and program-packed day! From the blockchain, to AI, and autonomous vehicles, technology is changing how power is exercised around the world, so who will write the rules? REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | | TELEMEDICINE INDUSTRY IN ACTION — A grassroots lobbying campaign from telemedicine companies helped drive the recent reversal from the Drug Enforcement Administration, temporarily allowing doctors to continue virtually prescribing drugs the DEA regulates, POLITICO’s Ben Leonard reports. Though the agency didn’t make the pandemic rules permanent, it will allow existing telemedicine patients to get drug refills for another 18 months. It’s unclear whether new patients, starting in November, would have to visit a doctor in person. The DEA’s decision was a significant reversal — and one celebrated by the industry. Less than three months ago, it had proposed curtailing access to controlled substances via telemedicine when the Covid public health emergency ended on May 11.
| | | | A message from Kaiser Permanente:   | | | | | FDA EASES BLOOD DONATION RULES — The FDA finalized plans Thursday to loosen blood donation restrictions for men who have sex with men, David reports. Some men in monogamous relationships with another man can now forgo the three-month abstinence period previously required and take a questionnaire instead. The FDA said it “strongly believes” the updates won’t harm the nation’s drug supply. Some restrictions still apply: Screening questions asked of prospective blood donors will still recommend the deferral of individuals who report having a new sexual partner and have engaged in anal sex in the past three months, as well as of individuals who report having more than one sexual partner in the last three months and have also had anal sex. The policy also limits blood donation for people who have used intravenous nonprescription drugs, have exchanged sex for money, have been diagnosed with HIV or are taking pre-exposure prophylaxis or post-exposure prophylaxis against HIV.
| | Chris Fisk is now senior policy adviser to the vice president. He most recently was policy adviser at the Senate HELP Committee. Glenn Rininger has joined the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration as chief legal counsel. He most recently was associate attorney at the Bolin Law Group.
| | | | DON’T MISS THE POLITICO ENERGY SUMMIT: A new world energy order is emerging and America’s place in it is at a critical juncture. Join POLITICO on Thursday, May 18 for our first-ever energy summit to explore how the U.S. is positioning itself in a complicated energy future. We’ll explore progress on infrastructure and climate funding dedicated to building a renewable energy economy, Biden’s environmental justice proposals, and so much more. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | | | The New York Times reports on the families who lost loved ones to Covid and are wrestling with the end of the public health emergency. The Washington Post reports on the skin patch showing promise for toddlers with a peanut allergy.
| | | | A message from Kaiser Permanente: Kaiser Permanente is a value-based, integrated health care system that delivers equitable, high-quality, affordable care and coverage. Our highly sought-after physicians are solely focused on our members and are empowered to provide innovative, evidence-based care that helps keep people healthy and solves some of the more difficult challenges in medicine.
The result is exceptional value for our members, patients and communities. That's why Kaiser Permanente is annually recognized among the top hospitals, medical groups and health plans in the nation. See all that health care can be at kp.org/allcarecanbe. | | | | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Follow us | | | | |
