Key Republican senators shape health care, taxes and budget

WASHINGTON — As Republicans move to take control of the Senate in January, a new set of lawmakers will gain power and influence over health care policy.

The GOP will have at least 51 seats in the House next year after defeating Democrat Sherrod Brown in Ohio and winning the West Virginia seat vacated by Joe Manchin. Republicans also fended off challengers in states like Nebraska and Texas.

Republican lawmakers will chair plum committees that will have the power to schedule hearings, amend legislation, conduct investigations and vote on subpoenas. Their offices will also have more staff and resources to implement their ideas.

The Senate has been under Democratic control for the past four years, so newly empowered committee chairs will have a broader platform to advance their policy initiatives.

The Republican victory in the Senate also makes the race to replace Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) more important, since the caucus leader will determine which legislation gets a vote in the Senate and will be more influential. partner in negotiations with the House of Representatives and the White House on key legislation.

Congress will face some serious health problems next yearincluding a decision to extend Affordable Care Act premium subsidies that are set to expire at the end of 2025.

STAT has selected six lawmakers who will be well-positioned to make an impact on health care when Republicans take office in early January.

Senator Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana)

Cassidy is the heir apparent to leadership of the Senate Health Committee, having been the top Republican on that committee in this Congress.

Cassidy has expressed interest in reforming public health agencies, including the NIH and CDC, which he will oversee under the jurisdiction of the health committee.

As chairman, Cassidy will also lead the confirmation process for the new Food and Drug Administration’s commissioner, director of the National Institutes of Health and director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This administration will see the first CDC director confirmed by the Senate, a requirement recently added to pandemic preparedness legislation.

Cassidy was interested in drug pricing issues, especially how to pay for them. expensive gene therapy. He also began work on Medicare Hospital Payment Reform with Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), which would equalize payments between hospital outpatient departments and physician offices for the same services.

Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho)

It’s finally time for Crapo, who played second fiddle on the Senate Finance Committee for four years, to shine. As a tax lawyer, he will play a key role in resolving issues related to the expiration of Trump tax cuts next year, as well as the expiration of Affordable Care Act premiums.

During his time with Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Crapo showed that the pair could negotiate major bipartisan health care packages like the health committee’s package. major reform of pharmacy benefit manager legislation of this Congress.

Senator John Thune (RSD)

Current Senate Minority Leader Thune was promoted after McConnell resigned as deputy conference leader and announced his intention to run for Senate Majority Leader. Thune sits on the Senate Finance Committee and has led several efforts to pass bipartisan health care legislation in Congress.

Over the past two years, he has signed on to efforts to simplify prior authorization. joined the working group reform the physician compensation system and work together on legislation to reform the 340B drug discount program. These efforts may signal which health issues will be most important to him later in life.

Thune represents South Dakota, so expect rural health care and supporting rural hospitals to be a top priority for him.

Senator John Cornyn (R-TX)

The other John vying for the top spot in the Senate GOP conference is Cornyn, who has GOP experience running the vote count and has taken a keen interest in patent reform in the pharmaceutical industry.

Cornyn holds positions on the Finance and Judiciary committees, which have weighed in on drug price debates in recent years. Cornyn spearheaded a drug patent reform bill aimed at cutting through the patent thickets that drugmakers use to keep generic drugs off the market, and it passed the Senate unanimously earlier this year, although significantly diluted from its original form.

Since Cornyn is from a border state, he worked on tackle the opioid crisis supporting policies to decriminalize fentanyl test strips and stop the flow of fentanyl into the United States.

Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kansas)

While he may not lead the health committee, Marshall has proven he is ready to be an independent thinker and bipartisan negotiator.

The best example of his open-mindedness and interest in health care was his collaboration with Senate Health Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on legislation. better fund primary health care. Although this particular law was not passed, it certainly raised some eyebrows.

As an obstetrician, he also enjoys the Senate GOP’s credibility on health care issues. The title of his website lists his name as “Doc Marshall”. He also collaborated with Thune, whose star may be on the rise, on legislation simplify prior authorization processes.

Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee)

Blackburn is another senator who has been willing to forge unexpected partnerships to advance health care priorities.

During the debate over pharmacy benefit management policies, she introduced legislation it would regulate the fees PBMs can receive from drug companies, and she has partnered with Democrats including Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) to call for Taking a closer look at Medicare Advantage plans.

She’s from Tennessee, a state with a significant healthcare industry presence such as for-profit hospital giant HCA Healthcare.