OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Medical malpractice redux in the House

The House Judiciary Committee will mark up medical malpractice legislation on Tuesday, even though the full House passed identical legislation just last month.

Huh, you ask?

That's right. After passing legislation capping non-economic damages at $250,000 as part of their effort to repeal the healthcare reform law's cost-cutting Independent Payment Advisory Board, House Republicans are at it again — this time without the IPAB.

The reason: money. Marking up the tort reform bill would allow the committee to claim $41 billion in savings to the deficit over the next 10 years — more than enough to meet the the committee's $39 billion savings requirement under the House Republican budget.

The move is raising some hackles, even on the right. 

"Here we go again," Judson Phillips writes over on the Tea Party Nation Web forum. "The guys we put into office to stop government from playing games are playing more games in Washington."

Even Republican members of the committee have concerns that the bill violates states' rights — four of them voted "no" or "present" on the floor last month: Reps. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (Wis.), Steve King (Iowa), Louie Gohmert (Texas) and Ted Poe (Texas).

The two-day markup could continue into Wednesday afternoon, if needed.

Saving the Constitution, one dollar at a time: For those concerned about the Constitution, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) has a simple answer: a single payer system, the "obviously constitutional" alternative to President Obama's challenged healthcare law. It saves money, too — about $190 billion for Minnesota over 10 years if the state adopted it, according to a Lewin Group report touted by the congressman. Healthwatch has more.

Bad for business: Small-business concerns about over-regulation are as high as they've been over the past 12 months, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Q1 Small Business Survey, with more than half (52 percent) identifying it as the greatest threat to the success of their business. Healthcare regulations were by far the top concern (38 percent), far ahead of environmental regs (21 percent).

Here's the survey.

Message war: Health policy analyst Chris Jacobs, Sen. Jim DeMint's (R-S.C.) latest hire on the Joint Economic Committee, started a new health policy blog on Monday. You can read "Freedom On Call" here.

Tuesday's agenda

Medical countermeasures: The House Homeland Security subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communications continues its series of hearings on WMD countermeasures with a focus on protecting emergency responders — including through voluntary pre-event vaccination. Top emergency preparedness and response officials from the Homeland Security and Health and Human Services departments are scheduled to testify.

Here's the agenda.

State by state

National companies want in on Oregon's healthcare reforms.

The Missouri Senate is probing how the state awarded more than $1.1 billion worth of Medicaid contracts.

Maine's Republican legislature has left its imprint on the state's health policies.

Reg watch

The Obama administration on Monday announced it was creating a single agency, the Administration for Community Living, to help keep seniors and people with disabilities in their homes. The new agency will coordinate programs currently run by the Administration on Aging, the Office on Disability and the Administration on Developmental Disabilities. 

"For too long, too many Americans have faced the impossible choice between moving to an institution or living at home without the long-term services and supports they need," said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "The goal of the new Administration for Community Living will be to help people with disabilities and older Americans live productive, satisfying lives."

Here's the HHS announcement.

Lobbying registrations

Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney / Saber Healthcare Group

Van Scoyoc Associates / Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center (traumatic brain injury research funding)

Venable / Independent Cosmetic Manufacturers and Distributor (monitoring legislative activity relating to efforts to further regulate cosmetics)

Trimpa Group / Policy Studies Inc. (HHS public services outreach)

Hogan Lovells US / CNS Response (defense appropriations; military mental health study)

Turner, Bachman and Garrett / Wellstar Health System

Troutman Sanders Public Affairs Group / Southern California Surgery Centers (medical device user fees)

Deborah Senn Expert Services / American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (health law pediatric Accountable Care organizations demo / medical homes provision)

Avenue Solutions / Cubist Pharmaceuticals (incentives for development of products to treat antibiotic-resistant infections)

Avenue Solutions / Jazz Pharmaceuticals (regulation and reimbursement of biologics)

Hogan Lovells US / Baxter International (devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology)

Tarplin, Downs & Young / Jazz Pharmaceuticals (regulation and reimbursement of biologics)

Health Policy Source / Wisk (third-party administrator promoting value-based competition)

Cavarocchi Ruscio Dennis Associates / National Association of Epilepsy Centers

Story list

Obese workers' healthcare costs top those of smokers, reports U.S. News and World Report.

Many young adults rely on the healthcare law's coverage provision, CNNMoney reports.

Jonathan Gruber, who helped craft GOP presidential front-runner Mitt Romney and President Obama's healthcare laws, says the former Massachusetts governor has to own the similarities between his plan and the president's national version.

What you might have missed on Healthwatch

Week ahead: Lawmakers tackle expiring healthcare policies

Fate of health law's Medicaid expansion hinges on how much doctors get paid

Teenage prescription drug deaths skyrocketing, CDC warns

OIG report: Post-Katrina, nursing homes still ill-prepared for disasters

Rep. Frank says he urged Obama to back off healthcare reform

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