What We’re Reading: AHIP President to Step Down; House Panel Advances PBM Bills; Default Could Stop FDA Reviews

AHIP President and CEO to Step Down

President and CEO of America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) Matthew Eyles has decided to step down from the group in October after almost 5 years at the helm, AHIP announced. During his tenure at the lobbying group, insurers overall saw growth in Medicare Advantage plans and Medicaid managed care. AHIP said it was his decision to leave.

House Panel Furthers Transparency and PBM Bills

The House Energy and Commerce Committee moved ahead a series of health care measures to elevate price transparency and reconstruct regulation of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in a predominantly bipartisan markup Wednesday, reported AXIOS. The measures advanced on a unanimous 49-0 vote that addressed codifying and strengthening hospitals and insurers to make negotiated prices easier to access, imposing new transparency requirements on PBMs and forbidding their ability to charge more than they pay for a drug and keep the difference in Medicaid, and more.

US Debt Default Could Stop Drug, Device Approvals

FDA approvals of emerging drugs and devices will stop if the debt ceiling negotiations fail and the US defaults on its debt, said Commissioner Robert Califf, according to Bloomberg Law. Debt limit conversations remain at a deadlock over spending cuts, especially those demanded by Republicans. A default would mean the company has nothing to pay FDA scientific reviewers. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the government could be drained of funds by June 1.