ALERT Communities Act

Tracking -a federal district court vacated a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) policy restricting 340B disproportionate share hospitals (DSHs) from using group purchasing organizations (GPOs) alongside replenishment models for outpatient drugs, concluding the agency failed to provide adequate justification under the Administrative Procedure Act. share hospitals (DSHs) from using group purchasing organizations (GPOs) alongside replenishment models for outpatient drugs, concluding the agency failed to provide adequate justification under the Administrative Procedure Act. Tracking Bills - S. 3206 Transgender Health Care Access Act, S. 2709 and HR 5081 Telehealth Modernization Act, HR 6468 Rural Residency Placement & Development Act of 2025 - the area is challenged with med students match with this region which challenges the ability to recruit new health care professionals to remain in the area. HR5821 - Rural Hospital Fairness Act, S891 - Bipartisan Health Act, S526 PBM Transparency Act - provides for full transparency in drug pricing to ensure any savings go back to patients - the Federal Trade Commission will complete a 6(b) study examining the effects of consolidation on pricing in the PBM industry, as well as other potentially abusive behavior by PBMs. The bill instructs the FTC to provide policy recommendations to Congress to improve competition and protect consumers. The hospital supports any mechanism for drug price transparency for patients. S527 - Prescription Pricing for People Act of 2025 - A study by FTC to study role of intermediaries (PBMs) in pharm. supply chain and provide recommendations for improvement of costs to patients. S927 Protecing Pharmacies in Medicaid Act - PBMs charge Medicaid more than they pay pharmacies for a particular drug, increases corporate profits while driving up costs for Medicaid. PBMs use of spread pricing has also been linked to the increasing failure rate for independent pharmacies, which provide a critical source of health care and community for rural communities. HR267 Health Care Transparency Act - statutory authority for requirements for hospitals and health insurance plans to disclose certain information about the costs for items and services. We need to ensure requirements are within appropriate information to be disclosed - challenged with varied reimbursement rates. HR 2214 - DRUG Act. The bill is impacting prescription drug costs, access, and manufacturing practices. These include the Inflation Reduction Act's provisions for Medicare Part D, amendments to the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, and potential changes related to PBMs and direct-to-consumer advertising. Supporting best and most affordable care for patients. Tracking House Bills on price transaparency, drug controls, community care H.R. 9393 - Lower Costs, More Transparency Act of 2026 (Guthrie, Pallone): Codifies existing price transparency rules for hospitals and health plans American Hospital Association. H.R. 9390 - Prices on the Wall Act of 2026 (Miller-Meeks): Requires hospitals to post service pricing physically on their walls American Hospital Association. H.R. 9397 - Premium Transparency Act (Pfluger, Moran): Mandates insurers to disclose how much of premiums go toward healthcare costs subscriber.politicopro.com. H.R. 9396 - Prior Authorization Accountability Act (Goldman-TX): Improves transparency and consistency in prior authorization for Medicare Advantage plans American Hospital Association. H.R. 5243 - Medicare Advantage Data Transparency Amendment: Increases data transparency for supplemental benefits under Medicare Advantage House Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 9395 - Transparency in Medicare Advantage Steering Act (Ocasio-Cortez): Enhances oversight and transparency in Medicare Advantage steering House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Access to Care & Community Health H.R. 8201 - Expanding Community Access to Health Services Act (Lee-NV): Requires community health centers to provide behavioral health and substance use disorder services, with related funding AACOM. H.R. 9389 - Nutrition Education and Chronic Disease Prevention in Community Health Centers Act of 2026 (Harshbarger): Expands nutrition education and chronic disease prevention services at Federally Qualified Health Centers AACOM. H.R. 3514 - Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act of 2025 (Kelly, DelBene): Reduces variation in prior authorization methods for Medicare Advantage plans American Hospital Association. Illicit Drug Control H.R. 1266 - Combatting Illicit Xylazine Act (Panetta, Pfluger): Places xylazine on the controlled substances list subscriber.politicopro.com. H.R. 7970 - STOP Nitazenes Act (Latta): Places nitazenes on the controlled substances list subscriber.politicopro.com. H.R. 2004 - Tylers Law (Lieu, Latta): Expands naloxone access and overdose prevention measures House Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 1561 - ALERT Communities Act (Crockett, Gooden): Supports community-based overdose prevention and response House Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 7994 - HERO Act (Ruiz): Enhances harm reduction and overdose prevention services House Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 5880 - Fight Illicit Pill Presses Act (Hageman, Stansbury) & H.R. 8005 - Stop Pills That Kill Act (Evans): Target illicit drug manufacturing and distribution House Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 7184 - PRESS Act (McDowell): Addresses illicit drug production and distribution

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $24,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), SENATE

Issues related to vaccine access and evidence-based resources for patients and pharmacists (generally, no specific legislation). Tylers Law (H.R. 2004), the ALERT Communities Act (H.R. 1561), and the HERO Act (H.R. 7994), issues related to access to fentanyl test strips and medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). The Eliminating Thickets to Increase Competition Act (ETHIC) Act (H.R. 3269), the Affordable Prescriptions for Patents Act (H.R. 1768), the Skinny Labels, Big Savings Act (H.R. 6485), the Medication Affordability and Patent Integrity Act (S. 2658), and the Ensuring Timely Access to Generics Act of 2025 (S. 3014), issues related to drug pricing, drug shortages, drug importation plans, and the drug supply chain. Issues related to telehealth and pharmacist provision of testing and vaccination (generally, no specific legislation). Patient access to pharmacist provided services for respiratory illnesses, initiation of oral antivirals, buprenorphine, and other pharmacist services authorized under state law (generally, no specific legislation). Issues related to healthcare workforce shortages (generally, no specific legislation). The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act (H.R. 929/S. 266), provisions related to supporting health workers mental health and well-being. Issues related to implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act (generally, no specific legislation). The Drug-Price Transparency for Consumers (DTC) Act (H.R.3789), issues related to direct-to-consumer (DTC) prescription drug advertising. The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Act, 2027 (H.R. 8646), issues related to funding of FDA. Issues related to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) decision to end the use of federal funds to purchase fentanyl test strips or other substance test kits, including xylazine and medetomidine test strips, that are distributed for individual use. Issues related to mail-order access to mifepristone (generally, no specific legislation). Issues related to pharmacist deprescribing medications (generally, no specific legislation). The Medication Affordability and Patent Integrity Act, issues related to preventing manufacturers from filing inconsistent information with the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, with the intent to unfairly extend product exclusivity. The Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act of 2025 (H.R. 3514) and the Prior Authorization Accountability Act (H.R. 9396), issues related to prior authorization.

Client expense: $260,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), SENATE, White House Office

H.R.1266 - Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, all provisions H.R.1561 - ALERT Communities Act, all provisions H.R.2004 - Tylers Law, all provisions H.R.7970 - STOP Nitazenes Act, all provisions H.R.7994 - HERO Act, all provisions Comment Letter: [2026-11602] HHS Request for Comment on Chronic Disease of Addiction Chronic Disease of Addiction Fentanyl Substance use and mental health

Client expense: $5,130,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA)