ARTICLE SUMMARY:
Changeovers begin on Capitol Hill. Excerpted from Pathways’ Picks December 11: Capitol Hill Chairs, EU Check-In, AI Updates From UK and Asia.
An experienced healthcare legislator was tapped to chair the House Energy and Commerce Committee, with jurisdiction over FDA and CMS, in the next Congress. Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY) will take the reins from retiring Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), the Republican House leadership decided December 
9. Guthrie is generally aligned with industry, and he is a cosponsor of the Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act to streamline Medicare coverage for Breakthrough Devices, one of medtech’s top legislative priorities. He is moving up from his current post as chair of the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, where he plays a central role in crafting healthcare legislation, including the most recent FDA user fee reauthorization bill. In his new post, he will oversee the next user fee bill among other healthcare packages. Guthrie’s ascension leaves an opening for Health Subcommittee Chair. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) will retain his role as ranking member of Energy and Commerce.
Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO) will retain his role as chair of the Ways and Means Committee, which shares jurisdiction over Medicare policies and is the lead House committee on tax policy. In the Senate, where control is changing hands from Democrats to Republicans, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), who is a physician and key player on healthcare policies, will take over as chair of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. HELP leads on FDA policy and the confirmation of FDA commissioners. Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) is expected to helm the Finance Committee, which leads on tax and Medicare policy, including the confirmation of CMS administrators.
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