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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, along with Reps. Palmer (AL-06), Carter (GA-01), Bilirakis (FL-12), and Obernolte (CA-23), penned a letter to the Executive Director of Covered California (CoveredCA), Jessica Altman, to request further information related to the potentially unauthorized transmission of sensitive personal health information involving Covered California’s website. Key Letter Excerpt: “According to public reports and agency statements, tracking technology was embedded on Covered California's website beginning in February 2024, as part of a broader digital advertising effort, and in direct contravention of the tracking platform’s user agreement, which prohibits the use of such tools on pages that collect sensitive health information. Although the tags were reportedly removed in April 2025, following external scrutiny and a vendor transition, the extended period of data exposure raises serious questions about the adequacy of safeguards that Covered California had in place. Forensic testing by investigative reporters identified the trackers in operation and confirmed that user-entered health information was being transmitted to third parties without consent. These circumstances warrant examination of Covered California’s actions under federal privacy standards.” “Ensuring the confidentiality of health information is a foundational obligation for entities operating within the health insurance ecosystem. Federal privacy protections, particularly the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), establish expectations for how covered organizations handle sensitive data. Recent reports and public filings raised questions about whether those expectations were met in this case, and whether existing oversight mechanisms are sufficient to detect and prevent improper disclosures.” Background: Forensic testing shows Covered California —the State of California’s official health insurance marketplace—has been sending sensitive user health data to third-party websites through several online data trackers. Prior to removal of the trackers, CoveredCA had more than 60 trackers active on its website; the average number of trackers on a government website is three. Some types of information sent to such websites include: Searches for doctors in network with specific plans/specializations Demographic information, including gender, ethnicity, and marital status Length of treatment a patent received by a provider Frequency of doctor visits If the user indicated they were blind, pregnant, a victim of domestic abuse, or used prescription medications. The State of California independently operates CoveredCA. As the state’s official ACA marketplace, CoveredCA falls under the purview of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The disclosure of information such as pregnancy or prescription drug use without proper consent—even for “marketing purposes”—may violate HIPAA. This Congress, the Committee has sent letters to 23andMe and DeepSeek over potential data privacy concerns: The Committee also held a hearing last Congress on the Change Healthcare hack, where personal health information was also jeopardized. CLICK HERE to read Fox News coverage of the letter. CLICK HERE to view the full letter. ###

Washington, D.C. — In a new letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Inspector General Christi Grimm, House Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans requested an investigation into the strength, quality, and types of evidence-based scientific and pediatric medical literature relied on by the department to promote gender transition procedures for children.  KEY LETTER EXCERPT:  “As the agency responsible for safeguarding the health and well-being of Americans, all of HHS’s medical treatment recommendations, especially medical treatment recommendations for children, should be based on rigorous and well-established research, such as randomized controlled trials, that have definitively illustrated the long-term benefits of gender affirming care treatments.”  BACKGROUND:  Under the Biden administration, HHS has advocated for sex reassignment procedures on minors, including the use of serum puberty blockers, which have historically been used to treat children with precocious puberty (i.e., early onset puberty affecting about one percent of U.S. children) and sex offenders.   Puberty blockers, however, are known to stunt normal childhood development in children unaffected by precocious puberty.  HHS officials contend that sex reassignment procedures on minors are an unanimously accepted medical practice.  HHS Secretary Becerra testified before Congress that “every major medical association,” “medical journals,” and “scientific and medical evidence” has demonstrated the benefits of transitioning children’s biological sex.  When asked, via a Freedom of Information Act request, for the underlying scientific or medical basis for its position, HHS was only able to produce a two-page brochure that was already publicly available.  In contrast to HHS, a growing body of literature from medical experts and authorities around the world, including those in Europe, caution against performing such procedures on minors.   Courts and government health agencies responsible for determining child welfare have sought to limit child sex reassignment procedures.   Other countries have banned these interventions and surgeries on minors altogether.  An article published in the British Journal of Medicine found “there is great uncertainty about the effects of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries in young people.”   A court in the United Kingdom noted the obvious about administering puberty blocking chemicals onto children: “[i]t is highly unlikely that a child aged 13 or under would be competent to give consent to the administration of puberty blockers. It is doubtful that a child aged 14 or 15 could understand and weigh the long-term risks and consequences of the administration of puberty blockers.”  In April 2024, the Cass Review , an independent review of gender identity services for children and young people, commissioned by the National Health Service England, found “[w]hile a considerable amount of research has been published in this field, systematic evidence reviews demonstrated the poor quality of the published studies, meaning there is not a reliable evidence base upon which to make clinical decisions, or for children and their families to make informed choices.”   The Cass Review also found that “[t]he rationale for early puberty suppression remains unclear, with weak evidence regarding the impact on gender dysphoria, mental or psychosocial health,” as well as unknown effects on cognitive and psychosexual development.  In August 2024, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) became the first major U.S. medical association to express caution on the use of gender surgery for gender dysphoria in adolescents. In its formal statement, the association stated: “ASPS currently understands that there is considerable uncertainty as to the long-term efficacy for the use of chest and genital surgical interventions for the treatment of adolescents with gender dysphoria, and the existing evidence base is viewed as low quality/low certainty. This patient population requires specific considerations.”   The letter was signed by Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Subcommittee on Health Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA), Rep. Gary Palmer (R-AL), Rep. Neal Dunn (R-FL), Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX), Rep. Troy Balderson (R-OH), Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX), Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), and Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL).  CLICK HERE to read the letter.

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) issued the following statement after President Biden signed H.R. 7189, the Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act , into law. The bill, led by Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), passed unanimously in the House on September 23, 2024, and the Senate on September 25, 2024. “More than 40,000 babies in the United States are born with a heart defect each year, making this news a positive step toward saving lives and improving the health and wellbeing of those affected by congenital heart conditions. I commend Rep. Bilirakis for his leadership on this bipartisan law that will support research and education on congenital heart disease throughout every stage of life,” said Chair Rodgers .  "As a co-founder of the Congenital Heart Caucus, I’ve become familiar with the struggles patients with congenital heart disease and their families face. This new law brings us one step closer to enhancing better treatment options and improving outcomes for all patients suffering with this condition. We’ve seen that this program yields positive results and I look forward to it continuing to help future generations live longer, healthier lives," said Rep. Bilirakis . H.R. 7189 reauthorizes and makes improvements to the national congenital heart disease research, surveillance, and awareness program at the CDC through fiscal year 2029. It passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously on March 20, 2024.

Bilirakis-led bill heads to the President’s desk Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) issued the following statement after the Senate passed H.R. 7189, the Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act , unanimously. The bill, led by Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), previously passed the House unanimously on September 23, 2024, will now be sent to the President’s desk. “With more than 40,000 babies in the United States born with a heart defect each year, Congress answered the American people’s call for action. This bipartisan legislation will support research and education regarding congenital heart disease, as well as the impact heart defects have on individuals throughout every stage of life. I commend Rep. Bilirakis for championing this effort and look forward to the President signing it into law,” said Chair Rodgers . “ As a co-founder of the Congenital Heart Caucus, I’ve become familiar with the struggles patients with congenital heart disease and their families face. Our legislation will bring us one step closer to enhancing better treatment options and improving outcomes for all patients suffering with this condition. We’ve seen that this program yields positive results, and, when it is signed into law, it will help future generations live longer, healthier lives,"  said Congressman Bilirakis . H.R. 7189 reauthorizes and makes improvements to the national congenital heart disease research, surveillance, and awareness program at the CDC through fiscal year 2029. It passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously on March 20, 2024.

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) issued the following statement after the House passed nine health bills:  “These bipartisan bills will help improve the health and wellbeing of the American people, including individuals battling Alzheimer’s and children suffering from rare diseases, as well as those living with a disability. I’m grateful to my Energy and Commerce colleagues for moving the bills through regular order and will work to see them signed into law.”  BACKGROUND :  H.R. 8108 – To amend title XIX of the SSA to add a Medicaid State plan requirement with respect to determination of residency of certain individuals serving in Armed Forces:   Led by Reps. Jen Kiggans (R-VA) and Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)  Requires States to continue to provide Medicaid coverage for (or retain waiting list placement for) active-duty military families who are receiving home and community-based services (or are on the waitlist to receive such services) in the event that the family moves out of state for military relocation.  Passed the House unanimously.  Passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously on September 18, 2024.  S. 133 – NAPA Reauthorization Act :  Led by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME)  Reauthorizes and makes improvements to the National Alzheimer’s Project including expanding the membership of the project’s advisory council.   Passed the House unanimously.  House companion (H.R. 619), led by Reps. Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Chris Smith (R-NJ), passed out of the House Energy and Committee unanimously on March 20, 2024.  S. 134 – Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act :  Led by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME)  Requires the NIH to continue to submit an annual budget estimate to Congress to achieve the initiatives and goals included in the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease.  Passed the House unanimously.  House companion (H.R. 620), led by Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Paul Tonko (R-NY), passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously on March 20, 2024.   H.R. 6829 – HEARTS Act :  Led by Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ)  Promotes student access to AEDs and CPR in schools, including educational materials, training programs, and equipment.  Passed the House unanimously.  Passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously on March 20, 2024.  H.R. 3884 – Sickle Cell Disease and Other Heritable Blood Disorders Research, Surveillance, Prevention, and Treatment Act :  Led by Reps. Michael Burgess, M.D., (R-TX) and Danny Davis (D-IL)  Reauthorizes programs and activities under the CDC and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) aimed to support research, prevention, and treatment for sickle cell disease and other heritable blood disorders through fiscal year 2028.  Passed the House unanimously.  Passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously on July 19, 2023.  H.R. 2706 – Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act :  Led by Reps. Kat Cammack (R-FL) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI)  Prohibits health care providers and other entities from denying or restricting an individual's access to organ transplants solely based on an individual's disability, except in limited circumstances.  Passed the House unanimously.  Passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously on March 20, 2024.  H.R. 5526 – Seniors’ Access to Critical Medications Act :  Led by Reps. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)  Amends the physician self-referral law to permit Medicare patients to receive prescription drugs via caregivers picking up drugs on the patient’s behalf or via mail or couriers delivering the drug to the patient in instances when a provider prescribes a drug to be dispensed by a pharmacy that falls under the self-referral law’s definition of an in-office ancillary service.  Passed the House unanimously.  Passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously on June 12, 2024.  H.R. 3433 – Give Kids a Chance Act :  Led by Reps. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA)  R eauthorizes the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rare pediatric disease priority review voucher (PRV) program through fiscal year 2029.  Requires the FDA to establish an office in an Abraham Accord country.  Allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to collect registration fees and distribute these fees to support the operation of Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network.  Passed the House unanimously.  Passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously on September 18, 2024.  H.R. 7189 – Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act :  Led by Reps. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Darren Soto (FL)  Reauthorizes and makes improvements to the national congenital heart disease research, surveillance, and awareness program at the CDC through fiscal year 2029.  Passed the House unanimously.  Passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously on March 20, 2024. 

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Health Subcommittee Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY) issued the following statement after H.R. 2365, the Dr. Emmanuel Bilirakis and Honorable Jennifer Wexton National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act , was signed into law: "This bipartisan legislation will help support research into prevention, diagnosis, and treatment options for patients with Parkinson’s disease, which an estimated one million Americans live with every day. It is a huge step forward for patients, their loved ones, and caretakers working to support those battling the disease,” said Chairs Rodgers and Guthrie. "We commend Reps. Gus Bilirakis and Paul Tonko for shepherding this legislation through the Energy and Commerce Committee, both chambers of Congress, and to the President’s desk.” Congressman Bilirakis also added, “I celebrate this important milestone in memory of my dear brother, other family members, and on behalf of all Americans who are still struggling with this debilitating disease. It takes a terrible toll on the physical, emotional and economic well-being of everyone involved. The lack of treatment options leave patients, families, and American taxpayers in a terrible quandary. We must change our approach to get better results, which is exactly what our legislation will do. It builds upon past successes and strives to replicate other national project models that have helped advance health care goals and treatment options. This critical legislation will provide hope to those who are suffering and hopefully lead to better patient outcomes with less expensive disease management. I thank my colleagues and the many patient advocates who helped us get the bill across the finish line!” H.R 2365 was reported out of the Energy and Commerce Committee by a vote of 47 – 0 on December 6, 2023. It passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 407 – 9 on December 14, 2023, and passed by the Senate unanimously on May 23, 2024. President Biden signed H.R. 2365, the Dr. Emmanuel Bilirakis and Honorable Jennifer Wexton National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act , into law on July 2, 2024. 

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) today announced a full committee markup this week of 13 Health bills. “This week, the Energy and Commerce Committee will continue advancing smart, bipartisan policies that deliver solutions for the American people. The legislation we will consider builds upon the successes this Committee has led on this Congress to increase access to care, address waste, fraud, and abuse, and help make care more affordable,” said Chair Rodgers. “I thank all of the Members on both sides of the aisle for their hard work and leadership on these bills, and I look forward to advancing them to the full House later this week.”  WHAT: A Full Committee markup of 13 bills.   DATE: Wednesday, June 12, 2024    TIME: 10:00 AM ET LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building   LEGISLATION TO BE CONSIDERED:     H.R. 6020 , Honor Our Living Donors Act (Reps. Obernolte and DelBene)   H.R. 455 , To amend the Controlled Substances Act to fix a technical error in the definitions (Reps. Burchett and Cohen)   H.R. 4534 , Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act of 2023 (Reps. Boyle and Fitzpatrick)   H.R. 5012 , Stillbirth Health Improvement and Education (SHINE) for Autumn Act of 2023 (Reps. Y. Kim and Castor)   H.R. 7213 , Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support (CARES) Act of 2024 (Reps. C. Smith and Cuellar)   H.R. 8084 , LIVE Beneficiaries Act (Reps. Bilirakis and Craig)   H.R. 8089 , Medicare and Medicaid Fraud Prevention Act of 2024 (Reps. Garcia and Peters)   H.R. 8111 , To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to ensure the reliability of address information provided under the Medicaid program (Reps. Miller-Meeks and Cartwright)   H.R. 8112 , To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to further require certain additional provider screening under the Medicaid program (Rep. D’Esposito)   H.R. 4758 , Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act (Reps. Trahan and Miller-Meeks)   H.R. 5526 , Seniors’ Access to Critical Medications Act (Reps. Harshbarger and Wasserman Schultz)   H.R. 6033 , Supporting Patient Education And Knowledge (SPEAK) Act of 2023 (Reps. Steel and Gomez)   H.R. 7858 , Telehealth Enhancement for Mental Health Act of 2024 (Reps. James and D.G. Davis)     This notice is at the direction of the Chair. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be live streamed online at https://energycommerce.house.gov/ . If you have any questions concerning the hearing, please contact Emma Schultheis with the Committee staff at Emma.Schultheis@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Christopher Krepich at Christopher.Krepich@mail.house.gov .

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Subcommittee on Health Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY), and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith (R-VA), on behalf of the Health and Oversight Subcommittee Republicans, wrote to National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Monica Bertagnolli. In the letter, the Chairs ask the NIH to confirm by May 14, 2024, whether the agency has complied with White House guidance to stop funding projects led by researchers and entities in Russia.  BACKGROUND :  On June 11, 2022, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) issued guidance stating such projects and programs that commenced and/or were funded prior to Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 may be concluded, but new projects in affected subject areas will not be initiated.   The OSTP advised applicable departments and agencies to curtail interaction with the leadership of Russian government-affiliated universities and research institutions, as well as those who have publicly expressed support for the invasion of Ukraine.  In a statement in an April 9, 2023, article in The Washington Times , the NIH’s Office of Extramural Research claimed that “NIH currently does not fund any research in Russia.”  However, the Data Abyss tracker for the OSTP Russia guidance on federal funding agencies indicates that, as of April 5, 2024, the NIH has potentially 240 instances of problematic research collaborations since June 2022 that do not comply with the guidance. CLICK HERE to read the letter.

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Subcommittee on Health Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY) today announced a legislative hearing titled "Legislative Proposals to Increase Medicaid Access and Improve Program Integrity." “Medicaid is indispensable to millions of Americans, particularly those with disabilities who rely on long-term services and supports. It’s critical that we work to bolster access to those services while also improving the integrity of the program to ensure that states can continue to offer care for years to come,” said Chairs Rodgers and Guthrie. “We thank the Members who have led on these proposals—many of which are bipartisan—and look forward to hearing from Deputy Administrator Tsai on how we can strengthen Medicaid for those it was designed to assist.” Subcommittee on Health hearing titled "Legislative Proposals to Increase Medicaid Access and Improve Program Integrity.”  WHAT : A hearing to discuss legislative proposals that will strengthen the Medicaid program for individuals most in need.    DATE : Tuesday, April 30, 2024      TIME : 10:00 AM ET  LOCATION : 2123 Rayburn House Office Building      WITNESS :   Daniel Tsai, Deputy Administrator and Director of the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)   LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS TO BE DISCUSSED :  H.R. 124 , Byron Nash Renal Medullary Carcinoma Awareness of 2023 (Rep. Green)  H.R. 468 , Building America’s Health Care Workforce Act (Reps. Guthrie and Dean)  H.R. 670 , Think Differently Database Act (Reps. Molinaro and Sherrill)  H.R. 3227 , Ensuring Seniors’ Access to Quality Care Act (Reps. Estes and Connolly)  H.R. 7513 , Protecting America’s Seniors Access to Care Act (Reps. Fischbach and Pence)  H.R. 7573 , Stop Unfair Medicaid Recoveries Act (Rep. Schakowsky)  H.R. 8084 , To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require States to verify certain eligibility criteria for individuals enrolled for medical assistance quarterly, and for other purposes (Reps. Bilirakis and Craig)  H.R. 8089 , To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require certain additional provider screening under the Medicaid program (Reps. Garcia and Peters)  H.R. 8094 , To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to modify certain asset recovery rules (Rep. Kean)  H.R. 8106 , To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to remove the requirement that an individual need an institutional level of care in order to qualify for home and community-based services under a Medicaid waiver (Reps. McMorris Rodgers and Pallone)  H.R. 8107 , To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to remove certain age restrictions on Medicaid eligibility for working adults with disabilities (Reps. Ciscomani and Gluesenkamp Perez)  H.R. 8108 , To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require medical assistance under the Medicaid program for certain home and community-based services for military families (Reps. Kiggans and Kaptur)  H.R. 8109 , To amend the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 to make permanent the Money Follows the Person rebalancing demonstration (Reps. Dingell and Balderson)  H.R. 8110 , To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to make permanent the State option to extend protection against spousal impoverishment for recipients of home and community-based services under Medicaid (Reps. Dingell and James)   H.R. 8111 , To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to ensure the reliability of address information provided under the Medicaid program (Reps. Miller-Meeks and Cartwright)  H.R. 8112 , To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require certain additional provider screening under the Medicaid program (Rep. D’Esposito)  H.R. 8113 , To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require reporting on certain directed payments under the Medicaid program (Rep. Griffith)    H.R. 8114 , To prohibit the Secretary of Health and Human Services from finalizing a rule proposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to place certain limitations on Medicaid payments for home and community-based services (Rep. Cammack)  H.R. 8115 , To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to allow for the deferral or disallowance of portions of payments for certain managed care violations under Medicaid (Rep. Sarbanes)  This notice is at the direction of the Chair. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be live streamed online at https://energycommerce.house.gov/ . If you have any questions concerning the hearing, please contact Emma Schultheis with the Committee staff at Emma.Schultheis@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Christopher Krepich at Christopher.Krepich@mail.house.gov .