Following Congress’s brief extension of the continuing resolution funding the federal government,. the Senate is on track to join the House of Representatives in passing  the CRonnibus bill (HR 83) which will continue to fund the federal government through September 30, 2015, with the exception of the Department of Homeland Security whose funding will end on February 27. 2015.  Interestingly, the CRomnibus does include a few amendments tot the Affordable Care Act, but none of those changes significantly effects the FEHBP.  The President has promised to sign this bill.

The FEHBlog has complained about Gilead’s pricing of its Hepatitis  C drugs. The Washington Post reports that the health plan for Philadelphia’s public transportation system has sued Gilead for unjust enrichment, violating federal antitrust law,  and violating the ACA’s broad anti-discrimination law. PHSA Sec. 1557 as a result of that pricing decision.  The FEHBlog will be following this lawsuit.

The Washington Post also reports that the Senate’s Republican conference has agreed to require all of its staff members to receive health benefits coverage from the DC marketplace rather than the FEHBP. This change will take effect in 2015.