TGIF

David Ermer–Uncategorized–

OPM reminds us that today is dedicated to efforts to improve heart health. The FEHBlog had no idea.

Yesterday, OPM acting director Beth Cobert had her confirmation hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Everyone on the Committee and the FEHBlog agrees that Ms. Cobert is well qualified for this position. Nevertheless, the Federal Times explains that there are five issues hounding her nomination to serve as permanent OPM direction. The FEHBP is not one of them.

Also the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee held a hearing on prescription drug pricing. Health Data Management offers this interesting perspective on the causes of rising prescription drug spending.  The article identifies electronic prescription devices, which Congress mandated, as one cause.

In other legislative news  –

  • The Hill suggests that Sen. Tom Carper’s Postal reform bill called iPOST may get enacted this year. The bill would create a Postal Service Health Program within the FEHBP.  
  • Healthcare Dive reports on a bipartisan bill to expand coverage of everyone’s darling, telehealth. 
  • The Week in Congress provides its look back on this week’s activities on Capitol Hill. 
Finally EHR Intelligence tracks the progress of five electronic medical record interoperability initiatives, which are the FEHBlog’s darlings. Better late than never.