Jan. 27:
Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07) and
Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH-16) yesterday introduced the Protecting Patient Access to Lifesaving COVID-19 Drugs Act, legislation that would expand access to lifesaving COVID-19 treatments by requiring private health insurance plans to cover the administration costs of monoclonal antibodies without cost-sharing.
Authorized by the
Food and Drug Administration in
November 2020, monoclonal antibodies have proven to prevent COVID-19 infections and reduce COVID-19 related hospitalizations. The
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services purchased 950,000 doses from Eli Lilly and another 300,000 doses from Regeneron. While these drugs will be distributed at no cost to patients, providers are able to charge an administration fee for the intravenous infusion of the antibodies - a service that can cost well over
Congressman
Joe Neguse, announced the reintroduction of Ally s Act, his bicameral, bipartisan legislation to require private insurance companies to cover osseointegrated hearing devices ( OIDs ), including bone anchored hearing aids ( BAHA ) and cochlear implants. The bill was inspired by Ally, an 11-year-old from
Broomfield, Colorado, who was born without a right ear or hearing canal and therefore requires the use of a BAHA. After Ally s insurance company denied coverage of her hearing device, her mother Melissa formed the organization
Ear Community to help advocate for insurance coverage of these devices to ensure no person is left unable to hear because of private insurance companies refusal to provide coverage.
Jan. 27:
President
Joseph Biden released a far-reaching plan Wednesday that outlines the actions his administration will take to tackle climate change both domestically and internationally. With the scientific target squarely in focus reaching net zero emissions by 2050 in order to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius the new administration laid out elements of a roadmap for the nation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in sectors across society, from agriculture to manufacturing.
Notably, today s announcement included the creation of a
National Climate Task Force, which will bring together 21 federal agencies to work on ambitious domestic pollution reduction goals. The group will be chaired by White House National Climate Advisor
Jan. 26:
Ketchikan is joining the
Angela Salazar, a member of the Ketchikan Gateway Borough Grant Committee and co-owner of
Harbor Point business park, joins the board this month for a three-year term. She replaces
Kris Norosz of
Petersburg, who has term-limited off after serving since 2015.
Salazar grew up raising money for community activities and nonprofits and never stopped. She has held board positions with the
PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center Foundation,
Greater Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce and Ketchikan-Kanayama Sister City Exchange, and she was a member of
First City Rotary. In addition to her role on the borough Grant Committee, she leads the live auction for the hospital foundation s annual Sole-Stice Event and supports the fundraising efforts of her children s activities.
House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing,
Community Development, and Insurance. Cleaver was selected unanimously by his Democratic colleagues to chair the powerful subcommittee. It is my great honor to be selected by my colleagues as the Chair of the Subcommittee on Housing,
Community Development, and Insurance, said
Congressman Cleaver. As someone who spent the first several years of my life living in a shack with no electricity or running water and several more after that in public housing I understand how pivotal stable housing is to realizing the American dream. I look forward to working with Chairwoman Waters and my colleagues on the Financial Services Committee to do everything in our power to expand our nation s affordable housing stock, end homelessness in America, and confront the scourge of this pandemic in our communities and insurance market.