Congressional Hearing on Opioid Misuse and CMS Oversight
January 1, 2019
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The Frame
The hearing examines how federal agencies monitor and address opioid prescribing and usage patterns within Medicare and Medicaid, which directly impacts the healthcare coverage and safety protocols for millions of program beneficiaries.
Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.
Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries
These individuals are subject to federal policies and oversight regarding opioid prescriptions and coverage.
Healthcare providers
Providers participating in Medicare and Medicaid must comply with federal guidelines and monitoring regarding opioid prescribing.
Last recorded activity January 1, 2019.
Next step not available in the current record.
Summary
Key Facts
- The hearing was held on January 17, 2018, by the Subcommittee on Oversight of the Committee on Ways and Means.
- The primary focus was the role of CMS in preventing opioid misuse in federal healthcare programs.
- Witnesses included representatives from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), and CMS.
- The record includes formal questions submitted for the record to CMS, GAO, and HHS officials following the hearing.
- Several external organizations submitted statements for the record, including the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists and Quest Diagnostics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the purpose of this hearing?
Who testified at this hearing?
Why It Matters
The hearing examines how federal agencies monitor and address opioid prescribing and usage patterns within Medicare and Medicaid, which directly impacts the healthcare coverage and safety protocols for millions of program beneficiaries.
News Coverage
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Increased Oversight of Opioids
The hearing highlights a transition toward more rigorous federal monitoring of prescription drug patterns within public health programs.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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