Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, will lead the Senate Finance Committee, the committee at the center of the healthcare debate in Congress, in the new year.
Mr. Grassley will take over for Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, who is retiring. Mr. Grassley previously led the Finance Committee from June 2001 to January 2003 and January 2007 to January 2011. Here are three ways his leadership could affect the healthcare industry:
1. Based on his commentary and past priorities, Mr. Grassley is likely to push for federal policies that benefit rural hospitals. "Looking ahead, at the Finance Committee, I want to continue to work to make sure that as many Americans as possible get to experience this good economy for themselves," Mr. Grassley said in a press release. "[I]t means improving the affordability, quality and accessibility of healthcare, including in rural America."
2. He is going to be tougher on drug companies. The Hill describes Mr. Grassley as "a thorn in the side of the pharmaceutical industry." He is likely to promote legislation that targets high drug prices. In August, the Senate added his amendment to an appropriations package that requires pharmaceutical companies to list drug prices in advertisements.
3. The Finance Committee oversees taxes, Medicare and Medicaid, so any major healthcare reform initiatives will go through Mr. Grassley. He has previously voted to repeal the ACA, but was quoted in June by the Des Moines Register saying, "We've got to give up on repeal and replace."
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