House Energy and Commerce Committee Advances Health Care Legislation

Last week, the House Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee marked up and advanced 13 significant health-related bills aimed at improving access to care, combating fraud and abuse, and making health care more affordable. All the bills received unanimous, bipartisan support and will now move to the full House for consideration.

Among the measures passed was the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support (CARES) Act of 2024 (H.R. 7213). This bill aims to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize programs that support autism education, research, and resources through FY 2029.

Discussions on the bills were brief, with a few amendments offered. There was also a strong emphasis on advancing broad telehealth legislation, including the permanent extension of telehealth flexibilities introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Given the bipartisan nature of the bills, House leadership may attempt to pass these measures under suspension of the rules, which requires a two-thirds majority vote for expedited passage. This could occur as early as this summer or fall.