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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies with jurisdiction over the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) – announced during the hearing today the Subcommittee’s intent to hold future oversight hearings on the Artemis program.
“I plan on today’s hearing being the first in an ongoing dialogue with NASA and others to explore the Artemis program and the impact it will have on our country,” said Sen. Moran. “It goes without saying the significant impact the Apollo program had on our nation. We continue to reap the benefits of those missions, and I anticipate that Artemis will do the same for years to come.”
“I want to commend you, Administrator Bridenstine, Vice President Pence and the Trump Administration for continuing that inspiration with its bold visions, historic accomplishments and your focus of returning astronauts to the Moon with the Artemis program,” continued Sen. Moran.
Click HERE to Watch Sen. Moran’s Full Remarks
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed S. 2661, the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act, legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) to designate 9-8-8 as the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline. The Senate unanimously passed this legislation in May, and it will now go to the president to be signed into law.
This legislation would statutorily designate 9-8-8 as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which would include the Veterans Crisis Line for veteran-specific mental health support. The current National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Veterans Crisis Line is 10-digits long, which is a barrier to Americans in crisis seeking support.
“This legislation provides an easy-to-remember number and easy-to-access service for people in need of a helping hand,” said Senator Moran. “I commend members of the House for passing this legislation, and I look forward to continuing to work with my Senate colleagues and the FCC to make certain 9-8-8 is implemented quickly and effectively once signed into law.”
“With approval from the House of Representatives today, our bipartisan bill to create a three-digit suicide hotline and make it easier for Americans dealing with a mental health crisis to receive life-saving support is now another step closer to becoming reality,” said Senator Gardner. “I’ve held countless meetings and roundtables with families, students, mental health care professionals, law enforcement officials, and others to address our state’s mental health needs. The tragic fact is we lose a Coloradan to death by suicide every seven hours, and we must keep fighting to provide mental health support to Coloradans in need, particularly in this time of crisis. I applaud the House for approving this bipartisan, commonsense legislation, and I look forward to the President signing it into law in order to save lives.”
“In America, we lose about 45,000 people every year to suicide, including more than 6,100 veterans, making it one of the leading causes of death in this country,” said Senator Baldwin. “We need to do everything we can to prevent suicide and that means improving the tools we have to help people who are suffering from depression or other mental health concerns. I’m very proud our bipartisan legislation has passed the House of Representatives so we can make it as quick and easy as possible for Americans in crisis to get the help and support they need through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the Veterans Crisis Line.”
“The national suicide hotline is a proven lifesaver and this legislation will connect more people to the help they need, when they need it. The simplified, nationwide, three-digit number will expand the lifeline’s reach and link people to professional assistance,” said Senator Reed. “People know 9-1-1 is for emergencies and 3-1-1 is for local services. Now we must raise awareness to ensure people know 9-8-8 is for suicide prevention. Just as importantly, we need to back the hotline up with adequate resources and appropriate staffing levels.”
Until the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) finalizes the technical implementation of 9-8-8 as the nationwide number, anyone seeking help should still call 1-800-273-8255.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today issued the following statement after the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg:
“Justice Ginsburg was a trailblazer, tackling each challenge with passion, dedication and extraordinary intellect. She served her country with honor and had an historic impact on the court and the nation. Robba and I are praying for her family.”
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies – yesterday questioned Admiral Brett Giroir, Assistant Secretary for Health at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), during an Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on a recent request for information HHS released that could create new manufacturing opportunities for Thermo Fisher Scientific based out of Lenexa.
“We were alerted, just recently, about an HHS request for information that was posted last week, soliciting interests from laboratories that could scale up with additional equipment from Thermo Fisher Scientific,” said Sen. Moran. “Thermo Fisher is located in Kansas, and recently expanded to create more test tubes for COVID-19 tests.”
Click HERE to watch Sen. Moran’s full questioning or find the transcript below.
Transcript of full exchange:
Sen. Moran: We were alerted, just recently, about an HHS request for information that was posted—I think it was posted last week. It was soliciting interests from laboratories that could scale up with additional equipment from Thermo Fisher Scientific. Thermo Fisher is located in Kansas, and we have—just recently they had an expansion to create more test tubes to do the test results. Could you tell me what the ultimate plans are, assuming that you receive interests from these laboratories? And more specifically, what's the budget for this strategy? How many labs do you intend to support and how much more testing will get accomplished?
Admiral Giroir: So, let me just say first, it was an NIH solicitation, and we received information from about 27 universities that had interest. Let me just say a top-line piece, particularly now, is that they're certain types of assays, like Hologic, like Roche, like Cephied, that are relatively flat, but there's huge supply of other outstanding assays of which Thermo Fisher has. They have a huge industrial capability; they have instruments; they have everything that goes with it: soup to nuts, full “Happy Meal,” however you want to say it. So, we're trying to encourage laboratories around the country, including universities, to use these because Thermo Fisher could make tens of millions of high-quality laboratory-based assays. We've supplied some of these to private laboratories like Sonic and Aegis, and we’re also trying to make sure that the universities use what they have, but also if they need help we’re happy to fund this. This is a relatively small amount of money to get them the capability to do assays, and Thermo Fisher has been really good to work with about really knocking down the prices, particularly for surveillance. So, it's really another way to try to get the message out. We talk of thousands of universities, but Thermo is just one of those assets that we have a lot of. It's an excellent test; it's a great company; we want people to use it.
Sen. Moran: And, too early to tell whether there's a response? Whether your outreach is having any effect?
Admiral Giroir: Seriously, probably three times a week we match a major laboratory up with Thermo Fisher, getting their instruments together with their supplies. So, it is absolutely having an effect. Again, we have a lot of capability; we just want to make sure that people understand where the capabilities are, and Thermo's one of them.
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Sen. Moran Joins Bipartisan Effort Urging HHS to Address Pharmaceutical Companies Undermining 340B Program
Sep 17 2020
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), today joined a bipartisan group of Senators in calling for a prompt response from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to address recent actions of pharmaceutical companies that threaten to undermine the 340B Drug Pricing Program during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
The 340B program requires drug companies to sell discounted prescription drugs to safety-net hospitals, rural health facilities and other entities that provide care in underserved communities. Savings from the 340B program ensure that these “covered entities” are able to continue to serve their patients. However, drug manufacturers have recently announced new requirements and limitations on eligible entities within the 340B program.
In a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar, the bipartisan group of Senators urged the administration to take immediate enforcement action to halt these tactics and ensure safety-net providers are able to continue providing life-saving medications to patients across the country.
“In the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, where providers have seen drops in revenue and available resources, it is critically important that 340B covered entities, including federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), FQHC Look-Alikes, children’s hospitals, Ryan White HIV/AIDS clinics, and other safety-net hospitals and providers are able to continue to serve the individuals who seek out their care,” the Senators wrote. “As these threats to the Program progress, we fear the potential exacerbation of these shortfalls in resources for providers at a time when they are needed most.”
The bipartisan letter was led by Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and signed by Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Patty Murray (D-Wa.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Doug Jones (D-Ala.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Angus King (I-Maine), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.).
This bipartisan effort is supported by the American Hospital Association (AHA), America’s Essential Hospitals, American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) and 340B Health, as well as many health providers across Kansas who rely on this program to provide services to patients.
“The AHA thanks this bipartisan group of senators for their important effort to protect the 340B program, and the vulnerable communities it benefits, from big drug companies’ efforts to harm the program,” said Tom Nickels, AHA Executive Vice President. “The AHA continues to call on the Department of Health and Human Services to take action against drug companies and to protect the patients and communities the 340B program helps serve.”
“The AAMC appreciates Senators from both sides of the aisle working together to protect the 340B program and patients,” said Karen Fisher, JD, Chief Public Policy Officer of the Association of American Medical Colleges. “Particularly in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is unwarranted that several major drug companies are attempting to undermine this important program that allows safety net hospitals, including many teaching hospitals, to provide critical health care services to vulnerable patients in communities across the country.”
“340B has a long history of bipartisan support in Congress. Drug companies must stop denying discounts on expensive outpatient drugs in violation of the 340B statute,” said Maureen Testoni, President and CEO of 340B Health. “We appreciate the efforts of these Senate leaders in making that message crystal clear.”
The full letter is available here and below.
Dear Secretary Azar:
We write to express our concerns regarding recent actions from pharmaceutical manufacturers that threaten to undermine the role of contract pharmacies in the 340B Drug Pricing Program. In the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, where providers have seen drops in revenue and available resources, it is critically important that 340B covered entities, including federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), FQHC Look-Alikes, children’s hospitals, Ryan White HIV/AIDS clinics, and other safety-net hospitals and providers are able to continue to serve the individuals who seek out their care. As these threats to the Program progress, we fear the potential exacerbation of these shortfalls in resources for providers at a time when they are needed most. While we understand that the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is further investigating these actions, we urge HRSA to take immediate and appropriate enforcement action to halt these tactics and ensure safety-net providers are able to continue providing life-saving medications to patients across the country.
As you are aware, on September 1, 2020, Eli Lilly announced that the company would no longer allow 340B covered entities to receive discounts for products that are shipped to a contract pharmacy, with an exception for insulin. This follows similar actions from AstraZeneca, which announced in August that it would refuse 340B pricing to hospitals with on-site pharmacies for any drugs dispensed through contract pharmacies. Similarly, other companies have imposed additional and burdensome reporting requirements on all contract pharmacy claims. For covered entities, and in particular rural hospitals and other rural covered entities that rely disproportionately on contract pharmacies, these changes could have long-lasting repercussions that will challenge a covered entity’s ability to support its community now during this pandemic and in the future.
The Public Health Service Act requires that manufacturers wishing to participate in Medicaid and Medicare Part B enter into agreements with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that “require that the manufacturer offer each covered entity covered outpatient drugs for purchase at or below the applicable ceiling price if such drug is made available to any other purchaser at any price.” Further, HRSA has recognized the importance of contract pharmacies by acknowledging such arrangements in current guidance. We believe these recent actions by pharmaceutical manufacturers run counter to the statute and create a dangerous and negative precedent for the 340B Program and the providers and patients it serves.
To ensure pharmaceutical manufacturers continue to comply with the 340B statute and provide discounts to safety-net providers, we call on HRSA to take appropriate, prompt enforcement action to address violations of the Public Health Service Act. We appreciate your attention to this important issue and look forward to partnering with you and stakeholders to ensure the 340B program continues to support access to quality health services with proper oversight and transparency.
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) spoke on the Senate floor yesterday to commend President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and others in the administration for facilitating the historic Abraham Accords Peace Agreement that will normalize relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
“These historic agreements begin the process of normalizing relations between the two Gulf countries and the Jewish state,” said Sen. Moran. “After seven decades of isolation in the region, the Abraham Accords signify Israel’s existence is finally being accepted by Arab countries, opening new prospects for greater economic, security, and cultural cooperation that will benefit all those in the region and all of us around the world. I commend President Trump, Secretary Pompeo, and many others in this administration for facilitating this historic agreement and advancing the cause of peace and prosperity in the region.”
Click HERE to watch Sen. Moran’s full speech
Remarks as delivered:
“Earlier today at the White House, President Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the foreign ministers from the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to sign the Abraham Accords.
“These historic agreements begin the process of normalizing relations between the two Gulf countries and the Jewish state. After seven decades of isolation in the region, the Abraham Accords signify Israel’s existence is finally being accepted by Arab countries, opening new prospects for greater economic, security, and cultural cooperation that will benefit all those in the region and all of us around the world.
“I commend President Trump, Secretary Pompeo, and many others in this Administration for facilitating this historic agreement and advancing the cause of peace and prosperity in the region.
“This came to many of us as a surprise, but a welcome surprise, and I’m very pleased at this relationship.
“Over the past several years, President Trump and Secretary Pompeo have cultivated relationships in Jerusalem, Abu Dhabi, and Manama. And for longer than that, Israel and Arab countries have cooperated on important matters behind closed doors. Capitalizing on a changing Middle East, President Trump and his Administration have helped to shepherd these relationships into the open.
“Today’s signing is just a beginning for the three countries and the region as a whole. More work obviously need to be done, and no agreement is easily accomplished, but my hope is that more Arab countries will follow the path of publicly recognizing Israel. Eighteen Arab states have yet to make this move, preventing relationships that can benefit the entire region.
“Israel’s right to exist is unquestionable, and to refuse to recognize that is to deny reality. I, along with so many other members of this chamber, have worked to ensure Israel’s security and prosperity. With more days like today, we can hope for a region that is secure and prosperous, as well for all.
“Madam President, thank you, I use this opportunity to commend this accomplishment and I hope that we are able to bring more peace and stability to this region and to the rest of the world.”
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Transportation and Safety – today announced a $21 million Better Utilizing Investment to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant for the City of Wichita to replace and modernize the single-lane system connecting I-235 to I-135, K-96 and K-254.
“This is great news for the city of Wichita,” said Sen. Moran. “This grant will invest significant resources into the efficiency and safety of this interchange that joins three major highways in Wichita and helps connect nearby businesses, Wichita State University, rural communities, downtown Wichita and local commuters with the rest of the city and state. Modernizing our highway system not only improves commerce in the area, but will also increase travel throughout south central Kansas.”
This grant will fund construction of a new two-lane system ramp, a flyover ramp, continuous auxiliary lanes and improvements to the bridge. Sen. Moran joined Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and U.S. Representative Ron Estes (R-Kan.) earlier this year in urging U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao to invest in this project.
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