22-February-2013

The House Energy and Commerce Committee recently introduced legislation creating a pediatric research network at the National Institutes of Health. The bill included re-introduced legislation that mirrors an original measure backed by House lawmakers, rather than a scaled-back version that was used to gain Senate support last Congress, but ultimately failed. The committee will also consider two other health-related bills approved during the last Congress that include a measure reauthorizing children's hospital graduate medical education programs and a bill that would provide grants to states to streamline licensing requirements for military veterans employed as emergency medical technicians.

Speaking with HealthPolicyNewsStand, Nick Manetto, an advisor to the Coalition for Pediatric Medical Research, and vice president at FaegreBD Consulting, said he didn't know which version of the bill will be introduced by the upper chamber, but expected concerns of Senate lawmakers to remain. Manetto said stakeholders will work with the Senate sponsors and Senate Health Committee staff on any changes that need to be made.

"We made a lot of good progress over there in the last couple of months," Manetto said. "We are open to working with all stakeholders to figure out how to get the bill enacted."

It's unclear why the package failed to pass the Senate in the previous Congress, though issues with the children's hospital graduate medical education measure, timing and focus on fiscal cliff issues may have contributed. "There is not any one thing to blame," Manetto said. "We would have loved to have gotten across the goal line in 2012 but we are definitely encouraged by progress that was made." Manetto added that upcoming fiscal issues could shape the congressional agenda in the coming months, with committees also setting out their legislative agenda, which could present opportunities for the bill.