The feature topic was a discussion of current federal health legislation, including the ever-shifting effort to repeal and replace Obamacare, and other health legislative and regulatory issues including the 21st Century Cures Act. Passed last year, the Cures Act was a seminal piece of largely bi-partisan legislation which increased funding for NIH and medical research, included significant reforms to the mental health system, made changes to health access and quality improvement (including interoperability), and attempted to expedite the drug approval process.
Our speakers and facilitators for this discussion were Colin Goldfinch, from the staff of the Senate HELP Committee; J. P. Paluskiewicz, from the staff of the House Energy and Commerce Committee; and Nelson Mullins government relations partner and advisor David Quam, previously the Deputy Director of the National Governors Association and its chief lobbyist on Capitol Hill.