What's next? CMS commenting on PDUFA implementation?
BioCentury reports that Republicans on the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions sent a letter to FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg asking "why and under what authority" the agency is publicizing new health insurance exchanges under the Affordable Care Act. According to the letter, FDA sent an email earlier this month to "families, individuals, small businesses and clinicians" promoting open enrollment in the new exchanges. The senators expressed concern that the email was an attempt by HHS to "avoid congressional limitations on implementation expenditures" for ACA, noting that the exchanges are outside of FDA's mission.
The senators are seeking information on FDA's legal authority to promote the implementation of ACA and the new health insurance exchanges and how the activities further the agency's mission, as well as details on the total costs FDA has spent during FY13 on promoting ACA implementation. The senators are seeking a response by June 26
