Wondering what the heck is going on on Capitol Hill? We’ve got you covered

There is a lot going on on Capitol Hill that could impact the drug industry, and it came at everyone really, really fast. Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t worry, this newsletter can serve as a handy guide to help you free from stress eating a bunch of Christmas cookies like I just did. We will also update STAT’s official drug pricing tracker as the week progresses.

Democrats get their moment, Republicans want one too
What’s happening: The House will vote this week on Democrats’ signature drug pricing bill, H.R. 3, which would direct Medicare to negotiate the price of certain high cost drugs. Republicans also introduced their own competing bill Monday afternoon, you can read Lev’s rundown of that bill here.

Reality check: The House bill is likely to pass resoundingly, but then go nowhere in the Senate. Republicans’ competing bill is unlikely to gain much, if any, Democratic support, but the bill is good messaging from a party that has been criticized in the past for being too cozy with drug makers.

Can Grassley and Wyden revive dying hope of bipartisan compromise?
What’s happening: The Senate Finance committee released its revised drug pricing package Friday. The bill itself didn’t change much from when it was considered by the committee in July, sans a few tweaks meant to help seniors pay for their drugs.

Reality check: This package has more of a chance of becoming law than H.R. 3, but there are still some big hurdles — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, for starters, has been reluctant to bring the bill up for a vote. The committee is hoping that coupling the package with funding for a slew of health programs will convince McConnell to take it up, but there’s still no word on whether that’s wishful thinking.

Surprise billing meets drug pricing
What’s happening: Leaders in the House and Senate unveiled an agreement Sunday meant to end surprise medical bills. I’m watching the package because it has created a fascinating quandary for the generic drug industry. While the package includes the CREATES Act, the REMS reform bill the industry has fought for, tirelessly, for years, it also includes the BLOCKING Act, which is meant to crack down on generics’ own gaming of the FDA exclusivity system. AAM opposes the BLOCKING Act so vociferously that it came out in opposition to the surprise billing legislation before the text was even released.

Reality check: This package has been in the works for months, and getting it done has been a priority for some of Congress’ most powerful lawmakers. Plus, the package is bipartisan, so that bodes well for its chances of becoming law.

Appropriators try to avoid a government shutdown
What’s happening: House and Senate staff were working all weekend to hammer out a funding agreement before another massive shutdown could begin on December 20th. As of writing this, a deal hadn't been reached, but drug makers are watching this agreement closely to see if any drug pricing policy changes are included last-minute.

Reality check: Anything is possible when it comes to 11th hour funding agreements. (Remember last year when lawmakers snuck in a change to Medicare policy that cost the drug industry billions?) But so far, the coast seems clear: I spent the morning surveying lobbyists, none of whom had any inkling that any major drug pricing bills would be tacked onto the eventual funding agreement.