Late on Friday Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) released their bill, “Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act.” It includes provisions identical to the Family First Transition Act—the bill that would provide $500 million to states to help implement the Family First Act.
The bill also extends home visiting programs for two years. The hope is that the Senate will negotiate a final bill if the House moves on their own prescription drug bill as is expected to happen this week.
Legislative text can be found HERE. The legislation also includes a number of health care extender provisions can be found HERE.
Although there is agreement between Grassley and Wyden the two respective leaders of the Senate Finance Committee, there has been some back and forth between Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Grassley over the legation with McConnell critical of the bill as too much. The President however, has said he want a prescription drug bill to address the high costs of prescription drugs.
The House bill will likely be more generous in their bill and they will also include the Family First Transition Act. The bill is expected to include other provisions that CWLA prefers such as a more generous expansion of the home visiting program and possible support for CAPTA.