The House of Representatives passed the INVEST in America Act on Friday. The $1 trillion infrastructure package deals with topics such as roads, bridges, public transit, passenger and freight rail, power infrastructure, and similar areas. The only provision in this package which directly relates to healthcare is a three-year moratorium on implementation of Medicare prescription drug rebate rules as a way to help pay for the package as a whole; the rules in question relate to elimination of the anti-kickback statute safe harbor protection for prescription drug rebates in the Medicare program. The INVEST Act also includes an expansion of broadband access, which may help improve telemedicine access for rural populations. Since the Senate already passed the package in August the bill is ready to be signed into law by President Biden, which is expected to occur next week.

While Congress has been working on them simultaneously, the INVEST in America Act is separate from the Build Back Better Act, the legislative package that congressional Democrats intend on passing through the reconciliation process. Modifications are still being made to the Build Back Better Act, and the package will likely go through several changes before final passage.

Click here to read last Friday's Washington Update to see the latest on what is currently included in the Build Back Better Act, and be sure to check out this Friday's Washington Update and Healthcare Happy Hour to learn about any changes made this week.