Emily Ethridge
Emily Ethridge covers health care policy as a staff writer for CQ Roll Call. Prior to that, she covered several committees, the Senate floor, and the House floor as part of CQ's legislative action team. She also wrote for a newsletter covering the prescription drug and medical device industries.
A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Emily has lived in the District of Columbia since graduating from the Johns Hopkins University with a degree in Writing Seminars. She currently lives in the Logan Circle neighborhood and enjoys trying to keep up with her fellow runners at CQ Roll Call.
Failed Obamacare Bill Will Get House Do-Over
May 22, 2013A month after House Republican leaders were forced to pull an unpopular Obamacare revision from the House floor, bill sponsor Rep. Joe Pitts, R-Pa., said he expects to see a modified version under consideration again in “a couple of weeks.”
Sequester Withholding of FDA User Fees Irks Industry
May 17, 2013The Food and Drug Administration is able to do its work in part because of a symbiotic relationship with the industries it regulates. But recently that relationship has been knocked off balance.
Conservative Goals Could Stymie Some GOP Health Care Law Efforts
May 14, 2013Conservative groups and some lawmakers are pushing Republicans to focus on legislation that would ruin the health care law’s implementation — a strategy that complicates efforts to pass any other kind of health care bill.
Health Insurance Anxiety on Capitol Hill
April 25, 2013Lawmakers and congressional staff members are concerned about whether the federal government will continue to pay part of their premiums as they move to buying insurance through the exchanges next year.
Health Advocates Push for Medicare Benefit Change
April 8, 2013Health care stakeholders complain that some of Medicare’s benefit structure is still stuck in the 1960s, when the program was created. As lawmakers search for ways to reduce government spending, many are looking to find savings by bringing all of Medicare into the current century.
Senate Budget Resolution Includes Seven Health-Related Features
March 26, 2013Although the Senate-adopted budget resolution upholds the 2010 health care overhaul, Republicans added several repeal and oversight provisions through amendment votes on the floor and in committee.
GOP Sees Plenty of Value in Persisting Against Health Care Law
March 25, 2013Observers watching the Senate on the afternoon of March 13 could be forgiven for feeling a little bit of déjà vu. Senators were once again voting on a motion to try to disable the 2010 health care overhaul — this time by delaying any funding for the law, courtesy of an amendment from Republican freshman Ted Cruz of Texas.
Budget Chairman Ryan Projects Balance Through $5 Trillion in Spending Cuts, Medicare Shift
March 10, 2013The House Republican budget will balance the budget over 10 years in part by cutting spending by about $5 trillion and turning Medicare into a premium support program, Rep. Paul D. Ryan said Sunday.
Medicare Agency Nominee Likely to Face Health Care Law Questioning
Feb. 8, 2013Marilyn Tavenner has another shot to be confirmed as leader of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, but getting there will require defending the 2010 health care law to Senate Republicans.
FDA Might Decide When a Cigar Is Just a Cigar
Feb. 4, 2013An expensive, high-end cigar selected from one of the best boutique manufacturers. A small grape-flavored Swisher Sweet bought in a pack at a gas station for less than $1 each. Are they the same thing?
Harkin Retirement Leaves Social Policy Hole in Senate
Jan. 30, 2013The retirement of Chairman Tom Harkin in 2014 means the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee is likely to wind up with a different kind of leader.
Long-Term Care Provisions Would Be Repealed in Fiscal Cliff Bill
Jan. 1, 2013The bill to avert the fiscal cliff would repeal a suspended program in the 2010 health care law that has long been targeted by Republicans.
Cuts to Some Medicare Payments Provide Offsets for 'Doc Fix'
Jan. 1, 2013The Senate-passed fiscal cliff bill would block for one year a scheduled 27 percent cut in reimbursements for Medicare physicians, paid for by familiar cuts and adjustments to other provider payments.
One-Year 'Doc Fix' Included in Fiscal Cliff Package
Dec. 31, 2012The fiscal cliff legislation worked out Monday contains a one-year payment patch for physicians who treat Medicare patients, paid for by health care offsets, according to a Senate Democratic aide.
New House Rules Would Amend Requirements on Medicare Board
Dec. 31, 2012Proposed House rules for the 113th Congress would make it easier for the chamber to change or repeal recommendations from a controversial board tasked with reining in Medicare spending.
'Doc Fix' Up in Air in Fiscal Cliff Talks
Dec. 31, 2012Whether lawmakers will act to block scheduled cuts to Medicare physician payment rates before Jan. 1 remains up in the air, as discussions on a plan to avert the fiscal cliff deteriorated Sunday.
Health Care Professionals Descend on Washington
Dec. 4, 2012From now through the end of the year, lawmakers can look forward to hearing from physicians, family practitioners, nurses, home health workers and anyone else who provides care to patients.
Health Care Stakeholders Want Medicare Patch to Be a Priority
Dec. 3, 2012Health care stakeholders are urging Congress to prevent scheduled cuts in payments to Medicare physicians, as details on another annual patch are getting caught up in the deficit reduction negotiations.
New Health Care Committee in House Sought by Three Republicans
Nov. 14, 2012Three House Republicans want to create a new committee that would have complete jurisdiction over health care issues, calling it the best opportunity for repealing the 2010 health care law.
Meningitis Hearings Will Examine Role of Regulators
Nov. 13, 2012The company that made a contaminated drug causing a meningitis outbreak and the regulators in charge of overseeing it will all be under scrutiny during two committee hearings this week.
Republican Priorities Will Test Next Labor-HHS Chairman
Nov. 13, 2012Montana Rep. Denny Rehberg’s departure from Congress leaves vacant the chairmanship of an appropriations panel that figures prominently for Republicans who want to shrink the budget and gut the 2010 health care law.
Mike Enzi Decision Could Affect Budget Panel
Nov. 9, 2012Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) has a decision to make that could cause a shake up on the Budget Committee.
Peace Corps Voter Casts Ballot, Cow Rides on Roof
Nov. 7, 2012Sure, lines to vote in D.C. and Virginia today stretched to more than two hours long in some places. But many Americans went through much more to make sure their voices were heard this Election Day.
Painkiller Reclassification in FDA’s Hands
Nov. 2, 2012The Food and Drug Administration is considering whether to put more stringent limits on drugs such as the painkiller Vicodin that contain hydrocodone, although the process is moving more slowly than some lawmakers would like.
Markey Bill Would Set Standards for FDA Oversight of Compounding Pharmacies
Nov. 1, 2012Massachusetts Democrat Edward J. Markey will introduce a bill Friday to clarify the Food and Drug Administration’s authority over compounding pharmacies, the first such bill since the September outbreak of fungal meningitis.
