STAT+: Republicans want to crack down on pricey health regulations, but there are major loopholes
WASHINGTON — At first glance, the debt ceiling deal that Republicans struck with the White House seems to significantly rein in the Biden administration’s ability to pursue big-ticket health care policy.
It includes a provision that would force federal agencies to find ways to offset the cost of any new regulations they create related to programs that cost more than $1 billion. Health regulations can be especially expensive, so Republicans are selling it as a way to limit the agencies’ power to spend.
But budget experts and former HHS officials who spoke with STAT said the change wouldn’t actually matter all that much.