WASHINGTON, September 1, 2026 — Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies, the bipartisan government relations and communications affiliate of international law firm Cozen O'Connor, today announced the addition of Rodney Whitlock, Debbie Curtis, Katie Waldo, and Maddie News to the firm's federal health policy practice in Washington, D.C.
September 14, 2026
Congress is back, and so is the Preview
The House and Senate are both in session this week, marking the first time both chambers have simultaneously been in town since July. It is likely to be the last time both chambers are in town at the same time until after the midterm elections. The House has a packed agenda this week before they leave town again until November 9. The Senate is scheduled to be in session for the next three weeks, but they could leave earlier than that.
Last week, the House Rules Committee announced it would consider a health care fraud bill, the “Protecting Taxpayers from Health Care Fraudsters Act,” setting it up for House floor consideration and potential inclusion in an end of year package. The committee later postponed consideration of that bill. However, the House Ways & Means Committee is rumored to announce a markup today of both health and non-health bills, anticipated for Wednesday, September 16. The Protecting Taxpayers from Health Care Fraudsters Act may appear on that agenda. The committee could also mark up legislation related to MedPAC’s Medicare Advantage analysis, Medicare coverage of Alzheimer’s screening and early detection blood tests, and a Medicare demonstration for medically tailored meals. As of the time of this publication, the markup had not yet been noticed.
The House Energy & Commerce Committee, Health Subcommittee will hold a legislative hearing Tuesday September 15 to discuss bills related to Medicare provider payment and cybersecurity. Legislation on the agenda includes H.R. 8163, the Provider Reimbursement Stability Act, which would reform budget neutrality in the Medicare physician fee schedule, and H.R. 9693, the Patients First Act of 2026, which was introduced by the GOP and Democratic Doctors Caucuses and would tie Medicare physician payment to inflation.
Health care action in the Senate is concentrated on nominations this week. On Tuesday September 15, the Senate Finance Committee will hear from Chris Klomp, nominated for Deputy Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and Ge Bai, nominated for Assistant HHS Secretary. Klomp previously served as Director of the Center for Medicare at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and currently is Chief Counselor at HHS. Bai is currently a Professor at Johns Hopkins University.
Then on Wednesday September 16, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee will hold a nomination hearing for Klomp, Nicole Saphier, nominated for Surgeon General, and Timothy Westlake, nominated to oversee the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Saphier is a radiologist and former Fox News contributor, while Westlake is the current SAMHSA Chief of Staff. Some of these nominations could be considered on the Senate floor this month.
This is the first Health Care Preview at Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies. If you did not receive this Preview in your inbox but would like to receive it every Monday, subscribe here.
