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People in diverse corners of healthcare are hopeful new legislation will ease growing consumer anxiety over higher medical deductibles. And it might have a chance of becoming law because the cause comes from rare bipartisan ground. Earlier this month, U.S. Reps. Diane Black (R-Tenn.) and Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.)—both of whom sit on the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health—introduced a bill that would change how the federal tax code treats high-deductible health plans that are paired with tax-exempt health savings accounts. (Herman, 7/28)

Nearly three dozen House Democrats are urging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to strengthen proposed regulations for nursing homes. Their urging comes as a final rule updating quality standards for nursing homes is expected to be released by CMS in September. The rule will update the standards for the first time in more than two decades. The letter, signed by 32 lawmakers, was sent last week. (McIntire, 7/27)