Democratic senators and representatives have introduced companion resolutions  calling on the Trump administration to reverse course on a decision to no longer require public input on changes to public programs and policies overseen by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Sen. Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., and Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, along with 16 other senators, introduced a Senate resolution on Thursday.

The House of Representatives introduced companion resolution, led by Reps. Lizzie Fletcher, Texas-07, Gabe Amo, R.I.-01, and Mike Quigley, Ill.-05.

For decades the precedent has been to allow the public and healthcare organizations to make their voices heard, according to the Senate Committee on Finance. 

WHY THIS MATTERS

In early March, HHS reversed its long-standing practice of taking public comments ranging from proposed rules, grants, loans and contracts, and more. 

When HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a wave of firings and closures of offices across the agency, there was no ability to comment on how this would affect matters relating to supporting seniors, cancer and infectious disease research, according to the Senate Finance Committee.

"The resolution would express the sense of the Senate that the Trump administration should withdraw the change in policy that would significantly reduce public notice and comment, limit public engagement on new regulations at HHS, and allow HHS to take impulsive action that will have immediate impacts on the healthcare system and the people it serves," the committee said.

The Senate resolution has received endorsement from healthcare and patient advocacy groups.

THE LARGER TREND

The text of the resolution mirrors a bipartisan resolution that was introduced in the House in 1982, which led to HHS under the Reagan administration to reverse course on a similar action to reduce the ability of the public to weigh in on rulemaking at the agency, according to the Senate Finance Committee.

Joining Wyden, Markey and King on the resolution are Sens. Peter Welch, D-Vt., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Jeff Merkley D-Ore., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, Cory Booker, D-N.J., Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Mark Warner, D-Va.

View this article in Healthcare Finance.