Overnight Health Care: House Dems sound alarm over HHS pick | Trump takes new tack to weaken ObamaCare | Koch-backed groups push to ease access to experimental drugs — Presented by the Association of American Medical Colleges

View in your browser     A group of House Democrats want the Senate Finance Committee to question President Trump's nominee for Health and Human Services secretary about high drug prices at his former employer, Eli Lilly. In a letter to Finance Committee leaders, led by Texas Reps. Beto O'Rourke and Lloyd Doggett, the Democrats also said Alex Azar should be pressed on his commitment to uphold the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as ObamaCare. Azar is scheduled to appear before the Senate Finance Committee for a confirmation hearing on Tuesday. This won't be the first time in the hot seat for Azar, who faced the Senate Health Committee last month in what was billed as a courtesy hearing. But this time he'll be before the Finance Committee, which will make the decision about whether to send his nomination to the Senate floor. Democrats are expected to question Azar on how he would lower the cost of prescription drugs, given his background as a former pharmaceutical executive. They also want to hear his views on a variety of other issues, including ObamaCare, block grants for Medicaid and women's health. Azar worked at the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly for nearly a decade, serving most recently as the president of Lilly USA, a post he left last January. The company reportedly substantially increased the price of insulin while Azar was there, from $123 per vial in 2012 to $255 per vial in 2017. Read more here.     Pro-ACA group urges 'no' vote on Trump health nominee A leading pro-ObamaCare group is urging senators to vote "no" on President Trump's Health and Human Services secretary nominee, saying he will continue a campaign of "sabotage" against the health law. The group, Protect Our Care, unveiled a digital ad that urges lawmakers to oppose the nominee, Alex Azar. "President Trump and Republicans in Congress are in search of a new leader for their war effort to captain their repeal and sabotage campaign, and in a former pharmaceutical executive they have found their man," the ad states. "Alex Azar is ready to lead the Republican war on health care into its second year." Protect Our Care pointed to administration actions like cutting the outreach budget for ObamaCare enrollment and cutting off key payments to insurers as evidence of efforts to sabotage the law. Read more here.   Trump takes new tack to weaken ObamaCare The Trump administration is turning to regulations as their last, best hope of chipping away at ObamaCare in 2018, with congressional Republicans unlikely to pass full repeal. A proposed rule released Thursday targeting the health law is likely the first step in a new effort to undermine the law. And advocates for ObamaCare worry that another forthcoming rule could cause even more damage. The administration on Thursday eased rules on small businesses that band together to buy health insurance through what are known as association health plans (AHPs). The proposal retains ObamaCare protections for people with pre-existing conditions and prohibits lifetime limits on benefits. But it would allow associations to purchase cheaper health insurance that won't cover the ten "essential health benefits," which include mental health, substance abuse treatment, maternity care and prescription drugs. A second proposed rule on short-term insurance plans, yet to be unveiled, could have an even greater impact, with much broader exemptions from ObamaCare. Read more here.   Koch-backed groups launch 'Right to Try' campaign  Koch brothers-backed groups are launching a campaign urging Congress to pass legislation allowing terminally ill patients to request access to experimental drugs the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn't approved. Nearly 40 states have this law, known as "Right to Try," already on their books. But Freedom Partners, in partnership with Americans for Prosperity -- two groups funded in part by billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch -- say federal legislation is needed to assuage patient fears that the federal government will override state laws. The new push, launched Monday, consists of a lobbying effort, 30- and six-second digital ads, a social media effort and more. The groups also sent a letter to House Energy and Commerce Chairman Greg Walden (R-Ore.) urging him to prioritize passing the bill out of his committee and sending it to the full House for a vote. In August, the measure passed the Senate by unanimous consent. Read more here.   Pfizer ends research into new Alzheimer's, Parkinson's drugs  Drug giant Pfizer will end research into new neuroscience drugs, including those for Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, the company announced this weekend.  That decision followed an internal review and will result in about 300 jobs cut, the company said.  "This was an exercise to reallocate [spending] across our portfolio, to focus on those areas where our pipeline, and our scientific expertise, is strongest," Pfizer said in a statement.  Read more here.         SPONSORED CONTENT   Congress can protect the 340B Program. Pass H.R. 4392 The 340B Program allows safety net hospitals to purchase drugs at discounts from pharmaceutical companies -- helping teaching hospitals strengthen care for low-income, rural, and other underserved Americans. Best of all? 340B doesn’t cost taxpayers a dime. At less than 3% of the total U.S. drug market, 340B is a bargain for our country and a lifeline for hospitals and communities. Congress should protect the 340B Program. Pass H.R. 4392. Learn more: aamc.org/340B         What we're reading:  America's home nurse shortage is stranding kids in hospitals (Bloomberg) Hospitals wrestle with shortage of IV bags, linked to hurricane (The Wall Street Journal) Care suffers as more nursing homes feed money into corporate webs (Kaiser Health News)   State by state In states that didn't expand Medicaid, hospital closures have spiked (Stat) Florida officials: Hack exposed personal information of up to 30,000 Medicaid patients (Associated Press) Privatized Medicaid saving Iowa less than predicted (Associated Press)   From The Hill's opinion page:  This West Virginia initiative is a model solution to the national opioid crisis     Send tips and comments to Jessie Hellmann, jhellmann@thehill.com; Peter Sullivan, psullivan@thehill.com; Rachel Roubein, rroubein@thehill.com; and Nathaniel Weixel, nweixel@thehill.com. 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