Armed Forces Tax Fairness Act of 2002

The Medicare Physician Payment Fairness Act of 2001, S. 1707 and HR 3351, introduced by Senator James Jeffords and Rep. Michael Bilirakis to reduce an across the board cut of 5.4% in Medicare payments to physicians and set the conversion factor (update) for payments under the Medicare physician fee schedule for 2002 at 0.9 percent less than the conversion factor for 2001. The bills also direct the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) to study and report to Congress on replacing the use of the sustainable growth rate as a factor in determining the update for such payments with a factor that more fully accounts for changes in the unit costs of providing physicians' services. Modification of Medicare physician fee schedule geographic work adjustor. HR 3569, the Rural Equity Payment Index Reform Act (REPAIR) introduced by Rep. Doug Bereuter, would lessen the disparity in Medicare physician payment that currently exists between urban and rural areas. S. 1953, Feingold legislation to eliminate the geographic physician work adjustment factor from the geographic indices used to adjust payments under the Medicare physician fee schedule. S. 2752 by Jeffords authorizing the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to conduct research demonstrations to examine health delivery factors that encourage the delivery of improved quality in patient care. S. 2555, the “Revitalizing Underserved Rural Areas and Localities (RURAL) Act of 2002” introduced by Senator Baucus with provisions to increase the geographic adjustment of physician reimbursement in low payment areas. The Medicare Modernization and Prescription Drug Act (HR 4954) introduced by Reps. Thomas, Tauzin, Johnson and Bilirakis, provisions establishing a 2% Medicare Part B conversion factor update in 2003, 2004 and 2005; provisions instructing GAO to examine the impact of the geographic adjustment factor on physician payments under the Medicare physician fee schedule; increasing Medicare+Choice payments; and delaying “Lock-in” requirements for one year; establishing competitive bidding for certain Part B services. The Medical Excellence Demonstration Program Act of 2001 (S. 1756 introduced by Senator Jeffords, and HR 3746 introduced by Rep. Houghton) to establish demonstration projects to examine health care delivery factors that encourage improved quality of care. The conference report on HR 3448 the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act changed the Medicare+Choice “lock-in” provisions governing marketing and enrollment in M+C plans. The new provisions would postpone for three years limits determining when Medicare beneficiaries can switch health plans. These provisions also set limits on the period when M+C enrollment could be marketed to beneficiaries. Full reimbursement of Medicare Allowed Costs under Medicare Part B. Acceleration of Risk Adjustment implementation under Medicare+Choice. Preservation of floor payments in rural areas under Medicare+Choice. Waiver and or delay of Medicare+Choice “lock-in” enrollment limitations for 2002-2005. Extension of the New Entry bonus under Medicare+Choice. Demonstration programs under Medicare to increase beneficiary and plan participation in the Medicare +Choice Program. “Medicare Equity” concepts developed by Senate Finance Committee taking incremental steps towards Medicare reform, including restructuring CMS, improving Medicare+Choice, increasing the number of plans in rural areas, and easing payment inequities between urban and rural providers. HHS Initiative on Rural Communities, DHHS Secretary Thompson's call for a department-wide examination of federal health programs and how the federal programs respond to the needs of rural areas. Regulatory reform of CMS, through select provisions of the Medicare Education and Regulatory Fairness Act (S. 452, H.R. 858), H.R. 3046, the Medicare Regulatory, Appeals, Contracting, and Education Reform Act (The Medicare RACER Act) and the H.R. 2768, the “Medicare Regulatory And Contract Reform Act of 2001,” and H.R. 3391, The Medicare Regulatory and Contracting Reform Act” HR 3584, “The Medicare+Choice Improvement and Stabilization Act of 2001” legislation that would revise the payment structure of the Medicare managed care program for the year 2003 and make other changes to the program basing M+C payment on 100 percent of fee-for-service costs for 2003 only. Plans would then be paid based on whichever option was greatest: 100 percent of fee-for-service; a modified blend that re-weights the national average using M+C enrollment; floor payments as enacted in the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000; or a 2 percent minimum increase. The bill would also delay the onset of the “lock-in” period by one year and enable demonstration projects for preferred provider organizations and disease management programs. Save this template.Issue Template Text ACC accounting Or S. 3018, by Senators Baucus and Grassley, the Beneficiary Access to Care and Medicare Equity Act of 2002. Provisions calling for a statutory increase in medicare physician payments for 2003-2005; provisions equalizing payments for physicians in rural areas for 2003?2005 by implementing a floor of 1.0 for the geographic adjustment of physician work, holding all other areas harmless. Incentive payments for physicians in underserved areas. Provisions of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000, HR 5661. Section 412. HHS will be required to conduct a Physician Group Practice Demonstration to test, and expand the use of incentives to health care groups participating under Medicare. Section 429. BIPA requires GAO to study and submit a report to Congress and the Secretary on the reimbursement for drugs and biologicals and related services under Medicare. On September 27, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services published a notice in the Federal Register informing interested parties of an opportunity to submit proposals for participation in the Medicare Physician Group Practice Demonstration (PGP) project to test a hybrid payment methodology that combines Medicare fee-for-service payments with a bonus pool derived from savings achieved by improvements in patient care management. Medicare reimbursement for recovery care center services. Medicare Evaluation and Management Documentation Coding. Clarification of Medicare Formatting of Advance Beneficiary Notices. Medicare coverage of injected drugs HR 5063, a bill extending unemployment benefits, but also including a provision written by Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Thomas (R-CA) granting the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) immunity from “retroactive lawsuits” for Medicare+Choice overestimates and accounting mistakes made in 1998 and 1999 in the calculation of Medicare physician fees.

Client expense: $122,924 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ), Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Council of Economic Advisers (CEA), Executive Office of the President (EOP), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Government Accountability Office (GAO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), SENATE

IBEW opposed pay cap provisions contained in the Treasury and General Government Appropriations bill for FY 2003. The proposed legislation would have subjected blue collar employees to be limited to pay increases that could not exceed the same percentage paid to white collar government employees, regardless of the percentage actually due to them under Federal Wage System, creating a wage gap for tradespeople in federal employment. (H.R. 5120/S.2740). IBEW opposed any amendments to the National Homeland Security and Combating Terrorism Act that would weaken or strip longstanding worker rights or Davis-Bacon prevailing wage protections. H.R. 5005/S.2452(Ltr. 9/16/02) The IBEW supported H.R. 3609, the bill that establishes mandatory inspections of all U.S. oil and natural gas pipelines within 10 years, with at least half of the pipelines to be inspected within the first five years. It also increases monetary penalties for safety infractions and includes an integrity management program. The IBEW sought to include a worker training provision that mandated testing of knowledge, skills and abilities with periodic re-examination of employees in safety-sensitive positions. This was met with fierce opposition from the industry, and in the end, the language was permissive, not mandatory. Standards for the qualification process are, however, mandatory. IBEW supported passage of unemployment benefits for more than 800,000 laid-off workers and their families that was to run out on December 28, 2002. The benefits would have provided laid-off workers 13 additional weeks of federal benefits after they exhausted their state aid. Bill Reference (H.R. 3529 and H.R. 5063). The IBEW opposed a newly created Electronic Systems Technician (EST) classification formed by the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training (BAT, now known as OATELS). The new EST work processes were similar to the functions of an inside wireman or telecommunication installer-technician aleady in place.. IBEW attempted to reverse the Department of Labor’s (DOL) course.

Client expense: $300,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Federal Communications Commission (FCC), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE