To amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to repeal the reduction in Medicare payment for certain items of durable medical equipment.

Medicare Modernization Act(P.L. 108-173); FY '05 Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations Bill; H.R. 4491, a bill to repeal the reduction in Medicare payments for certain DME items

Client expense: $196,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), SENATE

Kept Maryland Delegation apprised of concerns associated with the growing Medicare population and the pressures this presents for the healthcare system. Continued to appeal to CMS to adjust the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate (formula) SGR. Monitored the implementation of the Medicare Modernization Act. Tracking: HR 4903, "Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Accountability Act of 2004" S.2725, "Closing the Coverage Gap Act of 2004" S.2766, "Prescription Drug and Health Improvement Act of 2004" HR 4919, "Medicare Drug Card Guaranteed Savings Act" HR4898/S.2535, "Medicare Preventative Services Coverage Act of 2004" HR 4491, "Hobson amendment"

Client expense: $280,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), SENATE, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)

P.L.108-173-Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (Public Law to provide for expeditious coverage of new medical devices and to strengthen and improve and modernize the Medicare program.) S.2493-Safe Importation of Medical Products and Other Rx Therapies Act of 2004 (Bill to protect the public from the unsafe importation of medical products.) H.R.4257/S.2426-Critical Access to Clinical Lab Services Act of 2003 (Bills to clarify the treatment of payment under Medicare for clinical laboratory tests by critical access hospitals.) H.R.2342/S.1179-Medicare Chronic Care Improvement Act of 2003 (Bills to expand Medicare benefits to prevent, delay, and minimize the progression of chronic conditions and develop national policies on effective chronic condition care.) H.R.4491-To Amend Part B of Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to repeal the reduciton in Medicare payment for certain items of durable medical equipment. (Bill to repeal the reduction of payment for some durable medical eqipment in the Medicare program.) S. 1570-The Fair Case for the Uninsured Act of 2003 (Bill to allow individuals a refundable credit against income tax purchase of private health insurance, and establish state health insurance safety net programs.)

Client expense: $2,900,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), SENATE, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)