Seniors Access to Mental Health Act of 2007

H.R. 1571, Seniors Access to Mental Health Act of 2007 (Medicare parity) H.R. 1663, Medicare Mental Health Modernization Act of 2007 H.R. 2626, Comprehensive HealthCARE Act of 2007 (Price Healthcare Bill) H.R. 3162, Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act of 2007 H.R. 2585, Ensuring the Future Physician Workforce Act of 2007 (Burgess SGR Bill) H.R. 3025, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings for Our Seniors (Medicare Prescription Drug SOS) Act of 2007 H.R. 3061, Medicare Part D Drug Class Protection Act of 2007 (Six Classes Bill) H.R. 820, Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2007 (MFTs/MHCs) H.R. 1588, Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2007 (MFTs/MHCs) H.R. 2860, Health Care Access and Rural Equity (H-CARE) Act of 2007 H.R. 2050, Medicaid Emergency Psychiatric Care Act of 2007 (IMD-EMTALA) H.R. 882, Access to Emergency Medical Services Act of 2007 (EMTALA) S. 1887, Medicare Access to Critical Medications Act (Six Classes Bill) H.R. 470, to provide Medicare coverage of benzodiazepines and off-label uses of certain prescription drugs, optional Medicaid coverage of Medicare prescription drug cost-sharing, and authorization for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to waive certain determinations denying Medicare prescription drug coverage S. 137, Preserving Medicare for All Act of 2007 (Cardin Healthcare Bill, Includes Benzos) S. 588, Physician Shortage Act S. 1715, Medicare Mental Health Copayment Equity Act of 2007 S. 2499, Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act S. 2785, to amend title XVIII of the Security Act to preserve access to physicians' services under the Medicare program H.R. 5445, Ensuring the Future Physician Workforce Act of 2007 (physician payment under Medicare) H.R. 6331, Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 S. 3101, Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 Conditions selected for coverage under the chronic conditions special needs plans (SNPs) HIPAA Administrative Simplification: Modification to Medical Data Code Set Standards to Adopt ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS; Proposed Rule RIN 0958-AN25 [CMS-0013-P] 73 Federal Register 49796

Client expense: $100,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Indian Health Service, Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Natl Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), White House Office

H.R. 1571, Seniors Access to Mental Health Act of 2007 (Medicare parity) H.R. 1663, Medicare Mental Health Modernization Act of 2007 H.R. 2626, Comprehensive HealthCARE Act of 2007 (Price Healthcare Bill) H.R. 3162, Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act of 2007 H.R. 2585, Ensuring the Future Physician Workforce Act of 2007 (Burgess SGR Bill) H.R. 3025, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings for Our Seniors (Medicare Prescription Drug SOS) Act of 2007 H.R. 3061, Medicare Part D Drug Class Protection Act of 2007 (Six Classes Bill) H.R. 820, Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2007 (MFTs/MHCs) H.R. 1588, Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2007 (MFTs/MHCs) H.R. 1424, Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act of 2007 S. 558, Mental Health Parity Act of 2007 H.R. 2580, Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2007 S. 382/H.R. 687, Keeping Families Together Act, S. 1572/H.R. 2073, Child Health Care Crisis Relief Act of 2007, S. 1893/HR 976, Childrens Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 S. 1337, Childrens Mental Health Parity Act S. 2086, SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 S. 2499, Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP extension of 2007 S. 1814, Health Information Privacy and Security Act H.R. 2406, Healthcare Information Technology Enterprise Integration Act H.R. 5442, Technologies for Restoring Users' Security and Trust in Health Information Act (TRUST Act) H.R. 493, Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2007 S. 1693/ H.R. 3800, the Wired for Health Care Quality Act S. 358/H.R. 493, Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2007 H.R. 2260, Healthcare Truth and Transparency Act of 2007 H.R. 1368, the Personalized Health Information Act of 2007 H.R. 2991, Independent Health Record Trust Act of 2007 S. 2408/H.R. 4296, E-MEDS Act of 2007 H.R. 6331, Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 S. 3101, Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 H.R. 6357, PRO(TECH)T Act of 2008 H.R. 1424, Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (including mental health parity)

Medicare/General. H.R. 205, H.R. 748, H.R. 1218, H.R. 1277, H.R. 1310, H.R. 1521, H.R. 2009, H.R. 2056, H.R. 2065, H.R. 2149, H.R. 3025, H.R. 3061, H.R. 3162, H.R. 3932, H.R. 6331, S. 137, S. 250, S. 450, S. 706, S. 1887, S. 2089, S. 2115, S. 2219, S. 3101: provisions relating to enrollment periods and the late enrollment penalty, physician reimbursement rates, creating a Medicare-operated prescription drug plan, drug price negotiations, Medicare beneficiary improvements, repealing cost containment mandates, Medicare Advantage payments, Medicare Advantage stabilization fund, and comparative cost adjustment demonstration projects under the Medicare Modernization Act, therapy caps, liberalizing asset test limits, reducing the Part D benefit gap and guaranteeing prescription drug benefits. Medicare/Prescription Drug Price Negotiation. H.R. 4, H.R. 118, H.R. 5317, S. 3, S. 273: provisions pertaining to the negotiation of prescription drug prices under Medicare Part D. Medicare/Medicare Advantage. H.R. 2945: provision to provide beneficiary protections against excessive cost-sharing under the Medicare Advantage Program. Medicare/Importation of Prescription Drugs. S. 242, H.R. 380, S.Amdt. 4299: provisions pertaining to the importation of prescription drugs. Medicare/Outpatient Psychiatric Services. H.R. 1571, H.R. 1663, H.R. 4897, S. 1715, S. 1854: provisions to eliminate discriminatory copayment rates for outpatient psychiatric services under Medicare Part B. Medicare/Geriatric Assessments. H.R. 2244, S. 1340: provisions to provide Medicare beneficiaries with access to geriatric assessments and chronic care coordination services. Medicare/Generic Drugs Market Exclusivity. H.R. 1432, H.R. 1902, S. 316, S. 1088: pertaining to market exclusivity for generic drugs. Medicare/Prescription Drug Benefits for Low Income Beneficiaries. H.R. 470, H.R. 932, H.R. 1536, H.R. 2058, H.R. 3127, S. 1102, S. 1103, S. 1107, S. 1108, S. 2101: provisions affecting prescription drug benefits for low-income beneficiaries under Medicare Parts B and D. Medicare/Part B Late Enrollment. H.R. 2591: provision limiting the penalty for late enrollment under Medicare Part B. Medicare/Marketing. H.R. 2307, H.R. 4790, S. 1883, S. 2687: provisions relating to the marketing of Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans. Medicare/Health Care Vouchers. H.R. 749: provision to establish health care vouchers for seniors. Medicare/Medicare Savings Accounts. H.R. 2639, S. 173, S. 1019: provisions pertaining to Medicare Savings Accounts. Medicare/End-of-Life Planning. S. 464, S. 465, S. 466: pertaining to advance directives and end-of-life planning. Medicare/Means-testing. H.R. 4295, H.R. 4330, S. 2414, S.Amdt. 4240: pertaining to means-testing of Medicare Part D. Medicare/Presidents Funding Warning. H.R. 5480, S. 2662: proposals responding to the Presidents Medicare funding warning. H. Res. 1368, to suspend section 803 of the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 (known as the Medicare trigger") for the remainder of the 110th Congress. Medicare/24-month Waiting Period. H.R.154, S. 2101: provisions phasing out the 24-month waiting period for disabled individuals to become eligible for Medicare benefits and eliminating the waiting period for individuals with life-threatening conditions. Medicaid/Federal Match. H.R. 5140: provisions pertaining to temporary increases in the federal Medicaid match. Medicaid/Targeted Case Management. Targeted Case Management: interim final rule to implement Section 6052 of the Deficit Medicaid/Targeted Case Management (continued). Reduction Act.

H.R. 1571, Seniors Access to Mental Health Act of 2007 (Medicare parity) H.R. 1663, Medicare Mental Health Modernization Act of 2007 H.R. 2626, Comprehensive HealthCARE Act of 2007 (Price Healthcare Bill) H.R. 3162, Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act of 2007 H.R. 2585, Ensuring the Future Physician Workforce Act of 2007 (Burgess SGR Bill) H.R. 3025, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings for Our Seniors (Medicare Prescription Drug SOS) Act of 2007 H.R. 3061, Medicare Part D Drug Class Protection Act of 2007 (Six Classes Bill) H.R. 820, Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2007 (MFTs/MHCs) H.R. 1588, Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2007 (MFTs/MHCs) H.R. 1424, Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act of 2007 S. 558, Mental Health Parity Act of 2007 H.R. 2580, Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2007 S. 382/H.R. 687, Keeping Families Together Act, S. 1572/H.R. 2073, Child Health Care Crisis Relief Act of 2007, S. 1893/HR 976, Childrens Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 S. 1337, Childrens Mental Health Parity Act S. 2086, SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 S. 2499, Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP extension of 2007 S. 1814, Health Information Privacy and Security Act H.R. 2406, Healthcare Information Technology Enterprise Integration Act H.R. 5442, Technologies for Restoring Users' Security and Trust in Health Information Act (TRUST Act) H.R. 493, Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2007 S. 1693/ H.R. 3800, the Wired for Health Care Quality Act S. 358/H.R. 493, Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2007 H.R. 2260, Healthcare Truth and Transparency Act of 2007 H.R. 1368, the Personalized Health Information Act of 2007 H.R. 2991, Independent Health Record Trust Act of 2007 S. 2408/H.R. 4296, E-MEDS Act of 2007 H.R. 6331, Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 S. 3101, Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 H.R. 6357, PRO(TECH)T Act of 2008 H.R. 1424, Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (including mental health parity)

H.R. 1571, Seniors Access to Mental Health Act of 2007 (Medicare parity) H.R. 1663, Medicare Mental Health Modernization Act of 2007 H.R. 2626, Comprehensive HealthCARE Act of 2007 (Price Healthcare Bill) H.R. 3162, Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act of 2007 H.R. 2585, Ensuring the Future Physician Workforce Act of 2007 (Burgess SGR Bill) H.R. 3025, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings for Our Seniors (Medicare Prescription Drug SOS) Act of 2007 H.R. 3061, Medicare Part D Drug Class Protection Act of 2007 (Six Classes Bill) H.R. 820, Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2007 (MFTs/MHCs) H.R. 1588, Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2007 (MFTs/MHCs) H.R. 2860, Health Care Access and Rural Equity (H-CARE) Act of 2007 H.R. 2050, Medicaid Emergency Psychiatric Care Act of 2007 (IMD-EMTALA) H.R. 882, Access to Emergency Medical Services Act of 2007 (EMTALA) S. 1887, Medicare Access to Critical Medications Act (Six Classes Bill) H.R. 470, to provide Medicare coverage of benzodiazepines and off-label uses of certain prescription drugs, optional Medicaid coverage of Medicare prescription drug cost-sharing, and authorization for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to waive certain determinations denying Medicare prescription drug coverage S. 137, Preserving Medicare for All Act of 2007 (Cardin Healthcare Bill, Includes Benzos) S. 588, Physician Shortage Act S. 1715, Medicare Mental Health Copayment Equity Act of 2007 S. 2499, Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act S. 2785, to amend title XVIII of the Security Act to preserve access to physicians' services under the Medicare program H.R. 5445, Ensuring the Future Physician Workforce Act of 2007 (physician payment under Medicare) H.R. 6331, Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 S. 3101, Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Revisions to Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Revisions to Part B for CY 2009; and Revisions to the Amendment of the E-Prescribing Exemption for Computer Generated Facsimile Transmissions Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Proposed Changes to the Hospital Outpatient Prospective, Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems and CY 2009 Payment Rates

1. Medicare Physician Fee Schedule - AAGP urges Congress to reverse the ten percent reduction in Medicare fees to physicians that is scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2008. AAGP also urges Congress to replace the current Medicare reimbursement formula with one that more accurately reflects the volume and intensity of services furnished to Medicare beneficiaries. 2. H.R. 1663, "Medicare Mental Health Modernization Act of 2007" - Support: Title 1: Parity of mental health services under Medicare - repealing the 50 percent copayment required by Medicare for mentalhealth services, repealing the 190-day income cap on inpatient services in psychiatric hospitals; Title 2: Expanding coverage of community-based mental health services, such as psychiatric rehabilitation and substance abuse centers. 3. S. 1715 "Medicare Mental Health Copayment Equity Act of 2007" - Support all provisions: the bill would repeal Section 1833(c) of the Social Security Act, reducing to 20 percent the current 50 percent copayment required by Medicare for outpatient mental health services over a six-year period. 4. H.R. 1571, the "Senior Access to Mental Health Act of 2007" - Support all provisions: the bill would repeal Section 1833(c) of the Social Security Act, reducing to 20 percent the current 20 percent copayment requirement by Medicare for outpatient mental health services over a six-year period. 5. S. 2578/H.R. 5173 - Support provisions to impose a moratorium on newly imposed target case management Medicaid regulations, which would unduly restrict the ability of Medicaid beneficiaries to access needed care, including community-based mental health services. 6. H.R. 6331, "Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008" - Support provisions to rescind a scheduled 10.6 percent cut in payments to physicians treating Medicare patients; and to phase down 50 percent copayment rates for Medicare mental health outpatient services from 50 percent to 20 percent by 2014. 7. S. 3101, "Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008" - Support provisions to rescind a scheduled 10.6 percent cut in payments to physicians treating Medicare patients; and to phase down 50 percent copayment rates for Medicare mental health outpatient services from 50 percent to 20 percent by 2014. 8. S. 2819, "Economic Recovery in Health Care Act" - Support all provisions. The bill would delay Medicaid regulations on targeted case management and other Medicaid rules.

Medicare/General. H.R. 205, H.R. 748, H.R. 1218, H.R. 1277, H.R. 1310, H.R. 1521, H.R. 2009, H.R. 2056, H.R. 2065, H.R. 2149, H.R. 3025, H.R. 3061, H.R. 3162, H.R. 3932, H.R. 6331, S. 137, S. 250, S. 450, S. 706, S. 1887, S. 2089, S. 2115, S. 2219, S. 3101: Medicare/General (continued). provisions relating to enrollment periods and the late enrollment penalty, physician reimbursement rates, creating a Medicare-operated prescription drug plan, drug price negotiations, Medicare beneficiary improvements, repealing cost containment mandates, Medicare Advantage payments, Medicare Advantage stabilization fund, and comparative cost adjustment demonstration projects under the Medicare Modernization Act, therapy caps, liberalizing asset test limits, reducing the Part D benefit gap and guaranteeing prescription drug benefits. Medicare/Prescription Drug Price Negotiation. H.R. 4, H.R. 118, H.R. 5317, S. 3, S. 273: provisions pertaining to the negotiation of prescription drug prices under Medicare Part D. Medicare/Medicare Advantage. H.R. 2945: provision to provide beneficiary protections against excessive cost-sharing under the Medicare Advantage Program. Medicare/Importation of Prescription Drugs. S. 242, H.R. 380, S.Amdt. 4299: provisions pertaining to the importation of prescription drugs. Medicare/Outpatient Psychiatric Services. H.R. 1571, H.R. 1663, H.R. 4897, S. 1715, S. 1854: provisions to eliminate discriminatory copayment rates for outpatient psychiatric services under Medicare Part B. Medicare/Geriatric Assessments. H.R. 2244, S. 1340: provisions to provide Medicare beneficiaries with access to geriatric assessments and chronic care coordination services. Medicare/Generic Drugs Market Exclusivity. H.R. 1432, H.R. 1902, S. 316, S. 1088: pertaining to market exclusivity for generic drugs. Medicare/Prescription Drug Benefits for Low Income Beneficiaries. H.R. 470, H.R. 932, H.R. 1536, H.R. 2058, H.R. 3127, S. 1102, S. 1103, S. 1107, S. 1108, S. 2101: provisions affecting prescription drug benefits for low-income beneficiaries under Medicare Parts B and D. Medicare/Part B Late Enrollment. H.R. 2591: provision limiting the penalty for late enrollment under Medicare Part B. Medicare/Marketing. H.R. 2307, H.R. 4790, S. 1883, S. 2687: provisions relating to the marketing of Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans. Medicare/Health Care Vouchers. H.R. 749: provision to establish health care vouchers for seniors. Medicare/Medicare Savings Accounts. H.R. 2639, S. 173, S. 1019: provisions pertaining to Medicare Savings Accounts. Medicare/End-of-Life Planning. S. 464, S. 465, S. 466: pertaining to advance directives and end-of-life planning. Medicare/Means-testing. H.R. 4295, H.R. 4330, S. 2414, S.Amdt. 4240: pertaining to means-testing of Medicare Part D. Medicare/Presidents Funding Warning. H.R. 5480, S. 2662: proposals responding to the Presidents Medicare funding warning. H. Res. 1368, to suspend section 803 of the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 (known as the Medicare trigger") for the remainder of the 110th Congress. Medicare/24-month Waiting Period. H.R.154, S. 2101: provisions phasing out the 24-month waiting period for disabled individuals to become eligible for Medicare benefits and eliminating the waiting period for individuals with life-threatening conditions. Medicare/Identity Theft Prevention. H.R. 6600, provisions related to removal of Social Security numbers from Medicare cards. Medicaid/Federal Match. H.R. 5140: provisions pertaining to temporary increases in the federal Medicaid match. Medicaid/Targeted Case Management. Targeted Case Management: interim final rule to implement Section 6052 of the Deficit Reduction Act.

H.R. 1571, Seniors Access to Mental Health Act of 2007 (Medicare parity) H.R. 1663, Medicare Mental Health Modernization Act of 2007 H.R. 2626, Comprehensive HealthCARE Act of 2007 (Price Healthcare Bill) H.R. 3162, Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act of 2007 H.R. 2585, Ensuring the Future Physician Workforce Act of 2007 (Burgess SGR Bill) H.R. 3025, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings for Our Seniors (Medicare Prescription Drug SOS) Act of 2007 H.R. 3061, Medicare Part D Drug Class Protection Act of 2007 (Six Classes Bill) H.R. 820, Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2007 (MFTs/MHCs) H.R. 1588, Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2007 (MFTs/MHCs) H.R. 2860, Health Care Access and Rural Equity (H-CARE) Act of 2007 H.R. 2050, Medicaid Emergency Psychiatric Care Act of 2007 (IMD-EMTALA) H.R. 882, Access to Emergency Medical Services Act of 2007 (EMTALA) S. 1887, Medicare Access to Critical Medications Act (Six Classes Bill) H.R. 470, to provide Medicare coverage of benzodiazepines and off-label uses of certain prescription drugs, optional Medicaid coverage of Medicare prescription drug cost-sharing, and authorization for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to waive certain determinations denying Medicare prescription drug coverage S. 137, Preserving Medicare for All Act of 2007 (Cardin Healthcare Bill, Includes Benzos) S. 588, Physician Shortage Act S. 1715, Medicare Mental Health Copayment Equity Act of 2007 S. 2499, Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act S. 2785, to amend title XVIII of the Security Act to preserve access to physicians' services under the Medicare program H.R. 5445, Ensuring the Future Physician Workforce Act of 2007 (physician payment under Medicare) H.R. 6331, Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 S. 3101, Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Medicare Program: Proposed Changes to the Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems and Fiscal Year 2009 Rates; Proposed Changes to Disclosure of Physician Ownership in Hospitals and Physician Self-Referral Rules; Proposed Collection of Information Regarding Financial Relationships Between Hospitals and Physicians

H.R. 1571, Seniors Access to Mental Health Act of 2007 (Medicare parity) H.R. 1663, Medicare Mental Health Modernization Act of 2007 H.R. 2626, Comprehensive HealthCARE Act of 2007 (Price Healthcare Bill) H.R. 3162, Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act of 2007 H.R. 2585, Ensuring the Future Physician Workforce Act of 2007 (Burgess SGR Bill) H.R. 3025, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings for Our Seniors (Medicare Prescription Drug SOS) Act of 2007 H.R. 3061, Medicare Part D Drug Class Protection Act of 2007 (Six Classes Bill) H.R. 820, Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2007 (MFTs/MHCs) H.R. 1588, Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2007 (MFTs/MHCs) H.R. 1424, Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act of 2007 S. 558, Mental Health Parity Act of 2007 H.R. 2580, Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2007 S. 382/H.R. 687, Keeping Families Together Act, S. 1572/H.R. 2073, Child Health Care Crisis Relief Act of 2007, S. 1893/HR 976, Childrens Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 S. 1337, Childrens Mental Health Parity Act S. 2086, SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 S. 2499, Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP extension of 2007 S. 1814, Health Information Privacy and Security Act H.R. 2406, Healthcare Information Technology Enterprise Integration Act H.R. 5442, Technologies for Restoring Users' Security and Trust in Health Information Act (TRUST Act) H.R. 493, Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2007 S. 1693/ H.R. 3800, the Wired for Health Care Quality Act S. 358/H.R. 493, Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2007 H.R. 2260, Healthcare Truth and Transparency Act of 2007 H.R. 1368, the Personalized Health Information Act of 2007 H.R. 2991, Independent Health Record Trust Act of 2007 S. 2408/H.R. 4296, E-MEDS Act of 2007 H.R. 6331, Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 S. 3101, Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 H.R. 6357, PRO(TECH)T Act of 2008 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Designation of Medically Underserved Populations and Health Professional Shortage Areas

1. Medicare Physician Fee Schedule - AAGP urges Congress to reverse the ten percent reduction in Medicare fees to physicians that is scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2008. AAGP also urges Congress to replace the current Medicare reimbursement formula with one that more accurately reflects the volume and intensity of services furnished to Medicare beneficiaries. 2. H.R. 1663, "Medicare Mental Health Modernization Act of 2007" - Support: Title 1: Parity of mental health services under Medicare - repealing the 50 percent copayment required by Medicare for mentalhealth services, repealing the 190-day income cap on inpatient services in psychiatric hospitals; Title 2: Expanding coverage of community-based mental health services, such as psychiatric rehabilitation and substance abuse centers. 3. S. 1715 "Medicare Mental Health Copayment Equity Act of 2007" - Support all provisions: the bill would repeal Section 1833(c) of the Social Security Act, reducing to 20 percent the current 50 percent copayment required by Medicare for outpatient mental health services over a six-year period. 4. H.R. 1571, the "Senior Access to Mental Health Act of 2007" - Support all provisions: the bill would repeal Section 1833(c) of the Social Security Act, reducing to 20 percent the current 20 percent copayment requirement by Medicare for outpatient mental health services over a six-year period. 5. S. 2578/H.R. 5173 - Support provisions to impose a moratorium on newly imposed target case management Medicaid regulations, which would unduly restrict the ability of Medicaid beneficiaries to access needed care, including community-based mental health services. 6. H.R. 6331, "Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008" - Support provisions to rescind a scheduled 10.6 percent cut in payments to physicians treating Medicare patients; and to phase down 50 percent copayment rates for Medicare mental health outpatient services from 50 percent to 20 percent by 2014. 7. S. 3101, "Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008" - Support provisions to rescind a scheduled 10.6 percent cut in payments to physicians treating Medicare patients; and to phase down 50 percent copayment rates for Medicare mental health outpatient services from 50 percent to 20 percent by 2014. 8. S. 2819, "Economic Recovery in Health Care Act" - Support all provisions. The bill would delay Medicaid regulations on targeted case management and other Medicaid rules.

H.R. 1571, Seniors Access to Mental Health Act of 2007 (Medicare parity) H.R. 1663, Medicare Mental Health Modernization Act of 2007 H.R. 2626, Comprehensive HealthCARE Act of 2007 (Price Healthcare Bill) H.R. 3162, Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act of 2007 H.R. 2585, Ensuring the Future Physician Workforce Act of 2007 (Burgess SGR Bill) H.R. 3025, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings for Our Seniors (Medicare Prescription Drug SOS) Act of 2007 H.R. 3061, Medicare Part D Drug Class Protection Act of 2007 (Six Classes Bill) H.R. 820, Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2007 (MFTs/MHCs) H.R. 1588, Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2007 (MFTs/MHCs) H.R. 1424, Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act of 2007 S. 558, Mental Health Parity Act of 2007 H.R. 2580, Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2007 S. 382/H.R. 687, Keeping Families Together Act, S. 1572/H.R. 2073, Child Health Care Crisis Relief Act of 2007, S. 1893/HR 976, Childrens Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 S. 1337, Childrens Mental Health Parity Act S. 2086, SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 S. 2499, Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP extension of 2007 S. 1814, Health Information Privacy and Security Act H.R. 2406, Healthcare Information Technology Enterprise Integration Act H.R. 5442, Technologies for Restoring Users' Security and Trust in Health Information Act (TRUST Act) H.R. 493, Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2007 S. 1693/ H.R. 3800, the Wired for Health Care Quality Act S. 358/H.R. 493, Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2007 H.R. 2260, Healthcare Truth and Transparency Act of 2007 H.R. 1368, the Personalized Health Information Act of 2007 H.R. 2991, Independent Health Record Trust Act of 2007 S. 2408/H.R. 4296, E-MEDS Act of 2007 H.R. 6331, Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 S. 3101, Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 H.R. 6357, PRO(TECH)T Act of 2008 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Designation of Medically Underserved Populations and Health Professional Shortage Areas

H.R. 1571, Seniors Access to Mental Health Act of 2007 (Medicare parity) H.R. 1663, Medicare Mental Health Modernization Act of 2007 H.R. 2626, Comprehensive HealthCARE Act of 2007 (Price Healthcare Bill) H.R. 3162, Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act of 2007 H.R. 2585, Ensuring the Future Physician Workforce Act of 2007 (Burgess SGR Bill) H.R. 3025, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings for Our Seniors (Medicare Prescription Drug SOS) Act of 2007 H.R. 3061, Medicare Part D Drug Class Protection Act of 2007 (Six Classes Bill) H.R. 820, Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2007 (MFTs/MHCs) H.R. 1588, Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2007 (MFTs/MHCs) H.R. 2860, Health Care Access and Rural Equity (H-CARE) Act of 2007 H.R. 2050, Medicaid Emergency Psychiatric Care Act of 2007 (IMD-EMTALA) H.R. 882, Access to Emergency Medical Services Act of 2007 (EMTALA) S. 1887, Medicare Access to Critical Medications Act (Six Classes Bill) H.R. 470, to provide Medicare coverage of benzodiazepines and off-label uses of certain prescription drugs, optional Medicaid coverage of Medicare prescription drug cost-sharing, and authorization for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to waive certain determinations denying Medicare prescription drug coverage S. 137, Preserving Medicare for All Act of 2007 (Cardin Healthcare Bill, Includes Benzos) S. 588, Physician Shortage Act S. 1715, Medicare Mental Health Copayment Equity Act of 2007 S. 2499, Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act S. 2785, to amend title XVIII of the Security Act to preserve access to physicians' services under the Medicare program H.R. 5445, Ensuring the Future Physician Workforce Act of 2007 (physician payment under Medicare) H.R. 6331, Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 S. 3101, Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Medicare Program: Proposed Changes to the Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems and Fiscal Year 2009 Rates; Proposed Changes to Disclosure of Physician Ownership in Hospitals and Physician Self-Referral Rules; Proposed Collection of Information Regarding Financial Relationships Between Hospitals and Physicians

Medicare/General. H.R. 205, H.R. 748, H.R. 1218, H.R. 1277, H.R. 1310, H.R. 1521, H.R. 2009, H.R. 2056, H.R. 2065, H.R. 2149, H.R. 3025, H.R. 3061, H.R. 3162, H.R. 3932, H.R. 6331, S. 137, S. 250, S. 450, S. 706, S. 1887, S. 2089, S. 2115, S. 2219, S. 3101: provisions relating to enrollment periods and the late enrollment penalty, physician reimbursement rates, creating a Medicare-operated prescription drug plan, drug price negotiations, Medicare beneficiary improvements, repealing cost containment mandates, Medicare Advantage payments, Medicare Advantage stabilization fund, and comparative cost adjustment demonstration projects under the Medicare Modernization Act, therapy caps, liberalizing asset test limits, reducing the Part D benefit gap and guaranteeing prescription drug benefits. Medicare/Prescription Drug Price Negotiation. H.R. 4, H.R. 118, H.R. 5317, S. 3, S. 273: provisions pertaining to the negotiation of prescription drug prices under Medicare Part D. Medicare/Medicare Advantage. H.R. 2945: provision to provide beneficiary protections against excessive cost-sharing under the Medicare Advantage Program. Medicare/Importation of Prescription Drugs. S. 242, H.R. 380, S.Amdt. 4299: provisions pertaining to the importation of prescription drugs. Medicare/Outpatient Psychiatric Services. H.R. 1571, H.R. 1663, H.R. 4897, S. 1715, S. 1854: provisions to eliminate discriminatory copayment rates for outpatient psychiatric services under Medicare Part B. Medicare/Geriatric Assessments. H.R. 2244, S. 1340: provisions to provide Medicare beneficiaries with access to geriatric assessments and chronic care coordination services. Medicare/Generic Drugs Market Exclusivity. H.R. 1432, H.R. 1902, S. 316, S. 1088: pertaining to market exclusivity for generic drugs. Medicare/Prescription Drug Benefits for Low Income Beneficiaries. H.R. 470, H.R. 932, H.R. 1536, H.R. 2058, H.R. 3127, S. 1102, S. 1103, S. 1107, S. 1108, S. 2101: provisions affecting prescription drug benefits for low-income beneficiaries under Medicare Parts B and D. Medicare/Part B Late Enrollment. H.R. 2591: provision limiting the penalty for late enrollment under Medicare Part B. Medicare/Marketing. H.R. 2307, H.R. 4790, S. 1883, S. 2687: provisions relating to the marketing of Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans. Medicare/Health Care Vouchers. H.R. 749: provision to establish health care vouchers for seniors. Medicare/Medicare Savings Accounts. H.R. 2639, S. 173, S. 1019: provisions pertaining to Medicare Savings Accounts. Medicare/End-of-Life Planning. S. 464, S. 465, S. 466: pertaining to advance directives and end-of-life planning. Medicare/Means-testing. H.R. 4295, H.R. 4330, S. 2414, S.Amdt. 4240: pertaining to means-testing of Medicare Part D. Medicare/Presidents Funding Warning. H.R. 5480, S. 2662: proposals responding to the Presidents Medicare funding warning. Medicare/24-month Waiting Period. H.R.154, S. 2101: provisions phasing out the 24-month waiting period for disabled individuals to become eligible for Medicare benefits and eliminating the waiting period for individuals with life-threatening conditions. Medicaid/Federal Match. H.R. 5140: provisions pertaining to temporary increases in the federal Medicaid match. Medicaid/Targeted Case Management. Targeted Case Management: Interim final rule to implement Section 6052 of the Deficit Reduction Act.

H.R. 1571, Seniors Access to Mental Health Act of 2007 (Medicare parity) H.R. 1663, Medicare Mental Health Modernization Act of 2007 H.R. 2626, Comprehensive HealthCARE Act of 2007 (Price Healthcare Bill) H.R. 3162, Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act of 2007 H.R. 2585, Ensuring the Future Physician Workforce Act of 2007 (Burgess SGR Bill) H.R. 3025, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings for Our Seniors (Medicare Prescription Drug SOS) Act of 2007 H.R. 3061, Medicare Part D Drug Class Protection Act of 2007 (Six Classes Bill) H.R. 820, Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2007 (MFTs/MHCs) H.R. 1588, Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2007 (MFTs/MHCs) H.R. 2860, Health Care Access and Rural Equity (H-CARE) Act of 2007 H.R. 2050, Medicaid Emergency Psychiatric Care Act of 2007 (IMD-EMTALA) H.R. 882, Access to Emergency Medical Services Act of 2007 (EMTALA) S. 1887, Medicare Access to Critical Medications Act (Six Classes Bill) H.R. 470, to provide Medicare coverage of benzodiazepines and off-label uses of certain prescription drugs, optional Medicaid coverage of Medicare prescription drug cost-sharing, and authorization for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to waive certain determinations denying Medicare prescription drug coverage S. 137, Preserving Medicare for All Act of 2007 (Cardin Healthcare Bill, Includes Benzos) S. 588, Physician Shortage Act S. 1715, Medicare Mental Health Copayment Equity Act of 2007 S. 2499, Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act S. 2785, to amend title XVIII of the Security Act to preserve access to physicians' services under the Medicare program H.R. 5445, Ensuring the Future Physician Workforce Act of 2007 (physician payment under Medicare)

Client expense: $127,101 · Firm income: Not reported

H.R. 1571, Seniors Access to Mental Health Act of 2007 (Medicare parity) H.R. 1663, Medicare Mental Health Modernization Act of 2007 H.R. 2626, Comprehensive HealthCARE Act of 2007 (Price Healthcare Bill) H.R. 3162, Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act of 2007 H.R. 2585, Ensuring the Future Physician Workforce Act of 2007 (Burgess SGR Bill) H.R. 3025, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings for Our Seniors (Medicare Prescription Drug SOS) Act of 2007 H.R. 3061, Medicare Part D Drug Class Protection Act of 2007 (Six Classes Bill) H.R. 820, Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2007 (MFTs/MHCs) H.R. 1588, Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2007 (MFTs/MHCs) H.R. 1424, Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act of 2007 S. 558, Mental Health Parity Act of 2007 H.R. 2580, Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2007 S. 382/H.R. 687, Keeping Families Together Act, S. 1572/H.R. 2073, Child Health Care Crisis Relief Act of 2007, S. 1893/HR 976, Childrens Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 S. 1337, Childrens Mental Health Parity Act S. 2086, SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 S. 2499, Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP extension of 2007 S. 1814, Health Information Privacy and Security Act H.R. 2406, Healthcare Information Technology Enterprise Integration Act H.R. 5442, Technologies for Restoring Users' Security and Trust in Health Information Act (TRUST Act) H.R. 493, Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2007 S. 1693/ H.R. 3800, the Wired for Health Care Quality Act S. 358/H.R. 493, Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2007 H.R. 2260, Healthcare Truth and Transparency Act of 2007 H.R. 1368, the Personalized Health Information Act of 2007 H.R. 2991, Independent Health Record Trust Act of 2007 S. 2408/H.R. 4296, E-MEDS Act of 2007

Medicare/General. H.R. 205, H.R. 748, H.R. 1218, H.R. 1277, H.R. 1310, H.R. 1521, H.R. 2009, H.R. 2056, H.R. 2065, H.R. 2149, H.R. 3025, H.R. 3061, H.R. 3162, H.R. 3932, S. 137, S. 250, S. 450, S. 706, S. 1887, S. 2089, S. 2115, S. 2219: provisions relating to enrollment periods and the late enrollment penalty, physician reimbursement rates, creating a Medicare-operated prescription drug plan, drug price negotiations, Medicare beneficiary improvements, repealing cost containment mandates, Medicare Advantage payments, Medicare Advantage stabilization fund, and comparative cost adjustment demonstration projects under the Medicare Modernization Act, therapy caps, liberalizing asset test limits, Medicare Secondary Payer clarification, reducing the Part D benefit gap and guaranteeing prescription drug benefits. Medicare/Prescription Drug Price Negotiation. H.R. 4, H.R. 118, H.R. 5317, S. 3, S. 273: provisions pertaining to the negotiation of prescription drug prices under Medicare Part D. Medicare/Medicare Advantage. H.R. 2945: provision to provide beneficiary protections against excessive cost-sharing under the Medicare Advantage Program. Medicare/Importation of Prescription Drugs. S. 242, H.R. 380, S.Amdt. 4299: provisions pertaining to the importation of prescription drugs. Medicare/Outpatient Psychiatric Services. H.R. 1571, H.R. 1663, H.R. 4897, S. 1715, S. 1854: provisions to eliminate discriminatory copayment rates for outpatient psychiatric services under Medicare Part B. Medicare/Geriatric Assessments. H.R. 2244, S. 1340: provisions to provide Medicare beneficiaries with access to geriatric assessments and chronic care coordination services. Medicare/Generic Drugs Market Exclusivity. H.R. 1432, H.R. 1902, S. 316, S. 1088: pertaining to market exclusivity for generic drugs. Medicare/Prescription Drug Benefits for Low Income Beneficiaries. H.R. 470, H.R. 932, H.R. 1536, H.R. 2058, H.R. 3127, S. 1102, S. 1103, S. 1107, S. 1108, S. 2101: provisions affecting prescription drug benefits for low-income beneficiaries under Medicare Parts B and D. Medicare/Part B Late Enrollment. H.R. 2591: provision limiting the penalty for late enrollment under Medicare Part B. Medicare/Marketing. H.R. 2307, H.R. 4790, S. 1883, S. 2687: provisions relating to the marketing of Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans. Medicare/Health Care Vouchers. H.R. 749: provision to establish health care vouchers for seniors. Medicare/Medicare Savings Accounts. H.R. 2639, S. 173, S. 1019: provisions pertaining to Medicare Savings Accounts. Medicare/End-of-Life Planning. S. 464, S. 465, S. 466: pertaining to advance directives and end-of-life planning. Medicare/Means-testing. H.R. 4295, H.R. 4330, S. 2414, S.Amdt. 4240: pertaining to means-testing of Medicare Part D. Medicare/Presidents Funding Warning. H.R. 5480, S. 2662: proposals responding to the Presidents Medicare funding warning. Medicare/24-month Waiting Period. H.R.154, S. 2101: provisions phasing out the 24-month waiting period for disabled individuals to become eligible for Medicare benefits and eliminating the waiting period for individuals with life-threatening conditions. Medicaid/Federal Match. H.R. 5140: provisions pertaining to temporary increases in the federal Medicaid match. Medicaid/Targeted Case Management. Targeted Case Management: interim final rule to implement Section 6052 of the Deficit Reduction Act.

1. Medicare Physician Fee Schedule - AAGP urges Congress to reverse the ten percent reduction in Medicare fees to physicians that is scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2008. AAGP also urges Congress to replace the current Medicare reimbursement formula with one that more accurately reflects the volume and intensity of services furnished to Medicare beneficiaries. 2. H.R. 1663, "Medicare Mental Health Modernization Act of 2007" - Support: Title 1: Parity of mental health services under Medicare - repealing the 50 percent copayment required by Medicare for mental health services; repealing the 190-day income cap on inpatient services in psychiatric hospitals; Title 2: Expanding coverage of community-based mental heatlh services, such as psychiatric rehabilitation and substance abuse centers. 3. S. 1715, "Medicare Mental Health Copayment Equity Act of 2007" - Support all provisions: the bill would repeal Section 1833(c) of the Social Security Act, reducing to 20 percent the current 50 percent copayment required by Medicare for outpatient mental health services over a six-year period. 4. H.R. 1571, the "Senior Access to Mental Health Act of 2007" - Support all provisions: the bill would repeal Section 1833 (c) of the Social Security Act, reducing to 20 percent the current 50 percent copayment required by Medicare for outpatient mental health services over a six-year period. 5. S. 2578/H.R. 5173 - Support provisions to impose a moratorium on newly imposed target case management Medicaid regulations, which would unduly restrict the ability of Medicaid beneficiaries to access needed care, including community-based mental health services.

Client expense: $40,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Medicare. 1) H.R. 4, H.R. 118, S. 3, S. 273: provisions pertaining to the negotiation of prescription drug prices under Medicare Part D. 2) H.R. 205, H.R. 748, H.R. 1218, H.R. 1277, H.R. 1310, H.R. 1521, H.R. 2009, H.R. 2056, H.R. 2065, H.R. 2149, H.R. 3025, H.R. 3061, H.R. 3162, H.R. 3932, S. 137, S. 250, S.450, S. 706, S. 1887, S. 2115, S. 2219, S. 2499, S.Amdt. 508: provisions relating to the late enrollment penalty, physician reimbursement rates, creation of a Medicare operated prescription drug plan, drug price negotiations, Medicare beneficiary improvements, repeal of cost containment provisions, Medicare Advantage payments, the Medicare Advantage stabilization fund and comparative cost adjustment demonstration projects under the Medicare Modernization Act, therapy caps, liberalization of asset test limits, the reduction of the benefit gap and guaranteeing drug benefits. 3) H.R. 2945: provisions to provide beneficiary protections against excessive cost-sharing under the Medicare Advantage Program. 4) S. 242, H.R. 380, S.Amdt. 1010: pertaining to the importation of prescription drugs. 5) H.R. 1571, H.R. 1663, H.R. 4897, S. 1715, S. 1854: provisions to eliminate discriminatory copayment rates for outpatient psychiatric services under the Medicare Program. 6) S. 1340, H.R. 2244: provisions to provide Medicare beneficiaries with access to geriatric assessments and chronic care coordination services. 7) S. 316, S. 1088, H.R. 1432, H.R. 1902: pertaining to market exclusivity for generic drugs. 8) S. 1102, S. 1103, S. 1107, S. 1108, S. 2101, H.R. 470, H.R. 932, H.R. 1536, H.R. 2058, H.R. 3127, H.R. 3668: provisions to improve benefits for low-income beneficiaries under Medicare Parts B and D. 9) S. 1082: amendments pertaining to citizen petitions to the Federal Drug Administration relating to generic drugs and to importation of prescription drugs under the Medicare program. 10) H.R. 2591: limiting the penalty for late enrollment under Medicare Part B. 11) H.R. 2307, H.R. 4790, S. 1883: provisions regarding the marketing of Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans. 12) H.R. 749: establishing health care vouchers for seniors. 13) S. 173, S. 1019, H.R. 2639: provisions pertaining to Medicare Savings Accounts. 14) S. 464, S. 465, S. 466: provisions pertaining to advance directives and end-of-life planning. 15) S.Amdt. 472: provisions pertaining to means-testing of Medicare Part D. 16) S.Amdt. 525: pertaining to across-the-board cuts to Medicare providers. 17) S. 543, H.R. 1459: rules pertaining to Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities. 18) Pertaining to Congressional efforts petitioning the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services to create a public nursing home watch list of repeat offenders on surveys (no legislation).

Medicare. 1) H.R. 4, H.R. 118, S. 3, S. 273: pertaining to the negotiation of prescription drug prices under Medicare Part D. 2) H.R. 205, H.R. 1218, H.R. 1310, H.R. 1521, H.R. 2056, H.R. 2065, H.R. 2149, H.R. 3025, H.R. 3061, S. 250, S. 706: provisions relating to the late enrollment penalty, creating a Medicare operated prescription drug plan, prescription drug price negotiations, repealing cost containment provisions, Medicare Advantage stabilization fund and comparative cost adjustment demonstration projects under the Medicare Modernization Act (P.L. 108-173), liberalizing asset test limits, reducing the benefit gap and guaranteeing prescription drug benefits. 3) H.R. 2945: providing beneficiary protections against excessive cost-sharing under the Medicare Advantage Program. 4) S. 242, H.R. 380: pertaining to the importation of prescription drugs. 5) H.R. 1571, H.R. 1663, S. 1715: eliminating discriminatory copayment rates for outpatient psychiatric services under the Medicare Program. 6) S. 1340, H.R. 2244: to provide Medicare beneficiaries with access to geriatric assessments and chronic care coordination services. 7) S. 316, S. 1088, H.R. 1432, H.R. 1902: pertaining to market exclusivity for generic drugs. 8) S. 1102, S. 1103, S. 1107, S. 1108, H.R. 470, H.R. 932, H.R. 1536, H.R. 2058: improving prescription drug benefits for low-income beneficiaries under Medicare Part D. 9) S. 1082: amendments pertaining to citizen petitions to the Federal Drug Administration relating to generic drugs and to importation of prescription drugs under the Medicare program. 10) H.R. 2591: limiting the penalty for late enrollment under Medicare Part B. 11) H.R. 2009: repealing the Medicare cost containment provisions of the Medicare Modernization Act (P.L. 108-173). 12) H.R. 2307: protecting seniors from abusive marketing scams in Medicare Advantage. 13) H.R. 749: establishing health care vouchers for seniors. 14) S. 173, S. 1019, H.R. 2639: pertaining to Medicare Savings Accounts. 15) S. 464, S. 465, S. 466: pertaining to advance directives and end-of-life planning.

1. Medicare Physician Fee Schedule -- AAGP urges Congress to reverse the ten percent reduction in Medicare fees to physicians that is scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2008. AAGP also urges Congress to replace the current Medicare reimbursement formula with one that more accurately reflects the volume and intensity of services furnished to Medicare beneficiaries. 2. H.R. 1663, "Medicare Mental Helath Modernization Act of 2007 -- Support: Title 1: Parity of Mental Health services under Medicare -- repealing the 50 percent copayment required by Medicare for mental health services; repealing the 190-day income cap on inpatient services in psychiatric hospitals; Title 2: Expanding coverage of community-based mental health services, such as psychiatric rehabilitation and substance abuse centers. 3. S. 1715, "Medicare Mental Health Copayment Equity Act of 2007" -- Support all provisions: the bill would repeal Section 1833(c) of the Social Security Act, reducing to 20 percent the current 50 percent copayment required by Medicare for outpatient mental health services over a six-year period. 4. H.R. 1571, the "Senior Access to Mental Health Act of 2007" -- Support all provisions: the bill would repeal Section 1833 (c) of the Social Security Act, reducing to 20 percent the current 50 percent copayment required by Medicare for outpatient mental health services over a six-year period. 5. AAGP met with CMS staff to request that CMS issue a 2-digit physician specialty code for geriatric psychiatry. This code would be used by psychiatrists who are board certified in geriatric psychiatry and whose practices are specialized to care for geriatric patients. Its purpose would be to ensure that data accumulated by the Medicare program could be put to full use in improving the quality and effectiveness of care for late-life mental disorders. 6. H.R. 3162, the "Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act of 2007". Support provisions to repeal the 50 percent Medicare copayment requirement for mental health outpatient care; a provision to avert the scheduled ten percent reduction in Medicare reimbursement rates for physicians in 2008 and to replace it with an increse of 0.5 percent in 2008 and 2009; and a temporary five percent increase to the "908" Medicare psychiatric service codes to offset the unanticipated disparate reduction for those services as a result of the last relative value unit review. 7. Sent comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services on the proposed rule for revisions to Medicare payment policies under the Physician Fee Schedule for 2008. Expressed support for the proposed acceptance of the recommendations of the American Medical Associaiton's Specialty Society Relative Value Update Committee for the increased reimbursement codes describing nursing facility care. In addition, AAGP reiterated its opposition to the proposed 10 percent reduction in the conversion factor for 2008 and urged CMS to use its discretion to revise the calculation of physician expenditures and to support efforts in Congress to replace the SGR policy.

H.R. 1571, Seniors Access to Mental Health Act of 2007 (Medicare parity) H.R. 1663, Medicare Mental Health Modernization Act of 2007 H.R. 2626, Comprehensive HealthCARE Act of 2007 (Price Healthcare Bill)

Client expense: $258,636 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Indian Health Service, Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Natl Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA), Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), White House Office

H.R. 1571, Seniors Access to Mental Health Act of 2007 (Medicare parity) H.R. 1663, Medicare Mental Health Modernization Act of 2007 H.R. 2626, Comprehensive HealthCARE Act of 2007 (Price Healthcare Bill)

Client expense: $258,636 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Indian Health Service, Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Natl Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA), Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), White House Office

HR 1571 & S 1715 Medicare mental health parity HR 4 & S 3 Medicare drug benefit price negotiation HR 1663 Medicare mental health improvement reform HR 3162 CHAMP Act

Client expense: $28,458 · Firm income: Not reported

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

H.R. 3061, H.R. 3162, H.R. 3932, S. 137, S. 250, S.450, S. 706, S. 1887, S. 2115, S. 2219, S. 2499, S.Amdt. 508: provisions relating to the late enrollment penalty, physician reimbursement rates, creation of a Medicare operated prescription drug plan, drug price negotiations, Medicare beneficiary improvements, repeal of cost containment provisions, Medicare Advantage payments, the Medicare Advantage stabilization fund and comparative cost adjustment demonstration projects under the Medicare Modernization Act, therapy caps, liberalization of asset test limits, the reduction of the benefit gap and guaranteeing drug benefits. 3) H.R. 2945: provisions to provide beneficiary protections against excessive cost-sharing under the Medicare Advantage Program. 4) S. 242, H.R. 380, S.Amdt. 1010: pertaining to the importation of prescription drugs. 5) H.R. 1571, H.R. 1663, H.R. 4897, S. 1715, S. 1854: provisions to eliminate discriminatory copayment rates for outpatient psychiatric services under the Medicare Program. 6) S. 1340, H.R. 2244: provisions to provide Medicare beneficiaries with access to geriatric assessments and chronic care coordination services. 7) S. 316, S. 1088, H.R. 1432, H.R. 1902: pertaining to market exclusivity for generic drugs. 8) S. 1102, S. 1103, S. 1107, S. 1108, S. 2101, H.R. 470, H.R. 932, H.R. 1536, H.R. 2058, H.R. 3127, H.R. 3668: provisions to improve benefits for low-income beneficiaries under Medicare Parts B and D. 9) S. 1082: amendments pertaining to citizen petitions to the Federal Drug Administration relating to generic drugs and to importation of prescription drugs under the Medicare program. 10) H.R. 2591: limiting the penalty for late enrollment under Medicare Part B. 11) H.R. 2307, H.R. 4790, S. 1883: provisions regarding the marketing of Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans. 12) H.R. 749: establishing health care vouchers for seniors. 13) S. 173, S. 1019, H.R. 2639: provisions pertaining to Medicare Savings Accounts. 14) S. 464, S. 465, S. 466: provisions pertaining to advance directives and end-of-life planning. 15) S.Amdt. 472: provisions pertaining to means-testing of Medicare Part D. 16) S.Amdt. 525: pertaining to across-the-board cuts to Medicare providers. 17) S. 543, H.R. 1459: rules pertaining to Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities. 18) Pertaining to Congressional efforts petitioning the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services to create a public nursing home “watch list” of repeat offenders on surveys (no legislation). Medicare. 1) H.R. 4, H.R. 118, S. 3, S. 273: provisions pertaining to the negotiation of prescription drug prices under Medicare Part D. 2) H.R. 205, H.R. 748, H.R. 1218, H.R. 1277, H.R. 1310, H.R. 1521, H.R. 2009, H.R. 2056, H.R. 2065, H.R. 2149, H.R. 3025,

to the late enrollment penalty, creating a Medicare operated prescription drug plan, prescription drug price negotiations, repealing cost containment provisions, Medicare Advantage stabilization fund and comparative cost adjustment demonstration projects under the Medicare Modernization Act (P.L. 108-173), liberalizing asset test limits, reducing the benefit gap and guaranteeing prescription drug benefits. 3) H.R. 2945: providing beneficiary protections against excessive cost-sharing under the Medicare Advantage Program. 4) S. 242, H.R. 380: pertaining to the importation of prescription drugs. 5) H.R. 1571, H.R. 1663, S. 1715: eliminating discriminatory copayment rates for outpatient psychiatric services under the Medicare Program. 6) S. 1340, H.R. 2244: to provide Medicare beneficiaries with access to geriatric assessments and chronic care coordination services. 7) S. 316, S. 1088, H.R. 1432, H.R. 1902: pertaining to market exclusivity for generic drugs. 8) S. 1102, S. 1103, S. 1107, S. 1108, H.R. 470, H.R. 932, H.R. 1536, H.R. 2058: improving prescription drug benefits for low-income beneficiaries under Medicare Part D. 9) S. 1082: amendments pertaining to citizen petitions to the Federal Drug Administration relating to generic drugs and to importation of prescription drugs under the Medicare program. 10) H.R. 2591: limiting the penalty for late enrollment under Medicare Part B. 11) H.R. 2009: repealing the Medicare cost containment provisions of the Medicare Modernization Act (P.L. 108-173). 12) H.R. 2307: protecting seniors from abusive marketing scams in Medicare Advantage. 13) H.R. 749: establishing health care vouchers for seniors. 14) S. 173, S. 1019, H.R. 2639: pertaining to Medicare Savings Accounts. 15) S. 464, S. 465, S. 466: pertaining to advance directives and end-of-life planning. Medicare. 1) H.R. 4, H.R. 118, S. 3, S. 273: pertaining to the negotiation of prescription drug prices under Medicare Part D. 2) H.R. 205, H.R. 1218, H.R. 1310, H.R. 1521, H.R. 2056, H.R. 2065, H.R. 2149, H.R. 3025, H.R. 3061, S. 250, S. 706: provisions relating

Medicare Coinsurance Parity: HR 1571, S. 1715 Medicare Mental Health Modernization Act: HR 1663

Client expense: $181,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Medicare -- repealing the 50 percent copayment required by Medicare for mental health services; repealing the 190-day lifetime cap on inpatient services in psychiatric hospitals; Title 2: Expanding coverage of community-based mental health services, such as psychiatric rehabilitation and substance abuse treatment centers. 3. S. 1715, “Medicare Mental Health Copayment Equity Act of 2007” -- Support all provisions: the bill would repeal Section 1833(c) of the Social Security Act, reducing to 20 percent the current 50 percent copayment required by Medicare for outpatient mental health services over a six-year period. 4. AAGP contacted CMS staff regarding recommendations contained in a report issued by OIG/HHS in October 2006 entitled “Carrier Determination of Copyaments for Medicare Mental Health Services”. Issues discussed were the report’s findings and CMS’ plans for issuing more explicit guidelines and monitoring carrier compliance with such going forward. 5. AAGP contacted CMS staff to request that CMS issue a 2-digit physician specialty code for geriatric psychiatry. This code would be used by psychiatrists who are board certified in geriatric psychiatry and whose practices are specialized to care for geriatric patients. Its purpose would be to ensure that data accumulated by the Medicare program could be put to full use in improving the quality and effectiveness of care for late-life mental disorders. 6. H.R. 1571, the "Senior Access to Mental Health Act of 2007"-- Support all provisions: the bill would repeal Section 1833 (c) of the Social Security Act, reducing to 20 percent the current 50 percent copayment required by Medicare for outpatient mental health services over a six-year period. 1. Medicare Physician Fee Schedule -- AAGP urges Congress to reverse the ten percent reduction in Medicare fees to physicians that is scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2008. AAGP also urges Congress to replace the current Medicare reimbursement formula with one that more accurately reflects the volume and intensity of services furnished to Medicare beneficiaries. 2. H.R. 1663, “Medicare Mental Health Modernization Act of 2007” -- Support: Title 1: Parity of Mental Health services under