Medicare Hospice Protection Act of 2008

Hospice Protection Act of 2008 (S. 3484, H.R. 6873). Preserving Access to Healthcare Act of 2008 (S. 3656, H.R. 7241).

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $30,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Medicare reimbursement and rate protection efforts.HR 6873 "Medicare Hospice Protection Act"S. 3484 "Hospice Protection Act"

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

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

S. 588/HR. 1424 "Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Parity Act," Issue: Mental Health Insurance Coverage; support bills to provide parity between health insurance coverage of mental health benefits and benefits for medical and surgical services; S. 1693 (Kennedy) "Wired for Health Care Quality Act," Issues: Mental Health and Health Privacy; modify a bill to enhance the adoption of a nationwide interoperable health information technology system and to improve the quality and reduce the costs of health care in the United States; HR 5442 (Markey) "TRUST in Health Information Act," Issues: Mental Health and Health Privacy. To modify a bill providing individuals with access to health information, to ensure personal privacy, security, and confidentiality with respect to health related information in promoting the development of a nationwide interoperable health information infrastructure, to impose criminal and civil penalties for unauthorized use of personal health information, to provide for the enforcement of tese rights, to protect States' rights, and for other purposes; HR 6357 (Dingell) "PRO(TECH)T Act," Issues: Mental Health and Health Privacy; Seek modifications in a bill amending the Public Health Service Act to promote the adoption of health information technology, providing limited privacy protections and for other purposes; HR 3800 (Eshoo) "Improving the Interoperability of Health Information Technology," Issues: Mental Health and Health Privacy; seek modifications in a bill amending the Public Health Service Act to promote the adoption of health information technology, and for other purposes; HR 5447 (Towns) "Dorothy I. Height and Whitney m. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act," Issue: Health/Social Work Workforce; support a bill to establish the Social Work Reinvestment commission to provide independent counsel to Congress on policy issues associated with the recruitment, retention, research, and reinvestment in the profession of social work; S 2858 (Mikulski) "Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act," Issue: Health/Social Work Workforce, support a bill to establish the social Work Reinvestment Commission to provide independent counsel to Congress on policy issues associated with the recruitment, retention, research, and reinvestment in the profession of social work; Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act S. 2858 and HR 5447 Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act Support establishing a Social Work Reinvestment Commission to address recruitment, retention, research, and reinvestment in the social work profession; HCR: Health Issues, S 3484 and HR 6873, Medicare Hospice Protection Act, support the passage of bill to provide for a delay in the phase out of the hospice budget neurality adjustment factor during fiscal year 2009; S 2708 and HR 6337, Caring for an Aging American Act of 2008, support the need to address the emerging care gap between the increasing numbers of older Americans and the lack of providers who are trained in caring for the medical, health and social needs of the aging population; HR 2165, Teri Zenner Social Worker Safety Act, support establishing a grant program to assist in the provision of safety measures to protect social workers and other professionals who work with at-risk populations; S. 106, National Center for Social Work Research Act, support establishing the National Center for Socail Work Research as an agency of the National Institutes of health (NIH) to conduct, support, and disseminate targeted research on social work methods and outcomes related to problems of significant social concern; HR 5447, S2858, The Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr., Social Work Reinvestment Act: the initiative attempts to address maters of recruitment/retention as it pertains to the social work profession, in addition to the establishment of a social work commission to study significant problems associated with the profession.

Client expense: $185,826 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Funding of Medicare/Medicaid benefits and payment systems for those benefits. Quality of care standards, survey and certification standards and procedures for providers of Medicare/Medicaid programs of Tele-health in Long-Term Care facilities, and H.R. 6126 & S 2838 regarding Arbitration Agreements in Skilled Nursing Facilitiy Agreements. H.R. 6331& S 1577 regarding patient rights in Skilled Nursing Facilities, and H.R. 6873 & S 3484 regarding Medicare payments for Hospice care.

Client expense: $96,250 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), SENATE, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), White House Office

HR6331, Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008; S3101, Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008; S3118, Preserving Access to Medicare Act of 2008; Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (HR 6311); Medicare Hospice Protection Act of 2008 (HR6873, S3484); Preserving Access to Healthcare (PATH) Act of 2008 (S3656)

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $50,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

S. 3101 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 H.R. 6331 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 S. 3484 Medicare Hospice Protection Act of 2008 H.R. 6873 Medicare Hospice Protection Act of 2008

Client expense: $207,478 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ), Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Congressional Budget Office (CBO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), SENATE, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), White House Office

HR 7110: Job Creation & Unemployment Relief Act of 2008, Title III, Temporary increase in FMAP. HR 2583: Physician Workforce Enhancement Act of 2008, provisions relating to hospitals. HR 6912: Rural Hospital Assistance Act of 2008, entire bill. S 3300: Rural Hospital Assistance Act of 2008, entire bill. S 3582: Safeguarding our Hospitals' Futures Act of 2008, entire bill. HR 6966: Safeguarding our Hospitals' Futures Act of 2008, entire bill. HR 7067: Quality FIRST Act of 2008, provisions relating to hospitals and value-based purchasing. S 3656: Preserving Access to Healthcare (PATH) Act of 2008, sections relating to hospitals, rural health clinics, hospices. HR 6873: Medicare Hospice Protection Act of 2008, entire bill. S 3484: Hospice Protection Act of 2008, entire bill. HR 6652: Nurses Higher Education and Loan Repayment Act of 2008, entire bill. HR 1424: Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, section 512, mental health parity. HR 1343: Health Care Safety Net Act of 2008, section 3: National Health Service Corps., section 7: Revision of Timeframe for RHCs. S 3367: Rural Health Clinic bill to revise the timeframe for recognition of certain designations in certifying rural health clinics under the Medicare program, entire bill. HR 6699: Health Security for All Americans Act of 2008, section 105 involving improvements to MDH program; section 106 involving payment adjustment for low-volume hospitals. S 1693: Wired for Health Care Quality Act, provisions related to hospitals. HR 6898: Health-e Information Technology Act, provisions related to hospitals. HR 6867: Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2008, provisions related to hospitals. S 3507: Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2008, provisions related to hospitals. HR 6357: PRO(TECH)T Act of 2008, provisions related to hospitals. HR 1823: Ambulatory Surgical Center Medicare Payment Modernization Act of 2007, entire bill. S 2250: Ambulatory Surgical Center Medicare Payment Modernization Act of 2007, entire bill. HR 800: Employee Free Choice Act of 2007, entire bill. S 1041: Employee Free Choice Act of 2007, entire bill. Other Issues: CAH conditions of participation, section 485.635 Healthcare reform Value-based purchasing, including Grassley/Baucus VBP discussion drafts Guidance for clinical integration Electronic health records and Health IT Payment updates for physicians and hospital inpatient/outpatient services CMS DME and oxygen payment rules Self-referral and physician-owned hospitals HHS provider conscience regulations Capital IME CMS guidelines related to use of providers contracted through a locum service CMS recovery audit contractor program Wage index reclassification ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS medical data code sets

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $10,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.R. 6873 S. 3484 Medicare hospice wage index calculation (elimination of budget neutrality adjustment factor)

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: Not reported

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

H.R. 6873, Medicare Hospice Protection Act of 2008 S. 3484, Medicare Hospice Protection Act of 2008

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $10,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.R. 6873, Medicare Hospice Protection Act of 2008 S. 3484, Medicare Hospice Protection Act of 2008

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $10,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Issues related to home and hospice care, rural health, telehealth, medicare and state's health insurance program legislation (H.R. 6331); The Health Care Access and Rural Equity Act of 2007 (H.R. 2860); Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act of 2007 (S. 1605); Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act of 2007 (S. 1678); The Fair Home Health Care Act (S. 2181/H.R. 3865) Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (S. 3101); Preserving Access to Medicare Act of 2008 (S. 3118); The Medicare Hospice Protection Act (S. 3484/H.R. 6873); The Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act (S. 1628/H.R. 6826)

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $80,000

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

H.R. 2860, The Health Care Access and Rural Equity Act of 2007 -- sections 305 and 309 S. 321, Fostering Independence Through Technology Act of 2007 -- All sections S. 1605, Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act of 2007 -- sections 14 and 18 S. 1678, Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act of 2007 -- All sections S. 2181/H.R. 3865, The Fair Home Health Care Act -- All sections H.R. 6331, Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 -- effort to include home health rural add-on as amendment S. 3101, Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 --effort to include home health rural add-on as amendment S. 3118, Preserving Access to Medicare Act of 2008 -- section 112 H.R. 5613/S. 2819, Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 -- All sections H.R. 2642, Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 -- Title VII Medicaid H.R. 6163, Medicare Telehealth Enhancement Act of 2008 -- sections 104, 105, and 106 S. 3613/H.R. 7114, The Independence at Home Act -- All sections S. 1340, The Geriatric Assessment and Chronic Care Coordination Act of 2007 -- All sections S. 3484/H.R. 6873 -- The Medicare Hospice Protection Act -- All sections S. 1628/H.R. 6826 -- The Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act -- All sections S. 1577/H.R. 3078 -- The Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act -- All sections

Client expense: $170,000 · Firm income: Not reported

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

Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act 2008 (H.R. 6331; S. 3101); CMS Proposed Rule for FY 2009 Hospice Payments; Home Health Access Protection Act 2007 (H.R. 3865; S. 2181); Medicare Hospice Protection Act 2008 (H.R. 6873; S. 3484); Independence At Home (S. 3613; H.R. 7114); Medicare Home Health Rural Add-on in CR

Client expense: $34,768 · Firm income: Not reported

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

Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act 2008 (H.R. 6331; S. 3101); CMS Proposed Rule for FY 2009 Hospice Payments; Home Health Access Protection Act 2007 (H.R. 3865; S. 2181); Medicare Hospice Protection Act 2008 (H.R. 6873; S. 3484); Independence At Home (S. 3613; H.R. 7114); Medicare Home Health Rural Add-on in CR

Client expense: $34,768 · Firm income: Not reported

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

(S. 3101, H.R. 6331) A moratorium on CMS rule to phase out budget neutrality factor in the Medicare hospice wage index in medicare legislation . Hospice Protection Act of 2008 (S. 3484, H.R. 6873). Preserving Access to Healthcare Act of 2008 (S. 3656, H.R. 7241).

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $30,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.R. 6873 S. 3484 CMS-1584 Hospice Medicare Payment Rates Hospice Medicare/Medicaid Conditions of Participation Skilled Nursing Facility Medicare/Medicaid Conditions of Participation

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: Not reported

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

Home and Hospice Care (S. 1678 and H.R. 3865), Rural health (S. 1605 and H.R. 2860); telehealth; medicare and state's health insurance program legislation (H.R. 6331 and S. 3101) (H.R. 5704); Medicare Hospice Protection Act (H.R. 6873 and S. 3484); Health IT legislation; Preserving Access to Health Care Act (S. 3656 and H.R. 7241)

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $80,000

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

Home and Hospice Care (S. 1678 and H.R. 3865), Rural health (S. 1605 and H.R. 2860); telehealth; medicare and state's health insurance program legislation (H.R. 6331 and S. 3101) (H.R. 5704); Medicare Hospice Protection Act (H.R. 6873 and S. 3484); Health IT legislation; Preserving Access to Health Care Act (S. 3656 and H.R. 7241)

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $80,000

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

Funding of Medicare/Medicaid benefits and payment systems for those benefits. Quality of care standards, survey and certification standards and procedures for providers of Medicare & Medicaid benefits, recognition for compliance and payment purposes by Medicare/Medicaid programs of Tele-health in Long Term Care facilities, expiring moratorium on cap on Medicare benefit of Part B Therapy benefit, Tele-health provisions in HR 6331 and related legislation, and HR 6126 & S2838 regarding arbitration agreements. HR 6331 "Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008, S 1577 "Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act, and the Elder Justice Act", HR 6873 & S 3484 regarding Medicare payments for Hospice.

Client expense: $96,325 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), SENATE, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), White House Office

S 3656: Preserving Access to Healthcare (PATH) Act of 2008, sections relating to rural health clinics, hospices, and hospitals. HR 6873: Medicare Hospice Protection Act of 2008, entire bill. S 3484: Hospice Protection Act of 2008, entire bill. HR 1424: Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, Title V, Subsection B, mental health parity. S 3367: Rural Health Clinic bill to revise the timeframe for recognition of certain designations in certifying rural health clinics under the Medicare program, entire bill. HR 1343: Health Care Safety Net Act of 2008, section 7: Revision of Timeframe for RHCs; section 3: National Health Service Corps. HR 6966: Safeguarding our Hospitals' Futures Act of 2008, entire bill. S 3582: Safeguarding our Hospitals' Futures Act of 2008, entire bill. HR 6912: Rural Hospital Assistance Act of 2008, entire bill. S 3300: Rural Hospital Assistance Act of 2008, entire bill. HR 6652: Nurses' Higher Education and Loan Repayment Act of 2008, entire bill. HR 6331: Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008, section 131 involving the physician-fix; section 122 involving rebasing for sole community hospitals, section 148, clarification of payment for clinical laboratory tests furnished by CAH. S 3101: Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008, section 131 involving the physician-fix; section 122 involving rebasing for sole community hospitals, section 149, clarification of payment for clinical laboratory tests furnished by CAH. HR 6699: Health Security for All Americans Act of 2008, section 105 involving improvements to Medicare-dependent hospital program; section 106 involving payment adjustment for low-volume hospitals. HR 2583: Physician Workforce Enhancement Act of 2008, provisions relating to hospitals. HR 7067: Quality FIRST Act of 2008, provisions relating to hospitals and value-based purchasing. Other issues: Physician self-referral to physician-owned hospitals. Reject cuts in the indirect medical education adjustment for teaching hospitals' capital costs: Schumer,Specter,Clinton Senate letter and Marshall,King House letter. Critical Access Hospital contract/employment issue involving 485.635 CoP: Provision of services (CAH). Guidance for clinical integration programs. Medicaid DSH letter: Rep. John Sullivan letter requesting funding increases and to update the definition to Medicaid's Low DSH states. Value-based purchasing. CMS proposed rule for the FY2009 inpatient PPS: proposals relating to hospitals. CMS Recovery Audit Contractors program.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $10,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

HR6331, Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008; S3101, Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008; S3118, Preserving Access to Medicare Act of 2008; Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (HR 6311); Medicare Hospice Protection Act of 2008 (HR6873, S3484); Preserving Access to Healthcare (PATH) Act of 2008 (S3656)

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $70,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

S. 3101 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 H.R. 6331 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 S. 3484 Medicare Hospice Protection Act of 2008 H.R. 6873 Medicare Hospice Protection Act of 2008

Client expense: $202,753 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ), Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Congressional Budget Office (CBO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), SENATE, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), White House Office

Medicare: Make correction in DSH payments made to NJ's hospitals and seek a hold harmless treatment already used by CMS; Strongly opposed CMS proposal in FY09 IPPS rule to implement state-specific budget neutrality for rural and imputed rural floors; Urged CMS to rescind proposal to eliminate the IME adjustment for teaching hospitals in the Medicare capital payment system and opposed proposal to revise the average hourly wage comparison criteria required for hospitals to qualify for wage index geographic reclassification in the FY09 IPPS rule; Prevent physician payment cut; Advocate for an extension of Section 508 of the MMA of 2003; Support extension of Section 1011 of the Medicare program; Support S.3582/H.R.6966 to keep the budget neutrality for rural and imputed floors at a national practice; Support for H.R. 6873, the Medicare Hospice Protection Act of 2008 that would delay Oct. 1 implementation of the reduction of the hospice budget neutrality adjustment factor for one year; Seek technical correction amendments (MMSEA Section 114) to provisions regarding the 25 percent threshold and the moratorium on new LTCHs. Medicaid: Advocate to increase the amount of Medicaid monies the state receives from the Federal government (FMAP increase)

Client expense: $60,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), SENATE

H.R. 6873, the Medicare Hospice Protection Act S. 3484, the Hospice Protection Act

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $10,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.R. 2860, The Health Care Access and Rural Equity Act of 2007 -- sections 305 and 309 S. 321, Fostering Independence Through Technology Act of 2007 -- All sections S. 1605, Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act of 2007 -- sections 14 and 18 S. 1678, Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act of 2007 -- All sections S. 2181/H.R. 3865, The Fair Home Health Care Act -- All sections H.R. 6331, Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 -- effort to include home health rural add-on as amendment S. 3101, Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 --effort to include home health rural add-on as amendment S. 3118, Preserving Access to Medicare Act of 2008 -- section 112 H.R. 5613/S. 2819, Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 -- All sections H.R. 2642, Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 -- Title VII Medicaid H.R. 6163, Medicare Telehealth Enhancement Act of 2008 -- sections 104, 105, and 106 S. 3613/H.R. 7114, The Independence at Home Act -- All sections S. 1340, The Geriatric Assessment and Chronic Care Coordination Act of 2007 -- All sections S. 3484/H.R. 6873 -- The Medicare Hospice Protection Act -- All sections S. 1628/H.R. 6826 -- The Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act -- All sections S. 1577/H.R. 3078 -- The Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act -- All sections

Client expense: $92,550 · Firm income: Not reported

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

H.R. 6873, Medicare Hospice Protection Act of 2008 S. 3484, Medicare Hospice Protection Act of 2008

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: Not reported