Social Security Disability Applicants' Access to Professional Representation Act of 2010

Community Living Assistance and Supports Act (CLASS Act) to create a national insurance program financed by voluntary payroll deductions to provide services to assist people with activities of daily living in order to stay in their homes and communities if they become disabled. People would not be required to qualify for Medicaid or go into a nursing home or other institution in order to receive benefits. In health care reform HR 3590. Advocated for health insurance parity for coverage of prosthetic and orthotics devices, components and benefits for other medical and surgical services: under ERISA and HR 2575 for group health plans and group health insurance Supported HR 1093 regarding fee caps to help make sure that attorneysand others representing Social Security disability claimants are paid in a timely manner and to index the allowed fees to the Cost of Living Adjustment. H.R. 2829, the Recidivism Reduction Act to expedite reinstatement of Social Security, SSI, and Medicaid benefits for eligible individuals after incarceration Supported HR 3325 to reauthorize through fiscal 2010 the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance program and the Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security program, both of which provide employment-related services for people with disabilities. These provisions would have expired without reauthorization. Met with senior Senior SSA officials, as well as Senate and House staff regarding policies and possible legislation to expedite obtaining and review of medical records of disability claimants while protecting privacy rights of people with disabilities, electronic filing of disabilty applications and electronic authorizations for SSA to obtain medical records in connection with disabilities claims. Submitted comments (in response to an SSA request) on complicated medical evidence issues when Social Security disability applicants have a co-occurring alcohol or substance use diagnosis and a serious mental illness. Supported HR 4532 to renew SSAs demonstration authority and to make permanent a successful demonstration that enables both attorneys and non-attorneys (who meet certain qualifications) representing Social Security disability claimants to be paid reasonable fees out of retroactive benefits. This practice enables many claimants (including those with mental illnesses and conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder) to have good representation rather than to navigate the esoteric and complex application process on their own (often to be denied for procedural rather than substantive reasons). Supported President's Budget proposal for SSA Limitation on Administrative expenses because the increased funding will help cut the backlog and delays in both the initial and hearing level disability determinations, thus providing disability benefits with less delay to people who meet SSA's strict eligibility requirements. Asked HHS to ensure that lifetime caps are prohibited as of September 2010. Health insurance companies are arguing that they can keep lifetime caps on health insurance for up to another year. Met with senior HHS officials to talk about the future of the CLASS Act as well as health reform implementation. Supported the Prosthetic and Custom Orthotic Parity Act of 2010 (HR 2575/S 3220). The legislation would ensure that there that insurance provide equal coverage for prosthetics and orthotics that it does for other medical treatment. Met with senior House and Senate Hill staff to strategize on obtaining sufficient appropriations for the Social Security Administration to reduce the backlog in disability determinations and otherwise better serve people with disabilities. Met with senior SSA officials regarding SSAs new proposal for work incentives under SSDI and other Title II disability Letter in support of S. 3223

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

Government targets: AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation, Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Executive Office of the President (EOP), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)

Community Living Assistance and Supports Act (CLASS Act) to create a national insurance program financed by voluntary payroll deductions to provide services to assist people with activities of daily living in order to stay in their homes and communities if they become disabled. People would not be required to qualify for Medicaid or go into a nursing home or other institution in order to receive benefits. In health care reform HR 3590. Advocated for health insurance parity for coverage of prosthetic and orthotics devices, components and benefits for other medical and surgical services: under ERISA and HR 2575 for group health plans and group health insurance Supported HR 1093 regarding fee caps to help make sure that attorneysand others representing Social Security disability claimants are paid in a timely manner and to index the allowed fees to the Cost of Living Adjustment. H.R. 2829, the Recidivism Reduction Act to expedite reinstatement of Social Security, SSI, and Medicaid benefits for eligible individuals after incarceration Supported HR 3325 to reauthorize through fiscal 2010 the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance program and the Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security program, both of which provide employment-related services for people with disabilities. These provisions would have expired without reauthorization. Met with senior Senior SSA officials, as well as Senate and House staff regarding policies and possible legislation to expedite obtaining and review of medical records of disability claimants while protecting privacy rights of people with disabilities, electronic filing of disabilty applications and electronic authorizations for SSA to obtain medical records in connection with disabilities claims. Submitted comments (in response to an SSA request) on complicated medical evidence issues when Social Security disability applicants have a co-occurring alcohol or substance use diagnosis and a serious mental illness. Supported HR 4532 to renew SSAs demonstration authority and to make permanent a successful demonstration that enables both attorneys and non-attorneys (who meet certain qualifications) representing Social Security disability claimants to be paid reasonable fees out of retroactive benefits. This practice enables many claimants (including those with mental illnesses and conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder) to have good representation rather than to navigate the esoteric and complex application process on their own (often to be denied for procedural rather than substantive reasons). Supported President's Budget proposal for SSA Limitation on Administrative expenses because the increased funding will help cut the backlog and delays in both the initial and hearing level disability determinations, thus providing disability benefits with less delay to people who meet SSA's strict eligibility requirements. Asked HHS to ensure that lifetime caps are prohibited as of September 2010. Health insurance companies are arguing that they can keep lifetime caps on health insurance for up to another year. Met with senior HHS officials to talk about the future of the CLASS Act as well as health reform implementation. Supported the Prosthetic and Custom Orthotic Parity Act of 2010 (HR 2575/S 3220). The legislation would ensure that there that insurance provide equal coverage for prosthetics and orthotics that it does for other medical treatment. Met with senior House and Senate Hill staff to strategize on obtaining sufficient appropriations for the Social Security Administration to reduce the backlog in disability determinations and otherwise better serve people with disabilities. Met with senior SSA officials regarding SSAs new proposal for work incentives under SSDI and other Title II disability

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

Government targets: AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation, Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Executive Office of the President (EOP), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)

Community Living Assistance and Supports Act (CLASS Act) to create a national insurance program financed by voluntary payroll deductions to provide services to assist people with activities of daily living in order to stay in their homes and communities if they become disabled. People would not be required to qualify for Medicaid or go into a nursing home or other institution in order to receive benefits. In health care reform HR 3590. Advocated for health insurance parity for coverage of prosthetic and orthotics devices, components and benefits for other medical and surgical services: under ERISA and HR 2575 for group health plans and group health insurance Social Security: HR 1093 regarding fee caps to help make sure that attorneysand others representing Social Security disability claimants are paid in a timely manner and to index the allowed fees to the Cost of Living Adjustment. H.R. 2829, the Recidivism Reduction Act to expedite reinstatement of Social Security, SSI, and Medicaid benefits for eligible individuals after incarceration HR 3325 to reauthorize through fiscal 2010 the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance program and the Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security program, both of which provide employment-related services for people with disabilities. These provisions would have expired without reauthorization. Met with senior Senior SSA officials, as well as Senate and House staff regarding policies and possible legislation to expedite obtaining and review of medical records of disability claimants while protecting privacy rights of people with disabilities, electronic filing of disabilty applications and electronic authorizations for SSA to obtain medical records in connection with disabilities claims. - Met with SSA senior staff regarding draft report of SSA's Occupational Information Development Advisory Panel (OIDAP) that recommends dramatically different procedures to determine eligibility fordisability benefits under both Title II and Title XVI programs. -- Commented on on disabilty determinations for people with drug addiction and/or alcoholism. Supported HR 4532 to renew SSAs demonstration authority and to make permanent a successful demonstration that enables both attorneys and non-attorneys (who meet certain qualifications) representing Social Security disability claimants to be paid reasonable fees out of retroactive benefits. This practice enables many claimants (including those with mental illnesses and conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder) to have good representation rather than to navigate the esoteric and complex application process on their own (often to be denied for procedural rather than substantive reasons). - Supported President's Budget proposal for SSA Limitation on Administrative expenses because the increased funding will help cut the backlog and delays in both the initial and hearing level disability determinations, thus providing disability benefits with less delay to people who meet SSA's strict eligibility requirements.

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

Government targets: AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation, Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Executive Office of the President (EOP), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)