Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act

H.R. 1693/S. 671, Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2009 H.R. 5712, Veterans', Seniors', and Children's Health Technical Corrections Act of 2010 H.R. 4985, Medicare Decisions Accountability Act of 2010 H.R. 5290, More Doctors, More Choices Act of 2010 H.R. 6147, To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for treatment of clinical psychologists as physicians for purposes of furnishing clinical psychologist services under the Medicare Program. H.R.6143, Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act H.R.5712, The Physician Payment and Therapy Relief Act of 2010

Client expense: $118,190 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Indian Health Service, SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA)

H.R. 1086, Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2009 H.R. 1468, Medical Justice Act of 2009 S. 45, Medical Care Access Protection Act of 2009 or the MCAP Act S. 1099, Patients' Choice Act and Independent Health Record Trust Act of 2009 H.R. 5025, HITECH Extension for Behavioral Health Services Act of 2010 S.3709, HITECH Extension for Behavioral Health Services Act of 2010 H.R. 5712, Veterans, Seniors, and Childrens Health Technical Corrections Act of 2010 H.R. 5690, Meaningful End to Defensive Medicine & Aimless Lawsuits (MedMal) Act of 2010 H.R. 4985, Medicare Decisions Accountability Act of 2010 H.R. 5290, More Doctors, More Choices Act of 2010 S. 3371, TRICARE Mental Health Care Access Act H.R. 6147, To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for treatment of clinical psychologists as physicians for purposes of furnishing clinical psychologist services under the Medicare Program. H.R.6143, Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act H.R.5712, The Physician Payment and Therapy Relief Act of 2010

Client expense: $118,190 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Indian Health Service, SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA)

H.R. 6147 P.L. 111-148; P.L. 111-152 Proposed rule for Medicare 2011 fee schedule (75 Fed. Reg. 40040 et seq.) H.R. 6143 and S.3709

Client expense: $325,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE, Treasury, Dept of

1. Medicare Physician Fee Schedule - AAGP 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 and to take action to avert future cuts in Medicare payments to physicians and other health care providers. Support H.R. 3961, the "Medicare Physcian Payment Reform Act of 2009," to permanently repeal the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula that calls for annual cuts in Medicare physician payments and replace it with a new payment system. Support S. 1776, the "Medicare Physician Fairness Act of 2009," to eliminate Medicare's sustainable growth rate formula. 2. H. R. 1415, the "Medicaid Emergency Psychiatric Care Demonstration Project Act," a bill to provide for a demonstration project regarding Medicaid reimbursement for stabilization of emergency medical conditions by non-publicly owned or operated institutions for mental disorders. Support all provisions. 3. S. 647, the "Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act of 2009," to increase public transparency of nursing home owners and operators, including nursing home chains, by requiring nursing homes to disclose the corporate entities that own them and the affiliated entities that operate, manage or control them. Support all provisions. 4. Oppose any exclusion of specific medical specialties from primary care bonuses under Medicare. 5. Support bonus payments under Medicare for geriatric specialists. 6. Support extension of 5% increase in Medicare payment for psychotherapy services. 7. Support elimination of the Medicare disabililty waiting period. 8. Support S. 2908, support for family caregivers under Medicare and Medicaid. 9. Support legislative efforts to avert or repeal the elimination of the billing codes for consultation services, as called for in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services final rule on the calendar year 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. (H.R. 3590). 10. S. 3028 and H.R. 6143, to eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services under the Medicare program. Support all provisions. 11. Support extension of Medicaid assistance to states that was included as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). 12. Support H.R. 3962, the "Preservation of Access to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries and Pension Relief Act of 2010"; support provision to prevent the 21 percent cut in Medicare payments to physicians through November 30, 2010, and give physicians a 2.2 percent increase in Medicare reimbursement. 13. Support H. R. 5712, to avert for one month a 23 percent cut in Medicare physician reimbursement rates that was scheduled to take effect on December 1, 2010. 14. Support H. R. 4994, to prevent a 25 percent cut in Medicare physician pay rates that was due to take effect on January 1, 2011, and extend current payment rates through December 31, 2011.

H.R. 1708/S. 700, Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period Act of 2009 H.R. 1086, Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2009 (medical malpractice reform) H.R. 1468, Medical Justice Act of 2009 (medical malpractice reform) S. 45, Medical Care Access Protection Act of 2009 or the MCAP Act (medical malpractice reform) S. 1136/H.R. 3065, Mental Illness Chronic Care Improvement Act H.R. 667, the Heroes at Home Act H.R. 2505, the Reaching Rural Veterans Through Telehealth Act H.R. 5025, HITECH Extension for Behavioral Health Services Act of 2010 S.3709, HITECH Extension for Behavioral Health Services Act of 2010 H.R. 5466, SAMHSA Modernization Act of 2010 H.R. 5636, Community Mental Health and Addiction Safety Net Equity Act of 2010 H.R. 5712, Veterans, Seniors, and Childrens Health Technical Corrections Act of 2010 H.R. 5295, Healthcare Truth and Transparency Act of 2010 H.R. 4985, Medicare Decisions Accountability Act of 2010 (repeal IPAB) S. 3425, Embedded Mental Health Providers for Reserves Act of 2010 H.R. 5392, Council on Integration of Health Care Education Act of 2010 H.R. 6147, to treat psychologists as physicians under Medicare H.R.6143, Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act CMS-1504-P: Medicare Program: Proposed Changes to the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and CY 2011 Payment Rates (August 3, 2010). Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Revisions to Part B for CY 2011; Proposed Rule; CMS-1503-P; 75 Federal Register 40,040 (July 13, 2010).

Client expense: $102,791 · Firm income: Not reported

H.R. 5466, SAMHSA Modernization Act of 2010 H.R. 5636, Community Mental Health and Addiction Safety Net Equity Act of 2010 S. 3425, Embedded Mental Health Providers for Reserves Act of 2010 H.R. 5392, Council on Integration of Health Care Education Act of 2010 H.R.6143, Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act

Client expense: $102,791 · Firm income: Not reported

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

H.R. 1693/S. 671, Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2009 (MFTs and MHCs under Medicare) H.R. 1708/S. 700, Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period Act of 2009 S. 1136/H.R. 3065, Mental Illness Chronic Care Improvement Act of 2009 H.R. 5025, HITECH Extension for Behavioral Health Services Act of 2010 S.3709, HITECH Extension for Behavioral Health Services Act of 2010 H.R. 5636, Community Mental Health and Addiction Safety Net Equity Act of 2010 H.R. 5712, Veterans, Seniors, and Childrens Health Technical Corrections Act of 2010 H.R. 4985, Medicare Decisions Accountability Act of 2010 (repeal IPAB) H.R. 5290, More Doctors, More Choices Act of 2010 H.R. 6147, to treat psychologists as physicians under Medicare H.R.6143, Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act CMS-1504-P: Medicare Program: Proposed Changes to the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and CY 2011 Payment Rates (August 3, 2010). Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Revisions to Part B for CY 2011; Proposed Rule; CMS-1503-P; 75 Federal Register 40,040 (July 13, 2010).

Client expense: $102,791 · Firm income: Not reported

H.R. 1693/S. 671, Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2009 (MFTs and MHCs under Medicare) H.R. 5712, Veterans', Seniors', and Children's Health Technical Corrections Act of 2010 H.R. 4985, Medicare Decisions Accountability Act of 2010 (repeal IPAB) H.R. 5290, More Doctors, More Choices Act of 2010 H.R. 6147, to treat psychologists as physicians under Medicare H.R.6143, Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act

Client expense: $102,791 · Firm income: Not reported

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

S. 1136/H.R. 3065, Mental Illness Chronic Care Improvement Act of 2009 H.R. 5025, HITECH Extension for Behavioral Health Services Act of 2010 H.R. 5466, SAMHSA Modernization Act of 2010 H.R. 5636, Community Mental Health and Addiction Safety Net Equity Act of 2010 H.R. 5690, Meaningful End to Defensive Medicine & Aimless Lawsuits (MedMal) Act of 2010 H.R. 5295, Healthcare Truth and Transparency Act of 2010 H.R. 4985, Medicare Decisions Accountability Act of 2010 S. 3425, Embedded Mental Health Providers for Reserves Act of 2010 S.3709, HITECH Extension for Behavioral Health Services Act of 2010 H.R. 5392, Council on Integration of Health Care Education Act of 2010 H.R. 6147, to treat psychologists as physicians under Medicare H.R.6143, Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act

Client expense: $102,791 · Firm income: Not reported

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

H.R. 1086, Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2009 (medical malpractice reform) H.R. 1468, Medical Justice Act of 2009 (medical malpractice reform) S. 45, Medical Care Access Protection Act of 2009 or the MCAP Act (medical malpractice reform) S. 1099, Patients' Choice Act and Independent Health Record Trust Act of 2009 H.R. 5025, HITECH Extension for Behavioral Health Services Act of 2010 S.3709, HITECH Extension for Behavioral Health Services Act of 2010 H.R. 5712, Veterans, Seniors, and Childrens Health Technical Corrections Act of 2010 H.R. 5690, Meaningful End to Defensive Medicine & Aimless Lawsuits (MedMal) Act of 2010 H.R. 4985, Medicare Decisions Accountability Act of 2010 (repeal IPAB) H.R. 5290, More Doctors, More Choices Act of 2010 S. 3371, TRICARE Mental Health Care Access Act (MHCs in TRICARE/DOD) H.R. 6147, to treat psychologists as physicians under Medicare H.R.6143, Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act

Client expense: $102,791 · Firm income: Not reported

1. Medicare Physician Fee Schedule - AAGP 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 and to take action to avert future cuts in Medicare payments to physicians and other health care providers. Support H.R. 3961, the "Medicare Physcian Payment Reform Act of 2009," to permanently repeal the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula that calls for annual cuts in Medicare physician payments and replace it with a new payment system. Support S. 1776, the "Medicare Physician Fairness Act of 2009," to eliminate Medicare's sustainable growth rate formula. 2. H. R. 1415, the "Medicaid Emergency Psychiatric Care Demonstration Project Act," a bill to provide for a demonstration project regarding Medicaid reimbursement for stabilization of emergency medical conditions by non-publicly owned or operated institutions for mental disorders. Support all provisions. 3. S. 647, the "Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act of 2009," to increase public transparency of nursing home owners and operators, including nursing home chains, by requiring nursing homes to disclose the corporate entities that own them and the affiliated entities that operate, manage or control them. Support all provisions. 4. Oppose any exclusion of specific medical specialties from primary care bonuses under Medicare. 5. Support bonus payments under Medicare for geriatric specialists. 6. Support extension of 5% increase in Medicare payment for psychotherapy services. 7. Support elimination of the Medicare disabililty waiting period. 8. Support S. 2908, support for family caregivers under Medicare and Medicaid. 9. Support legislative efforts to avert or repeal the elimination of the billing codes for consultation services, as called for in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services final rule on the calendar year 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. (H.R. 3590). 10. S. 3028 and H.R. 6143, to eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services under the Medicare program. Support all provisions. 11. Support extension of Medicaid assistance to states that was included as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). 12. Support H.R. 3962, the "Preservation of Access to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries and Pension Relief Act of 2010"; support provision to prevent the 21 percent cut in Medicare payments to physicians through November 30, 2010, and give physicians a 2.2 percent increase in Medicare reimbursement.