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Securing Care for Seniors Act of 2013
Legislative Progress
Momentum (last 30 days)
0
score
0 actions · 0 new cosponsors · 0 votes
Speed vs cohort
45pct
7d open
vs 5,821 other HR bills in the 113th — cohort avg 49d
No CRS summary is available for this bill yet. The source title, actions, sponsors, and text versions below come from Congress.gov.
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Sources: Congress.gov
2015 · third_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
Ongoing implementation of payment and regulatory issues for the Medicare Advantage program, including H.R. 2570 and H.R. 2582. Isues relating to the Medicare Part D prescription drug program, various CMS demonstration programs and of P.L. 111-148 (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act). Issues relating to Medigap insurance, and H.R. 2, The Medicare Access and CHIP Re authorization Act of 2015. Issues relating to H.R. 1600, the Patient's Access to Treatments Act of 2015. Issues relating to the reintroduction of H.R. 3392, Medicare Part D Patient Safety and Drug Abuse Prevention Act of 2013, and H.R. 2753 - Securing Care for Seniors Act of 2013. Issues related to the instroduction of S. 2104A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide relief to Medicare Advantage plans with a significant number of dually eligible or low-income subsidy beneficiaries and to prevent the termination of two star plans.
Client expense: $1,400,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE, Treasury, Dept of
2015 · second_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
Ongoing implementation of payment and regulatory issues for the Medicare Advantage program, including H.R. 2570 and H.R. 2582. Isues relating to the Medicare Part D prescription drug program, various CMS demonstration programs and of P.L. 111-148 (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act). Issues relating to Medigap insurance, and H.R. 2, The Medicare Access and CHIP Re authorization Act of 2015. Issues relating to H.R. 1600, the Patient's Access to Treatments Act of 2015. Issues relating to the reintroduction of H.R. 3392, Medicare Part D Patient Safety and Drug Abuse Prevention Act of 2013, and H.R. 2753 - Securing Care for Seniors Act of 2013.
Client expense: $1,230,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE, Treasury, Dept of
2015 · first_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
Ongoing implementation of payment and regulatory issues for the Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D prescription drug programs, and of various CMS demonstration programs and of P.L. 111-148 (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act). Issues relating to Medigap insurance, and H.R. 2, The Medicare Access and CHIP Re authorization Act of 2015. Issues relating to H.R. 1600, the Patient's Access to Treatments Act of 2015. Issues relating to the reintroduction of H.R. 3392, Medicare Part D Patient Safety and Drug Abuse Prevention Act of 2013, and H.R. 2753 - Securing Care for Seniors Act of 2013.
Client expense: $1,000,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: 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, Treasury, Dept of
2015 · first_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
Many aspects of the Affordable Care Act promote changes that are consistent with the mission of the Marshfield Clinic: Extends health insurance to the uninsured Establishes the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to support comparative effectiveness research Imposes necessary regulations on Insurers - banning rescissions and exclusions for pre-existing medical conditions limits Creates state based Health Insurance Exchanges for individuals between 133% - 400% of Federal Poverty level (FPL) Calls for Value Based Purchasing for all providers Calls for the establishment of Accountable Care Organizations Establishes a Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to test innovative payment and delivery models The following are key elements of the health policy agenda of the Marshfield Clinic: Reform of Medicares Sustainable Growth Rate (HR 2). We believe that the longstanding challenges inherent in fee for service reimbursement under the resource based relative value system, and the financial problems associated with the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula must be addressed to assure access to Medicare benefits and the future solvency of the Medicare program. We recommend that Congress repeal the SGR formula, and link future updates to measures that reflect the cost and value of providing health care services. Congress must also take steps immediately to create increased incentives for preventative care, care coordination, and primary care services. Medicare Pay for Value Provider accountability for quality and spending growth is an essential element of delivery system reform. Existing law requires that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implement a value modifier that applies to Medicare Part B physician payments for certain physicians and physician groups beginning in calendar year 2015. By 2017, CMS is required to apply the value modifier to all Medicare Part B payments to physicians and physician groups. We recommend that Congress should implement this policy sooner if possible. Score-able savings might be achieved if Congress put a larger percentage of the value modifier at risk for participating physicians, and imposed penalties on inefficient practices. Geographic Adjustment of Physician Payments Recent findings by the Institute of Medicine and the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission have demonstrated significant shortcomings in the data utilized to geographically adjust physician payments. The IOM and MedPAC studies have confirmed that the data sources currently relied upon for geographic adjustment bear no correlation to physician earnings. CMS officials have admitted that the proxies utilized for the purpose of geographic adjustment have never been validated, and there never has been a new data source utilized in the twenty years since the fee schedule was implemented. MedPAC data show that the geographic adjustment reference occupations predict earnings of rural physicians to be 25-30% less than physicians in metropolitan areas. MedPAC data show that earnings of primary care physicians in rural areas are, in fact, 13% higher than physicians in metropolitan areas. Since there is no statistical basis of support for disparities in payment we strongly recommend that Congress require CMS to correct this inequity immediately. Having a source of credible data and a sustainable payment mechanism is critical to maintaining access to primary care services in rural areas for patients who reside in those areas. CBO Scoring of Preventive Health The budget process should be improved to permit Congress to assess long-term health savings that are possible from preventive health initiatives. Recent research supports the premise that the current budget window should be extended and CBO directed to take into account the relevant disease-progression data that exists which demonstrates savings in preventive health. To ensure that CBOs projections on cost savings are tied to scientific data, preventive health analysis must include credible and publicly available epidemiological projection, incorporating clinical trials or observational studies in humans, longitudinal studies, and meta-analysis. This narrow approach will discourages abuse while encouraging a sensible review of health policy Congress believes will further public health. Transparency Marshfield Clinic supports The Quality Data, Quality Healthcare Act, S. 1758, introduced by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and John Thune (R-SD), and similar legislation the Expanding the Availability of Medicare Data Act, HR 4418, introduced by Reps. Ron Kind (D-WI) and Paul Ryan (R-WI). This legislation would provide for greater access to Medicare claims data by modernizing and reforming the Qualified Entity (QE) program, which permits organizations to access and analyze Medicare data. Medicare Advantage Performance Measurement The Medicare Advantage program provides a capitated reimbursement to health plans for all Medicare benefits provided to enrolled beneficiaries. We believe that mechanisms for rewarding value in the Medicare Advantage program should offer incentives for those plans that demonstrate superior patient care performance. We recommend that performance bonuses should be provided for plans that: Achieve predetermined quality performance targets; Adopt health information technology; Meet standards for care coordination; and Provide data on comparative effectiveness. Medicare Advantage Improvements H.R. 2753, THE SECURING CARE FOR SENIORS ACT, by Rep. Diane Black (R-TN), provides seniors with more choice and allows flexibility for plans in the highly successful Medicare Advantage (MA) program through common-sense and technical fixes expanding the Open Enrollment Period; Permitting Incentives for Participation in Health Care Improvement Programs; enabling Cost-sharing Variation; making Improvements to the Risk Adjustment System; and making Improvements to MA 5-Star Quality Rating System. Marshfield Clinic supports this bill. Adequate Funding for CMS The problems facing the Medicare program stem from the nations earliest attempts to make health care services broadly available nationwide without disturbing the economic incentives that were then in place. Congress must ensure that CMS has adequate funding to provide oversight of its many programs, including its measurement of resource and input costs and full implementation of the Affordable care Act. Telemedicine in Medicare Changes to Medicare law and regulation are needed to improve equity in access for Medicare beneficiaries to services delivered via TeleHealth. Medicare beneficiaries should be allowed to receive services in telemedicine sites located in urban areas. The necessary changes would remove restrictions on originating sites by removing the rural requirement and the list of originating sites and allowing any certified Medicare facility to provide the services; current requirements that physician must bill for services from the originating site should be removed; restrictions on eligible practitioners should be removed to allow all Medicare approved practitioners to provide telemedicine services; and there should be no restrictions on which Medicare services may be provided through telemedicine. Recommendations: 1.Amend the Medicare requirement for non-MSA geographic location of the patient to allow all Medicare certified organizations as originating sites regardless of rural or metropolitan statistical area designation. 2.Alternative - amend the Medicare requirement for non-MSA geographic location of the patient to allow accountable care organizations to be exempt from the MSA requirement. Oral Health Coverage for the Medically Compromised and at Risk Populations There is sufficient data that demonstrates oral health impacts the systemic health of the patient and in doing can reduce the cost of care. Linkages that encourage patient compliance, patient education, provider education, and bi-directional referral and surveillance should be incented and compensated. Shared savings demonstrations should be developed for health systems and co-pay incentives developed for patients engaging in and complying with such inter-disciplinary care. Meaningful Use of Health Information Technology The accelerating growth in new medical knowledge, coupled with the birth of new sciences, such as genomics and personalized medicine, suggests that physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals will invariably continue to fall further and further behind in their ability to keep up with the latest discoveries and approved treatments. As information technology has sparked this explosive growth in knowledge, only information technology can provide an adequate response. By using evidence-based knowledge embedded in clinical decision support deployed within a well-designed workflow, physicians can manage the ever changing and growing knowledge base critical to the delivery of effective and efficient healthcare. We supported repeal of the Medical Device tax in HR 160 and S 149. We supported funding for farm safety in appropriations. We lobbied against further cuts to Medicare Advantage organizations, and requested assistance with CMS to improve the administration of the laboratory fee schedule, and to remove the cuts to high value 4 and 5 star Medicare Advantage plans included in the Medicare Advantage benchmark cap.
Client expense: $100,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), SENATE
2014 · third_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
H.R. 162, Medicaid Integrity Act (Bachmann) - Medicaid health plan audits H.R. 670, Puerto Rico Medicare Part B Equity Act (Pierluisi) H.R. 928, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act (Schakowsky) - Medicare Part D changes H.R. 1179, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act (Courtney) - Medicare coverage of skilled nursing care H.R. 1102, Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act (Welch) - Medicare Part D price negotiations H.R. 1853, Medicaid Accountability and Care Act (Cassidy) -federal financing of state Medicaid programs H.R. 2305, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Roskam-Carney) - fighting fraud and abuse H.R. 2453, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act (Rothfus-Schrader) - MA enrollment rules H.R. 2524, Medicare Better Health Rewards Program Act (Paulsen-Kind) - wellness incentives H.R. 2753, Securing Care for Seniors Act (Black) - MA payment and enrollment issues, wellness incentives H.R, 2960, Medicare Prescription Drug Integrity Act of 2013 (Pallone) - Part D drug utilization review H.R. 3512, Seniors' Health Care Choice Act (Heck) - MA open enrollment period H.R. 3890, Better Care, Lower Cost Act (Paulsen-Welch) - delivery models for Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions H.R. 4015, SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act (Burgess) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms, ACA individual mandate delay H.R. 4160, Keep the Promise to Seniors Act (Ellmers) - blocking Medicare Part D proposed rule H.R. 4302, Protecting Access to Medicare Act (Pitts) - 12-month Medicare SGR patch, Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans, Appropriate Use Criteria for Advanced Diagnostic Imaging, Medicare sequestration cuts, Other Medicare-Medicaid Extenders H.R. 4484, Strengthening Healthcare Options for Vulnerable Populations Act (Sinema) - MA special needs plans H.R. 4998, MA Participant Bill of Rights Act (DeLauro) - MA plan provider networks H.R. 5113, Protecting Seniors' Medicare Choices from Obamacare Act (Coffman) - MA stabilization program H.R. 5183, Value Based Insurance Design for Better Care Act (Black) - MA demonstration to test VBID methodologies H.R. 5364, CHIP Extension and Improvement Act (Pallone) - federal CHIP funding Draft Bill, Protecting the Integrity of Medicare Act (Brady) - preventing fraud in Medicare and Medicaid S. 11, Fiscal Sustainability Act (Corker) - Medicare, Medigap, Medicaid issues S. 25 (Hatch) - extension of Medicare sequestration cuts S. 117, Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act (Klobuchar) - Medicare Part D price negotiations S. 324, Puerto Rico Medicare Part B Equity Act (Schumer) S. 408, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act (Durbin) - Medicare Part D changes S. 569, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act (Brown) - Medicare coverage of skilled nursing care S. 1123, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Carper-Coburn) - fighting fraud and abuse S. 1228, Medicare Better Health Rewards Program Act (Wyden-Portman) - wellness incentives S. 1787, Medicaid Managed Care Responsibility and Equity Act (Rockefeller) - medical loss ratio requirement for Medicaid managed care organizations S. 1871, SGR Repeal and Medicare Beneficiary Access Act (Senate Finance Committee) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms, MA Special Needs Plans, Cost Plans, QI and TMA programs S. 1932, Better Care, Lower Cost Act (Wyden-Isakson) - delivery models for Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions S. 1980, Medicaid and CHIP Continuous Quality Act (Rockefeller) - 12 month continuous enrollment S. 2000, SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act (Senate Finance Committee) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms S. 2110, SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act (Wyden) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms, Medicare and Medicaid extenders S. 2122, Responsible Medicare SGR Repeal and Beneficiary Access Improvement Act (Hatch) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms, ACA individual mandate repeal S. 2361, Stop SCAMS Act (Nelson-Collins) - reducing Medicare fraud S. 2461, CHIP Extension Act (Rockefeller) --- federal CHIP funding S. 2552, MA Participant Bill of Rights Act (Brown-Blumenthal) - MA plan provider networks S. 2783, Value Based Insurance Design for Better Care Act (Thune) - MA demonstration to test VBID methodologies Ongoing implementation issues for the Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Part D prescription drug programs, including risk adjustment methodology, encounter data and other data-related issues, and audit issues; bidding and payment issues (including MA rate assumptions, MA coding intensity, MA Secondary Payer issues, Part D reinsurance, Part D low income subsidies, and audits); in-home health risk assessments; Medicare Medical Loss Ratio issues; implementation of sequestration under the Medicare Advantage and Part D programs; implications of the health insurer fee for MA and Part D plans; application process, audits to evaluate compliance with MA and Part D program rules, benefit design rules, SSA and CMS premium withhold processing issues, enrollment rules, marketing materials review and approval, marketing activities, including conduct and compensation of brokers and agents and plan sponsor marketing staff; measurement and oversight of plan performance including Special Needs Plans (SNPs); quality measures, grievance and appeals processes, fraud and abuse compliance including training; contracting issues for Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (SNPs); Federal preemption of State authority under MA and Part D programs, Part D prescription drug event data reporting, Part D formulary rules, Part D pharmacy access standards, Part D coverage gap discount program, including employer group waiver plan (EGWP) issues, and other operational issues; issues raised by Part D coverage of new specialty drugs, the Part D non-interference policy and related issues (e.g., preferred pharmacy and any willing pharmacy requirements, standards for network pharmacy reimbursement, and policies regarding sponsor negotiation of pharmacy price concessions); Medication Therapy Management Program requirements; Part D requirements for offering basic and enhanced alternative plans; MA and Part D systems issues affecting enrollment and disenrollment processing and payment and other operational issues; issues relating to MA and Part D Star Rating system including measures, the methodology for calculating ratings, and the role of the ratings for payment purposes; implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) changes to the Part D coverage gap; ongoing implementation issues for the Medicare cost plan program including enrollment, marketing materials review and approval and other operational issues; Medicare creditable drug coverage reporting requirements; implementation issues for the Medicare Retiree Drug Subsidy program; functionality of the Medicare Personal Plan Finder and Drug Plan Finder; National Medicare Education Program; Medicare demonstration program on performance-based payments for physician groups; physician quality reporting initiative; issues relating to Medicare coverage policy and national coverage decisions; Medicare clinical trials; Medicare/Medicaid integration for dual eligibles, including the Capitated Financial Alignment Demonstration; Medicaid managed care regulations and policies, including the Medicaid managed care actuarial soundness standard, quality oversight, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), grievance and appeals processes, fraud and abuse compliance, beneficiary information requirements, treatment of Medicaid health plan member hospital days in the upper payment limit calculation; policies affecting State Medicaid funding, including block grants, the calculation of the federal medical assistance (federal matching) percentage (FMAP), and intergovernmental transfers (IGTs); coordination of benefits with state Medicaid programs; Medicaid prescription drug cost issues affecting Medicaid health plans including issues raised by Medicaid coverage of new specialty drugs; health plan-related Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) issues, including eligibility and outreach issues and CHIP reauthorization; implementation of Medicaid changes made in Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, including Medicaid managed care organization provider tax issues; standards for electronic prescribing; implementation of Medicaid changes of interest to Medicaid health plans made in the ACA including Medicaid expansion, the managed care organization (MCO) prescription drug rebate provisions, minimum payments to primary care providers (PCPs), interactions between the Medicaid program and health insurance exchanges, and Medicaid and CHIP maintenance of effort (MOE) requirements; implications of the health insurer fee for Medicaid health plans ; issues related to Medigap coverage; issues relating to "meaningful use" requirements for health information technology; and other issues relating to health care reform implementation.
Client expense: $2,010,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ), Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Executive Office of the President (EOP), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Government Accountability Office (GAO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA), Treasury, Dept of, White House Office
2014 · fourth_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
H.R. 162, Medicaid Integrity Act (Bachmann) - Medicaid health plan audits H.R. 670, Puerto Rico Medicare Part B Equity Act (Pierluisi) H.R. 928, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act (Schakowsky) - Medicare Part D changes H.R. 1024, Medication Therapy Management Empowerment Act (McMorris Rodgers) - medication therapy management programs H.R. 1179, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act (Courtney) - Medicare coverage of skilled nursing care H.R. 1102, Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act (Welch) - Medicare Part D price negotiations H.R. 1853, Medicaid Accountability and Care Act (Cassidy) -federal financing of state Medicaid programs H.R. 2305, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Roskam-Carney) - fighting fraud and abuse H.R. 2453, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act (Rothfus-Schrader) - MA enrollment rules H.R. 2524, Medicare Better Health Rewards Program Act (Paulsen-Kind) - wellness incentives H.R. 2753, Securing Care for Seniors Act (Black) - MA payment and enrollment issues, wellness incentives H.R, 2960, Medicare Prescription Drug Integrity Act of 2013 (Pallone) - Part D drug utilization review H.R. 3512, Seniors' Health Care Choice Act (Heck) - MA open enrollment period H.R. 3890, Better Care, Lower Cost Act (Paulsen-Welch) - delivery models for Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions H.R. 4015, SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act (Burgess) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms, ACA individual mandate delay H.R. 4160, Keep the Promise to Seniors Act (Ellmers) - blocking Medicare Part D proposed rule H.R. 4302, Protecting Access to Medicare Act (Pitts) - 12-month Medicare SGR patch, Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans, Appropriate Use Criteria for Advanced Diagnostic Imaging, Medicare sequestration cuts, Other Medicare-Medicaid Extenders H.R. 4484, Strengthening Healthcare Options for Vulnerable Populations Act (Sinema) - MA special needs plans H.R. 4998, MA Participant Bill of Rights Act (DeLauro) - MA plan provider networks H.R. 5113, Protecting Seniors' Medicare Choices from Obamacare Act (Coffman) - MA stabilization program H.R. 5183, Value Based Insurance Design for Better Care Act (Black) - MA demonstration to test VBID methodologies H.R. 5364, CHIP Extension and Improvement Act (Pallone) - federal CHIP funding Draft Bill, Protecting the Integrity of Medicare Act (Brady) - preventing fraud in Medicare and Medicaid S. 11, Fiscal Sustainability Act (Corker) - Medicare, Medigap, Medicaid issues S. 25 (Hatch) - extension of Medicare sequestration cuts S. 117, Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act (Klobuchar) - Medicare Part D price negotiations S. 324, Puerto Rico Medicare Part B Equity Act (Schumer) S. 408, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act (Durbin) - Medicare Part D changes S. 569, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act (Brown) - Medicare coverage of skilled nursing care S. 1123, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Carper-Coburn) - fighting fraud and abuse S. 1228, Medicare Better Health Rewards Program Act (Wyden-Portman) - wellness incentives S. 1787, Medicaid Managed Care Responsibility and Equity Act (Rockefeller) - medical loss ratio requirement for Medicaid managed care organizations S. 1871, SGR Repeal and Medicare Beneficiary Access Act (Senate Finance Committee) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms, MA Special Needs Plans, Cost Plans, QI and TMA programs S. 1932, Better Care, Lower Cost Act (Wyden-Isakson) - delivery models for Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions S. 1980, Medicaid and CHIP Continuous Quality Act (Rockefeller) - 12 month continuous enrollment S. 2000, SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act (Senate Finance Committee) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms S. 2110, SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act (Wyden) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms, Medicare and Medicaid extenders S. 2122, Responsible Medicare SGR Repeal and Beneficiary Access Improvement Act (Hatch) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms, ACA individual mandate repeal S. 2361, Stop SCAMS Act (Nelson-Collins) - reducing Medicare fraud S. 2461, CHIP Extension Act (Rockefeller) --- federal CHIP funding S. 2552, MA Participant Bill of Rights Act (Brown-Blumenthal) - MA plan provider networks S. 2783, Value Based Insurance Design for Better Care Act (Thune) - MA demonstration to test VBID methodologies Ongoing implementation issues for the Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Part D prescription drug programs, including risk adjustment methodology, encounter data and other data-related issues, and audit issues; bidding and payment issues (including MA rate assumptions, MA coding intensity, MA Secondary Payer issues, Part D reinsurance, Part D low income subsidies, and audits); in-home health risk assessments; Medicare Medical Loss Ratio issues; implementation of sequestration under the Medicare Advantage and Part D programs; implications of the health insurer fee for MA and Part D plans; application process, audits to evaluate compliance with MA and Part D program rules, benefit design rules, SSA and CMS premium withhold processing issues, enrollment rules, marketing materials review and approval, marketing activities, including conduct and compensation of brokers and agents and plan sponsor marketing staff; measurement and oversight of plan performance including Special Needs Plans (SNPs); quality measures, grievance and appeals processes, fraud and abuse compliance including training; contracting issues for Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (SNPs); Federal preemption of State authority under MA and Part D programs, Part D prescription drug event data reporting, Part D formulary rules, Part D pharmacy access standards, Part D coverage gap discount program, including employer group waiver plan (EGWP) issues, and other operational issues; issues raised by Part D coverage of new specialty drugs, the Part D non-interference policy and related issues (e.g., preferred pharmacy and any willing pharmacy requirements, standards for network pharmacy reimbursement, and policies regarding sponsor negotiation of pharmacy price concessions); Medication Therapy Management Program requirements; Part D requirements for offering basic and enhanced alternative plans; MA and Part D systems issues affecting enrollment and disenrollment processing and payment and other operational issues; issues relating to MA and Part D Star Rating system including measures, the methodology for calculating ratings, and the role of the ratings for payment purposes; implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) changes to the Part D coverage gap; ongoing implementation issues for the Medicare cost plan program including enrollment, marketing materials review and approval and other operational issues;implementation issues for the Medicare Retiree Drug Subsidy program; functionality of the Medicare Personal Plan Finder and Drug Plan Finder; National Medicare Education Program; Medicare demonstration program on performance-based payments for physician groups; physician quality reporting initiative; issues relating to Medicare coverage policy and national coverage decisions; Medicare clinical trials; Medicare/Medicaid integration for dual eligibles, including the Capitated Financial Alignment Demonstration; Medicaid managed care regulations and policies, including the Medicaid managed care actuarial soundness standard, quality oversight, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), grievance and appeals processes, fraud and abuse compliance, beneficiary information requirements, treatment of Medicaid health plan member hospital days in the upper payment limit calculation; policies affecting State Medicaid funding, including block grants, the calculation of the federal medical assistance (federal matching) percentage (FMAP), and intergovernmental transfers (IGTs); coordination of benefits with state Medicaid programs; Medicaid prescription drug cost issues affecting Medicaid health plans including issues raised by Medicaid coverage of new specialty drugs; health plan-related Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) issues, including eligibility and outreach issues and CHIP reauthorization; implementation of Medicaid changes made in Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, including Medicaid managed care organization provider tax issues; standards for electronic prescribing; implementation of Medicaid changes of interest to Medicaid health plans made in the ACA including Medicaid expansion, the managed care organization (MCO) prescription drug rebate provisions, minimum payments to primary care providers (PCPs), interactions between the Medicaid program and health insurance exchanges, and Medicaid and CHIP maintenance of effort (MOE) requirements; implications of the health insurer fee for Medicaid health plans ; issues related to Medigap coverage financing for infectious disease such as Ebola; and other issues relating to health care reform implementation. *AddMACPACtoAgencyList
2014 · fourth_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
H.R. 162, Medicaid Integrity Act (Bachmann) - Medicaid health plan audits. H.R. 670, Puerto Rico Medicare Part B Equity Act (Pierluisi). H.R. 928, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act (Schakowsky) - Medicare Part D changes. H.R. 1024, Medication Therapy Management Empowerment Act (McMorris Rodgers) - medication therapy management programs. H.R. 1179, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act (Courtney) - Medicare coverage of skilled nursing care. H.R. 1102, Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act (Welch) - Medicare Part D price negotiations. H.R. 1853, Medicaid Accountability and Care Act (Cassidy) -federal financing of state Medicaid programs. H.R. 2305, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Roskam-Carney) - fighting fraud and abuse. H.R. 2453, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act (Rothfus-Schrader) - MA enrollment rules. H.R. 2524, Medicare Better Health Rewards Program Act (Paulsen-Kind) - wellness incentives. H.R. 2753, Securing Care for Seniors Act (Black) - MA payment and enrollment issues, wellness incentives. H.R, 2960, Medicare Prescription Drug Integrity Act of 2013 (Pallone) - Part D drug utilization review. H.R. 3512, Seniors' Health Care Choice Act (Heck) - MA open enrollment period. H.R. 3890, Better Care, Lower Cost Act (Paulsen-Welch) - delivery models for Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions. H.R. 4015, SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act (Burgess) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms, ACA individual mandate delay. H.R. 4160, Keep the Promise to Seniors Act (Ellmers) - blocking Medicare Part D proposed rule. H.R. 4302, Protecting Access to Medicare Act (Pitts) - 12-month Medicare SGR patch, Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans, Appropriate Use Criteria for Advanced Diagnostic Imaging, Medicare sequestration cuts, Other Medicare-Medicaid Extenders . H.R. 4484, Strengthening Healthcare Options for Vulnerable Populations Act (Sinema) - MA special needs plans. H.R. 4998, MA Participant Bill of Rights Act (DeLauro) - MA plan provider networks. H.R. 5113, Protecting Seniors' Medicare Choices from Obamacare Act (Coffman) - MA stabilization program. H.R. 5183, Value Based Insurance Design for Better Care Act (Black) - MA demonstration to test VBID methodologies. H.R. 5364, CHIP Extension and Improvement Act (Pallone) - federal CHIP funding. Draft Bill, Protecting the Integrity of Medicare Act (Brady) - preventing fraud in Medicare and Medicaid. S. 11, Fiscal Sustainability Act (Corker) - Medicare, Medigap, Medicaid issues. S. 25 (Hatch) - extension of Medicare sequestration cuts. S. 117, Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act (Klobuchar) - Medicare Part D price negotiations. S. 324, Puerto Rico Medicare Part B Equity Act (Schumer). S. 408, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act (Durbin) - Medicare Part D changes. S. 569, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act (Brown) - Medicare coverage of skilled nursing care. S. 1123, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Carper-Coburn) - fighting fraud and abuse. S. 1228, Medicare Better Health Rewards Program Act (Wyden-Portman) - wellness incentives. S. 1787, Medicaid Managed Care Responsibility and Equity Act (Rockefeller) - medical loss ratio requirement for Medicaid managed care organizations. S. 1871, SGR Repeal and Medicare Beneficiary Access Act (Senate Finance Committee) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms, MA Special Needs Plans, Cost Plans, QI and TMA programs. S. 1932, Better Care, Lower Cost Act (Wyden-Isakson) - delivery models for Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions. S. 1980, Medicaid and CHIP Continuous Quality Act (Rockefeller) - 12 month continuous enrollment. S. 2000, SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act (Senate Finance Committee) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms. S. 2110, SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act (Wyden) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms, Medicare and Medicaid extenders. S. 2122, Responsible Medicare SGR Repeal and Beneficiary Access Improvement Act (Hatch) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms, ACA individual mandate repeal. S. 2361, Stop SCAMS Act (Nelson-Collins) - reducing Medicare fraud. S. 2461, CHIP Extension Act (Rockefeller) --- federal CHIP funding. S. 2552, MA Participant Bill of Rights Act (Brown-Blumenthal) - MA plan provider networks. S. 2783, Value Based Insurance Design for Better Care Act (Thune) - MA demonstration to test VBID methodologies.
2014 · fourth_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
H.R. 351, Protecting Seniors Access to Medicare Act of 2013: Provisions related to the Independent Payment Advisory Board H.R. 460, Patients Access to Treatments Act: Provisions related to cost sharing in the specialty tier H.R. 928, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act of 2013: Provisions related to Part D issues H.R. 1024, Medication Therapy Management Empowerment Act of 2013: Provisions related to medication therapy management in Part D H.R. 1102, Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act of 2013: Provisions related to Part D issues and non-interference H.R. 1588, Medicare Drug Savings Act of 2013: Provisions related to Part D issues H.R. 2753 Securing Care for Seniors Act: Provisions related to Value Based Insurance Design H.R. 2810, Medicare Patient Access and Quality Improvement Act: Provisions related to SGR reform H.R. 2827, To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to allow for fair application of the exceptions process for drugs in tiers in formularies in prescription drug plans under Medicare part D: Provisions related to Medicare Part D Drug Tier Formularies H.R. 2925, Strengthening Medicare Anti-Fraud Measures Act of 2013: Provisions related to Office of Inspector General (OIG) enforcement of fraud and abuse laws H.R. 3392, Medicare Part D Patient Safety and Drug Abuse Prevention Act of 2013: Provisions related to lock-in programs H.R. 3796, Comprehensive Care Payment Innovation Act: Provisions related to alternative payment models H.R. 3890 Better Care, Lower Cost Act: Provisions related to Part D, value-based insurance design, and chronic disease H.R. 4015, SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2014: Provisions related to sustainable growth rate (SGR) and Medicare provider payment reform H.R. 4160, Keep the Promise to Seniors Act of 2014: Provisions related to Part D issues H.R. 4302, Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014: Provisions related to the biopharmaceutical industry H.R. 4577, Ensuring Seniors Access to Local Pharmacies Act of 2014: Provisions related to Part D preferred pharmacy networks H.R. 5183, Value Based Insurance Design for Better Care Act of 2014: Provisions related to valued base insurance design demonstration program H.R. 5558 ACO Improvement Act: Provisions related to alternate payment models H.R. 5780, Protecting Integrity in Medicare Act of 2014: Provisions related to addressing fraud and prescription drug abuse S. 117, Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act of 2013: Provisions related to Part D issues and non-interference S. 351, Protecting Seniors Access to Medicare Act of 2013: Provisions related to Independent Payment Advisory Board S. 408, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act of 2013: Provision related to Part D issues S. 557, Medication Therapy Management Empowerment Act of 2013: Provisions related to Part D and medication therapy management S. 740, Medicare Drug Savings Act of 2013: Provisions related to Part D issues Deficit reduction policy issues S. 882, Stop Trafficking of Pills (STOP) Act: Provisions related to lock-in programs (112th Congress) S. 1365, Part D Beneficiary Appeals Fairness Act: Provisions related to the specialty tier in Part D S. 1871, SGR Repeal and Medicare Beneficiary Access Act of 2013: Provisions related to reforming Medicare physician payments S. 1932, Better Care, Lower Cost Act: Provisions related to Part D, value-based insurance design, and chronic disease S. 2000, SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2014: Provisions related to SGR reform S. 2110, Medicare SGR Repeal and Beneficiary Access Improvement Act of 2014: Provisions related to SGR reform Hospital Improvements for Payment (HIP) Act of 2014: Provisions related to Medicare reform (no bill number) Medicare Prescription Drug Diversion and Abuse Prevention Act: Provisions related to diversion and abuse (no bill number) Contract Year 2015 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage and the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefits Programs: Provisions related to Part D Proposals to increase co-payments for Part D beneficiaries receiving the low-income subsidy Medicaid Program, Covered Outpatient Drugs rulemaking Medicare sustainable growth rate policy issues Implementation issues relating to the Physician Payment Sunshine Act, including Medicare, Medicaid, Childrens Health Insurance Programs; Transparency Reports and Reporting of Physician Ownership or Investment Interests rulemaking Issues related to better use of medicine and adherence
2014 · fourth_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
HR 2190 & S 1206 - Medicare Drug Savings Act of 2011: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require drug manufacturers to provide drug rebates for drugs dispensed to low-income individuals under the Medicare prescription drug benefit program. HR 2753 - Securing Care for Seniors Act of 2013: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve Medicare Advantage and for other purposes. HR 2810 - Medicare Patient Access and Quality Improvement Act of 2013: Amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to reform the sustainable growth rate and Medicare payment for physicians services and for other purposes. HR 3077 - TELE-MED Act of 2013: Amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to permit certain Medicare providers licensed in a state to provide telemedicine services to Medicare beneficiaries in a different state. HR 3890 - Better Care Lower Cost Act: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a Medicare Better Care Program to provide integrated care for Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions. HR 4160 - Keep the Promise to Seniors Act of 2014: To prohibit further action on the proposed rule regarding change to the Medicare prescription drug benefit program. HR 4998 - Medicare Advantage Participation Bill of Rights Acts of 2014: To enhance beneficiary and provider protections and improve transparency in the Medicare Advantage market and for other purposes. HR 5183 & S 2783 - Value Based Insurance Design for Better Care Act of 2011: To establish a demonstration program requiring the utilization of value based insurance design to demonstrate that reducing the copayment or co-insurance charged to Medicare beneficiaries for selected high-value prescription medications and clinical services can increase their utilization and ultimately improve clinical outcomes and lower health care expenditures. HR 5380 - Medicare Telehealth Parity Act of 2014: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for a phased in expansion of telehealth coverage under Medicare program. S 1932 - Better Care and Lower Costs Act: Amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a Medicare Better Care Program to provide integrated care for Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions, and for other purposes. S 2000 - The SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act: Amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to repeal the Medicare sustainable growth rate and improve Medicare payments for physicians and other professionals and for other purposes. S 2552 - Medicare Advantage Participant Bill of Rights Act of 2014: To enhance beneficiary & provider protections and improve transparency in the Medicare Advantage market and for other purposes.
2014 · fourth_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
MMM (Medicare and Medicaid) Many aspects of the Affordable Care Act promote changes that are consistent with the mission of the Marshfield Clinic: Extends health insurance to the uninsured Establishes the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to support comparative effectiveness research Imposes necessary regulations on Insurers - banning rescissions and exclusions for pre-existing medical conditions limits Creates state based Health Insurance Exchanges for individuals between 133% - 400% of Federal Poverty level (FPL) Calls for Value Based Purchasing for all providers Calls for the establishment of Accountable Care Organizations Establishes a Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to test innovative payment and delivery models The following are key elements of the health policy agenda of the Marshfield Clinic: Medicares Sustainable Growth Rate We believe that the longstanding challenges inherent in fee for service reimbursement under the resource based relative value system, and the financial problems associated with the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula must be addressed to assure access to Medicare benefits and the future solvency of the Medicare program. We recommend that Congress repeal the SGR formula, and link future updates to measures that reflect the cost and value of providing health care services. Congress must also take steps immediately to create increased incentives for preventative care, care coordination, and primary care services. Medicare Pay for Value Provider accountability for quality and spending growth is an essential element of delivery system reform. Existing law requires that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implement a value modifier that applies to Medicare Part B physician payments for certain physicians and physician groups beginning in calendar year 2015. By 2017, CMS is required to apply the value modifier to all Medicare Part B payments to physicians and physician groups. We recommend that Congress should implement this policy sooner if possible. Score-able savings might be achieved if Congress put a larger percentage of the value modifier at risk for participating physicians, and imposed penalties on inefficient practices. Geographic Adjustment of Physician Payments Recent findings by the Institute of Medicine and the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission have demonstrated significant shortcomings in the data utilized to geographically adjust physician payments. The IOM and MedPAC studies have confirmed that the data sources currently relied upon for geographic adjustment bear no correlation to physician earnings. CMS officials have admitted that the proxies utilized for the purpose of geographic adjustment have never been validated, and there never has been a new data source utilized in the twenty years since the fee schedule was implemented. MedPAC data show that the geographic adjustment reference occupations predict earnings of rural physicians to be 25-30% less than physicians in metropolitan areas. MedPAC data show that earnings of primary care physicians in rural areas are, in fact, 13% higher than physicians in metropolitan areas. Since there is no statistical basis of support for disparities in payment we strongly recommend that Congress require CMS to correct this inequity immediately. Having a source of credible data and a sustainable payment mechanism is critical to maintaining access to primary care services in rural areas for patients who reside in those areas. CBO Scoring of Preventive Health The budget process should be improved to permit Congress to assess long-term health savings that are possible from preventive health initiatives. Recent research supports the premise that the current budget window should be extended and CBO directed to take into account the relevant disease-progression data that exists which demonstrates savings in preventive health. To ensure that CBOs projections on cost savings are tied to scientific data, preventive health analysis must include credible and publicly available epidemiological projection, incorporating clinical trials or observational studies in humans, longitudinal studies, and meta-analysis. This narrow approach will discourages abuse while encouraging a sensible review of health policy Congress believes will further public health. Transparency Marshfield Clinic supports The Quality Data, Quality Healthcare Act, S. 1758, introduced by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and John Thune (R-SD), and similar legislation the Expanding the Availability of Medicare Data Act, HR 4418, introduced by Reps. Ron Kind (D-WI) and Paul Ryan (R-WI). This legislation would provide for greater access to Medicare claims data by modernizing and reforming the Qualified Entity (QE) program, which permits organizations to access and analyze Medicare data. Medicare Advantage Performance Measurement The Medicare Advantage program provides a capitated reimbursement to health plans for all Medicare benefits provided to enrolled beneficiaries. We believe that mechanisms for rewarding value in the Medicare Advantage program should offer incentives for those plans that demonstrate superior patient care performance. We recommend that performance bonuses should be provided for plans that: Achieve predetermined quality performance targets; Adopt health information technology; Meet standards for care coordination; and Provide data on comparative effectiveness. Medicare Advantage Improvements H.R. 2753, THE SECURING CARE FOR SENIORS ACT, by Rep. Diane Black (R-TN), provides seniors with more choice and allows flexibility for plans in the highly successful Medicare Advantage (MA) program through common-sense and technical fixes expanding the Open Enrollment Period; Permitting Incentives for Participation in Health Care Improvement Programs; enabling Cost-sharing Variation; making Improvements to the Risk Adjustment System; and making Improvements to MA 5-Star Quality Rating System. Marshfield Clinic supports this bill. Adequate Funding for CMS The problems facing the Medicare program stem from the nations earliest attempts to make health care services broadly available nationwide without disturbing the economic incentives that were then in place. Congress must ensure that CMS has adequate funding to provide oversight of its many programs, including its measurement of resource and input costs and full implementation of the Affordable care Act. Telemedicine in Medicare Changes to Medicare law and regulation are needed to improve equity in access for Medicare beneficiaries to services delivered via TeleHealth. Medicare beneficiaries should be allowed to receive services in telemedicine sites located in urban areas. The necessary changes would remove restrictions on originating sites by removing the rural requirement and the list of originating sites and allowing any certified Medicare facility to provide the services; current requirements that physician must bill for services from the originating site should be removed; restrictions on eligible practitioners should be removed to allow all Medicare approved practitioners to provide telemedicine services; and there should be no restrictions on which Medicare services may be provided through telemedicine. Recommendations: 1.Amend the Medicare requirement for non-MSA geographic location of the patient to allow all Medicare certified organizations as originating sites regardless of rural or metropolitan statistical area designation. 2.Alternative - amend the Medicare requirement for non-MSA geographic location of the patient to allow accountable care organizations to be exempt from the MSA requirement. Oral Health Coverage for the Medically Compromised and at Risk Populations There is sufficient data that demonstrates oral health impacts the systemic health of the patient and in doing can reduce the cost of care. Linkages that encourage patient compliance, patient education, provider education, and bi-directional referral and surveillance should be incented and compensated. Shared savings demonstrations should be developed for health systems and co-pay incentives developed for patients engaging in and complying with such inter-disciplinary care. Meaningful Use of Health Information Technology The accelerating growth in new medical knowledge, coupled with the birth of new sciences, such as genomics and personalized medicine, suggests that physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals will invariably continue to fall further and further behind in their ability to keep up with the latest discoveries and approved treatments. As information technology has sparked this explosive growth in knowledge, only information technology can provide an adequate response. By using evidence-based knowledge embedded in clinical decision support deployed within a well-designed workflow, physicians can manage the ever changing and growing knowledge base critical to the delivery of effective and efficient healthcare.
2014 · third_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
H.R. 351, Protecting Seniors Access to Medicare Act of 2013: Provisions related to the Independent Payment Advisory Board H.R. 460, Patients Access to Treatments Act: Provisions related to cost sharing in the specialty tier H.R. 928, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act of 2013: Provisions related to Part D issues H.R. 1024, Medication Therapy Management Empowerment Act of 2013: Provisions related to medication therapy management in Part D H.R. 1102, Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act of 2013: Provisions related to Part D issues and non-interference H.R. 1588, Medicare Drug Savings Act of 2013: Provisions related to Part D issues H.R. 2753 Securing Care for Seniors Act: Provisions related to Value Based Insurance Design H.R. 2810, Medicare Patient Access and Quality Improvement Act: Provisions related to SGR reform H.R. 2827, To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to allow for fair application of the exceptions process for drugs in tiers in formularies in prescription drug plans under Medicare part D: Provisions related to Medicare Part D Drug Tier Formularies H.R. 2925, Strengthening Medicare Anti-Fraud Measures Act of 2013: Provisions related to fraud and abuse H.R. 3392, Medicare Part D Patient Safety and Drug Abuse Prevention Act of 2013: Provisions related to lock-in programs H.R. 3796, Comprehensive Care Payment Innovation Act: Provisions related to alternative payment models H.R. 3890 Better Care, Lower Cost Act: Provisions related to Part D, value-based insurance design, and chronic disease H.R. 4015, SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2014: Provisions related to sustainable growth rate (SGR) and Medicare provider payment reform H.R. 4160, Keep the Promise to Seniors Act of 2014: Provisions related to Part D issues H.R. 4302, Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014: Provisions related to the biopharmaceutical industry H.R. 4577, Ensuring Seniors Access to Local Pharmacies Act of 2014: Provisions related to Part D preferred pharmacy networks H.R. 5183, Value Based Insurance Design for Better Care Act of 2014: Provisions related to valued base insurance design demonstration program H.R. 5558 ACO Improvement Act: Provisions related to alternate payment models S. 117, Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act of 2013: Provisions related to Part D issues and non-interference S. 351, Protecting Seniors Access to Medicare Act of 2013: Provisions related to Independent Payment Advisory Board S. 408, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act of 2013: Provision related to Part D issues S. 557, Medication Therapy Management Empowerment Act of 2013: Provisions related to Part D and medication therapy management S. 740, Medicare Drug Savings Act of 2013: Provisions related to Part D issues Deficit reduction policy issues S. 882, Stop Trafficking of Pills (STOP) Act: Provisions related to lock-in programs (112th Congress) S. 1365, Part D Beneficiary Appeals Fairness Act: Provisions related to the specialty tier in Part D S. 1871, SGR Repeal and Medicare Beneficiary Access Act of 2013: Provisions related to reforming Medicare physician payments S. 1932, Better Care, Lower Cost Act: Provisions related to Part D, value-based insurance design, and chronic disease S. 2000, SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2014: Provisions related to SGR reform S. 2110, Medicare SGR Repeal and Beneficiary Access Improvement Act of 2014: Provisions related to SGR reform Medicare Prescription Drug Diversion and Abuse Prevention Act: Provisions related to diversion and abuse (no bill number) Contract Year 2015 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage and the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefits Programs: Provisions related to Part D Proposals to increase co-payments for Part D beneficiaries receiving the low-income subsidy Medicaid Program, Covered Outpatient Drugs rulemaking Medicare sustainable growth rate policy issues Implementation issues relating to the Physician Payment Sunshine Act, including Medicare, Medicaid, Childrens Health Insurance Programs; Transparency Reports and Reporting of Physician Ownership or Investment Interests rulemaking Issues related to better use of medicine and adherence Protecting Integrity in Medicare Act of 2014 (no bill number): Provisions related to addressing fraud, prescription drug abuse, and other issues Lock-in concepts generally
2014 · third_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
H.R. 162, Medicaid Integrity Act (Bachmann) - Medicaid health plan audits H.R. 670, Puerto Rico Medicare Part B Equity Act (Pierluisi) H.R. 928, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act (Schakowsky) - Medicare Part D changes H.R. 1179, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act (Courtney) - Medicare coverage of skilled nursing care H.R. 1102, Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act (Welch) - Medicare Part D price negotiations H.R. 1853, Medicaid Accountability and Care Act (Cassidy) -federal financing of state Medicaid programs H.R. 2305, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Roskam-Carney) - fighting fraud and abuse H.R. 2453, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act (Rothfus-Schrader) - MA enrollment rules H.R. 2524, Medicare Better Health Rewards Program Act (Paulsen-Kind) - wellness incentives H.R. 2753, Securing Care for Seniors Act (Black) - MA payment and enrollment issues, wellness incentives H.R, 2960, Medicare Prescription Drug Integrity Act of 2013 (Pallone) - Part D drug utilization review H.R. 3512, Seniors' Health Care Choice Act (Heck) - MA open enrollment period H.R. 3890, Better Care, Lower Cost Act (Paulsen-Welch) - delivery models for Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions H.R. 4015, SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act (Burgess) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms, ACA individual mandate delay H.R. 4160, Keep the Promise to Seniors Act (Ellmers) - blocking Medicare Part D proposed rule H.R. 4302, Protecting Access to Medicare Act (Pitts) - 12-month Medicare SGR patch, Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans, Appropriate Use Criteria for Advanced Diagnostic Imaging, Medicare sequestration cuts, Other Medicare-Medicaid Extenders H.R. 4484, Strengthening Healthcare Options for Vulnerable Populations Act (Sinema) - MA special needs plans H.R. 4998, MA Participant Bill of Rights Act (DeLauro) - MA plan provider networks H.R. 5113, Protecting Seniors' Medicare Choices from Obamacare Act (Coffman) - MA stabilization program H.R. 5183, Value Based Insurance Design for Better Care Act (Black) - MA demonstration to test VBID methodologies H.R. 5364, CHIP Extension and Improvement Act (Pallone) - federal CHIP funding Draft Bill, Protecting the Integrity of Medicare Act (Brady) - preventing fraud in Medicare and Medicaid S. 11, Fiscal Sustainability Act (Corker) - Medicare, Medigap, Medicaid issues S. 25 (Hatch) - extension of Medicare sequestration cuts S. 117, Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act (Klobuchar) - Medicare Part D price negotiations S. 324, Puerto Rico Medicare Part B Equity Act (Schumer) S. 408, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act (Durbin) - Medicare Part D changes S. 569, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act (Brown) - Medicare coverage of skilled nursing care S. 1123, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Carper-Coburn) - fighting fraud and abuse S. 1228, Medicare Better Health Rewards Program Act (Wyden-Portman) - wellness incentives S. 1787, Medicaid Managed Care Responsibility and Equity Act (Rockefeller) - medical loss ratio requirement for Medicaid managed care organizations S. 1871, SGR Repeal and Medicare Beneficiary Access Act (Senate Finance Committee) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms, MA Special Needs Plans, Cost Plans, QI and TMA programs S. 1932, Better Care, Lower Cost Act (Wyden-Isakson) - delivery models for Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions S. 1980, Medicaid and CHIP Continuous Quality Act (Rockefeller) - 12 month continuous enrollment S. 2000, SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act (Senate Finance Committee) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms S. 2110, SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act (Wyden) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms, Medicare and Medicaid extenders S. 2122, Responsible Medicare SGR Repeal and Beneficiary Access Improvement Act (Hatch) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms, ACA individual mandate repeal S. 2361, Stop SCAMS Act (Nelson-Collins) - reducing Medicare fraud S. 2461, CHIP Extension Act (Rockefeller) --- federal CHIP funding S. 2552, MA Participant Bill of Rights Act (Brown-Blumenthal) - MA plan provider networks S. 2783, Value Based Insurance Design for Better Care Act (Thune) - MA demonstration to test VBID methodologies Ongoing implementation issues for the Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Part D prescription drug programs, including risk adjustment methodology, encounter data and other data-related issues, and audit issues; bidding and payment issues (including MA rate assumptions, MA coding intensity, MA Secondary Payer issues, Part D reinsurance, Part D low income subsidies, and audits); in-home health risk assessments; Medicare Medical Loss Ratio issues; implementation of sequestration under the Medicare Advantage and Part D programs; implications of the health insurer fee for MA and Part D plans; application process, audits to evaluate compliance with MA and Part D program rules, benefit design rules, SSA and CMS premium withhold processing issues, enrollment rules, marketing materials review and approval, marketing activities, including conduct and compensation of brokers and agents and plan sponsor marketing staff; measurement and oversight of plan performance including Special Needs Plans (SNPs); quality measures, grievance and appeals processes, fraud and abuse compliance including training; contracting issues for Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (SNPs); Federal preemption of State authority under MA and Part D programs, Part D prescription drug event data reporting, Part D formulary rules, Part D pharmacy access standards, Part D coverage gap discount program, including employer group waiver plan (EGWP) issues, and other operational issues; issues raised by Part D coverage of new specialty drugs, the Part D non-interference policy and related issues (e.g., preferred pharmacy and any willing pharmacy requirements, standards for network pharmacy reimbursement, and policies regarding sponsor negotiation of pharmacy price concessions); Medication Therapy Management Program requirements; Part D requirements for offering basic and enhanced alternative plans; MA and Part D systems issues affecting enrollment and disenrollment processing and payment and other operational issues; issues relating to MA and Part D Star Rating system including measures, the methodology for calculating ratings, and the role of the ratings for payment purposes; implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) changes to the Part D coverage gap; ongoing implementation issues for the Medicare cost plan program including enrollment, marketing materials review and approval and other operational issues; Medicare creditable drug coverage reporting requirements; implementation issues for the Medicare Retiree Drug Subsidy program; functionality of the Medicare Personal Plan Finder and Drug Plan Finder; National Medicare Education Program; Medicare demonstration program on performance-based payments for physician groups; physician quality reporting initiative; issues relating to Medicare coverage policy and national coverage decisions; Medicare clinical trials; Medicare/Medicaid integration for dual eligibles, including the Capitated Financial Alignment Demonstration; Medicaid managed care regulations and policies, including the Medicaid managed care actuarial soundness standard, quality oversight, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), grievance and appeals processes, fraud and abuse compliance, beneficiary information requirements, treatment of Medicaid health plan member hospital days in the upper payment limit calculation; policies affecting State Medicaid funding, including block grants, the calculation of the federal medical assistance (federal matching) percentage (FMAP), and intergovernmental transfers (IGTs); coordination of benefits with state Medicaid programs; Medicaid prescription drug cost issues affecting Medicaid health plans including issues raised by Medicaid coverage of new specialty drugs; health plan-related Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) issues, including eligibility and outreach issues and CHIP reauthorization; implementation of Medicaid changes made in Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, including Medicaid managed care organization provider tax issues; standards for electronic prescribing; implementation of Medicaid changes of interest to Medicaid health plans made in the ACA including Medicaid expansion, the managed care organization (MCO) prescription drug rebate provisions, minimum payments to primary care providers (PCPs), interactions between the Medicaid program and health insurance exchanges, and Medicaid and CHIP maintenance of effort (MOE) requirements; implications of the health insurer fee for Medicaid health plans ; issues related to Medigap coverage; issues relating to "meaningful use" requirements for health information technology; and other issues relating to health care reform implementation.
2014 · third_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
Education on the value Medicare Advantage and opposition to cuts in reimbursement for Medicare Advantage plans. H.R. 2753: Securing Care for Seniors Act. FY 2015 CMS Hospital Inpatient PPS rule as it relates to "two midnights" policy.
Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $50,000
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
2014 · third_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
H.R. 162, Medicaid Integrity Act (Bachmann) - Medicaid health plan audits. H.R. 670, Puerto Rico Medicare Part B Equity Act (Pierluisi). H.R. 928, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act (Schakowsky) - Medicare Part D changes. H.R. 1179, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act (Courtney) - Medicare coverage of skilled nursing care. H.R. 1102, Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act (Welch) - Medicare Part D price negotiations. H.R. 1853, Medicaid Accountability and Care Act (Cassidy) -federal financing of state Medicaid programs. H.R. 2305, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Roskam-Carney) - fighting fraud and abuse. H.R. 2453, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act (Rothfus-Schrader) - MA enrollment rules. H.R. 2524, Medicare Better Health Rewards Program Act (Paulsen-Kind) - wellness incentives. H.R. 2753, Securing Care for Seniors Act (Black) - MA payment and enrollment issues, wellness incentives. H.R, 2960, Medicare Prescription Drug Integrity Act of 2013 (Pallone) - Part D drug utilization review. H.R. 3512, Seniors' Health Care Choice Act (Heck) - MA open enrollment period. H.R. 3890, Better Care, Lower Cost Act (Paulsen-Welch) - delivery models for Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions. H.R. 4015, SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act (Burgess) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms, ACA individual mandate delay. H.R. 4160, Keep the Promise to Seniors Act (Ellmers) - blocking Medicare Part D proposed rule. H.R. 4302, Protecting Access to Medicare Act (Pitts) - 12-month Medicare SGR patch, Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans, Appropriate Use Criteria for Advanced Diagnostic Imaging, Medicare sequestration cuts, Other Medicare-Medicaid Extenders. H.R. 4484, Strengthening Healthcare Options for Vulnerable Populations Act (Sinema) - MA special needs plans. H.R. 4998, MA Participant Bill of Rights Act (DeLauro) - MA plan provider networks. H.R. 5113, Protecting Seniors' Medicare Choices from Obamacare Act (Coffman) - MA stabilization program. H.R. 5183, Value Based Insurance Design for Better Care Act (Black) - MA demonstration to test VBID methodologies. H.R. 5364, CHIP Extension and Improvement Act (Pallone) - federal CHIP funding. Draft Bill, Protecting the Integrity of Medicare Act (Brady) - preventing fraud in Medicare and Medicaid. S. 11, Fiscal Sustainability Act (Corker) - Medicare, Medigap, Medicaid issues. S. 25 (Hatch) - extension of Medicare sequestration cuts. S. 117, Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act (Klobuchar) - Medicare Part D price negotiations. S. 324, Puerto Rico Medicare Part B Equity Act (Schumer). S. 408, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act (Durbin) - Medicare Part D changes. S. 569, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act (Brown) - Medicare coverage of skilled nursing care. S. 1123, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Carper-Coburn) - fighting fraud and abuse. S. 1228, Medicare Better Health Rewards Program Act (Wyden-Portman) - wellness incentives. S. 1787, Medicaid Managed Care Responsibility and Equity Act (Rockefeller) - medical loss ratio requirement for Medicaid managed care organizations. S. 1871, SGR Repeal and Medicare Beneficiary Access Act (Senate Finance Committee) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms, MA Special Needs Plans, Cost Plans, QI and TMA programs. S. 1932, Better Care, Lower Cost Act (Wyden-Isakson) - delivery models for Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions. S. 1980, Medicaid and CHIP Continuous Quality Act (Rockefeller) - 12 month continuous enrollment. S. 2000, SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act (Senate Finance Committee) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms. S. 2110, SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act (Wyden) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms, Medicare and Medicaid extenders. S. 2122, Responsible Medicare SGR Repeal and Beneficiary Access Improvement Act (Hatch) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms, ACA individual mandate repeal. S. 2361, Stop SCAMS Act (Nelson-Collins) - reducing Medicare fraud. S. 2461, CHIP Extension Act (Rockefeller) --- federal CHIP funding. S. 2552, MA Participant Bill of Rights Act (Brown-Blumenthal) - MA plan provider networks. S. 2783, Value Based Insurance Design for Better Care Act (Thune) - MA demonstration to test VBID methodologies.
2014 · third_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
HR 2190 & S 1206 - Medicare Drug Savings Act of 2011: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require drug manufacturers to provide drug rebates for drugs dispensed to low-income individuals under the Medicare prescription drug benefit program. HR 2753 - Securing Care for Seniors Act of 2013: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve Medicare Advantage and for other purposes. HR 2810 - Medicare Patient Access and Quality Improvement Act of 2013: Amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to reform the sustainable growth rate and Medicare payment for physicians services and for other purposes. HR 3077 - TELE-MED Act of 2013: Amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to permit certain Medicare providers licensed in a state to provide telemedicine services to Medicare beneficiaries in a different state. HR 3890 - Better Care Lower Cost Act: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a Medicare Better Care Program to provide integrated care for Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions. HR 4160 - Keep the Promise to Seniors Act of 2014: To prohibit further action on the proposed rule regarding change to the Medicare prescription drug benefit program. HR 4998 - Medicare Advantage Participation Bill of Rights Acts of 2014: To enhance beneficiary and provider protections and improve transparency in the Medicare Advantage market and for other purposes. HR 5183 & S 2783 - Value Based Insurance Design for Better Care Act of 2011: To establish a demonstration program requiring the utilization of value based insurance design to demonstrate that reducing the copayment or co-insurance charged to Medicare beneficiaries for selected high-value prescription medications and clinical services can increase their utilization and ultimately improve clinical outcomes and lower health care expenditures. HR 5380 - Medicare Telehealth Parity Act of 2014: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for a phased in expansion of telehealth coverage under Medicare program. S 1932 - Better Care and Lower Costs Act: Amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a Medicare Better Care Program to provide integrated care for Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions, and for other purposes. S 2000 - The SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act: Amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to repeal the Medicare sustainable growth rate and improve Medicare payments for physicians and other professionals and for other purposes. S 2552 - Medicare Advantage Participant Bill of Rights Act of 2014: To enhance beneficiary & provider protections and improve transparency in the Medicare Advantage market and for other purposes.
2014 · third_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
Many aspects of the Affordable Care Act promote changes that are consistent with the mission of the Marshfield Clinic: Extends health insurance to the uninsured Establishes the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to support comparative effectiveness research Imposes necessary regulations on Insurers - banning rescissions and exclusions for pre-existing medical conditions limits Creates state based Health Insurance Exchanges for individuals between 133% - 400% of Federal Poverty level (FPL) Calls for Value Based Purchasing for all providers Calls for the establishment of Accountable Care Organizations Establishes a Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to test innovative payment and delivery models The following are key elements of the health policy agenda of the Marshfield Clinic: Medicares Sustainable Growth Rate We believe that the longstanding challenges inherent in fee for service reimbursement under the resource based relative value system, and the financial problems associated with the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula must be addressed to assure access to Medicare benefits and the future solvency of the Medicare program. We recommend that Congress repeal the SGR formula, and link future updates to measures that reflect the cost and value of providing health care services. Congress must also take steps immediately to create increased incentives for preventative care, care coordination, and primary care services. Medicare Pay for Value Provider accountability for quality and spending growth is an essential element of delivery system reform. Existing law requires that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implement a value modifier that applies to Medicare Part B physician payments for certain physicians and physician groups beginning in calendar year 2015. By 2017, CMS is required to apply the value modifier to all Medicare Part B payments to physicians and physician groups. We recommend that Congress should implement this policy sooner if possible. Score-able savings might be achieved if Congress put a larger percentage of the value modifier at risk for participating physicians, and imposed penalties on inefficient practices. Geographic Adjustment of Physician Payments Recent findings by the Institute of Medicine and the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission have demonstrated significant shortcomings in the data utilized to geographically adjust physician payments. The IOM and MedPAC studies have confirmed that the data sources currently relied upon for geographic adjustment bear no correlation to physician earnings. CMS officials have admitted that the proxies utilized for the purpose of geographic adjustment have never been validated, and there never has been a new data source utilized in the twenty years since the fee schedule was implemented. MedPAC data show that the geographic adjustment reference occupations predict earnings of rural physicians to be 25-30% less than physicians in metropolitan areas. MedPAC data show that earnings of primary care physicians in rural areas are, in fact, 13% higher than physicians in metropolitan areas. Since there is no statistical basis of support for disparities in payment we strongly recommend that Congress require CMS to correct this inequity immediately. Having a source of credible data and a sustainable payment mechanism is critical to maintaining access to primary care services in rural areas for patients who reside in those areas. CBO Scoring of Preventive Health The budget process should be improved to permit Congress to assess long-term health savings that are possible from preventive health initiatives. Recent research supports the premise that the current budget window should be extended and CBO directed to take into account the relevant disease-progression data that exists which demonstrates savings in preventive health. To ensure that CBOs projections on cost savings are tied to scientific data, preventive health analysis must include credible and publicly available epidemiological projection, incorporating clinical trials or observational studies in humans, longitudinal studies, and meta-analysis. This narrow approach will discourages abuse while encouraging a sensible review of health policy which will further public health. Transparency Marshfield Clinic supports The Quality Data, Quality Healthcare Act, S. 1758, introduced by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and John Thune (R-SD), and similar legislation the Expanding the Availability of Medicare Data Act, HR 4418, introduced by Reps. Ron Kind (D-WI) and Paul Ryan (R-WI). This legislation would provide for greater access to Medicare claims data by modernizing and reforming the Qualified Entity (QE) program, which permits organizations to access and analyze Medicare data. Medicare Advantage Performance Measurement The Medicare Advantage program provides a capitated reimbursement to health plans for all Medicare benefits provided to enrolled beneficiaries. We believe that mechanisms for rewarding value in the Medicare Advantage program should offer incentives for those plans that demonstrate superior patient care performance. We recommend that performance bonuses should be provided for plans that: Achieve predetermined quality performance targets; Adopt health information technology; Meet standards for care coordination; and Provide data on comparative effectiveness. Medicare Advantage Improvements H.R. 2753, THE SECURING CARE FOR SENIORS ACT, by Rep. Diane Black (R-TN), provides seniors with more choice and allows flexibility for plans in the highly successful Medicare Advantage (MA) program through common-sense and technical fixes expanding the Open Enrollment Period; Permitting Incentives for Participation in Health Care Improvement Programs; enabling Cost-sharing Variation; making Improvements to the Risk Adjustment System; and making Improvements to MA 5-Star Quality Rating System. Marshfield Clinic supports this bill. Adequate Funding for CMS The problems facing the Medicare program stem from the nations earliest attempts to make health care services broadly available nationwide without disturbing the economic incentives that were then in place. Congress must ensure that CMS has adequate funding to provide oversight of its many programs, including its measurement of resource and input costs and full implementation of the Affordable care Act. Telemedicine in Medicare Changes to Medicare law and regulation are needed to improve equity in access for Medicare beneficiaries to services delivered via TeleHealth. Medicare beneficiaries should be allowed to receive services in telemedicine sites located in urban areas. The necessary changes would remove restrictions on originating sites by removing the rural requirement and the list of originating sites and allowing any certified Medicare facility to provide the services; current requirements that physician must bill for services from the originating site should be removed; restrictions on eligible practitioners should be removed to allow all Medicare approved practitioners to provide telemedicine services; and there should be no restrictions on which Medicare services may be provided through telemedicine. Recommendations: 1.Amend the Medicare requirement for non-MSA geographic location of the patient to allow all Medicare certified organizations as originating sites regardless of rural or metropolitan statistical area designation. 2.Alternative - amend the Medicare requirement for non-MSA geographic location of the patient to allow accountable care organizations to be exempt from the MSA requirement. Oral Health Coverage for the Medically Compromised and at Risk Populations There is sufficient data that demonstrates oral health impacts the systemic health of the patient and in doing can reduce the cost of care. Linkages that encourage patient compliance, patient education, provider education, and bi-directional referral and surveillance should be incented and compensated. Shared savings demonstrations should be developed for health systems and co-pay incentives developed for patients engaging in and complying with such inter-disciplinary care. Meaningful Use of Health Information Technology The growth in new medical knowledge, coupled with the birth of new sciences, such as genomics and personalized medicine, suggests that physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals will invariably continue to fall further and further behind in their ability to keep up with the latest discoveries and approved treatments. By using evidence-based knowledge embedded in clinical decision support deployed within a well-designed workflow, physicians can manage the ever changing and growing knowledge base critical to the delivery of effective and efficient healthcare. Personalized medicine, the tailoring of medical treatments to patient characteristics, allows clinicians to target preventive or therapeutic interventions on those who will benefit, and thereby spare the expense and side effects of treatment for those who will not, thus making medicine more efficient. This should be supported.
2014 · second_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
Education on the value of Medicare Advantage and opposition to cuts in reimbursement for Medicare Advantage plans. Advance Notice of Methodological Changes for Calendar Year (CY) 2015 for Medicare Advantage (MA) Capitation Rates, Part C and Part D Payment Policies and 2015 Call Letter. CMS proposed rule affecting the Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D) Programs, specificallyas it relates to changes in pharmacy networks. H.R. 2753: Securing Care for Seniors Act.
Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $50,000
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
2014 · second_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
H.R. 162, Medicaid Integrity Act (Bachmann) Medicaid health plan audits16. Specific Lobbying Issues (continued): H.R. 670, Puerto Rico Medicare Part B Equity Act (Pierluisi) H.R. 928, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act (Schakowsky) Medicare Part D changes H.R. 1179, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act (Courtney) Medicare coverage of skilled nursing care H.R. 1102, Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act (Welch) Medicare Part D price negotiations H.R. 1853, Medicaid Accountability and Care Act (Cassidy) federal financing of state Medicaid programs H.R. 2305, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Roskam-Carney) fighting fraud and abuse H.R. 2453, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act (Rothfus-Schrader) MA enrollment rules H.R. 2524, Medicare Better Health Rewards Program Act (Paulsen-Kind) wellness incentives H.R. 2753, Securing Care for Seniors Act (Black) MA payment and enrollment issues, wellness incentives H.R. 2810, Medicare Patient Access and Quality Improvement Act (Burgess/Camp) SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms H.R, 2960, Medicare Prescription Drug Integrity Act of 2013 (Pallone) Part D drug utilization review H.R. 3512, Seniors' Health Care Choice Act (Heck) MA open enrollment period H.R. 3890, Better Care, Lower Cost Act (Paulsen-Welch) delivery models for Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions H.R. 4015, SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act (Burgess) SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms, ACA individual mandate delay H.R. 4160, Keep the Promise to Seniors Act (Ellmers) blocking Medicare Part D proposed rule H.R. 4302, Protecting Access to Medicare Act (Pitts) 12-month Medicare SGR patch, Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans, Appropriate Use Criteria for Advanced Diagnostic Imaging, Medicare sequestration cuts, Other Medicare-Medicaid Extenders H.R. 4484, Strengthening Healthcare Options for Vulnerable Populations Act (Sinema) MA special needs plans H.R. 4998, MA Participant Bill of Rights Act (DeLauro) MA plan provider networks H.Con.Res. 96, Budget Resolution (Ryan) Medicare, Medigap, Medicaid, ACA issues S. 11, Fiscal Sustainability Act (Corker) Medicare, Medigap, Medicaid issues S. 25 (Hatch) extension of Medicare sequestration cuts S. 117, Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act (Klobuchar) Medicare Part D price negotiations S. 324, Puerto Rico Medicare Part B Equity Act (Schumer) S. 408, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act (Durbin) Medicare Part D changes S. 569, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act (Brown) Medicare coverage of skilled nursing care S. 1123, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Carper-Coburn) fighting fraud and abuse S. 1228, Medicare Better Health Rewards Program Act (Wyden-Portman) wellness incentives S. 1787, Medicaid Managed Care Responsibility and Equity Act (Rockefeller) medical loss ratio requirement for Medicaid managed care organizations S. 1871, SGR Repeal and Medicare Beneficiary Access Act (Senate Finance Committee) SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms, MA Special Needs Plans, Cost Plans, QI and TMA programs S. 1932, Better Care, Lower Cost Act (Wyden-Isakson) delivery models for Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions S. 1980, Medicaid and CHIP Continuous Quality Act (Rockefeller) 12 month continuous enrollment S. 2000, SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act (Senate Finance Committee) SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms S. 2110, SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act (Wyden) SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms, Medicare and Medicaid extenders S. 2122, Responsible Medicare SGR Repeal and Beneficiary Access Improvement Act (Hatch) SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms, ACA individual mandate repeal S. 2361, Stop SCAMS Act (Nelson-Collins) reducing Medicare fraud S. 2461, CHIP Extension Act (Rockefeller) --- CHIP reauthorization S. 2552, MA Participant Bill of Rights Act (Brown-Blumenthal) MA plan provider networks16. Specific Lobbying Issues (continued): Regulatory Issues: Ongoing implementation issues for the Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Part D prescription drug programs, including risk adjustment methodology, encounter data and other data-related issues, and audit issues; bidding and payment issues (including MA rate assumptions, MA coding intensity, MA Secondary Payer issues, Part D reinsurance, Part D low income subsidies, and audits); Medicare Medical Loss Ratio issues; implementation of sequestration under the Medicare Advantage and Part D programs; implications of the health insurer fee for MA and Part D plans; application process, audits to evaluate compliance with MA and Part D program rules, benefit design rules, SSA and CMS premium withhold processing issues, enrollment rules, marketing materials review and approval, marketing activities, including conduct and compensation of brokers and agents and plan sponsor marketing staff; measurement and oversight of plan performance including Special Needs Plans (SNPs); quality measures, grievance and appeals processes, fraud and abuse compliance including training; contracting issues for Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (SNPs); Federal preemption of State authority under MA and Part D programs, Part D prescription drug event data reporting, Part D formulary rules, Part D pharmacy access standards, Part D coverage gap discount program, including employer group waiver plan (EGWP) issues, and other operational issues; issues raised by Part D coverage of new specialty drugs, the Part D non-interference policy and related issues (e.g., preferred pharmacy and any willing pharmacy requirements, standards for network pharmacy reimbursement, and policies regarding sponsor negotiation of pharmacy price concessions); Medication Therapy Management Program requirements; Part D requirements for offering basic and enhanced alternative plans; MA and Part D systems issues affecting enrollment and disenrollment processing and payment and other operational issues; issues relating to MA Star Rating system including measures, the methodology for calculating ratings, and the role of the ratings for payment purposes; implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) changes to the Part D coverage gap; ongoing implementation issues for the Medicare cost plan program including enrollment, marketing materials review and approval and other operational issues; Medicare creditable drug coverage reporting requirements; implementation issues for the Medicare Retiree Drug Subsidy program; functionality of the Medicare Personal Plan Finder and Drug Plan Finder; National Medicare Education Program; Medicare demonstration program on performance-based payments for physician groups; physician quality reporting initiative; issues relating to Medicare coverage policy and national coverage decisions; Medicare clinical trials; Medicare/Medicaid integration for dual eligibles, including the Capitated Financial Alignment Demonstration; Medicaid managed care regulations and policies, including the Medicaid managed care actuarial soundness standard, quality oversight, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), grievance and appeals processes, fraud and abuse compliance, beneficiary information requirements, treatment of Medicaid health plan member hospital days in the upper payment limit calculation; policies affecting State Medicaid funding, including block grants, the calculation of the federal medical assistance (federal matching) percentage (FMAP), and intergovernmental transfers (IGTs); coordination of benefits with state Medicaid programs; Medicaid prescription drug cost issues affecting Medicaid health plans including issues raised by Medicaid coverage of new specialty drugs; health plan-related Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) issues, including eligibility and outreach issues and CHIP reauthorization; implementation of Medicaid changes made in Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, including Medicaid managed care organization provider tax issues; standards for electronic prescribing; implementation of Medicaid changes of interest to Medicaid health plans made in the ACA including Medicaid expansion, the managed care organization (MCO) prescription drug rebate provisions, minimum payments to primary care providers (PCPs), interactions between the Medicaid program and health insurance exchanges, and Medicaid and CHIP maintenance of effort (MOE) requirements; implications of the health insurer fee for Medicaid health plans ; issues related to Medigap coverage; issues relating to "meaningful use" requirements for health information technology; and other issues relating to health care reform implementation. 17. Houses of Congress and Federal Agencies (continued): Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC)
2014 · second_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
H.R. 162, Medicaid Integrity Act (Bachmann) - Medicaid health plan audits. H.R. 670, Puerto Rico Medicare Part B Equity Act (Pierluisi). H.R. 928, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act (Schakowsky) - Medicare Part D changes. H.R. 1179, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act (Courtney) - Medicare coverage of skilled nursing care. H.R. 1102, Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act (Welch) - Medicare Part D price negotiations. H.R. 1853, Medicaid Accountability and Care Act (Cassidy) -federal financing of state Medicaid programs. H.R. 2305, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Roskam-Carney) - fighting fraud and abuse. H.R. 2453, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act (Rothfus-Schrader) - MA enrollment rules. H.R. 2524, Medicare Better Health Rewards Program Act (Paulsen-Kind) - wellness incentives. H.R. 2753, Securing Care for Seniors Act (Black) - MA payment and enrollment issues, wellness incentives. H.R. 2810, Medicare Patient Access and Quality Improvement Act (Burgess/Camp) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms. H.R, 2960, Medicare Prescription Drug Integrity Act of 2013 (Pallone) - Part D drug utilization review. H.R. 3512, Seniors' Health Care Choice Act (Heck) - MA open enrollment period. H.R. 3890, Better Care, Lower Cost Act (Paulsen-Welch) - delivery models for Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions. H.R. 4015, SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act (Burgess) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms, ACA individual mandate delay H.R. 4160, Keep the Promise to Seniors Act (Ellmers) - blocking Medicare Part D proposed rule. H.R. 4302, Protecting Access to Medicare Act (Pitts) - 12-month Medicare SGR patch, Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans, Appropriate Use Criteria for Advanced Diagnostic Imaging, Medicare sequestration cuts, Other Medicare-Medicaid Extenders." H.R. 4484, Strengthening Healthcare Options for Vulnerable Populations Act (Sinema) - MA special needs plans. H.R. 4998, MA Participant Bill of Rights Act (DeLauro) - MA plan provider networks. H.Con.Res. 96, Budget Resolution (Ryan) - Medicare, Medigap, Medicaid, ACA issues. S. 11, Fiscal Sustainability Act (Corker) - Medicare, Medigap, Medicaid issues. S. 25 (Hatch) - extension of Medicare sequestration cuts. S. 117, Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act (Klobuchar) - Medicare Part D price negotiations. S. 324, Puerto Rico Medicare Part B Equity Act (Schumer) S. 408, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act (Durbin) - Medicare Part D changes. S. 569, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act (Brown) - Medicare coverage of skilled nursing care. S. 1123, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Carper-Coburn) - fighting fraud and abuse. S. 1228, Medicare Better Health Rewards Program Act (Wyden-Portman) - wellness incentives. S. 1787, Medicaid Managed Care Responsibility and Equity Act (Rockefeller) - medical loss ratio requirement for Medicaid managed care organizations. S. 1871, SGR Repeal and Medicare Beneficiary Access Act (Senate Finance Committee) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms, MA Special Needs Plans, Cost Plans, QI and TMA programs. S. 1932, Better Care, Lower Cost Act (Wyden-Isakson) - delivery models for Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions. S. 1980, Medicaid and CHIP Continuous Quality Act (Rockefeller) - 12 month continuous enrollment. S. 2000, SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act (Senate Finance Committee) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms. S. 2110, SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act (Wyden) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms, Medicare and Medicaid extenders." S. 2122, Responsible Medicare SGR Repeal and Beneficiary Access Improvement Act (Hatch) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms, ACA individual mandate repeal. S. 2361, Stop SCAMS Act (Nelson-Collins) - reducing Medicare fraud S. 2461, CHIP Extension Act (Rockefeller) --- CHIP reauthorization. S. 2552, MA Participant Bill of Rights Act (Brown-Blumenthal) - MA plan provider networks.
2014 · second_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
Many aspects of the Affordable Care Act promote changes that are consistent with the mission of the Marshfield Clinic: Extends health insurance to the uninsured Establishes the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to support comparative effectiveness researchImposes necessary regulations on Insurers banning rescissions and exclusions for pre-existing medical conditions limits Expands Medicaid Eligibility to 133% of FPL Creates state based Health Insurance Exchanges for individuals between 133% - 400% of Federal Poverty level (FPL) Increases practice expense payments, Calls for IOM study to Correct Geographic payment disparities Calls for CMS to establish a Value Index to align payment with quality Establishes Bonus payments for primary care, efficiency, quality Calls for Value Based Purchasing for all providers Calls for the establishment of Accountable Care Organizations Establishes a Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to test innovative payment and delivery models The following are key elements of the health policy agenda of the Marshfield Clinic: Medicares Sustainable Growth Rate -- We believe that the longstanding challenges inherent in fee for service reimbursement under the resource based relative value system, and the financial problems associated with the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula must be addressed to assure access to Medicare benefits and the future solvency of the Medicare program. We recommend that Congress repeal the SGR formula, and link future updates to measures that reflect the cost and value of providing health care services. Congress must also take steps immediately to create increased incentives for preventative care, care coordination, and primary care services. Physician spending is currently only a fraction of total health care spending but it affects nearly all other aspects of health care delivery. We recommend that Congress utilize the leverage of physician spending to deal with the misaligned incentives in the Medicare program that lead to higher costs and inefficiencies throughout the spectrum of health care delivery. We recommend that new evidence-based measures of quality performance be developed to capture outcomes of care processes. We recommend that Congress fund the work of HHS and CMS to identify and vet better performance measures to support a new physician payment system, especially measures that are focused on outcomes, patient experience of care, care coordination, appropriateness of care, and total resource use. Medicare Pay for Value -- Provider accountability for quality and spending growth is an essential element of delivery system reform. Existing law requires that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implement a value modifier that applies to Medicare Part B physician payments for certain physicians and physician groups beginning in calendar year 2015. By 2017, CMS is required to apply the value modifier to all Medicare Part B payments to physicians and physician groups. We recommend that Congress should implement this policy sooner if possible. Score-able savings might be achieved if Congress put a larger percentage of the value modifier at risk for participating physicians, and imposed penalties on inefficient practices. Geographic Adjustment of Physician Payments - Recent findings by the Institute of Medicine and the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission have demonstrated significant shortcomings in the data utilized to geographically adjust physician payments. The IOM and MedPAC studies have confirmed that the data sources currently relied upon for geographic adjustment bear no correlation to physician earnings. CMS officials have admitted that the proxies utilized for the purpose of geographic adjustment have never been validated, and there never has been a new data source utilized in the twenty years since the fee schedule was implemented. MedPAC data show that the geographic adjustment reference occupations predict earnings of rural physicians to be 25-30% less than physicians in metropolitan areas. MedPAC data show that earnings of primary care physicians in rural areas are, in fact, 13% higher than physicians in metropolitan areas. Since there is no statistical basis of support for disparities in payment we strongly recommend that Congress require CMS to correct this inequity immediately. Having a source of credible data and a sustainable payment mechanism is critical to maintaining access to primary care services in rural areas for patients who reside in those areas. CBO Scoring of Preventive Health -The budget process should be improved to permit Congress to assess long-term health savings that are possible from preventive health initiatives. Recent research supports the premise that the current budget window should be extended and CBO directed to take into account the relevant disease-progression data that exists which demonstrates savings in preventive health. To ensure that CBOs projections on cost savings are tied to scientific data, preventive health analysis must include credible and publicly available epidemiological projection, incorporating clinical trials or observational studies in humans, longitudinal studies, and meta-analysis. This narrow approach will discourages abuse while encouraging a sensible review of health policy Congress believes will further public health.Value Based Purchasing - The concept of value-based health care purchasing is that buyers should hold providers of health care accountable for both cost and quality of care. Value-based purchasing brings together information on the quality of health care, including patient outcomes and health status, with data on the dollar outlays going towards health. It focuses on managing the use of the health care system to reduce inappropriate care and to identify and reward the best-performing providers. Recommendations: Medicare and other payors must capture the data on performance measures utilizing available claims-based data, and/or data recoverable through enhanced IT functions, and validate performance improvement. Implement quality/efficiency based payments for physician services as soon as possible. Implement bundled payments for episodes of care. Implement FFS reimbursement for the value added through care management and coordination of services. Improve reimbursement for primary care services. Medicare Payment Inequities - In the traditional fee-for-service system Medicare currently reimburses for units of service, in a manner that promotes service utilization without regard to quality. This has had the effect of economically stimulating growth in the numbers of supply-sensitive services provided by physicians. The Update formula for physician services is inequitable because it treats all physicians and regions of the country alike regardless of their individual volume influencing behavior. If the problem of cost is related to the volume of services provided, shouldnt payment be volume adjusted for specific localities? Why should conservative practices and States be punished for the excessive volume of other localities? Payment Equity for Physician Work - There is no difference in the work of physicians in different locations regardless of where the work occurs. We believe that physician work should not be adjusted for geographic location. What is the rational for paying physicians more in many geographic areas when those same areas have apparently ample numbers of physicians and their wages are trending below physician wages in other areas? Should the Medicare program subsidize physicians who chose to live in high cost areas? Recommendation: the geographic adjustment of physician work should be eliminated entirely on a Budget neutral basis. Transparency -- Marshfield Clinic supports The Quality Data, Quality Healthcare Act, S. 1758, introduced by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and John Thune (R-SD), and similar legislation the Expanding the Availability of Medicare Data Act, HR 4418, introduced by Reps. Ron Kind (D-WI) and Paul Ryan (R-WI). This legislation would provide for greater access to Medicare claims data by modernizing and reforming the Qualified Entity (QE) program, which permits organizations to access and analyze Medicare data. Medicare Advantage Performance Measurement - The Medicare Advantage program provides a capitated reimbursement to health plans for all Medicare benefits provided to enrolled beneficiaries. We believe that mechanisms for rewarding value in the Medicare Advantage program should offer incentives for those plans that demonstrate superior patient care performance. We recommend that performance bonuses should be provided for plans that: Achieve predetermined quality performance targets; Adopt health information technology; Meet standards for care coordination; and Provide data on comparative effectiveness. Medicare Advantage Improvements -H.R. 2753, THE SECURING CARE FOR SENIORS ACT, by Rep. Diane Black (R-TN), provides seniors with more choice and allows flexibility for plans in the highly successful Medicare Advantage (MA) program through common-sense and technical fixes expanding the Open Enrollment Period; Permitting Incentives for Participation in Health Care Improvement Programs; enabling Cost-sharing Variation; making Improvements to the Risk Adjustment System; and making Improvements to MA 5-Star Quality Rating System. Marshfield Clinic supports this bill. Accountable Care Organizations - The Affordable Care Act seeks to improve the quality of health care services and to lower health care costs by encouraging providers to create integrated health care delivery systems. These integrated systems will test new reimbursement methods intended to create incentives for health care providers to enhance health care quality and lower costs. One important delivery system reform is the Medicare Shared Savings Program under section 3022 of the Affordable Care Act, which promotes the formation and operation of accountable care organizations (ACOs). Under this provision, groups of providers meeting the criteria specified by the Secretary may work together to manage and coordinate care for Medicare beneficiaries through an [ACO]. An ACO may receive payments for shared savings if the ACO meets certain quality performance standards and cost savings requirements established by the Secretary.The basic shared savings model outlined in the statute provides a bonus payment to ACOs that meet quality targets and keep spending for the population for whom the ACO is responsible below a target level. The amount of the bonus payment will depend on the amount of savings and the proportion of the savings allocated to the ACO and Medicare ACOs should report a focused set of quality indicators that reflect the outcomes ACOs are designed to achieve: keeping the population healthy, better care coordination to reduce unnecessary and sometimes harmful spending, and better patient experience. We recommend that CMS relax restrictions on the provision of services using telemedicine technologies to allow ACOs to increase the efficiency of services provided. Adequate Funding for CMS -The problems facing the Medicare program stem from the nations earliest attempts to make health care services broadly available nationwide without disturbing the economic incentives that were then in place. Congress must ensure that CMS has adequate funding to provide oversight of its many programs, including its measurement of resource and input costs and full implementation of the Affordable care Act. Telemedicine in Medicare -Changes to Medicare law and regulation are needed to improve equity in access for Medicare beneficiaries to services delivered via TeleHealth. Medicare beneficiaries should be allowed to receive services in telemedicine sites located in urban areas. The necessary changes would remove restrictions on originating sites by removing the rural requirement and the list of originating sites and allowing any certified Medicare facility to provide the services; current requirements that physician must bill for services from the originating site should be removed; restrictions on eligible practitioners should be removed to allow all Medicare approved practitioners to provide telemedicine services; and there should be no restrictions on which Medicare services may be provided through telemedicine. Recommendations: 1.Amend the Medicare requirement for non-MSA geographic location of the patient to allow all Medicare certified organizations as originating sites regardless of rural or metropolitan statistical area designation. 2.Alternative amend the Medicare requirement for non-MSA geographic location of the patient to allow accountable care organizations to be exempt from the MSA requirement. Community Health Centers Under Health Reform -- The Affordable Care Act contained a number of key provisions relating to community health centers, including new funding for the community health center program and funding to expand the National Health Service Corp. While these are mandatory funding levels, the Congress did cut the base funding levels for community health centers. Americas Health Centers like Family Health Center of Marshfield, Inc. currently serve as the health care home for more than 22 million Americans, providing comprehensive primary and preventive care services. Americas Health Centers play an important role in delivering care to many Americans and could be the health care home for many more, but unless Congress and the Administration act, funding for the Health Center program will be cut by 70%. A cut of this size would force Health Centers to close their doors, lay off staff, and reduce the services they provide, leaving millions of Americans without access to the health care services they need. We ask the Congress to provide not only the funding to preserve ongoing Health Center services but to also expand this cost effective model of care to every community especially those that currently lack basic primary care services. Dental Access and Integration with Traditional Medicine - The Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a report, Dental Education at the Crossroads: Challenges and Change in January 1995 which called for a strong cohesion between medicine and dentistry. The IOM report states that "Dentistry will and should become more closely integrated with medicine and the health care system on all levels: research, education, and patient care. The National Institutes of Health has supported research documenting the importance of oral health in the context of general health and well being. Studies have demonstrated numerous oral-systemic interactions that underscore the need for more integrated care delivery. As our nation embraces EHR technologies, science underscores the need to fully incorporate oral health within an integrated EHR. Marshfield Clinic is simultaneously addressing the issue of dental access and integration with traditional medicine. Family Health Center of Marshfield, Inc. has been providing on-site dental services since the fall of 2002 and operates eight dental sites. As part of this initiative, Marshfield Clinic has developed a comprehensive medical-dental integrated electronic health record (iEHR) environment. CattailsMD, the internally developed electronic health record at Marshfield Clinic in Wisconsin, is one of the oldest electronic medical records systems in the country, with coded diagnoses back to 1960. More recently a dental module, CattailsDental has been integrated and successfully rolled out in all of the seven dental centers across Central and Northern Wisconsin. Using technology to integrate medical and dental health records holds great promise to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, effectiveness and continuity of patient care by enhancing communication and teamwork between physicians and dentists.A comprehensive approach to primary care delivery, demonstrated by Marshfield Clinic and community health centers nationwide, can best be supported with an equally comprehensive EHR infrastructure for both medical and dental records. Oral Health Coverage for the Medically Compromised and at Risk Populations There is sufficient data that demonstrates oral health impacts the systemic health of the patient and in doing can reduce the cost of care. Linkages that encourage patient compliance, patient education, provider education, and bi-directional referral and surveillance should be incented and compensated. Shared savings demonstrations should be developed for health systems and co-pay incentives developed for patients engaging in and complying with such inter-disciplinary care. Meaningful Use of Health Information Technology The accelerating growth in new medical knowledge, coupled with the birth of new sciences, such as genomics and personalized medicine, suggests that physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals will invariably continue to fall further and further behind in their ability to keep up with the latest discoveries and approved treatments. As information technology has sparked this explosive growth in knowledge, only information technology can provide an adequate response. By using evidence-based knowledge embedded in clinical decision support deployed within a well-designed workflow, physicians can manage the ever changing and growing knowledge base critical to the delivery of effective and efficient healthcare. Health IT on a broad basis is still in its infancy. Looking to what can be achieved in the future due to implementation of these systems should be our focus, and an ongoing oversight function of the Office of the National Coordinator for HIT which must be closely integrated with Medicare reimbursement. Personalized Medicine Personalized medicine, the tailoring of medical treatments to patient characteristics, relies upon the ability to classify individuals into subpopulations that differ in disease susceptibility and treatment responses. It allows clinicians to target preventive or therapeutic interventions on those who will benefit, and thereby to spare the expense and side effects of treatment for those who will not, thus making medicine more efficient. If the multiple population groups in the United States and elsewhere in the world are to benefit fully and fairly from such research, a national resource operated as a trust for the public good must be established to conduct a large populationbased cohort study that includes full representation of minority populations. The Federal government should make critical investments in the enabling tools and resources essential to moving beyond genomic discoveries to personalized medicine services of patient and public benefit.
2014 · first_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
H.R. 162, Medicaid Integrity Act (Bachmann) Medicaid health plan audits16. Specific Lobbying Issues (continued): H.R. 670, Puerto Rico Medicare Part B Equity Act (Pierluisi) H.R. 928, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act (Schakowsky) Medicare Part D changes H.R. 1179, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act (Courtney) Medicare coverage of skilled nursing care H.R. 1102, Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act (Welch) Medicare Part D price negotiations H.R. 1853, Medicaid Accountability and Care Act (Cassidy) federal financing of state Medicaid programs H.R. 2305, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Roskam-Carney) fighting fraud and abuse H.R. 2453, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act (Rothfus-Schrader) MA enrollment rules H.R. 2524, Medicare Better Health Rewards Program Act (Paulsen-Kind) wellness incentives H.R. 2753, Securing Care for Seniors Act (Black) MA payment and enrollment issues, wellness incentives H.R. 2810, Medicare Patient Access and Quality Improvement Act (Burgess/Camp) SGR repeal, quality- and value- based payment reforms H.R, 2960, Medicare Prescription Drug Integrity Act of 2013 (Pallone) Part D drug utilization review H.R. 3512, Seniors' Health Care Choice Act (Heck) MA open enrollment period H.R. 3890, Better Care, Lower Cost Act (Paulsen-Welch) delivery models for Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions H.R. 4015, SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act (Burgess) SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms, ACA individual mandate delay H.R. 4160, Keep the Promise to Seniors Act (Ellmers) blocking Medicare Part D proposed rule H.R. 4302, Protecting Access to Medicare Act (Pitts) 12-month Medicare SGR patch, Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans, Appropriate Use Criteria for Advanced Diagnostic Imaging, Medicare sequestration cuts, Other Medicare-Medicaid Extenders H.J.Res. 59, Bipartisan Budget Act (Rogers) MA Special Needs Plans, Cost Plans, Medicare physician payment, QI and TMA programs S. 11, Fiscal Sustainability Act (Corker) Medicare, Medigap, Medicaid issues S. 25 (Hatch) extension of Medicare sequestration cuts S. 117, Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act (Klobuchar) Medicare Part D price negotiations S. 324, Puerto Rico Medicare Part B Equity Act (Schumer) S. 408, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act (Durbin) Medicare Part D changes S. 569, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act (Brown) Medicare coverage of skilled nursing care S. 1123, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Carper-Coburn) fighting fraud and abuse S. 1228, Medicare Better Health Rewards Program Act (Wyden-Portman) wellness incentives S. 1787, Medicaid Managed Care Responsibility and Equity Act (Rockefeller) medical loss ratio requirement for Medicaid managed care organizations S. 1871, SGR Repeal and Medicare Beneficiary Access Act (Baucus) SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms, MA Special Needs Plans, Cost Plans, QI and TMA programs S. 1932, Better Care, Lower Cost Act (Wyden-Isakson) delivery models for Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions S. 1980, Medicaid and CHIP Continuous Quality Act (Rockefeller) 12 month continuous enrollment S. 2000, SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act (Baucus) SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms S. 2110, SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act (Wyden) SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms, Medicare and Medicaid extenders S. 2122, Responsible Medicare SGR Repeal and Beneficiary Access Improvement Act (Hatch) SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms, ACA individual mandate repeal U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging Draft of Stop SCAMS Act (not yet introduced) - anti-fraud activities, including coding, Healthcare Fraud Prevention Partnership, and MEDPAC report16. Regulatory Issues (continued): Ongoing implementation issues for the Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Part D prescription drug programs, including risk adjustment methodology, encounter data and other data-related issues, and audit issues; bidding and payment issues (including MA rate assumptions, MA coding intensity, MA Secondary Payer issues, Part D reinsurance, Part D low income subsidies, and audits); Medicare Medical Loss Ratio issues; implementation of sequestration under the Medicare Advantage and Part D programs; implications of the health insurer fee for MA and Part D plans; application process, audits to evaluate compliance with MA and Part D program rules, benefit design rules, SSA and CMS premium withhold processing issues, enrollment rules, marketing materials review and approval, marketing activities, including conduct and compensation of brokers and agents and plan sponsor marketing staff; measurement and oversight of plan performance including Special Needs Plans (SNPs); quality measures, grievance and appeals processes, fraud and abuse compliance including training; contracting issues for Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (SNPs); Federal preemption of State authority under MA and Part D programs, Part D prescription drug event data reporting, Part D formulary rules, Part D pharmacy access standards, Part D coverage gap discount program, including employer group waiver plan (EGWP) issues, and other operational issues; issues raised by Part D coverage of new specialty drugs, the Part D non-interference policy and related issues (e.g., preferred pharmacy and any willing pharmacy requirements, standards for network pharmacy reimbursement, and policies regarding sponsor negotiation of pharmacy price concessions); Medication Therapy Management Program requirements; Part D requirements for offering basic and enhanced alternative plans; MA and Part D systems issues affecting enrollment and disenrollment processing and payment and other operational issues; issues relating to MA Star Rating system including measures, the methodology for calculating ratings, and the role of the ratings for payment purposes; implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) changes to the Part D coverage gap; ongoing implementation issues for the Medicare cost plan program including enrollment, marketing materials review and approval and other operational issues; Medicare creditable drug coverage reporting requirements; implementation issues for the Medicare Retiree Drug Subsidy program; functionality of the Medicare Personal Plan Finder and Drug Plan Finder; National Medicare Education Program; Medicare demonstration program on performance-based payments for physician groups; physician quality reporting initiative; issues relating to Medicare coverage policy and national coverage decisions; Medicare clinical trials; Medicare/Medicaid integration for dual eligibles, including the Capitated Financial Alignment Demonstration; Medicaid managed care regulations and policies, including the Medicaid managed care actuarial soundness standard, quality oversight, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), grievance and appeals processes, fraud and abuse compliance, beneficiary information requirements, treatment of Medicaid health plan member hospital days in the upper payment limit calculation; policies affecting State Medicaid funding, including block grants, the calculation of the federal medical assistance (federal matching) percentage (FMAP), and intergovernmental transfers (IGTs); coordination of benefits with state Medicaid programs; Medicaid prescription drug cost issues affecting Medicaid health plans; health plan-related Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) issues, including eligibility and outreach issues; implementation of Medicaid changes made in Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, including Medicaid managed care organization provider tax issues; standards for electronic prescribing; implementation of Medicaid changes of interest to Medicaid health plans made in the ACA including Medicaid expansion, the managed care organization (MCO) prescription drug rebate provisions, minimum payments to primary care providers (PCPs), interactions between the Medicaid program and health insurance exchanges, and Medicaid and CHIP maintenance of effort (MOE) requirements; implications of the health insurer fee for Medicaid health plans ; issues related to Medigap coverage; issues relating to "meaningful use" requirements for health information technology; and other issues relating to health care reform implementation. 17. Houses of Congress and Federal Agencies (continued): Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) 18. Name of Lobbyists (con't): C. Lawrence: Assistant, Legislative Director for Rep. Bill Cassidy (LA-6); May 2008-July 200: Staff Assistant, Legislative Correspondent for Rep. Tom Price (GA-6)
2014 · first_quarter · Health Issues
H.R.2753, Securing Care for Seniors Act of 2013 H.R.3367, To amend section 9010 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to delay the application of the health insurance provider annual fee until 2016 and to provide a process to return to consumers any amounts attributable to the expected application of the annual fee to 2014 or 2015H.R.763, To repeal the annual fee on health insurance providers enacted by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act S.603, Jobs and Premium Protection Act H.R.1188, Preserving Our Hometown Independent Pharmacies Act of 2013 H.R.2453, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2013 H.R.1960, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 S.1034, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 H.R.460, Patients Access to Treatments Act of 2013 (issues related to specialty drug tier prohibition) S.1726, Obamacare Taxpayer Bailout Prevention Act H.R.3541, Obamacare Taxpayer Bailout Prevention Act H.J.RES.5, Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to balancing the budget S.2173, CHOICE Act, to amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to provide a permanent path for the direct enrollment of individuals in qualified health plans H.R.3489, To amend section 1341 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to repeal the funding mechanism for the transitional reinsurance program in the individual market, and for other purposes H.J.Res.59, Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 H.R.4302, Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 S.1871, SGR Repeal and Medicare Beneficiary Access Act of 2013 H.R.4160, Keep the Promise to Seniors Act of 2014- block provisions of proposed Jan 2014 rules to Part D S.2000, SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2014 H.R.4015, SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2014 H.R.3547, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 (related ACA provisions)
2014 · first_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
Many aspects of the Affordable Care Act promote changes that are consistent with the mission of the Marshfield Clinic: oExtends health insurance to the uninsured oEstablishes the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to support comparative effectiveness research oImposes necessary regulations on Insurers - banning rescissions and exclusions for pre-existing medical conditions limitsExpands Medicaid Eligibility to 133% of FPL Creates state based Health Insurance Exchanges for individuals between 133% - 400% of Federal Poverty level (FPL) Increases practice expense payments, Calls for IOM study to Correct Geographic payment disparities Calls for CMS to establish a Value Index to align payment with quality Establishes Bonus payments for primary care, efficiency, quality Calls for Value Based Purchasing for all providers Calls for the establishment of Accountable Care Organizations Establishes a Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to test innovative payment and delivery models The following are key elements of the health policy agenda of the Marshfield Clinic: Medicares Sustainable Growth Rate We believe that the longstanding challenges inherent in fee for service reimbursement under the resource based relative value system, and the financial problems associated with the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula must be addressed to assure access to Medicare benefits and the future solvency of the Medicare program. We recommend that Congress repeal the SGR formula, and link future updates to measures that reflect the cost and value of providing health care services. Congress must also take steps immediately to create increased incentives for preventative care, care coordination, and primary care services. Physician spending is currently only a fraction of total health care spending but it affects nearly all other aspects of health care delivery. We recommend that Congress utilize the leverage of physician spending to deal with the misaligned incentives in the Medicare program that lead to higher costs and inefficiencies throughout the spectrum of health care delivery. We recommend that new evidence-based measures of quality performance be developed to capture outcomes of care processes. We recommend that Congress fund the work of HHS and CMS to identify and vet better performance measures to support a new physician payment system, especially measures that are focused on outcomes, patient experience of care, care coordination, appropriateness of care, and total resource use. The Senate Finance Committee doc fix bill to replace the Sustainable Growth Rate physician payment formula (S 1871) would extend or make permanent several of the health payment policies. Both the Energy and Commerce and the House Ways and Means Committee approved versions of a similar bill (HR 2810) without any of the extenders. Another version of doc fix legislation, H.R.4302 - Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014, was approved by the House and Senate on March 28 and March 31. This bill prevents the 24% cut in reimbursement to doctors, extends Medicare work Geographic Practice Cost Index (GPCI) floor for 1 year; Delays the transition to ICD-10 under the Medicare program for 1 year. Transitional Fund for SGR Reform: Uses the $2.3 billion set aside for SGR in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013. Ensuring Accurate Values for Physician Fee Schedule Services: Allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to use information received from medical providers and other sources to adjust code pricing to address mis-valued codes used under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. Medicare Pay for Value --Provider accountability for quality and spending growth is an essential element of delivery system reform. Existing law requires that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implement a value modifier that applies to Medicare Part B physician payments for certain physicians and physician groups beginning in calendar year 2015. By 2017, CMS is required to apply the value modifier to all Medicare Part B payments to physicians and physician groups. We recommend that Congress should implement this policy sooner if possible. Score-able savings might be achieved if Congress put a larger percentage of the value modifier at risk for participating physicians, and imposed penalties on inefficient practices. Geographic Adjustment of Physician Payments-- Recent findings by the Institute of Medicine and the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission have demonstrated significant shortcomings in the data utilized to geographically adjust physician payments. The IOM and MedPAC studies have confirmed that the data sources currently relied upon for geographic adjustment bear no correlation to physician earnings. . CMS officials have admitted that the proxies utilized for the purpose of geographic adjustment have never been validated, and there never has been a new data source utilized in the twenty years since the fee schedule was implemented. MedPAC data show that the geographic adjustment reference occupations predict earnings of rural physicians to be 25-30% less than physicians in metropolitan areas. MedPAC data show that earnings of primary care physicians in rural areas are, in fact, 13% higher than physicians in metropolitan areas. Since there is no statistical basis of support for disparities in payment we strongly recommend that Congress require CMS to correct this inequity immediately. Having a source of credible data and a sustainable payment mechanism is critical to maintaining access to primary care services in rural areas for patients who reside in those areas.Dental Access -Wisconsins current record of providing dental care to children from poor households is among the worst in the nation. Marshfield Clinic hopes to improve the oral and general health of underserved residents in rural and small urban communities within the State. Marshfield Clinic in partnership with Family Health Center of Marshfield, Inc. is currently operating 8 dental clinics with another under construction. The dental facilities provided access to more than 46,000 predominately low-income uninsured or publically insured residents last year. CBO Scoring of Preventive Health The budget process should be improved to permit Congress to assess long-term health savings that are possible from preventive health initiatives. Recent research supports the premise that the current budget window should be extended and CBO directed to take into account the relevant disease-progression data that exists which demonstrates savings in preventive health. To ensure that CBOs projections on cost savings are tied to scientific data, preventive health analysis must include credible and publicly available epidemiological projection, incorporating clinical trials or observational studies in humans, longitudinal studies, and meta-analysis. This narrow approach will discourages abuse while encouraging a sensible review of health policy Congress believes will further public health. Value Based Purchasing The concept of value-based health care purchasing is that buyers should hold providers of health care accountable for both cost and quality of care. Value-based purchasing brings together information on the quality of health care, including patient outcomes and health status, with data on the dollar outlays going towards health. It focuses on managing the use of the health care system to reduce inappropriate care and to identify and reward the best-performing providers. Recommendations: Medicare and other payors must capture the data on performance measures utilizing available claims-based data, and/or data recoverable through enhanced IT functions, and validate performance improvement. Implement quality/efficiency based payments for physician services as soon as possible. Implement bundled payments for episodes of care. Implement FFS reimbursement for the value added through care management and coordination of services. Improve reimbursement for primary care services. Comparative Effectiveness/Evidence Based Medical Informatics Research Evidence-based medicine relies upon the judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients. Key to effective implementation of value-based purchasing initiatives is the systematic development of data that links the health of populations to the medical services the population receives. The application of health information technology and genomic information in population- and community-based health care delivery systems coupled with the development of wellness programs has the potential to substantially improve health and personalized health care on a national basis. Recommendation: Promote evidence-based medicine as the basis for coverage decisions. Advance Care Planning - Medicare and Medicaid must incorporate advance care planning to respect and inform all caregivers of a patients healthcare choices at the end stages of their lives. It is important that the Federal programs improve the continuity of care and quality of life while maintaining respect for patients wishes. Understanding and honoring patients wishes at the end of life is paramount to ensure they are receiving appropriate care that is aligned with the personal choice and goals. We urge Congress to incorporate advance care planning discussions with health providers as a covered Medicare and Medicaid annual wellness benefit. There may or may not cost savings achieved depending on an individual patients wishes. More importantly, the discussions are necessary to assure that an individual patients desires for care at the end of life are being met and respected. Variations in Health Care Service and Distribution -- Research conducted the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission and the Dartmouth School of Medicine has documented glaring variations in how medical resources are distributed and used in the United States. Medicare pays many hospitals and their doctors much more than what it pays the most efficient and effective health care institutions to treat chronically ill people, yet they still get worse results. The extent of variation in Medicare spending, and the evidence that more care does not result in better outcomes, should lead us to ask if some chronically ill Americans are getting more care than they actually want or need. Personalized Medicine Personalized medicine, the tailoring of medical treatments to patient characteristics, relies upon the ability to classify individuals into subpopulations that differ in disease susceptibility and treatment responses. It allows clinicians to target preventive or therapeutic interventions on those who will benefit, and thereby to spare the expense and side effects of treatment for those who will not, thus making medicine more efficient. If the multiple population groups in the United States and elsewhere in the world are to benefit fully and fairly from such research, a national resource operated as a trust for the public good must be established to conduct a large populationbased cohort study that includes full representation of minority populations. The Federal government should make critical investments in the enabling tools and resources essential to moving beyond genomic discoveries to personalized medicine services of patient and public benefit.Caring for people with chronic disease now accounts for more than 75 percent of all health-care spending. Over-use and overspending is not just a Medicare problemthe health-care system as a whole lacks efficient, effective ways of caring for people with severe chronic illnesses. If the U.S. health care system mirrored the practice patterns of the most efficient/effective health care institutions, Medicare and other payors could save billions of dollars annually. Medicare Payment Inequities In the traditional fee-for-service system Medicare currently reimburses for units of service, in a manner that promotes service utilization without regard to quality. This has had the effect of economically stimulating growth in the numbers of supply-sensitive services provided by physicians. The Update formula for physician services is inequitable because it treats all physicians and regions of the country alike regardless of their individual volume influencing behavior. If the problem of cost is related to the volume of services provided, shouldnt payment be volume adjusted for specific localities? Why should conservative practices and States be punished for the excessive volume of other localities? Payment Equity for Physician Work There is no difference in the work of physicians in different locations regardless of where the work occurs. We believe that physician work should not be adjusted for geographic location. What is the rational for paying physicians more in many geographic areas when those same areas have apparently ample numbers of physicians and their wages are trending below physician wages in other areas? Should the Medicare program subsidize physicians who chose to live in high cost areas? Recommendation: the geographic adjustment of physician work should be eliminated entirely on a Budget neutral basis. Transparency Marshfield Clinic supports The Quality Data, Quality Healthcare Act, S. 1758, introduced by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and John Thune (R-SD). This legislation would provide for greater access to Medicare claims data by modernizing and reforming the Qualified Entity (QE) program, which permits organizations to access and analyze Medicare data. Medicare Advantage Performance Measurement The Medicare Advantage program provides a capitated reimbursement to health plans for all Medicare benefits provided to enrolled beneficiaries. We believe that mechanisms for rewarding value in the Medicare Advantage program should offer incentives for those plans that demonstrate superior patient care performance. We recommend that performance bonuses should be provided for plans that: Achieve predetermined quality performance targets; Adopt health information technology; Meet standards for care coordination; and Provide data on comparative effectiveness. Medicare Advantage Call Letter On Feb 7, 2014, CMS released the "Call letter"- its annual advance notice regarding 2015 Medicare Advantage and Part D plan rates. In the Call letter: CMS described changes in the MA national per capita growth percentage for aged and disabled enrollees, and change in fee-for-service per capita costs; coding adjustment for MA plans; payment rebate amounts for plans; and an updated model of its CMS-HCC risk adjustment formula to reflect updated data and clinical revisions to diagnoses. Analysts have projected that the combined effect of the many changes could lead to Medicare Advantage payment adjustments netting negative 6-710%. Marshfield Clinic expressed the concern that the combined effect of the slate of reductions in the Call Letter will destabilize the Medicare Advantage program and undermine beneficiaries faith in their plans. Medicare Advantage Improvements H.R. 2753, THE SECURING CARE FOR SENIORS ACT, by Rep. Diane Black (R-TN), provides seniors with more choice and allows flexibility for plans in the highly successful Medicare Advantage (MA) program through common-sense and technical fixes expanding the Open Enrollment Period; Permitting Incentives for Participation in Health Care Improvement Programs; enabling Cost-sharing Variation; making Improvements to the Risk Adjustment System; and making Improvements to MA 5-Star Quality Rating System. Marshfield Clinic supports this bill. Medicaid Block Grants On March 21, 2013 the House approved Rep. Paul Ryans budget proposal for FY 2014, entitled "The Path to Prosperity. Ryan's proposal does not have the force of law but of special interest is Ryans proposal for Medicaid block grants which will come before the Energy and Commerce Committee. Under the Ryan proposal, starting in 2014, the federal share of all Medicaid payments would be paid to the states as a block grant. Chairman Ryan has projected savings to federal government that would result from reduced funding to states. The Clinic does not support this proposal in its present form. Loan Forgiveness Congress must continue to fund loan forgiveness for health profession shortage areas. The program funding should be regardless of HPSA ranking to ensure rural areas as well as urban areas can attract and staff an adequate workforce. S.T.E.M. Programming in High Schools and CollegesThe Department of Education should work in partnership with HRSA to promote change within accrediting bodies and states to create such programming. Distance learning technology should be seen as an alternative to cost prohibitive face to face curriculum. Incentives should for incorporating such technology should be considered.Premium support On March 21, 2013, the House approved Rep. Paul Ryans budget proposal for FY 2014, entitled "The Path to Prosperity. Ryan's budget does not have the force of law but tees up consideration of various reform proposals which may be considered later this year. With regard to health care, the Ryan plan calls for a major withdrawal of the federal government from the financing of health care. One health provision of the proposal calls for conversion of the current Medicare to a premium support program. For those born in 1959 or later the traditional Medicare program starting in 2024, would be converted to a defined contribution program which has been described as a premium support program. Dual Eligibles Conflicting requirements in Medicare and Medicaid pose a barrier to care coordination for 9 million beneficiaries who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid (dual eligibles or duals). The lack of alignment and cohesiveness between the programs can lead to fragmented or episodic care for dual eligibles and misaligned incentives for both payers and providers, resulting in reduced quality and increased costs to both programs. We would support better alignment of benefits and incentives to improve access to care for dual eligibles and prevent cost-shifting. Changing the incentives to encourage integrated care will result in better health outcomes at a lower cost. Accountable Care Organizations The Affordable Care Act seeks to improve the quality of health care services and to lower health care costs by encouraging providers to create integrated health care delivery systems. These integrated systems will test new reimbursement methods intended to create incentives for health care providers to enhance health care quality and lower costs. One important delivery system reform is the Medicare Shared Savings Program under section 3022 of the Affordable Care Act, which promotes the formation and operation of accountable care organizations (ACOs). Under this provision, groups of providers meeting the criteria specified by the Secretary may work together to manage and coordinate care for Medicare beneficiaries through an [ACO]. Adequate Funding for CMS -- The problems facing the Medicare program stem from the nations earliest attempts to make health care services broadly available nationwide without disturbing the economic incentives that were then in place. Congress must ensure that CMS has adequate funding to provide oversight of its many programs, including its measurement of resource and input costs and full implementation of the Affordable care Act. Telemedicine in Medicare Changes to Medicare law and regulation are needed to improve equity in access for Medicare beneficiaries to services delivered via TeleHealth. Medicare beneficiaries should be allowed to receive services in telemedicine sites located in urban areas. The necessary changes would remove restrictions on originating sites by removing the rural requirement and the list of originating sites and allowing any certified Medicare facility to provide the services; current requirements that physician must bill for services from the originating site should be removed; restrictions on eligible practitioners should be removed to allow all Medicare approved practitioners to provide telemedicine services; and there should be no restrictions on which Medicare services may be provided through telemedicine. Recommendations: 1.Amend the Medicare requirement for non-MSA geographic location of the patient to allow all Medicare certified organizations as originating sites regardless of rural or metropolitan statistical area designation. 2.Alternative amend the Medicare requirement for non-MSA geographic location of the patient to allow accountable care organizations to be exempt from the MSA requirement. Community Health Centers Under Health Reform The Affordable Care Act contained a number of key provisions relating to community health centers, including new funding for the community health center program and funding to expand the National Health Service Corp. While these are mandatory funding levels, the Congress did cut the base funding levels for community health centers. Americas Health Centers like Family Health Center of Marshfield, Inc. currently serve as the health care home for more than 22 million Americans, providing comprehensive primary and preventive care services. Meaningful Use of Health Information Technology The accelerating growth in new medical knowledge, coupled with the birth of new sciences, such as genomics and personalized medicine, suggests that physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals will invariably continue to fall further and further behind in their ability to keep up with the latest discoveries and approved treatments. As information technology has sparked this explosive growth in knowledge, only information technology can provide an adequate response. By using evidence-based knowledge embedded in clinical decision support deployed within a well-designed workflow, physicians can manage the ever changing and growing knowledge base critical to the delivery of effective and efficient healthcare. Health IT on a broad basis is still in its infancy. Looking to what can be achieved in the future due to implementation of these systems should be our focus, and an ongoing oversight function of the Office of the National Coordinator for HIT which must be closely integrated with Medicare reimbursement.Americas Health Centers play an important role in delivering care to many Americans and could be the health care home for many more, but unless Congress and the Administration act, funding for the Health Center program will be cut by 70%. A cut of this size would force Health Centers to close their doors, lay off staff, and reduce the services they provide, leaving millions of Americans without access to the health care services they need. We ask the Congress to provide not only the funding to preserve ongoing Health Center services but to also expand this cost effective model of care to every community especially those that currently lack basic primary care services. Dental Access and Integration with Traditional Medicine --- The Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a report, Dental Education at the Crossroads: Challenges and Change in January 1995 which called for a strong cohesion between medicine and dentistry. The IOM report states that "Dentistry will and should become more closely integrated with medicine and the health care system on all levels: research, education, and patient care. The National Institutes of Health has supported research documenting the importance of oral health in the context of general health and well being. Studies have demonstrated numerous oral-systemic interactions that underscore the need for more integrated care delivery. As our nation embraces EHR technologies, science underscores the need to fully incorporate oral health within an integrated EHR. Marshfield Clinic is simultaneously addressing the issue of dental access and integration with traditional medicine. Family Health Center of Marshfield, Inc. has been providing on-site dental services since the fall of 2002 and operates eight dental sites. As part of this initiative, Marshfield Clinic has developed a comprehensive medical-dental integrated electronic health record (iEHR) environment. CattailsMD, the internally developed electronic health record at Marshfield Clinic in Wisconsin, is one of the oldest electronic medical records systems in the country, with coded diagnoses back to 1960. More recently a dental module, CattailsDental has been integrated and successfully rolled out in all of the seven dental centers across Central and Northern Wisconsin. Using technology to integrate medical and dental health records holds great promise to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, effectiveness and continuity of patient care by enhancing communication and teamwork between physicians and dentists. A comprehensive approach to primary care delivery, demonstrated by Marshfield Clinic and community health centers nationwide, can best be supported with an equally comprehensive EHR infrastructure for both medical and dental records. GME Residency Expansion ---Marshfield Clinic is concerned about having a sufficient supply of primary care physicians in order to meet the demands of an expanding and aging population. This is doubly true for patients and health systems in a rural setting. Currently only about 10% of physicians practice in rural areas while 25% of the population resides there. While 36% allopathic residents and 50% osteopathic residents who are trained in a rural residency end up practicing in a rural area, only 4% of the residency training actually occurs in rural areas. As of 2012, there are more US medical students graduating from medical school than there are GME slots. An increase in GME primary care training positions is essential to maintaining high-quality, accessible, and cost efficient care. GME Funding Models Should Include Non-Hospital Sites and Interprofessionalism --- As a rural community based GME partner, Marshfield Clinic would welcome an opportunity to collaborate with Health and Human Services and other external GME partners in developing and implementing strategies for effective use of CMS and HRSA funding for expanding graduate medical education programs. This could include a shift from hospital based payment mechanisms for GME to ambulatory and community health center training locations. This would particularly help rural and underserved areas establish GME training programs. Additionally, given that teaming in healthcare is an essential element of achieving cost and quality opportunities, incentives should be developed for programs that incorporate inter-professional, team based training programs, and iEHR training. Oral Health Coverage for the Medically Compromised and at Risk Populations There is sufficient data that demonstrates oral health impacts the systemic health of the patient and in doing can reduce the cost of care. Linkages that encourage patient compliance, patient education, provider education, and bi-directional referral and surveillance should be incented and compensated. Shared savings demonstrations should be developed for health systems and co-pay incentives developed for patients engaging in and complying with such inter-disciplinary care. Simulation Program Development The Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Program Requirements for Resident Education in Internal Medicine has recommended that residency programs need to Provide residents with access to training using simulation. Marshfield Clinic will support legislation to initiate, maintain and grow medical simulation programs through the identification of simulation centers of excellence, advancement of simulation technologies, allocation of grant funds for institutions who train healthcare providers and call together key leaders to discuss the direction of medical simulation.
2014 · first_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
H.R. 162, Medicaid Integrity Act (Bachmann) - Medicaid health plan audits; H.R. 670, Puerto Rico Medicare Part B Equity Act (Pierluisi); H.R. 928, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act (Schakowsky) - Medicare Part D changes; H.R. 1179, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act (Courtney) - Medicare coverage of skilled nursing care; H.R. 1102, Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act (Welch) - Medicare Part D price negotiations; H.R. 1853, Medicaid Accountability and Care Act (Cassidy) -federal financing of state Medicaid programs; H.R. 2305, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Roskam-Carney) - fighting fraud and abuse; H.R. 2453, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act (Rothfus-Schrader) - MA enrollment rules; H.R. 2524, Medicare Better Health Rewards Program Act (Paulsen-Kind) - wellness incentives; H.R. 2753, Securing Care for Seniors Act (Black) - MA payment and enrollment issues, wellness incentives; H.R. 2810, Medicare Patient Access and Quality Improvement Act (Burgess/Camp) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms; H.R, 2960, Medicare Prescription Drug Integrity Act of 2013 (Pallone) - Part D drug utilization review; H.R. 3512, Seniors' Health Care Choice Act (Heck) - MA open enrollment period; H.R. 3890, Better Care, Lower Cost Act (Paulsen-Welch) - delivery models for Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions; H.R. 4015, SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act (Burgess) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms, ACA individual mandate delay; H.R. 4160, Keep the Promise to Seniors Act (Ellmers) - blocking Medicare Part D proposed rule; H.R. 4302, Protecting Access to Medicare Act (Pitts) - 12-month Medicare SGR patch, Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans, Appropriate Use Criteria for Advanced Diagnostic Imaging, Medicare sequestration cuts, Other Medicare-Medicaid Extenders; H.J.Res. 59, Bipartisan Budget Act (Rogers) - MA Special Needs Plans, Cost Plans, Medicare physician payment, QI and TMA programs; S. 11, Fiscal Sustainability Act (Corker) - Medicare, Medigap, Medicaid issues; S. 25 (Hatch) - extension of Medicare sequestration cuts; S. 117, Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act (Klobuchar) - Medicare Part D price negotiations; S. 324, Puerto Rico Medicare Part B Equity Act (Schumer); S. 408, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act (Durbin) - Medicare Part D changes; S. 569, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act (Brown) - Medicare coverage of skilled nursing care; S. 1123, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Carper-Coburn) - fighting fraud and abuse; S. 1228, Medicare Better Health Rewards Program Act (Wyden-Portman) - wellness incentives; S. 1787, Medicaid Managed Care Responsibility and Equity Act (Rockefeller) - medical loss ratio requirement for Medicaid managed care organizations; S. 1871, SGR Repeal and Medicare Beneficiary Access Act (Baucus) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms, MA Special Needs Plans, Cost Plans, QI and TMA programs; S. 1932, Better Care, Lower Cost Act (Wyden-Isakson) - delivery models for Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions; S. 1980, Medicaid and CHIP Continuous Quality Act (Rockefeller) - 12 month continuous enrollment; S. 2000, SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act (Baucus) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reform; S. 2110, SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act (Wyden) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms, Medicare and Medicaid extenders; S. 2122, Responsible Medicare SGR Repeal and Beneficiary Access Improvement Act (Hatch) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms, ACA individual mandate repeal.
2013 · fourth_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
H.Con.Res. 25, House Budget Resolution (Ryan) public program issues, deficit reduction proposals16. Specific Lobbying Issues (continued): S.Con.Res. 8, Senate Budget Resolution (Murray) public program issues, deficit reduction proposals H.R. 162, Medicaid Integrity Act (Bachmann) Medicaid health plan audits H.R. 670, Puerto Rico Medicare Part B Equity Act (Pierluisi) H.R. 928, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act (Schakowsky) Medicare Part D changes H.R. 1179, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act (Courtney) Medicare coverage of skilled nursing care H.R. 1102, Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act (Welch) Medicare Part D price negotiations H.R. 1853, Medicaid Accountability and Care Act (Cassidy) federal financing of state Medicaid programs H.R. 2305, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Roskam-Carney) fighting fraud and abuse H.R. 2453, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act (Rothfus-Schrader) MA enrollment rules H.R. 2524, Medicare Better Health Rewards Program Act (Paulsen-Kind) wellness incentives H.R. 2753, Securing Care for Seniors Act (Black) MA payment and enrollment issues, wellness incentives H.R. 2810, Medicare Patient Access and Quality Improvement Act (Burgess/Camp) SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms H.R, 2960, Medicare Prescription Drug Integrity Act of 2013 (Pallone) Part D drug utilization review H.R. 3512, Seniors' Health Care Choice Act (Heck) MA open enrollment period H.J.Res. 59, Bipartisan Budget Act (Rogers) MA Special Needs Plans, Cost Plans, Medicare physician payment, QI and TMA programs S. 11, Fiscal Sustainability Act (Corker) Medicare, Medigap, Medicaid issues S. 117, Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act (Klobuchar) Medicare Part D price negotiations S. 324, Puerto Rico Medicare Part B Equity Act (Schumer) S. 408, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act (Durbin) Medicare Part D changes S. 569, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act (Brown) Medicare coverage of skilled nursing care S. 1123, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Carper-Coburn) fighting fraud and abuse S. 1228, Medicare Better Health Rewards Program Act (Wyden-Portman) wellness incentives S. 1787, Medicaid Managed Care Responsibility and Equity Act (Rockefeller) medical loss ratio requirement for Medicaid managed care organizations S. 1871, SGR Repeal and Medicare Beneficiary Access Act (Baucus) SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms, MA Special Needs Plans, Cost Plans, QI and TMA programs Regulatory Issues: Ongoing implementation issues for the Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Part D prescription drug programs, including risk adjustment methodology, encounter data and other data-related issues, and audit issues; bidding and payment issues (including MA rate assumptions, MA coding intensity, MA Secondary Payer issues, Part D reinsurance, Part D low income subsidies, and audits); Medicare Medical Loss Ratio issues; implementation of sequestration under the Medicare Advantage and Part D programs; implications of the health insurer fee for MA and Part D plans; application process, audits to evaluate compliance with MA and Part D program rules, benefit design rules, SSA and CMS premium withhold processing issues, enrollment rules, marketing materials review and approval, marketing activities, including conduct and compensation of brokers and agents and plan sponsor marketing staff; measurement and oversight of plan performance including Special Needs Plans (SNPs); quality measures, grievance and appeals processes, fraud and abuse compliance including training; contracting issues for Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (SNPs); Federal preemption of State authority under MA and Part D programs, Part D prescription drug event data reporting, Part D formulary rules, Part D pharmacy access standards, Part D coverage gap discount program, including employer group waiver plan (EGWP) issues, and other operational issues; MA and Part D systems issues affecting enrollment and disenrollment processing and payment and other operational issues; issues relating to MA Star Rating system including measures, the methodology for calculating ratings, and the role of the ratings for payment purposes; implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) changes to the Part D coverage gap; ongoing implementation issues for the Medicare cost plan program including enrollment, marketing materials review and approval and other operational issues; Medicare creditable drug coverage reporting requirements; implementation issues for the Medicare Retiree Drug Subsidy program; functionality of the Medicare Personal Plan Finder and Drug Plan Finder; National Medicare Education Program; Medicare demonstration program on performance-based payments for physician groups; physician quality reporting initiative;Regulatory Issues (con't): issues relating to Medicare coverage policy and national coverage decisions; Medicare clinical trials; Medicare/Medicaid integration for dual eligibles, including the Capitated Financial Alignment Demonstration; Medicaid managed care regulations and policies, including the Medicaid managed care actuarial soundness standard, quality oversight, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), grievance and appeals processes, fraud and abuse compliance, beneficiary information requirements, treatment of Medicaid health plan member hospital days in the upper payment limit calculation; policies affecting State Medicaid funding, including block grants, the calculation of the federal medical assistance (federal matching) percentage (FMAP), and intergovernmental transfers (IGTs); coordination of benefits with state Medicaid programs; Medicaid prescription drug cost issues affecting Medicaid health plans; health plan-related Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) issues, including eligibility and outreach issues; implementation of Medicaid changes made in Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, including Medicaid managed care organization provider tax issues; standards for electronic prescribing; implementation of Medicaid changes of interest to Medicaid health plans made in the ACA including Medicaid expansion, the managed care organization (MCO) prescription drug rebate provisions, minimum payments to primary care providers (PCPs), interactions between the Medicaid program and health insurance exchanges, and Medicaid and CHIP maintenance of effort (MOE) requirements; implications of the health insurer fee for Medicaid health plans ; issues related to Medigap coverage; issues relating to "meaningful use" requirements for health information technology; and other issues relating to health care reform implementation. 17. Houses of Congress and Federal Agencies (con't): Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC)
2013 · fourth_quarter · Health Issues
H.R.2753, Securing Care for Seniors Act of 2013 H.R.3367, To amend section 9010 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to delay the application of the health insurance provider annual fee until 2016 and to provide a process to return to consumers any amounts attributable to the expected application of the annual fee to 2014 or 2015H.R.763, To repeal the annual fee on health insurance providers enacted by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act S.603, Jobs and Premium Protection Act H.R.1188, Preserving Our Hometown Independent Pharmacies Act of 2013 H.R.2453, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2013 H.R.1960, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 S.1034, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 H.R.460, Patients Access to Treatments Act of 2013 (issues related to specialty drug tier prohibition) S.1726, Obamacare Taxpayer Bailout Prevention Act H.R.3541, Obamacare Taxpayer Bailout Prevention Act H.J.RES.5, Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to balancing the budget
Client expense: $790,000 · Firm income: Not reported
2013 · fourth_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
H.Con.Res. 25, House Budget Resolution (Ryan) - public program issues, deficit reduction proposals. S.Con.Res. 8, Senate Budget Resolution (Murray) - public program issues, deficit reduction proposals. H.R. 162, Medicaid Integrity Act (Bachmann) - Medicaid health plan audits. H.R. 670, Puerto Rico Medicare Part B Equity Act (Pierluisi). H.R. 928, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act (Schakowsky) - Medicare Part D changes. H.R. 1179, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act (Courtney) - Medicare coverage of skilled nursing care. H.R. 1102, Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act (Welch) - Medicare Part D price negotiations. H.R. 1853, Medicaid Accountability and Care Act (Cassidy) -federal financing of state Medicaid programs. H.R. 2305, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Roskam-Carney) - fighting fraud and abuse. H.R. 2453, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act (Rothfus-Schrader) - MA enrollment rules. H.R. 2524, Medicare Better Health Rewards Program Act (Paulsen-Kind) - wellness incentives. H.R. 2753, Securing Care for Seniors Act (Black) - MA payment and enrollment issues, wellness incentives. H.R. 2810, Medicare Patient Access and Quality Improvement Act (Burgess/Camp) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms. H.R, 2960, Medicare Prescription Drug Integrity Act of 2013 (Pallone) - Part D drug utilization review. H.R. 3512, Seniors' Health Care Choice Act (Heck) - MA open enrollment period. H.J.Res. 59, Bipartisan Budget Act (Rogers) - MA Special Needs Plans, Cost Plans, Medicare physician payment, QI and TMA programs. S. 11, Fiscal Sustainability Act (Corker) - Medicare, Medigap, Medicaid issues. S. 117, Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act (Klobuchar) - Medicare Part D price negotiations. S. 324, Puerto Rico Medicare Part B Equity Act (Schumer). S. 408, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act (Durbin) - Medicare Part D changes. S. 569, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act (Brown) - Medicare coverage of skilled nursing care. S. 1123, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Carper-Coburn) - fighting fraud and abuse. S. 1228, Medicare Better Health Rewards Program Act (Wyden-Portman) - wellness incentives. S. 1787, Medicaid Managed Care Responsibility and Equity Act (Rockefeller) - medical loss ratio requirement for Medicaid managed care organizations. S. 1871, SGR Repeal and Medicare Beneficiary Access Act (Baucus) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms, MA Special Needs Plans, Cost Plans, QI and TMA programs.
2013 · fourth_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
Many aspects of the Affordable Care Act promote changes that are consistent with the mission of the Marshfield Clinic. The following are key elements of the health policy agenda of the Marshfield Clinic:Medicares Sustainable Growth Rate We believe that the longstanding challenges inherent in fee for service reimbursement under the resource based relative value system, and the financial problems associated with the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula must be addressed to assure access to Medicare benefits and the future solvency of the Medicare program. We recommend that Congress repeal the SGR formula, and link future updates to measures that reflect the cost and value of providing health care services. Congress must also take steps immediately to create increased incentives for preventative care, care coordination, and primary care services. Physician spending is currently only a fraction of total health care spending but it affects nearly all other aspects of health care delivery. We recommend that Congress utilize the leverage of physician spending to deal with the misaligned incentives in the Medicare program that lead to higher costs and inefficiencies throughout the spectrum of health care delivery. We recommend that new evidence-based measures of quality performance be developed to capture outcomes of care processes. We recommend that Congress fund the work of HHS and CMS to identify and vet better performance measures to support a new physician payment system, especially measures that are focused on outcomes, patient experience of care, care coordination, appropriateness of care, and total resource use. Medicare Pay for Value Provider accountability for quality and spending growth is an essential element of delivery system reform. Existing law requires that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implement a value modifier that applies to Medicare Part B physician payments for certain physicians and physician groups beginning in calendar year 2015. By 2017, CMS is required to apply the value modifier to all Medicare Part B payments to physicians and physician groups. We recommend that Congress should implement this policy sooner if possible. The Clinic is in CMS's shared savings program as an Accountable Care Organization effective January 1, 2013. Geographic Adjustment of Physician Payments Recent findings by the Institute of Medicine and the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission have demonstrated significant shortcomings in the data utilized to geographically adjust physician payments. The IOM and MedPAC studies have confirmed that the data sources currently relied upon for geographic adjustment bear no correlation to physician earnings. CMS officials have admitted that the proxies utilized for the purpose of geographic adjustment have never been validated, and there never has been a new data source utilized in the twenty years since the fee schedule was implemented. MedPAC data show that the geographic adjustment reference occupations predict earnings of rural physicians to be 25-30% less than physicians in metropolitan areas. MedPAC data show that earnings of primary care physicians in rural areas are, in fact, 13% higher than physicians in metropolitan areas. Since there is no statistical basis of support for disparities in payment we strongly recommend that Congress require CMS to correct this inequity immediately. Having a source of credible data and a sustainable payment mechanism is critical to maintaining access to primary care services in rural areas for patients who reside in those areas. Dental Access Wisconsins current record of providing dental care to children from poor households is among the worst in the nation. Marshfield Clinic hopes to improve the oral and general health of underserved residents in rural and small urban communities within the State. Marshfield Clinic in partnership with Family Health Center of Marshfield, Inc. is currently operating 8 dental clinics. The dental facilities provided access to more than 46,000 predominately low-income uninsured or publically insured residents last year. CBO Scoring of Preventive Health The budget process should be improved to permit Congress to assess long-term health savings that are possible from preventive health initiatives. Recent research supports the premise that the current budget window should be extended and CBO directed to take into account the relevant disease-progression data that exists which demonstrates savings in preventive health. To ensure that CBOs projections on cost savings are tied to scientific data, preventive health analysis must include credible and publicly available epidemiological projection, incorporating clinical trials or observational studies in humans, longitudinal studies, and meta-analysis. This narrow approach will discourages abuse while encouraging a sensible review of health policy Congress believes will further public health. Comparative Effectiveness/Evidence Based Medical Informatics Research Evidence-based medicine relies upon the judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients. Key to effective implementation of value-based purchasing initiatives is the systematic development of data that links the health of populations to the medical services the population receives. The application of health information technology and genomic information in population- and community-based health care delivery systems coupled with the development of wellness programs has the potential to substantially improve health and personalized health care on a national basis. Recommendation: Promote evidence-based medicine as the basis for coverage decisions.Advance Care Planning Medicare and Medicaid must incorporate advance care planning to respect and inform all caregivers of a patients healthcare choices at the end stages of their lives. It is important that the Federal programs improve the continuity of care and quality of life while maintaining respect for patients wishes. Understanding and honoring patients wishes at the end of life is paramount to ensure they are receiving appropriate care that is aligned with the personal choice and goals. Advance care plans are not necessarily a one-time conversation, but an ongoing dialogue between a patient and health provider. Honoring patient desires and wishes at the end-of-life reduces the burden on family members that would otherwise have to make those difficult decisions. An advance care plan must be easily accessible in their medical record. Research indicates that engaging patients on their end-of-life care and following their wishes and desires may reduce healthcare costs. We urge Congress to incorporate advance care planning discussions with health providers as a covered Medicare and Medicaid annual wellness benefit. Variations in Health Care Service and Distribution Research conducted the Medicare Payment Advisory commission and the Dartmouth School of Medicine has documented glaring variations in how medical resources are distributed and used in the United States. Medicare pays many hospitals and their doctors much more than what it pays the most efficient and effective health care institutions to treat chronically ill people, yet they still get worse results. The extent of variation in Medicare spending, and the evidence that more care does not result in better outcomes, should lead us to ask if some chronically ill Americans are getting more care than they actually want or need. Caring for people with chronic disease now accounts for more than 75 percent of all health-care spending. Over-use and overspending is not just a Medicare problemthe health-care system as a whole lacks efficient, effective ways of caring for people with severe chronic illnesses. If the U.S. health care system mirrored the practice patterns of the most efficient/effective health care institutions, Medicare and other payors could save billions of dollars annually. Medicare Physician payment reform On Feb 7, the House Energy and Commerce & Ways and Means Committees released an outline of a collaborative Medicare Physician Payment Reform Effort. Their leaders are united in a collaborative efforts to repeal the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula and advance a permanent solution for Medicare physician payment. Their proposal seeks to: Repeal the SGR and provide a period of predictable, statutorily-defined physician payment rates; Reform Medicares fee for service (FFS) physician payment system to reward physicians who provide high quality care; and Build upon the improvements made in Phase 2 by also rewarding physicians who deliver efficient care. The Senate Finance Committee doc fix bill to replace the Sustainable Growth Rate physician payment formula (S 1871) SGR Repeal and Medicare Beneficiary Access Act of 2013 introduced by Senator Max Baucus would extend or make permanent several of the health payment policies. Both the Energy and Commerce and the House Ways and Means Committee approved versions of a similar bill (HR 2810) Medicare Patient Access and Quality Improvement Act of 2013 introduced by Rep. Michael Burgess. Medicare Payment Inequities In the traditional fee-for-service system Medicare currently reimburses for units of service, in a manner that promotes service utilization without regard to quality. This has had the effect of economically stimulating growth in the numbers of supply-sensitive services provided by physicians. The Update formula for physician services is inequitable because it treats all physicians and regions of the country alike regardless of their individual volume influencing behavior. If the problem of cost is related to the volume of services provided, shouldnt payment be volume adjusted for specific localities? Why should conservative practices and States be punished for the excessive volume of other localities? Payment Equity for Physician Work There is no difference in the work of physicians in different locations regardless of where the work occurs. We believe that physician work should not be adjusted for geographic location. What is the rational for paying physicians more in many geographic areas when those same areas have apparently ample numbers of physicians and their wages are trending below physician wages in other areas? Should the Medicare program subsidize physicians who chose to live in high cost areas? Recommendation: the geographic adjustment of physician work should be eliminated entirely on a Budget neutral basis.Medicare Advantage Performance Measurement The Medicare Advantage program provides a capitated reimbursement to health plans for all Medicare benefits provided to enrolled beneficiaries. We believe that mechanisms for rewarding value in the Medicare Advantage program should offer incentives for those plans that demonstrate superior patient care performance. We recommend that performance bonuses should be provided for plans that: Achieve predetermined quality performance targets; Adopt health information technology; Meet standards for care coordination; and Provide data on comparative effectiveness. The ratings, now available on the Medicare website, are the result of an annual assessment by CMS of Medicare health plans' clinical quality, consumer satisfaction and other beneficiary experience areas. We fully support the continuation of this program, and the financial rewards provided to health plans that perform at the highest level. Medicare Advantage Call Letter On Feb 15 2013, CMS released the "Call letter"- its annual advance notice regarding 2014 Medicare Advantage and Part D plan rates. In the Call letter: CMS described changes in the MA national per capita growth percentage for aged and disabled enrollees, and change in fee-for-service per capita costs; coding adjustment for MA plans; payment rebate amounts for plans; and an updated model of its CMS-HCC risk adjustment formula to reflect updated data and clinical revisions to diagnoses. Analysts have projected that the combined effect of the many changes could lead to Medicare Advantage payment adjustments netting negative 8-10%. Marshfield Clinic expressed the concern that the combined effect of the slate of reductions in the Call Letter will destabilize the Medicare Advantage program and undermine beneficiaries faith in their plans. The Clinic recommended: that CMS delay implementing any change to the county FFS rebasing methodology; override the SGR formula, consistent with the emerging consensus regarding a shift to payment for value; recommended a delay in implementing a new HCC risk adjustment model; recommended postponement of changes to the star ratings calculations. Medicare Advantage Improvements H.R. 2753, THE SECURING CARE FOR SENIORS ACT by Rep. Diane Black (R-TN), provides seniors with more choice and allows flexibility for plans in the highly successful Medicare Advantage (MA) program through common-sense and technical fixes expanding the Open Enrollment Period; Permitting Incentives for Participation in Health Care Improvement Programs; enabling Cost-sharing Variation; making Improvements to the Risk Adjustment System; and making Improvements to MA 5-Star Quality Rating System Medicaid Block Grants On March 21, the House approved Rep. Paul Ryans budget proposal for FY 2014, entitled "The Path to Prosperity. Ryan's proposal does not have the force of law but of special interest is Ryans proposal for Medicaid block grants which will come before the Energy and Commerce Committee. Under the Ryan proposal, starting in 2014, the federal share of all Medicaid payments would be paid to the states as a block grant. Chairman Ryan has projected savings to federal government that would result from reduced funding to states. Premium support On March 21, the House approved Rep. Paul Ryans budget proposal for FY 2014, entitled "The Path to Prosperity. Ryan's budget does not have the force of law but tees up consideration of various reform proposals which may be considered later this year. With regard to health care, the Ryan plan calls for a major withdrawal of the federal government from the financing of health care. One health provision of the proposal calls for conversion of the current Medicare to a premium support program. For those born in 1959 or later the traditional Medicare program starting in 2024, would be converted to a defined contribution program which has been described as a premium support program. Dual Eligibles Conflicting requirements in Medicare and Medicaid pose a barrier to care coordination for 9 million beneficiaries who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid (dual eligibles or duals). The lack of alignment and cohesiveness between the programs can lead to fragmented or episodic care for dual eligibles and misaligned incentives for both payers and providers, resulting in reduced quality and increased costs to both programs. Total annual spending on dual eligibles is estimated to be $300 billion annually. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) presents an array of new and enhanced options to improve care for these beneficiaries through better care integration, improved quality measures, and increased access to home and community-based long-term services and support. We would support better alignment of benefits and incentives to improve access to care for dual eligibles and prevent cost-shifting. Changing the incentives to encourage integrated care will result in better health outcomes at a lower cost.Accountable Care Organizations One important delivery system reform is the Medicare Shared Savings Program under section 3022 of the Affordable Care Act, which promotes the formation and operation of accountable care organizations (ACOs). Under this provision, groups of providers meeting the criteria specified by the Secretary may work together to manage and coordinate care for Medicare beneficiaries through an [ACO]. An ACO may receive payments for shared savings if the ACO meets certain quality performance standards and cost savings requirements established by the Secretary. Adequate Funding for CMS The problems facing the Medicare program stem from the nations earliest attempts to make health care services broadly available nationwide without disturbing the economic incentives that were then in place. Congress must ensure that CMS has adequate funding to provide oversight of its many programs, including its measurement of resource and input costs and full implementation of the Affordable care Act. Telemedicine in Medicare Changes to Medicare law and regulation are needed to improve equity in access for Medicare beneficiaries to services delivered via TeleHealth. Medicare beneficiaries should be allowed to receive services in telemedicine sites located in urban areas. The necessary changes would remove restrictions on originating sites by removing the rural requirement and the list of originating sites and allowing any certified Medicare facility to provide the services; current requirements that physician must bill for services from the originating site should be removed; restrictions on eligible practitioners should be removed to allow all Medicare approved practitioners to provide telemedicine services; and there should be no restrictions on which Medicare services may be provided through telemedicine. GME Funding Models Should Include Non-Hospital Sites and Interprofessionalism As a rural community based GME partner, Marshfield Clinic would welcome an opportunity to collaborate with Health and Human Services and other external GME partners in developing and implementing strategies for effective use of CMS and HRSA funding for expanding graduate medical education programs Oral Health Coverage for the Medically Compromised and at Risk Populations Shared savings demonstrations should be developed for health systems and co-pay incentives developed for patients engaging in and complying with such inter-disciplinary care. Simulation Program Development The Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Program Requirements for Resident Education in Internal Medicine has recommended that residency programs need to Provide residents with access to training using simulation. Marshfield Clinic will support legislation to initiate, maintain and grow medical simulation programs through the identification of simulation centers of excellence, advancement of simulation technologies, allocation of grant funds for institutions who train healthcare providers and call together key leaders to discuss the direction of medical simulation. Meaningful Use of Health Information Technology The accelerating growth in new medical knowledge, coupled with the birth of new sciences, such as genomics and personalized medicine, suggests that physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals will invariably continue to fall further and further behind in their ability to keep up with the latest discoveries and approved treatments. Looking to what can be achieved in the future due to implementation of these systems should be our focus, and an ongoing oversight function of the Office of the National Coordinator for HIT which must be closely integrated with Medicare reimbursement. Personalized Medicine Personalized medicine, the tailoring of medical treatments to patient characteristics, relies upon the ability to classify individuals into subpopulations that differ in disease susceptibility and treatment responses. It allows clinicians to target preventive or therapeutic interventions on those who will benefit, and thereby to spare the expense and side effects of treatment for those who will not, thus making medicine more efficient. If the multiple population groups in the United States and elsewhere in the world are to benefit fully and fairly from such research, a national resource operated as a trust for the public good must be established to conduct a large populationbased cohort study that includes full representation of minority populations. Marshfield Clinic has developed a comprehensive bio-bank, consisting of DNA samples from 20,000+ individuals. The samples, often from extended families, have been linked electronically to medical records for more than 20 years of medical history. The average span of clinical history for PMRP participants is 29+ years. Further development of this public health infrastructure is in the national interest. The Federal government should make critical investments in the enabling tools and resources essential to moving beyond genomic discoveries to personalized medicine services of patient and public benefit.Community Health Centers Under Health Reform The Affordable Care Act contained a number of key provisions relating to community health centers, including funding for the community health center program and funding to expand the National Health Service Corp. Congress has cut the base funding levels for community health centers and it is possible that they may do so again effectively further diminishing the impact of the reform legislation. As reform is rolled out there are key payment protections and improvements for community health centers. For example, the Act requires that health centers receive no less than their Medicaid rate from private insurers offering plans through the new health insurance exchanges and it requires that these plans must, under network adequacy rules, contract with a sufficient number of essential community providers, the definition of which includes health centers. Other provisions add preventive services to the federally qualified health center Medicare payment rate and eliminate the outdated Medicare payment cap on FQHC payments. This will modernize the health center Medicare payments to insure health centers are able to provide highest quality care to Medicare beneficiaries. ACA recognizes the growing role of health centers in teaching the next generation of primary care providers by authorizing and funding new programs for health center-based residencies. A new Title VII grant program for the development of residency programs at health centers is established along with a new Title III program that would provide payments to community-based entities that operate teaching programs. It directly appropriates $230 million over five years for the new Title III payment program. Marshfield Clinic supports the continuation of this funding. Dental Access and Integration with Traditional Medicine The Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a report, Dental Education at the Crossroads: Challenges and Change in January 1995 which called for a strong cohesion between medicine and dentistry. The IOM report states that "Dentistry will and should become more closely integrated with medicine and the health care system on all levels: research, education, and patient care. The National Institutes of Health has supported research documenting the importance of oral health in the context of general health and well-being. Studies have demonstrated numerous oral-systemic interactions that underscore the need for more integrated care delivery. As our nation embraces EHR technologies, science underscores the need to fully incorporate oral health within an integrated EHR. Marshfield Clinic is simultaneously addressing the issue of dental access and integration with traditional medicine. Family Health Center of Marshfield, Inc. (FHC) in partnership with Marshfield Clinic has been serving low-income, underinsured and uninsured individuals since March 1974. FHC has been providing on-site dental services since the fall of 2002 and operates eight dental sites with two additional sites scheduled to open in the summer of 2011. As part of this initiative, Marshfield Clinic has developed a comprehensive medical-dental integrated electronic health record (iEHR) environment. CattailsMD, the internally developed electronic health record at Marshfield Clinic in Wisconsin, is one of the oldest electronic medical records systems in the country, with coded diagnoses back to 1960. More recently a dental module, CattailsDental has been integrated and successfully rolled out in all of the seven dental centers across Central and Northern Wisconsin. The latest version of the CattailsDental includes: a dental dashboard, workflow management tools including tooth charting, periodontal charting and treatment planning; access to centralized medications, allergies, special conditions, problems list, demographics and HIPAA forms; access to medical appointments to support better coordination of care; and highly secure remote access supporting alternate devices (laptops and tablets). Using technology to integrate medical and dental health records holds great promise to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, effectiveness and continuity of patient care by enhancing communication and teamwork between physicians and dentists. A comprehensive approach to primary care delivery, demonstrated by Marshfield Clinic and community health centers nationwide, can best be supported with an equally comprehensive EHR infrastructure for both medical and dental records. GME Residency Expansion Marshfield Clinic is concerned about having a sufficient supply of primary care physicians in order to meet the demands of an expanding and aging population. This is doubly true for patients and health systems in a rural setting. Currently only about 10% of physicians practice in rural areas while 25% of the population resides there. While 36% allopathic residents and 50% osteopathic residents who are trained in a rural residency end up practicing in a rural area, only 4% of the residency training actually occurs in rural areas. As of 2012, there are more US medical students graduating from medical school than there are GME slots. An increase in GME primary care training positions is essential to maintaining high-quality, accessible, and cost efficient care.
2013 · third_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
H.R. 162, Medicaid Integrity Act (Bachmann) - Medicaid health plan audits. H.R. 670, Puerto Rico Medicare Part B Equity Act (Pierluisi). H.R. 928, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act (Schakowsky) - Medicare Part D changes. H.R. 1179, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act (Courtney) - Medicare coverage of skilled nursing care. H.R. 1102, Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act (Welch) - Medicare Part D price negotiations. H.R. 1853, Medicaid Accountability and Care Act (Cassidy) -federal financing of state Medicaid programs. H.R. 2305, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Roskam-Carney) - fighting fraud and abuse. H.R. 2453, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act (Rothfus-Schrader) - MA enrollment rules. H.R. 2524, Medicare Better Health Rewards Program Act (Paulsen-Kind) - wellness incentives. H.R. 2753, Securing Care for Seniors Act (Black) - MA payment and enrollment issues, wellness incentives. H.R. 2810, Medicare Patient Access and Quality Improvement Act (Burgess) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms. House Ways and Means Committee Discussion Draft of Medicare Physician Payment Reform (not yet introduced) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms. House Ways and Means Committee Draft Medicare Reforms. S. 11, Fiscal Sustainability Act (Corker) - Medicare, Medigap, Medicaid issues. S. 117, Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act (Klobuchar) - Medicare Part D price negotiations. S. 324, Puerto Rico Medicare Part B Equity Act (Schumer). S. 408, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act (Durbin) - Medicare Part D changes. S. 569, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act (Brown) - Medicare coverage of skilled nursing care. S. 1123, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Carper-Coburn) - fighting fraud and abuse. S. 1228, Medicare Better Health Rewards Program Act (Wyden-Portman) - wellness incentives. Senate Finance Committee Discussion Draft of Medicare Physician Payment Reform (not yet introduced) - SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms. H.R, 2960, Medicare Prescription Drug Integrity Act of 2013 (Pallone) - Part D drug utilization review.
2013 · third_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
H.R. 162, Medicaid Integrity Act (Bachmann) Medicaid health plan audits16. Specific Lobbying Issues (continued): H.R. 670, Puerto Rico Medicare Part B Equity Act (Pierluisi) H.R. 928, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act (Schakowsky) Medicare Part D changes H.R. 1179, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act (Courtney) Medicare coverage of skilled nursing care H.R. 1102, Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act (Welch) Medicare Part D price negotiations H.R. 1853, Medicaid Accountability and Care Act (Cassidy) federal financing of state Medicaid programs H.R. 2305, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Roskam-Carney) fighting fraud and abuse H.R. 2453, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act (Rothfus-Schrader) MA enrollment rules H.R. 2524, Medicare Better Health Rewards Program Act (Paulsen-Kind) wellness incentives H.R. 2753, Securing Care for Seniors Act (Black) MA payment and enrollment issues, wellness incentives H.R. 2810, Medicare Patient Access and Quality Improvement Act (Burgess) SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms House Ways and Means Committee Discussion Draft of Medicare Physician Payment Reform (not yet introduced) SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms House Ways and Means Committee Draft Medicare Reforms S. 11, Fiscal Sustainability Act (Corker) Medicare, Medigap, Medicaid issues S. 117, Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act (Klobuchar) Medicare Part D price negotiations S. 324, Puerto Rico Medicare Part B Equity Act (Schumer) S. 408, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act (Durbin) Medicare Part D changes S. 569, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act (Brown) Medicare coverage of skilled nursing care S. 1123, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Carper-Coburn) fighting fraud and abuse S. 1228, Medicare Better Health Rewards Program Act (Wyden-Portman) wellness incentives Senate Finance Committee Discussion Draft of Medicare Physician Payment Reform (not yet introduced) SGR repeal, quality- and value-based payment reforms H.R, 2960, Medicare Prescription Drug Integrity Act of 2013 (Pallone) Part D drug utilization review Regulatory Issues: Ongoing implementation issues for the Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Part D prescription drug programs, including risk adjustment methodology, encounter data and other data-related issues, and audit issues; bidding and payment issues (including MA rate assumptions, MA coding intensity, MA Secondary Payer issues, Part D reinsurance, Part D low income subsidies, and audits); Medicare Medical Loss Ratio issues; implementation of sequestration under the Medicare Advantage and Part D programs; implications of the health insurer fee for MA and Part D plans; application process, audits to evaluate compliance with MA and Part D program rules, benefit design rules, SSA and CMS premium withhold processing issues, enrollment rules, marketing materials review and approval, marketing activities, including conduct and compensation of brokers and agents and plan sponsor marketing staff; measurement and oversight of plan performance including Special Needs Plans (SNPs); SNP reauthorization; quality measures, grievance and appeals processes, fraud and abuse compliance including training; contracting issues for Dual Eligible SNPs; Federal preemption of State authority under MA and Part D programs, Part D prescription drug event data reporting, Part D formulary rules, Part D pharmacy access standards, Part D coverage gap discount program, including employer group waiver plan (EGWP) issues, and other operational issues; MA and Part D systems issues affecting enrollment and disenrollment processing and payment and other operational issues; issues relating to MA Star Rating system including measures, the methodology for calculating ratings, and the role of the ratings for payment purposes; implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) changes to the Part D coverage gap; ongoing implementation issues for the Medicare cost plan program including enrollment, marketing materials review and approval and other operational issues; Medicare creditable drug coverage reporting requirements; implementation issues for the Medicare Retiree Drug Subsidy program; functionality of the Medicare Personal Plan Finder and Drug Plan Finder; National Medicare Education Program;16. Regulatory Issues (con't): Medicare demonstration program on performance-based payments for physician groups; physician quality reporting initiative; issues relating to Medicare coverage policy and national coverage decisions; Medicare clinical trials; Medicare/Medicaid integration for dual eligibles, including the Capitated Financial Alignment Demonstration; Medicaid managed care regulations and policies, including the Medicaid managed care actuarial soundness standard, quality oversight, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), grievance and appeals processes, fraud and abuse compliance, beneficiary information requirements, treatment of Medicaid health plan member hospital days in the upper payment limit calculation; policies affecting State Medicaid funding, including block grants, the calculation of the federal medical assistance (federal matching) percentage (FMAP), and intergovernmental transfers (IGTs); coordination of benefits with state Medicaid programs; Medicaid prescription drug cost issues affecting Medicaid health plans; health plan-related Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) issues, including eligibility and outreach issues; implementation of Medicaid changes made in Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, including Medicaid managed care organization provider tax issues; standards for electronic prescribing; implementation of Medicaid changes of interest to Medicaid health plans made in the ACA including Medicaid expansion, the managed care organization (MCO) prescription drug rebate provisions, minimum payments to primary care providers (PCPs), interactions between the Medicaid program and health insurance exchanges, and Medicaid and CHIP maintenance of effort (MOE) requirements; implications of the health insurer fee for Medicaid health plans ; issues related to Medigap coverage; issues relating to "meaningful use" requirements for health information technology; and other issues relating to health care reform implementation. 17. Selected Agencies (con't): Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC)
Client expense: $2,230,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ), Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Executive Office of the President (EOP), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Government Accountability Office (GAO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Pension & Welfare Benefits Administration, SENATE, Treasury, Dept of, White House Office
Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $20,000
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
Client expense: $3,960,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Government Accountability Office (GAO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), Patent & Trademark Office (PTO), SENATE, Treasury, Dept of, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)
Client expense: $1,510,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), SENATE
Client expense: $90,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Executive Office of the President (EOP), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), SENATE
Client expense: $3,680,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), Patent & Trademark Office (PTO), SENATE, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)
Client expense: $2,010,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ), Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Executive Office of the President (EOP), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Government Accountability Office (GAO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA), Treasury, Dept of, White House Office
Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $30,000
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
Client expense: $130,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), SENATE
Client expense: $80,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Executive Office of the President (EOP), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), SENATE
Client expense: $2,530,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ), Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Executive Office of the President (EOP), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Government Accountability Office (GAO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Pension & Welfare Benefits Administration, SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA), Treasury, Dept of, White House Office
Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $30,000
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
Client expense: $120,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Executive Office of the President (EOP), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), SENATE
Client expense: $2,430,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ), Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Executive Office of the President (EOP), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Government Accountability Office (GAO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Pension & Welfare Benefits Administration, SENATE, Treasury, Dept of, White House Office
Client expense: $190,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, White House Office
Client expense: $180,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Executive Office of the President (EOP), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), SENATE, Treasury, Dept of
Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $30,000
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
Client expense: $3,630,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ), Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Executive Office of the President (EOP), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Pension & Welfare Benefits Administration, SENATE, Treasury, Dept of, White House Office
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, White House Office
Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $60,000
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
Client expense: $130,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Executive Office of the President (EOP), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), SENATE
Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $60,000
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
Client expense: $2,210,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ), Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Executive Office of the President (EOP), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Pension & Welfare Benefits Administration, SENATE, Treasury, Dept of, White House Office