Medicare Demonstration of Coverage for Low Vision Devices Act of 2013

Discussed the Suicide Prevention Research Innovation Act (S. 2035). Supported the Mental Health First Aid Act of 2013 (S. 153). Signed on to a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services asking for all modes of public transportation to announce the Suicide Prevention Lifeline for passengers on World Suicide Prevention Day. United Spinal highlighted improved clinical outcomes for rehabilitative care at in-patient rehab facilities over skilled nursing facilities for individuals with spinal cord injuries and other conditions such as brain injury and stroke. United Spinal discussed the 21st Century Cure initiative of Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI-6th) focusing on patient centered care. United Spinal supports Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act (H.R.4683), a free-standing bill that reauthorizes the Lifespan Respite Care Program at $15 million a year for five years. United Spinal discussed the need to provide clarity and certainty for appropriate, risk-based oversight of health information technology.United Spinal supports HR 3077, the TeleMed Act, which allows Medicare providers licensed in one state to provide telemedicine services to certain Medicare beneficiaries across state lines. CMS has proposed a rule to expand prior authorization for DME affecting power wheelchairs, lower limb prostheses and negative pressure wound therapy. United Spinal is in general support of prior authorization is a process that certifies DME suppliers with CMS before they provide equipment and services to Medicare beneficiaries. United Spinal highlighted improved clinical outcomes for rehabilitative care at in-patient rehab facilities over skilled nursing facilities for individuals with spinal cord injuries and other conditions such as brain injury and stroke. United Spinal supports Ensuring Access to Quality Complex Rehabilitation Technology Act/HR 942/ S 948. which creates a separate benefit under Medicare for customized equipment known as complex rehab technology needed by people with significant disabilities. United Spinal discussed the negative impact capped rental agreements for medical equipment and supplies have on access to equipment for individuals with disabilities. United Spinal supports action on improving benefit designs, including cost-sharing options, and guarantee that there is plan transparency for ACA enrollees. United Spinal discussed the 21st Century Cure initiative of Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI-6th) focusing on patient centered care with Congressional staff. United Spinal discussed ACA enrollment and reenrollment matters with HHS. Discussed state of managed care in NYC for dual eligibles and potential improvements in the short term. United Spinal supports greater transparency in Medicare's competitive acquisition program for DMEPOS program as to how providers are evaluated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and how the health of beneficiaries are being evaluated. United Spinal supports Medicare Demonstration of Coverage for Low Vision Devices Act of 2013 (H.R. 3749) which would establish a demonstration under the Medicare program for coverage of low vision aids. United Spinal supports HR 713/ S. 367 - Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2013 which eliminates therapy caps for rehabilitative services under Medicare without requiring an exceptions process. United Spinal presented recommendations to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding improvements to the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) rule which was implemented in January 2014. The rule enhances the quality of HCBS, provides additional protections to HCBS program participants, and ensures that individuals receiving services through HCBS programs have full access to the benefits of community living. The letters recommendations include: ensuring transparency throughout the process; maintaining consistency with Olmstead [The Olmstead Supreme Court decision requires states to provide people with disabilities with the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs]; issuing necessary guidance promptly; clarifying consumer rights and ensuring that states properly identify and categorize settings. United Spinal supports the Community Integration Act/S. 2515. The Act would support the rebalancing of policies to ensure individuals with disabilities can leave institutions and live in the setting of their choosing. United Spinal supports HR 4920, the DMEPOS Medicare Improvement Act of 2014 which requires that providers of durable medical equipment, in areas known as competitive bidding areas, must be licensed in the states that they provide equipment and services and must be bound to the contract that they submitted to CMS if they are awarded a contract to provide equipment and services to Medicare beneficiaries. United Spinal discussed and presented recommendations to the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services to proceed with extreme caution when implementing a reimbursement cut in the provision of wound care therapy due to the effects of implementation on beneficiary access to NPWT. Supports making improvements to Medicare trust funds regarding liability settlements.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $75,000

Government targets: Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation, Dept of (DOT), White House Office

Discussed the Suicide Prevention Research Innovation Act (S. 2035). Supported the Mental Health First Aid Act of 2013 (S. 153). Signed on to a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services asking for all modes of public transportation to announce the Suicide Prevention Lifeline for passengers on World Suicide Prevention Day. United Spinal highlighted improved clinical outcomes for rehabilitative care at in-patient rehab facilities over skilled nursing facilities for individuals with spinal cord injuries and other conditions such as brain injury and stroke. United Spinal discussed the 21st Century Cure initiative of Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI-6th) focusing on patient centered care. United Spinal supports Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act (H.R.4683), a free-standing bill that reauthorizes the Lifespan Respite Care Program at $15 million a year for five years. United Spinal discussed the need to provide clarity and certainty for appropriate, risk-based oversight of health information technology.United Spinal supports HR 3077, the TeleMed Act, which allows Medicare providers licensed in one state to provide telemedicine services to certain Medicare beneficiaries across state lines. CMS has proposed a rule to expand prior authorization for DME affecting power wheelchairs, lower limb prostheses and negative pressure wound therapy. United Spinal is in general support of prior authorization is a process that certifies DME suppliers with CMS before they provide equipment and services to Medicare beneficiaries. United Spinal highlighted improved clinical outcomes for rehabilitative care at in-patient rehab facilities over skilled nursing facilities for individuals with spinal cord injuries and other conditions such as brain injury and stroke. United Spinal supports Ensuring Access to Quality Complex Rehabilitation Technology Act/HR 942/ S 948. which creates a separate benefit under Medicare for customized equipment known as complex rehab technology needed by people with significant disabilities. United Spinal discussed the negative impact capped rental agreements for medical equipment and supplies have on access to equipment for individuals with disabilities. United Spinal supports action on improving benefit designs, including cost-sharing options, and guarantee that there is plan transparency for ACA enrollees. United Spinal discussed the 21st Century Cure initiative of Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI-6th) focusing on patient centered care with Congressional staff. United Spinal discussed ACA enrollment and reenrollment matters with HHS. Discussed state of managed care in NYC for dual eligibles and potential improvements in the short term. United Spinal supports greater transparency in Medicare's competitive acquisition program for DMEPOS program as to how providers are evaluated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and how the health of beneficiaries are being evaluated. United Spinal supports Medicare Demonstration of Coverage for Low Vision Devices Act of 2013 (H.R. 3749) which would establish a demonstration under the Medicare program for coverage of low vision aids. United Spinal supports HR 713/ S. 367 - Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2013 which eliminates therapy caps for rehabilitative services under Medicare without requiring an exceptions process. United Spinal presented recommendations to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding improvements to the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) rule which was implemented in January 2014. The rule enhances the quality of HCBS, provides additional protections to HCBS program participants, and ensures that individuals receiving services through HCBS programs have full access to the benefits of community living. The letters recommendations include: ensuring transparency throughout the process; maintaining consistency with Olmstead [The Olmstead Supreme Court decision requires states to provide people with disabilities with the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs]; issuing necessary guidance promptly; clarifying consumer rights and ensuring that states properly identify and categorize settings. United Spinal supports the Community Integration Act/S. 2515. The Act would support the rebalancing of policies to ensure individuals with disabilities can leave institutions and live in the setting of their choosing. United Spinal supports HR 4920, the DMEPOS Medicare Improvement Act of 2014 which requires that providers of durable medical equipment, in areas known as competitive bidding areas, must be licensed in the states that they provide equipment and services and must be bound to the contract that they submitted to CMS if they are awarded a contract to provide equipment and services to Medicare beneficiaries. United Spinal discussed and presented recommendations to the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services to proceed with extreme caution when implementing a reimbursement cut in the provision of wound care therapy due to the effects of implementation on beneficiary access to NPWT. Supports making improvements to Medicare trust funds regarding liability settlements.

S 367/HR 713 - Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act: Advocate for removal of cap on occupational therapy services and passage of bills. HR 942/S 948 - Ensuring Access to Quality Complex Rehabilitation Technology Act of 2013: Advocate for inclusion of occupational therapy professionals as providers of Complex Rehabilitation Technology. No bill# - Educate about role of occupational therapy in primary care. HR 2810 - The Medicare Patient Access and Quality Improvement Act of 2013: Advocated regarding Sustainable growth rate and educate about the role of occupational therapy in health care and need for improving Medicare to assure that patients receive appropriate care, especially occupational therapy services, and that payment is fair and equitable. No bill# - Multiple Procedure Payment Reduction (MPPR): Advocate for separation of occupational therapy from physical therapy/speech language pathology in application of MPPR policy. No bill# Manual Medicare Review (MMR): Advocate for improved MMR procedures including electronic submission and 10 day turn around. S 1871/S 2110 - the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) Repeal and Medicare Beneficiary Access Improvement Act of 2013 AND HR 4015/S 2000 - SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2014: Advocated for improvements to the bills that address policies that pertain to beneficiaries' access to occupational therapy services and how occupational therapy services are reimbursed under the Medicare program. Advocate for repeal of the Medicare Part B outpatient therapy cap on occupational therapy services. HR 3749 - The Medicare Demonstration of Coverage for Low Vision Devices Act: Support for greater attention to low vision coverage and highlight role of occupational therapy in ensuring the devices are utilized properly and to their full potential. S 1932/HR 3890 - Better Care, Lower Cost Act: Educate about role of occupational therapy in helping people with chronic conditions. Support including occupational therapy in the chronic care innovation centers. HR 4994/S 2553 - The Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation Act of 2014 "IMPACT Act of 2014": Advocated for improvements in the bill that would help ensure Medicare beneficiaries' access to quality post-acute care in the right setting is preserved. Advocated to ensure data collection program included elements that reflected the contributions of occupational therapy across the various post-acute settings. HR 5380 - Medicare Telehealth Parity Act: Support passage and inclusion of occupational therapy services. HR 3306 - The Telehealth Enhancement Act of 2013: Educate about how occupational therapy can be utilized in telehealth. HR 3877 - Lymphedema Treatment Act - support passage and educate about role of occupational therapy services. No bill# (PL 113-93) - Advocate for inclusion of occupational therapy in the Excellence in Mental Health Act's Medicaid Demonstration by encouraging Members of Congress to send a letter of support to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration.

Medicaid Managed Care. Alignment of Medicare and Medicaid for Dually eligible recipients.. Preservation of Medicaid as an entitlement program and avoiding cuts. Preservation of Medicare. Medicare Secondary Payer Program. Implementation of the Medicaid Community First Choice Option and Balancing Incentives Program. Achieving a Better Life Experience Act legislation, H.R. 647, S. 313. Implementation of the Affordable Care Act, P.L. 111-148 and P.L. 111-192, including Medicaid Health and Long Term Services and Supports provisions. Quality measures for long term services and supports in Medicaid Managed Care and payment alignment initiatives for beneficiaries of both Medicare and Medicaid. HCBS Settings Support for HR 3749 Medicare demonstration for coverage of low vision devices; H.R. 4998 and S. 2552, The Medicare Advantage bill of rights and S. 998 / H.R. 942, Ensuring access to complex rehabilitation technology in Medicare and HR 4900, competitive bidding for Medicare. Expressing concerns about Medicare Coverage Policies for hearing implants and speech general devices. Medicaid coverage of autism services.

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

HR 855, Optometric Equity in Medicaid Act, all sections relating to vision. HR 2810, Medicare Patient Access and Quality Improvement Act of 2013, all sections relating to vision. HR 3749, Medicare Demonstration of Coverage for Low Vision Devices Act of 2013, all sections relating to vision. HR 4015, SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2014, all sections relating to vision.S 1871, SGR Repeal and Medicare Beneficiary Access Act of 2013, all sections relating to vision. S 2110, Medicare SGR Repeal and Beneficiary Access Improvement Act of 2014, all sections relating to vision.

Client expense: $390,000 · Firm income: Not reported

HR 3749 Medicare low vision device coverage demonstration project

Client expense: $17,213 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), SENATE

S. 367/HR 713 - Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act: advocate for removal of cap on occupational therapy services and passage of bills.HR 942 - Ensuring Access to Quality Complex Rehabilitation Technology Act of 2013: Advocate for inclusion of occupational therapy professionals as providers of Complex Rehabilitation Tecnology. No bill# - Educate about role of occupational therapy in primary care. H.R. 2810 - The Medicare Patient Access and Quality Improvement Act of 2013: Sustainable growth rate - Educate about the role of occupational therapy in health care and need for improving Medicare to assure that patients receive appropriate care, especially occupational therapy services, and that payment is fair and equitable. No bill#--Multiple Procedure Payment Reducation (MPPR): advocate for separation of occupational therapy from physical therapy/speech language pathology in applicaiton of MPPR policy. No bill#--Manual Medical Review (MMR): advocate for improved MMR procedures including electronic submission and 10 day turn-around. S. 1871 - The SGR Repeal and Medicare Beneficiary Access Improement Act of 2013: Advocate for improvements to the bill that address policies that pertain to beneficiary access to occupational therapy services and how occupational therapy services are reimbursed under the Medicare program. S. 1932/HR 3890 - Better Care, Lower Cost Act: Educate about role of occupational therapy in helping people with chronic conditions. Support including occupational therapy in the chronic care innovation centers. No bill #: The Improving Medicare Post-Actue Care Transformation Act of 2014 "IMPACT Act of 2014": Advocated for improvements in the bill that would help ensure Medicare beneficiaries access to quality post-acute care in the right setting is preserved. Advocated to ensure data collection program included elements that reflected the contributions of occupational therapy across the various post acute settings. H.R. 4015/S. 2000 - SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2014 AND S. 2110, Medicare SGR Repeal and Beneficiary Access Imrpovement Act of 2014: Advocated for improvements to the bills that address policies that pertain to beneficiary access to occupational therapy services and how occupational therapy services are reimbursed under the Medicare program. Advocated for repeal of the Medicare Part B outpatient therapy cap on occupational therapy services. HR 3749: The Medicare Demonstration of Coverage for Low Vision Devices Act: Support for greater attention to low vision coverage and highlight the role of occupational thearpy in ensuring the devices are utilized properly and to their full potential.

HR 3749 Medicare low vision device coverage demonstration project

Client expense: $30,879 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), SENATE

HR 855, Optometric Equity in Medicaid Act, all sections relating to vision. HR 2810, Medicare Patient Access and Quality Improvement Act of 2013, all sections relating to vision.HR 3749, Medicare Demonstration of Coverage for Low Vision Devices Act of 2013, all sections relating to vision. HR 4015, SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2014, all sections relating to vision. HR 4302, Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014, all sections relating to vision. H.Res. 515, Providing for consideration of the bill (HR 3189) to prohibit the conditioning of any permit, lease, or other use agreement on the transfer, relinquishment, or other impairment of any water right to the United States by the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture; providing for consideration of the bill (HR 4015) to 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; and providing for proceedings during the period from March 17, 2014, through March 21, 2014, all sections relating to vision. S 1871, SGR Repeal and Medicare Beneficiary Access Act of 2013, all sections relating to vision. S 2000, SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2014,, all sections relating to vision. S 2110, Medicare SGR Repeal and Beneficiary Access Improvement Act of 2014, all sections relating to vision.

Client expense: $270,000 · Firm income: Not reported

HR 855, Optometric Equity in Medicaid Act, all sections relating to vision. HR 2810, Medicare Patient Access and Quality Improvement Act of 2013, all sections relating to vision.HR 3547, Space Launch Liability Indemnification Extension Act/Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014, All sections related to Medicaid, Medicare, HRSA and the NEI. HR 3749, Medicare Demonstration of Coverage for Low Vision Devices Act of 2013, all sections relating to vision. H.J. Res. 59, Making continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2014, and for other purposes. All sections related to Medicare physician payments. S 1871, SGR Repeal and Medicare Beneficiary Access Act of 2013, all sections relating to vision.

Client expense: $670,000 · Firm income: Not reported