Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmission Program Act

Support Emergency Funding to Combat Ebola Crisis Maintain Primary Care Enhanced Reimbursement Rates for Physicians Revise Hospital Readmission Penalty Policy (HR 4188) Support GME Funding for Teaching Hospitals Support Continuation of CHIP Program Hospital Payment Proposed Legislation-Oppose Cuts to Hospital Funding for Essential Providers

Client expense: $34,070 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), SENATE

Support Emergency Funding to Combat Ebola Crisis Maintain Primary Care Enhanced Reimbursement Rates for Physicians Revise Hospital Readmission Penalty Policy (HR 4188) Support GME Funding for Teaching Hospitals Support 340B Drug Discount Program Support Continuation of CHIP Program Expedite Processing of Application for Tax-Exempt Hospital Foundation Hospital Payment Proposed Legislation-Oppose Cuts to Hospital Funding for Essential Providers

Client expense: $34,070 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), SENATE

1. Support grant funding for trauma and emergency medical services for trauma hospitals 2. H.R. 4188 and S. 2501- Readmissions policies must include socioeconomic factors 3. H.R. 1250/S. 1012-Medicare Audit Improvement Act 4. 340B Program support to maintain current level of funding and discounts

Client expense: $27,673 · Firm income: Not reported

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

1. Support grant funding for trauma and emergency medical services for trauma hospitals 2. H.R. 4188 and S. 2501- Readmissions policies must include socioeconomic factors 3. H.R. 1250/S. 1012-Medicare Audit Improvement Act 4. 340B Program support to maintain current level of funding and discounts 5. Medicare IPPS Rule-supported comments submited from industry associations (AHA and NJHA)

Client expense: $27,673 · Firm income: Not reported

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

Health and Human Services Appropriations - In support of increased funding for the Department of Health and Human Services including National Institutes of Health research programs and Title VII and Title VIII funding; Poison Control Centers and programs for teaching and research at academic medical centers. In support of report language regarding the National Pediatric Research Network. In support of extension for 340B Program. In opposition to cuts to GME/IME. In support of the Two Midnights Amendment to SGR Repeal & Medicare Beneficiary Access Improvement Act of 2013 (Casey). In support of the Two Midnight Rule Delay Act of 2013 (HR 3698). In Support of HR4188, Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the hospital Readmission Program Act. In Support of HR1250, Medicare Audit Improvement Act.

Client expense: $110,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.R. 1201, Training Tomorrows Doctors Today Act H.R. 1250, the Medicare Audit Improvement Act H.R. 1180/S. 577, The Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2013 H.R. 1920, the DSH Reduction Relief Act S. 2728, Community-Based Medical Education Act of 2014 S. 2658, The Accelerating Biomedical Research Act S. 2501, the Hospital Readmissions Program Accuracy and Accountability Act of 2014 H.R. 4188 Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmission Program Act H.R. 4994, Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation Act of 2014 H.R. 5339, The Expanding Opportunities for Recovery Act H.R. 5110, SAVE Medicare Home Health Act of 2014 H.R. 5458, Building a Healthcare Workforce of the Future Act H.R. 5481, The Flexibility in Health IT Reporting (Flex-IT) Act OMHA-1401-NC, Medicare Program; Administrative Law Judge Hearing Program for Medicare Claim Appeals, Request for Information CMS-3819-P, Medicare and Medicaid Program: Conditions of Participation for Home Health Agencies; Proposed Rule

Client expense: $312,120 · Firm income: Not reported

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

HR 1201 "Training Tomorrow's Doctors Today Act" All Provisions S 577 "Resident Physician Shortage Act of 2013" All Provisions HR 574 "Medicare Physician Payment Innovation Act" All Provisions H.R. 4302 Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 All Provisions P.L. 111-148 and P.L. 111-152 Affordable Care Act. All provisions related to implementation of health care reform including the Medicare and Medicaid programs, tax and insurance policies, graduate medical education, biomedical research, public and preventative health measures, and other policies concerning hospitals, physicians, health plans, employers and individuals. H.R. 1180 The Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2013. All Provisions. H.R. 1920 DSH Reduction Relief Act of 2013. All Provisions. S. 1012 The Medicare Audit Improvement Act of 2013. All Provisions. H.R. 1250 The Medicare Audit Improvement Act of 2013. All Provisions. H. R. 2810 Medicare Patient Access and Quality Improvement Act of 2013. All Provisions. Senate Finance Committee: The SGR Repeal and Medicare Beneficiary Access Improvement Act of 2013. All Provisions. The SGR Repeal and Medicare Beneficiary Accesst Improvement Act of 2013, offered as a substitute amendment to H.R.2810 Medicare Patient Access and Quality Improvement Act of 2013. All Provisions. H.J. Res.59 Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 Short Title: Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 and Pathway for SGR Reform Act of 2013. All Provisions related to the Medicare Physican Payment H.R. 3698 Two-Midnight Rule Relay Act, All provision Medicare Advantage 2015 Advance Notice of Methodological Changes for Calendar Year 2015 for Medicare Advantage Capitation Rates, Part C and Part D Payment Policies and 2015 Call Letter. All Provisions S.1932 Medicare Better Care Program. All provisions. H.R. 3890 Medicare Better Care Program. All provisions. H.R. 4188 Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmission Program Act. All provisions. H.R. 1920 DSH Reduction Relief Act of 2013. All provisions. S. 2082 Two-Midnight Rule Coordination and Improvement Act of 2014. All provisions. H.R. 4673 Bundling and Coordinating Post-Acute Care Act of 2014. All provisions. H.R. 4994 Impact Act of 2014 - Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation Act of 2014. All provisions. H.R. 4188 Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmission Program Act. All provisions. Medicare Shared Savings Program/Accountable Care Organizations: Potential Regulatory Reforms H.R. 5481 To continue the use of a 3-month quarter EHR reporting period for health care providers to demonstrate meaningful use for 2015 under the Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive payment programs, and for other purposes. Hospital Improvements for Payment Act of 2014 Discussion Draft - All Provisions H.R. 5771 Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014. All Provisions CMMI Demonstration Project

Client expense: $160,000 · Firm income: Not reported

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

Preventing reductions to Medicare physician payment; Reforming the sustainable growth rate formula: "The SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2014" (S 2000/HR 4015); Preventing cuts to Medicare Graduate Medical Education and Disproportionate Share Hospital Payments; Preventing reductions to Hospital Inpatient and Outpatient PPS Payments; Provider reimbursements for end of life care counseling: "Personalize Your Care Act of 2013" (HR 1173); Medicare reimbursements for molecular diagnostics; Medicare coding & reimbursement associated with Screening, Brief Invention and Referral to Treatment; Additional Medicare support for Medicare Graduate Medical Education by expanding Medicare resident limits: "Training Tomorrows Doctors Today Act" (HR 1201), "The Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2013" (HR 1180), "The Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2013" (S 577), "Community-Based Medical Education Act of 2014 (S 2728); Allowing nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, and clinical nurse specialists to certify home health services for Medicare patients: "Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act (HR 2504, S 1332); Medicare payment for chronic care: "Better Care, Lower Cost Act of 2014" (S 1932); Medicare payment for short hospital stays: "Two- Midnight Rule Coordination and Improvement Act of 2014" (S 2082); Critical Access Hospital Relief Act (HR 3991/S. 2037); Improving the Medicare hospital readmissions program: "The Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmission Program Act" (HR 4188); Preventing reductions to the Medicaid program including the provider tax; Improvements to the Medicaid program for medically complex children, "Advancing Care for Exceptional Kids Act of 2014" (HR 4930).

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

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Submitted comments on the Hatch Entitlement Reform in support of the several key reforms proposed for the Medicare program as alternative reductions to provider payments; Support S 351 Protecting Seniors Access to Medicare Act, a bill to repeal the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act providing for the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Support HR 297 and S1557, Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2013, the bill would reauthorize the CHGME program for an additional five years through fiscal year (FY) 2017; Support HR 1250 and S 1012 Medicare Audit Improvement Act of 2013, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve operations of recovery auditors under the Medicare integrity program, to increase transparency and accuracy in audits conducted by contractors; Support S. 596 Fostering Independence Through Technology Act of 2014, a bill to establish pilot projects under the Medicare program to provide incentives for home health agencies to furnish remote patient monitoring services that reduce expenditures under such program; Support HR 1787 and S 842 Rural Hospital Access Act of 2013, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for an extension of the Medicare-dependent hospital (MDH) program and the increased payments under the Medicare low-volume hospital program; Support HR 1920 and S 1555 DSH Reduction Relief Act of 2013, a bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for a delay in the implementation schedule of the reductions in disproportionate share hospital payments;AHA submitted a statement to the Presidents and Other Bipartisan Proposals to Reform Medicare Post-Acute Care Payments hearing to provide input on proposals to reform Medicares post-acute care payment systems; AHA submitted a statement to the Program Integrity: Oversight of Recovery Audit Contractors hearing supporting increased oversight of Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs); Support HR 2578 Rural Hospital Fairness Act of 2013, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to extend for one year the hold harmless provision for small rural hospitals and sole community hospitals under the Medicare prospective payment system for hospital outpatient department services related to enhanced physician supervision requirements; AHA submitted a statement to the Health Care Quality: The Path Forward hearing in support of improving transparency for the public, continuing and enhancing support of efforts to improve the safety and quality of the care delivered,and reduce unnecessary hospital expenditures; Support HR 2931 Fairness in Health Care Claims, Guidance and Investigations Act, a bill to amend the false claims provisions of title 31, United States Code, with respect to health care programs; Request additional guidance on and delay of two-midnight rule from CMS; Request issue corrected data on OPPS proposed rule and delay comment period from CMS; Discussion of ACAs patient safety evaluation system with CMS; Discussed the improvements to the National Practitioner Data Bank and new compliance efforts at HRSA; Discussions of Medicaid presumptive eligibility; Medicaid DSH; and request release of DSH audit rule with CMS; Follow up on GPO exclusion related to 340(b) entities; discussions to help shape upcoming proposed rule on 340B with HRSA; Discussed the Qualified Health Plans (QHP) 90day grace period with HHS and its implications for hospitals; Support HJ Res 59, a continuing Appropriations Resolution for 2014, which includes a provision that averts Medicare physician payment cuts as Congress continues to work on a replacement of the flawed SGR formula; Support HR 3444 Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act of 2013, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide flexibility in the manner in which beds are counted for purposes of determining whether a hospital may be designated as a critical access hospital under the Medicare program; Support H.R.3698 and S. 2037 Two-Midnight Rule Delay Act of 2013, to delay the enforcement of the Medicare two-midnight rule for short inpatient hospital stays until the implementation of a new Medicare payment methodology for short inpatient hospital stays; Requested CMS and ONC to extend the EHR Incentive program regulatory timelines for 2014 and allow all providers greater flexibility in Stage 2 by giving all hospitals the option to make the transition to the 2014 Edition Certified EHR and the Stage 2 requirements (or the revised Stage 1 requirements, as applicable) over the course of 2014 or 2015; Support HR 3991 and S 2037 Critical Access Hospital Relief Act of 2014, amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to repeal the 96-hour physician certification requirement for inpatient critical access hospital services under which a physician must certify that a patient may reasonably be expected to be discharged or transferred to a hospital within 96 hours after admission to the critical access hospital; Support HR 4188 Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmission Program Act, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to adjust the Medicare hospital readmission reduction program to respond to patient disparities; Support H.R. 2801 and S1143 Protecting Access to Rural Therapy Services (PARTS) Act of 2013, a bill to adopt a default standard of general supervision for outpatient therapeutic services, develop a reasonable exceptions process with provider input to identify specific procedures that require direct supervision, ensure that, for CAHs, the definition of direct supervision is consistent with the CAH conditions of participation that allow a physician or NPP to present within 30 minutes of being called and prohibit enforcement of CMSs retroactive reinterpretation that the direct supervision requirements applied to services furnished since January 1, 2001; S.1932/H.R. 3890 Better Care, Lower Cost Act , AHA has not taken position on the bill, but did establish an AHA working group to analyze the legislation 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; requested that the increasing number of hospital compliance reviews performed by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) Office of Audit Services in which the OIG has extrapolated audit findings to estimate Medicare overpayments to the hospitals and the hospitals Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs)have sought to recover the extrapolated overpayment amounts be halted without delay; Support HR 5481, The Flexibility in Health IT Reporting (Flex-It) Act, a bill to continue the use of a 3-month quarter EHR reporting period for health care providers to demonstrate meaningful use for 2015 under the Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive payment programs. Senate briefing on legal barriers to providers' ability to manage risk, particularly with respect to Medicare ACO programs. Support HR 4656 and S2276, Caring for America's Heroes Act, a bill to improve access to mental health services under the TRICARE program; Funding for Ebola treatment and preparedness as part of the FY15 Omnibus Appropriations Act. Met to discuss the HHS calculator issue to ensure employers cannot offer health plans that exclude inpatient hospital care.

Client expense: $5,590,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Government Accountability Office (GAO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), SENATE, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)

H.R. 1180, S. 577, Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2013, Issues pertaining to increasing the cap on the number of resident physicians. H.R. 1201, Training Tomorrow's Doctors Today Act, Issues pertaining to increasing the cap on the number of resident physicians. Issues pertaining to protecting funding for direct graduate medical education and indirect medical education. S. 1871, SGR Repeal and Medicare Beneficiary Access Act of 2013, Issues pertaining to the Sustainable Growth Rate and its offsets. H.R. 2810, Medicare Patient Access and Quality Improvement Act of 2013, Issues pertaining to the Sustainable Growth Rate and its offsets. H.R. 3698, S. 2082, Two-Midnight Rule Delay Act of 2013, Support for delaying the two-midnight rule from CMS and issuing a clear policy on stays for less than two midnights. H.R. 4188, Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmission Program Act, Issues relating to adjusting for patient disparities. S. 2501, Hospital Readmissions Program Accuracy and Accountability Act of 2014, Issues relating to adjusting for patient socioeconomic disparities.

Client expense: $90,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Education, Dept of, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Natl Endowment for the Arts, SENATE

H.R. 1180, S.577, Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2013, Issues pertaining to increasing the cap on the number of resident physicians. H.R. 1201, Training Tomorrow's Doctors Today Act, Issues pertaining to increasing the cap on the number of resident physicians. Issues pertaining to protecting funding for direct graduate medical education and indirect medical education. S.1871, SGR Repeal and Medicare Beneficiary Access Act of 2013, Issues pertaining to the Sustainable Growth Rate and its offsets. H.R.2810, Medicare Patient Access and Quality Improvement Act of 2013, Issues pertaining to the Sustainable Growth Rate and its offsets. H.R. 3698, S. 2082, Two-Midnight Rule Delay Act of 2013, Support for delaying the two-midnight rule from CMS and issuing a clear policy on stays for less than two midnights. HR 4188, Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmission Program Act, Issues relating to adjusting for patient disparities. S 2501, Hospital Readmissions Program Accuracy and Accountability Act of 2014, Issues relating to adjusting for patient socioeconomic disparities.

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

Government targets: Education, Dept of, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Natl Endowment for the Arts, SENATE

S.183, Hospital Payment Fairness Act of 2013, Issues pertaining to sunsetting national budget neutrality for the hospital wage index. H.R. 2053, S. 1012, Medicare Hospital Wage Index Equity Act, Issues pertaining to changing the national budget neutrality for the hospital wage index to a state neutrality. H.R. 1180, S.577, Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2013, Issues pertaining to increasing the cap on the number of resident physicians. H.R. 1201, Training Tomorrow's Doctors Today Act, Issues pertaining to increasing the cap on the number of resident physicians. H.R. 1250, S. 1012, Medicare Audit Improvement Act of 2013, Issues pertaining to RAC audits for hospitals. H.R. 1920, S. 1555, DSH Reduction Relief Act of 2013, Issues regarding delaying implementation of DSH cuts. Issues pertaining to protecting funding for direct graduate medical education and indirect medical education. S.1871, SGR Repeal and Medicare Beneficiary Access Act of 2013, Issues pertaining to the Sustainable Growth Rate and its offsets. H.R.2810, Medicare Patient Access and Quality Improvement Act of 2013, Issues pertaining to the Sustainable Growth Rate and its offsets. H.R. 3698, S. 2082, Two-Midnight Rule Delay Act of 2013, Support for delaying the two-midnight rule from CMS and issuing a clear policy on stays for less than two midnights. HR 4188, Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmission Program Act, Issues relating to adjusting for patient disparities. S 2728, Community-Based Medical Education Act of 2014, Issues relating to concerns about reductions to IME and other items. S 2501, Hospital Readmissions Program Accuracy and Accountability Act of 2014, Issues relating to adjusting for patient socioeconomic disparities.

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

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.R. 4188, Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmission Program Act, issues relating to Medicare Advantage star ratings; S. 2501, Hospital Readmissions Program Accuracy and Accountability Act of 2014, issues relating to Medicare Advantage star ratings; Implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PL 111-148), issues relating to Medicare Advantage and Medicare Advantage star rating, Medicare sustainable growth rate, doc fix, managed care for dual eligible individuals, insurer fees, Medicare reimbursement rates, and Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB); Extension of ICD-10 transition deadline.

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

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, White House Office

H.R. 83: Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (H.R. 83) Funding for Ebola preparedness and treatment Medicare Audit Improvement Act of 2013 (H.R. 1250) Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act (S. 577/H.R. 1180) Protecting Seniors Access to Medicare Act of 2013 (H.R. 351 and S. 351) The DSH Reduction Relief Act of 2013 (H.R. 1920) Rural Hospital Access Act (H.R. 1787) Rural Hospital Fairness Act (H.R. 2578) Two Midnight Rule Delay Act (H.R. 3698)/Two-Midnight Rule Coordination and Improvement Act of 2014 (S. 2082) Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmission Program Act (H.R. 4188)/ Hospital Readmissions Program Accuracy and Accountability Act of 2014 (S. 2501) Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act (S. 2359) Flexibility in Health IT Reporting Act (HR 5481) Making the Education of Nurses Dependable for Schools (MEND) Act (H.R. 5227) Medicare physician fee schedule fix Severe sepsis protocols Medicare and Medicaid Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) Programs Funding for National Institutes of Health Medicare and Medicaid Payment reductions, including Graduate Medical Education, bad debt payments, post-acute care payments, Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) Payments, CAH payments, IPPS coding offset, rural hospital payments, Medicare Dependent Hospital authorization, inpatient coding offset, hospital outpatient department (HOPD) evaluation and management (E/M) services, and sequestration. Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentive Payment Programs Medicaid, New York State Medicaid Vital Access Provider Program Hospital and health system pricing transparency Clinical quality measures and electronic clinical quality measures FY 2014 Inpatient Prospective Payment System Final Rule (CMS-1599-F) - Two-Midnight Policy FFY 2015 Inpatient Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule (CMS-1607-P) - Two-Midnight Policy

Client expense: $250,000 · Firm income: Not reported

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

Medicare physician payment; Medicare coverage; Medicare hospital payment; physician and hospital quality; medical liability reform; electronic health record incentive program; clinical data registries; graduate medical education; health care quality; medical imaging and prior authorization; in-office ancillary services exception. HR 2914, Promoting Integrity in Medicare Act; SGR Repeal and Beneficiary Access Improvement Act; HR 4015/S 2000, SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act; S 2501, Hospital Readmission Accuracy and Accountability Act; S 1932/HR 3890, Better Care, Lower Cost Act; Facilitating Participation in Clinical Data Registries Act; IMPACT Act; S 2552, Medicare Advantage Participant Bill of Rights Act; HR 4282, CARE Act; HR 4930, Advancing Care for Exceptional Kids Act; S 961/HR 36, Health Care Safety Net Enhancement Act; HR 5215, to provide for recommendations for the development and use of clinical data registries; HR 5481, FLEX-IT Act; HR 4188, Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmission Program Act; HR 4857, Ensuring Equal Access to Treatments Act; S 1758, Quality Data, Quality Healthcare Act; HR 4418, Expanding the Availability of Medicare Data Act; Hospital Improvements for Payment (HIP) Act of 2014; Protecting Integrity in Medicare Act of 2014 (PIMA); HR 647, ABLE Act; S 2461/HR 5364, CHIP Extension and Improvement Act of 2014.

Client expense: $410,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ), Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), SENATE

H.R.5464 and draft Senate legislation, Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015, Title II H.R. 83, P.L.113-235, Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, Division G, Title II Issues: Support funding for NIH, Title VII and Title VIII health professions and nursing education programs, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), National Health Service Corps (NHSC), Children's Hospitals Graduate Medical Education program (CHGME), HRSA, biodefense and public health preparedness programs, and CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) and the Prevention Epicenters Program. Maintain NIH salary cap at Executive Level II. Encourage the highest possible allocation for the Labor-HHS Subcommittee. Support emergency supplemental funding to prepare and respond to Ebola and to reimburse for Ebola Virus Disease treatment. H.R. 4486 and draft Senate legislation, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015, Title II H.R. 83, P.L.113-235, Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, Division I, Title II President's Budget, FY 2016 Issues: Support funding for Veterans Affairs medical research, research infrastructure, and health care. Issue: Funding for Community Health Centers and the NHSC. Debt in Health Education Loan programs (DebtHELP) bill (draft) Issues: Expand National Health Service Corps State Loan Repayment program, align Department of Education and Health Resources and Services Administration student loan programs. S. 577, Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2013 H.R. 1180, Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2013 Issue: Support lifting the cap on the number of residents Medicare will count when determining teaching hospitals' Medicare Direct Graduate Medical Education and Indirect Medical Education payments. H.R. 1201, Training Tomorrow's Doctors Today Act Issues: Support lifting cap on number of residents Medicare will count when determining teaching hospitals' Medicare Direct Graduate Medical Education (DGME) and Indirect Medical Education (IME) payments and increase Graduate Medical Education (GME) accountability and transparency. H.R. 487, Primary Care Workforce Access Improvement Act Issue: Residency training in community-based settings. P.L. 111-148, Affordable Care Act, Sections 5503 and 5506 Issue: Redistribution of residency positions. Issue: Implementation of and funding for Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program under section 340G of the Public Health Service Act. Issue: Development and implementation of new Medicare Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) formula required under the Affordable Care Act. H.R. 2810/S. 1871, SGR Repeal and Medicare Beneficiary Access Improvement Act of 2013. Issues: Support repeal of Medicare's sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula; Medicare physician payment reform. Issue: Support the use of animals in medical research. S. 2553/H.R. 4994, Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation Act of 2014 Issue: Standardization of post-acute care assessment data for quality, payment, and discharge planning. Issue: Promote interprofessional education and training of the health care workforce. Issue: Support funding for the National Healthcare Workforce Commission. Issue: Implementation of Health Insurance Exchanges mandated by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to recognize and not penalize the unique missions of medical schools and teaching hospitals. Issue: Oppose reduction in Medicare hospital outpatient department reimbursement. Issue: Oppose discretionary spending cuts through sequestration, including NIH, Titles VII and VIII health professions and nursing education programs, and other science programs. Issue: Support primary care workforce development S. 1759, Teaching Health Center Reauthorization Act Issue: Legislation to reauthorize the Teaching Health Center Program and payments. Issue: Draft legislation on pain education in undergraduate and graduate medical education. H.R.548/S. 1152, The Building A Health Care Workforce for the Future Act Issue: Support bill to increase scholarship opportunities for medical students and encourage primary care workforce development. H.R. 5294, Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2014 Issue: Support bill to improve health equity. Issue: Oppose inclusion of Medicare add-on payments in Hospital-Acquired Condition (HAC) program. H.R. 3698, Two Midnight Rule Delay Act of 2013 S. 2082, Two Midnight Rule Coordination and Improvement Act of 2014 Issue: Support delay of enforcement of new CMS inpatient criteria (e.g., "Two-Midnight" rule) in FY 2014 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) final rule. Issue: Support Medicare GME per Resident Amount and cap trigger technical corrections and administrative relief. H.R. 4188, Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmissions Program Act. S. 2501, Hospital Readmission Accuracy and Accountability Act. Issue: Support inclusion of socioeconomic status as part of hospital readmissions program, including support for adoption of National Quality Forum (NQF) recommendations. Issue: Educating health professionals regarding prescription drug abuse and appropriate use of antibiotics. Issue: Support report language and efforts of HHS agencies to support efforts of urban-based institutions to improve health equity. Support use of holistic review in admissions. Issue: Support ACA consumer outreach and enrollment efforts. Issue: Implementation of the 340B drug discount program. Issue: Oppose Medicare payment reductions as offsets for non-Medicare spending. Issue: Support preservation of funding for the Primary Care Residency Expansion program. S. 2229, Expanding Primary Care Access and Workforce Act Issue: Offer comments on primary care workforce legislation. H.R. 5411, Trafficking Awareness Training for Health Care Act of 2014 Issue: Medical education curricula content pertaining to human trafficking. S. 2658/H.R.5580, Accelerating Biomedical Research Act Issue: To increase discretionary spending cap to increase funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). S. 2450, Veterans' Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act H.R. 4810, Veteran Access to Care Act Issue: Addressing VA backlogs by increasing care for veterans provided by non-VA facilities. S. 2115, American Cures Act H.R. 4384, America HEALS ACT Issue: Support establishment of a fund to provide an expanded and sustained investment in biomedical research. H.R. 4879, Research for All Act Issues: Support inclusion of male and female cells, tissues and animals in basic biomedical research. Support update of NIH guidelines to increase participation of women in clinical trials. Issue: FDA regulation of Laboratory Developed Tests (LDTs) S. 2728, Community Based Medical Education Act of 2014 Issue: Oppose reduction of Medicare GME/IME payments S. 2645, The Recovery Enhancement for Addiction Treatment (TREAT) Act Issue: Support legislation to increase access to care for patients addicted to opioids S. 2942, The Infectious Disease Hospitals Hubs Act Issue: Support legislation to establish a network of hospitals in preparing for and responding to infectious diseases. Issue: Support nomination of Dr. Vivek Murthy as U.S. Surgeon General Draft Hospital Improvements for Payment (HIP) Act of 2014 Issues: Support repeal of CMS Two-Midnights Rule, extending RAC audit moratorium for short stays, and permanent bundle program. Issue: Oppose further delays in the implementation of the ICD-10 system Submitted comments to: U.S. Census Bureau on the American Community Survey CMS on the Hospital Acquired Conditions Reduction Program (HAC)s technical expert panel (TEP)s report regarding the scoring of hospitals in the HAC program CMS on final rule regarding definition of uninsured for purposes of Medicaid DSH limits HHS on revisions to the safe harbors under the anti-kickback statute and civil monetary penalty rules (gainsharing, etc.) FDA on strategies for increasing patient involvement in regulatory processes. White House Ebola Response Coordinator offering to work with federal and state officials to prepare and respond to Ebola cases. NIH in response to an RFI related to the development of grant program to help facilitate the transition from training to independence. NIH on the consideration of sex as a biological variable in biomedical research The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) on the proposed process for peer review and public release of its primary research finding. DEA on delaying the Disposal of Controlled Substances Final Rule.

Client expense: $1,540,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ), Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Bureau of the Census, Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Reserve System, Food & Drug Administration (FDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Science & Technology Policy (OSTP), Patent & Trademark Office (PTO), SENATE, Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), White House Office

S. 577, Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2013 H.R. 1180, Resident Physician Shortage Reduction of 2013. Issue: Support lifting the cap on the number of residents Medicare will count when determining teaching hospitals' Medicare Direct Graduate Medical Education and Indirect Medical Education payments. H.R. 1201, Training Tomorrow's Doctors Today Act Issues: Support lifting cap on number of residents Medicare will count when determining teaching hospitals' Medicare DGME and IME payments and increase GME accountability and transparency. Issue: Implementation and funding for Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program under section 340G of the Public Health Service Act. Issue: Health Insurance Exchanges mandated by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to recognize and not penalize the unique missions of medical schools and teaching hospitals. Issue: Support Medicare physician payment reform. Issue: Oppose reduction in Medicare hospital outpatient department reimbursement. H.R. 487, Primary Care Workforce Access Improvement Act. Issue: Residency training in community-based settings. Issue: Primary Care Workforce Development. President's Budget, FY 2015 Issue: Oppose proposed reductions in Medicare Direct Graduate Medical Education (DGME) and Indirect Medical Education (IME) payments; oppose use of Medicare GME funding for creation of new GME grant program. Issue: Oppose inclusion of Medicare add-on payments in Hospital-Acquired Condition (HAC) program. Issue: Oppose Medicare payment reductions as offsets for non-Medicare spending. S. 2082, Two Midnight Rule Coordination and Improvement Act of 2014 H.R. 3698, Two Midnight Rule Delay Act of 2013 Issue: Support delay of Enforcement of new Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services inpatient criteria (e.g., "Two-Midnight" rule) in FY 2014 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) final rule. Issue: Support Medicare Graduate Medical Education (GME) per resident amount technical corrections and administrative relief. H.R. 4188, Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmissions Program Act S. 2501, Hospital Readmission Accuracy and Accountability Act Issue: Support inclusion of socioeconomic status as part of hospital readmissions program. H.R. 2810/S. 1871, SGR Repeal and Medicare Beneficiary Access Improvement Act of 2013 Issues: Support repeal of Medicares Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula; Medicare physician payment reform. Issue: Draft legislation on educating health professionals regarding appropriate use of antibiotics. Issue: Support report language and efforts of HHS agencies to support efforts of urban-based institutions to improve health equity. Issue: Implementation of the 340B drug discount program. H.R. 4302, Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2013. Issues: Support Medicare physician payment relief and extended delay of Medicare's "two-midnights" policy for hospital admissions; support the addition of GME language related to establishing Medicare caps and PRA; support delayed implementation of Medicaid DSH cuts. H.R. 4282, Creating Access to Residency Education Act of 2014 Issue: Create CMS grant program for new residency programs. Issue: Support inclusion of socioeconomic status as part of hospital readmissions program including support for adoption of National Quality Forum (NQF) recommendations. Issue: Support Medicaid expansion advocacy efforts. Issue: Draft legislation on pain education in undergraduate and graduate medical education. S. 2229, Expanding Primary Care Access and Workforce Act Issue: Offer comments on primary care workforce legislation. H.R. 4942, Underserved Veterans Access to Health Care Act Issue: Increasing funding for VA GME and Medicare GME. S. 2553/H.R. 4994, Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation Act of 2014. Issue: Standardization of post-acute care assessment data for quality, payment, and discharge planning. S. 2728, Community Based Medical Education Act of 2014 Issue: Oppose reduction of Medicare GME/IME payments. Issue: Development and implementation of new Medicare Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) formula required under the ACA. Draft Hospital Improvements for Payment (HIP) Act of 2014 Issues: Support repeal of CMS Two-Midnights Rule, extending RAC audit moratorium for short stays, and permanent bundle program. Issue: Oppose further delays in the implementation of the ICD-10 system Submitted comments to: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on the Hospital Acquired Conditions Reduction Program (HAC)s technical expert panel (TEP)s report regarding the scoring of hospitals in the HAC program. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on final rule regarding definition of uninsured for purposes of Medicaid DSH limits The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on revisions to the safe harbors under the anti-kickback statute and civil monetary penalty rules (gainsharing, etc.)

Client expense: $1,540,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ), Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Bureau of the Census, Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Reserve System, Food & Drug Administration (FDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Science & Technology Policy (OSTP), Patent & Trademark Office (PTO), SENATE, Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), White House Office

Support Emergency Funding to Combat Ebola Crisis Maintain Primary Care Enhanced Reimbursement Rates for Physicians Revise Hospital Readmission Penalty Policy (HR 4188) Support GME Funding for Teaching Hospitals Support Continuation of CHIP Program Hospital Payment Proposed Legislation-Oppose Cuts to Hospital Funding for Essential Providers

Client expense: $34,070 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), SENATE

Support Emergency Funding to Combat Ebola Crisis Maintain Primary Care Enhanced Reimbursement Rates for Physicians Revise Hospital Readmission Penalty Policy (HR 4188) Support GME Funding for Teaching Hospitals Support 340B Drug Discount Program Support Continuation of CHIP Program Expedite Processing of Application for Tax-Exempt Hospital Foundation Hospital Payment Proposed Legislation-Oppose Cuts to Hospital Funding for Essential Providers

Client expense: $34,070 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), SENATE

Organ Transplant Allocation Ebola Funding HR 3698 - 2 Midnight Rule Delay Act S 2082 - 2 Midnight Rule Delay Act S 577 - The Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act HR 4188 - Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmission Program Act FY 2015 Labor/HHS Appropriations

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $46,275

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Issues pertaining to Medicaid reform, block grant proposals, per capita caps Medicare and Medicaid Graduate Medical education, Medicaid provider taxes, Medicare bad debt payments Medicare and Medicaid paymentMedicaid Waivers Extension of Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate Medicare Evaluation and Management Reimbursement Reduction Proposal Issues related to waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid Medicare Disproportionate Share Hospital Payments H.R. 574 Medicare Physician Payment Innovation Act of 2013, all provisions H.R. 1853 Medicaid Accountability and Care Act, all provisions H.R. 574 Medicare Physician Payment Act, all provisions 5.577/HR 1180 Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act , all provisions H.R. 1201 Training Tomorrow's Doctors Act, all provisions H.R. 1250/5.1012 Medicare Audit Improvement Act, all provisions H.R. 1487 Improved Healthcare at a Lower Cost Act, all provisions H.R. 1698 Stabilize Medicaid and CHIP Coverage, all provisions H.R. 1326 Health Care Price Transparency Promotion Act, all provisions H.R. 1920 DSH Reduction Relief Act, all provisions Issues related to Medicaid enrollment of newborns CMS FY2014 Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System Rule Issues related to admission and medical review criteria for inpatient services ("two midnights rule") S.1555 DSH Reduction Relief Act of 2013, all provisions S.1871 SGR Repeal and Medicare Beneficiary Access Act - all sections H.R. 2810 Medicare Patient Access and Quality Improvement Act - all sections H.R. 4302 Protecting Access to Medicare Act - all sections H.R. 4015 SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act S. 1980 Medicaid and CHIP Continuous Quality Act H.R. 3678 Two-Midnight Rule Delay Act - all sections H.R. 4188 Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmission Program Act S. 2082 Two-Midnight Rule Coordination and Improvement Act S. 2501 Hospitals Readmissions Program Accuracy and Accountability Act, all sections Issues related to quality measures reporting in Medicaid S. 2461 CHIP Extension act of 2014, all provisions Issues related to Medicare payment for patients in "observation status" in hospitals CMS FY 2014 Outpatient Prospective Payment System Rule Issues related to Medicare Recovery Audit Contractors S. 2941 Medicare Protection Act, all Provisions Extension of SSA 1902 (a) (b) (c) - Medicaid Primary Care payment parity Childrens Health Insurance Program Medicare Hospital Re-admissions Program Meaningful Use Stage 2 H.R. 5481 The Flexibility in Health IT Reporting Act H.R. 5364 CHIP Extension and Improvement Act, All provisions Hospital Improvements for Payment Act of 2014 (generally and specific sections) Section 101: Hospital Prospective Payment System 102: Per Diem payment rate for short lengths of stay 103: Repeal of the Two- Midnights payment reduction 104 and 105: Monitoring performance of and improvements to the RAC program 109: Hospital assessment data 110: Cost information on hospital payments 201: Repeal of the moratorium on physician owned hospitals 214: Tennessee DSH allotment for FY2015 and succeeding fiscal years 216: NOTICE Act 217: Establishing equity in the Hospital Readmissions Program Act

Client expense: $240,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, White House Office

Medicare and Medicaid disproportionate share hospital cuts, including DSH Reduction Relief Act - support amendments to mitigate the impact of cuts on losing hospitals, postpone Medicaid DSH cuts; Graduate Medical Education issues (including Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act (S.577/H.R.1180) - support; Amendments to the Medicare hospital readmissions penalty program methodology (providing SES adjustments, fixing the formula flaw), H.R.4188/S.2501 - support; IMPACT Act (S.2553/H.R.4994), support reducing burdensome hospital requirements in original bill; support of final bill; Medicare Audit Improvement Act (H.R.1250/S.1012) and other issues related Medicare claims appeal backlogs - support; Proposals to amend the 2 Midnight Policy (CMS-1599-F)(H.R. 3698/S.2082) - support; comments on House Ways and Means discussion draft legislation, Hospital Improvements for Payment Act of 2014, concerns about new proposed short stay payment methdology and impact on teaching hospitals; CMS Disallowance to NYS File No.:NY-2014-03-MAP - oppose, support NYS Congressional delegation letter to CMS; legislation to create a comprehensive Medicare home infusion benefit (H.R.5435) - support; comments on physician services pertaining to non-face-to-face chronic care management services (CMS-1612-P); support NYS Congressional delegation letter to CMS on NYS State plan amendments on Medicaid rates for hospitals (2% cut restoration, Vital Access Provider funds).

Client expense: $290,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), SENATE, White House Office

HR 2801/S 1143: Protecting Access to Rural Therapy Services (PARTS) Act HR 1250/S 1012: The Medicare Audit Improvement Act of 2013 HR 4067/S 1954: Extension of Moratorium on Direct Supervision HR 3769: Extension of Moratorium on Direct Supervision HR 4015/ S 2000: SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2014 HR 3698: Two Midnight Rule Delay Act of 2013 S 2082: Two Midnight Rule Coordination and Improvement Act of 2014 H.R. 3991/ S. 2037 Critical Access Hospital Relief Act of 2014 (96 Hour Rule) H.R. 4188, the Establishing beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmission Program Act H.R. 4668 Protect Patient Access and Promote Hospital Efficiency Act HR 4015/ S 2000: SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2014; HR 4302: Protecting Access to Medicare Act 2014 S. 25: Repealing the Reduction in the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for Retired Members of the Armed Services Bureau By Extending the Medicare Sequester. S.540 - Temporary Debt Limit Extension Act and preceding potential proposals for raising the debt limit and funding. S. 2359 Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act (R-HoPE) H.R. 3590, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, provisions relating to hospitals, hospice and physicians including: Section 3001: hospital value-based purchasing; Section 3125: low-volume hospital payment; Section 3401: productivity adjustments; Section 3121: outpatient hold harmless for hospitals; Sections 7101-7103: 340B Program; Section 3401: Independent Payment Advisory Board; Section 3015: hospital readmissions program; Section 3124: Extension of Medicare Dependent Hospital program; Section 3137: Section 508 Reclassification; Section 9007: non-profit hospital provision; Section 3105: ambulance services; Section 3008 and Section 2702: payment adjustment for hospital acquired conditions; Section 3133: Medicare DSH; Section 2551: Disproportionate Share Hospitals; Section 5501: Primary Care Provisions; Section 5503: Graduate Medical Education; Sections 2001-2081: Expansion of Medicaid, CHIP; Sections 1311- 1343: CO-OPs and Exchanges; Section 3022: Accountable Care Organizations; Section 3023: Hospital Bundling Provision; Section 6401- 6402: Program Integrity Provisions; Section 6501-6503, 6505, 6508: Medicaid Program Integrity Provisions; Section 3141: Changes to the Rural Floor of the Hospital Wage Index. H.R. 4872, Health Care & Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010: provisions relating to hospitals and physicians, including: Section 2302: 340B program; Section 1104 and Section 1203: Medicare and Medicaid DSH Payments; Sections 1108 and 1109 involving geographic disparities in Medicare payment; Section 1105: Market basket updates; Section 1201: Federal funding for States. Other issues: Medicaid DSH Reduction rule, entire rule. Medicare and Medicaid Recovery Audit Contractor programs, including CMS' proposed changes to the rebilling policy for hospitals, CMS1455P. Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record Payment Incentive Programs. Simpson/Bowles Budget proposal released in April 2013, entire proposal. Implementation of the state health insurance exchanges. 340B Drug Discount Program. Critical Access Hospitals/OIG report and potential changes to CAH designation and payment. Proposals involving site-neutral payment policies impacting payments to hospitals. Medicare Part D pre-authorization policy affecting hospices. Effects of expanded sequestration on hospital, payment issues for hospitals Two-midnight rule effects on patients and facilities 96 hour rule effects on patients and facilities

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

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

President's Budget, FY2015, Medicare and Medicaid hospital reimbursement issues. Health care reform, Hospital related issues and initiatives. Public Law 111-148, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Hospital related issues and initiatives. H.R.4872, Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, Hospital related issues and initiatives. Sequestration and fiscal cliff issues generally. S.Con.Res.8, Concurrent Resolution on the Budget Fiscal Year 2014, Hospital related issues and initiatives. H.R.1250, Medicare Audit Improvement Act of 2013, Recovery Audit Contractors H.R.1326, Health Care Price Transparency Promotion Act of 2013, Pricing Transparency issues. H.R.1920, DSH Reduction Relief Act of 2013, Disproportionate Share Hospital payment H.R.1180, Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2013, Graduate Medical Expense (GME) Public Law 113-93, Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014, SGR related issues. S.2110, Medicare SGR Repeal and Beneficiary Access Improvement Act of 2014, SGR related issues. H.R.4188, Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmission Program Act, Hospital related issues. H.R.3776, Stark Administrative Simplification Act, Hospital related issues.

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

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Sustainable growth rate formula (H.R. 4015, S. 2157) - Advocated for the repeal of the SGR formula for Medicare physician reimbursement during the lame duck session of Congress. Opposed including further cuts to hospital payments to offset the cost of such legislation. Ways and Means Committee Hospital Improvement for Payment Discussion Draft - Monitored and reviewed the introduction of draft legislation from the Ways and Means Committee impacting hospital policies. Supported proposals to place greater restrictions on Medicare recovery audit contractor activities (similar to H.R. 1250, and S. 1012). Supported provision to include sociodemographic considerations in the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (similar to H.R. 4188 & S. 2501). Reviewed and monitored proposals to modify hospital payment systems to more accurately pay for short-stay admissions and supported proposals to delay enforcement of CMS' "two-midnight rule". Opposed provision that would relax current restrictions on physician-owned hospitals.

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

Government targets: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), SENATE

Promoted Missouri congressional delegation discussion of a backlog in processing of Administrative Law Judge review of appeals of Medicare payment and benefit decision, as well as Recovery Audit Contractor reform legislation (H.R. 1250 and S. 1012) with Secretary of Health and Human Services nominee Sylvia BurwellPromoted enactment of H.R. 1250 and S. 1012 Responded to a congressional office request for information about Missouri hospitals which may be applying for a grant under CMS Medicare Care Choices Model project Responded to a congressional office request for information about litigation challenging the backlog in Administrative Law Judge review of Medicaid payment and benefit decision Provided information to selected members of the Missouri congressional delegation regarding another states actions regarding the decision of CMS to extend the imputed wage index floor for that state Distributed information to the Missouri congressional delegation regarding Missouri hospitals participation in the federal Partnership for Patients/Hospital Engagement Network initiative. Promoted enactment of S. 183 and H.R. 2053 Provided advocacy information to the Missouri congressional delegation regarding: - a profile of the characteristics of Missouri hospitals - changes in the schedule of implementation of federal statutory reductions in Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments - federal payment reductions for Missouri hospitals by Medicare, including Medicare sequestration and Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments - Missouri state and district-specific analyses of the characteristics and health care utilization of the uninsured - the role and benefits of the 340B prescription drug purchasing discount program for participating Missouri hospitals - expected debate of legislation regarding Medicare payment and standards for post-acute health care providers, reflected in a bicameral draft of the Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation Act of 2014. Promoted enactment of H.R. 4188 or expected companion Senate legislation Provided to the Missouri congressional delegation the Missouri Hospital Associations comments regarding CMS proposed regulation governing the payment of premiums on behalf of health insurance exchange enrollees Discussed potential topics for future health policy briefings with the Missouri congressional delegation

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

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.R.3698, Two-Midnight Rule Delay Act of 2013; S.2082, Two-Midnight Rule Coordination and Improvement Act of 2014; H.R.1180/S.577, Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2013; H.R.4188, Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmission Program Act;S.2501, Hospital Readmissions Program Accuracy and Accountability Act of 2014; Issues related to hospital and related provider reimbursement, disproportionate share hospitals, graduate medical education and delivery system reforms.

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

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

Physician Payment Reform and SGR repeal; Medicare observation status and the two midnight Rule; H.R. 1179/S.569, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2013; H.R. 4188, "Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmission Program Act;" H.R. 1173, "Personalize Your Care Act of 2013"; "Ensuring Access to Primary Care for Women & Children Act," H.R. 5723, S. 2694. Meaningful use and hospitalists. H.R. 5780, Protecting the Integrity of Medicare Act of 2014, gainsharing provisions.

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

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

S.577/H.R.1180, Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2013. H.R.1201, Training Tomorrow's Doctors Today Act. H.R.3698, Two-Midnight Rule Delay Act of 2013/S.2082, Two-Midnight Rule Coordination and Improvement Act of 2014. H.R.4188, Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmission Program Act.S.2501, Hospital Readmissions Program Accuracy and Accountability Act of 2014. S.2553/H.R.4994, Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation Act of 2014. H.R.83, Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015. Medicare funding for graduate medical education. Medicare reimbursement for hospital outpatient services.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $20,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Two Midnight Rule (HR 3698 / S. 2082) Socioeconomic adjustment of the hospital readmission reduction program (H.R. 4188 / S. 2501) Medicare Audit Improvement Ace (H.R. 1250 / S. 1012) DSH Reduction Relief Act (H.R. 1920 / S. 1555)Sustainable Growth Rate Medical Liability Reform (S. 1769 / H.R. 1473, H.R. 36 / S. 961) Mental Health Policy (H.R. 3717) Rural Hospital Policies (H.R. 1787 /S. 842, H.R. 3991 / S. 2037, H.R. 3444, S. 2359, H.R. 2801 / S. 1143) Post Acute Care Policies (H.R. 4994) Graduate Medical Education (H.R. 1201 / S. 577 / H.R. 1180) Meaningful Use of Electronic Health Records (H.R. 5481) Children's Health Insurance Program Veterans Access to Care Nurse Education Policies 340B Drug Discount Program Home Health Face-To-Face Requirement FY 2015 IPPS

Client expense: $46,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Advocated to support rural hospitals in CMS rulemaking Advocated for support of Medicaid Provider Assessment Advocated for modifying hospital readmissions policies - HR 4188 / S 2501 Advocated to delay 2 midnights rule - HR 3698 / S 2082 Advocated to support DSH hospitals - HR 1920 / S 1555 Advocated to modify Medicare audits - HR 1250 / S. 1012 Advocated for delay of implementation of DEA controlled substances final rule Advocated in support for ebola emergency funding

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $15,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

S. 323 and H.R. 1428, "Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act" H.R. 4188, "Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmission Program Act" Medicare Dialysis Five Star Rating proposal

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

Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), SENATE

Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmission Program Act (H.R. 4188) Hospital Readmissions Program Accuracy and Accountability Act (S. 2501) Training Tomorrow's Doctors Today Act (H.R. 1180/H.R. 1201)To continue the use of a 3-month quarter EHR reporting period for health care providers to demonstrate meaningful use for 2015 under the Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive payment programs, and for other purposes. (H.R. 5481)

Client expense: $12,500 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

-Advocated in support of the Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmission Program Act (H.R.4188) and its Senate companion legislation - the Hospital Readmissions Program Accuracy and Accountability Act of 2014 (S.2501) -Advocated for the delay of the Two-midnights rule through support of the Two-Midnight Rule Delay Act (H.R.3698) and its Senate companion legislation (S.2082) -Advocated in support of the Disproportional Share Hospital (DSH) Reduction Relief Act (H.R.1920) and its Senate companion legislation (S.1555) -Advocated in support of the Medicare Audit Improvement Act (H.R.1250) and its Senate companion legislation (S.1012) -Engaged in discussions regarding 21st Century Cures Initiative, which is designed to accelerate processes at the National Institutes of Health and Food and Drug Administration n order to improve drug and device processes, increase discovery, and improve delivery -Discussed Alzheimers Disease research efforts on campus -Discussed support for efforts at HRSA regarding cord blood banking

Client expense: $88,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

NIH funding; GME funding; Sunshine Act faculty disclosure policy; H.R. 4188, Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmission Program Act; S. 2658, Accelerated Biomedical Research Act; specialty designation code for heart failure specialists

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

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

Submitted comments on the Hatch Entitlement Reform in support of the several key reforms proposed for the Medicare program as alternative reductions to provider payments; Support S 351 Protecting Seniors Access to Medicare Act, a bill to repeal the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act providing for the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Support HR 297 and S1557, Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2013, the bill would reauthorize the CHGME program for an additional five years through fiscal year (FY) 2017; Support HR 1250 and S 1012 Medicare Audit Improvement Act of 2013, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve operations of recovery auditors under the Medicare integrity program, to increase transparency and accuracy in audits conducted by contractors; Support S. 596 Fostering Independence Through Technology Act of 2014, a bill to establish pilot projects under the Medicare program to provide incentives for home health agencies to furnish remote patient monitoring services that reduce expenditures under such program; Support HR 1787 and S 842 Rural Hospital Access Act of 2013, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for an extension of the Medicare-dependent hospital (MDH) program and the increased payments under the Medicare low-volume hospital program; Support HR 1920 and S 1555 DSH Reduction Relief Act of 2013, a bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for a delay in the implementation schedule of the reductions in disproportionate share hospital payments;AHA submitted a statement to the Presidents and Other Bipartisan Proposals to Reform Medicare Post-Acute Care Payments hearing to provide input on proposals to reform Medicares post-acute care payment systems; AHA submitted a statement to the Program Integrity: Oversight of Recovery Audit Contractors hearing supporting increased oversight of Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs); Support HR 2578 Rural Hospital Fairness Act of 2013, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to extend for one year the hold harmless provision for small rural hospitals and sole community hospitals under the Medicare prospective payment system for hospital outpatient department services related to enhanced physician supervision requirements; AHA submitted a statement to the Health Care Quality: The Path Forward hearing in support of improving transparency for the public, continuing and enhancing support of efforts to improve the safety and quality of the care delivered,and reduce unnecessary hospital expenditures; Support HR 2931 Fairness in Health Care Claims, Guidance and Investigations Act, a bill to amend the false claims provisions of title 31, United States Code, with respect to health care programs; Request additional guidance on and delay of two-midnight rule from CMS; Request issue corrected data on OPPS proposed rule and delay comment period from CMS; Discussion of ACAs patient safety evaluation system with CMS; Discussed the improvements to the National Practitioner Data Bank and new compliance efforts at HRSA; Discussions of Medicaid presumptive eligibility; Medicaid DSH; and request release of DSH audit rule with CMS; Follow up on GPO exclusion related to 340(b) entities; discussions to help shape upcoming proposed rule on 340B with HRSA; Discussed the Qualified Health Plans (QHP) 90day grace period with HHS and its implications for hospitals; Support HJ Res 59, a continuing Appropriations Resolution for 2014, which includes a provision that averts Medicare physician payment cuts as Congress continues to work on a replacement of the flawed SGR formula; Support HR 3444 Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act of 2013, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide flexibility in the manner in which beds are counted for purposes of determining whether a hospital may be designated as a critical access hospital under the Medicare program; Support H.R.3698 and S. 2037 Two-Midnight Rule Delay Act of 2013, to delay the enforcement of the Medicare two-midnight rule for short inpatient hospital stays until the implementation of a new Medicare payment methodology for short inpatient hospital stays; Requested CMS and ONC to extend the EHR Incentive program regulatory timelines for 2014 and allow all providers greater flexibility in Stage 2 by giving all hospitals the option to make the transition to the 2014 Edition Certified EHR and the Stage 2 requirements (or the revised Stage 1 requirements, as applicable) over the course of 2014 or 2015; Support HR 3991 and S 2037 Critical Access Hospital Relief Act of 2014, amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to repeal the 96-hour physician certification requirement for inpatient critical access hospital services under which a physician must certify that a patient may reasonably be expected to be discharged or transferred to a hospital within 96 hours after admission to the critical access hospital; Support HR 4188 Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmission Program Act, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to adjust the Medicare hospital readmission reduction program to respond to patient disparities; Support H.R. 2801 and S 1143 Protecting Access to Rural Therapy Services (PARTS) Act of 2013, a bill to adopt a default standard of general supervision for outpatient therapeutic services, develop a reasonable exceptions process with provider input to identify specific procedures that require direct supervision, ensure that, for CAHs, the definition of direct supervision is consistent with the CAH conditions of participation that allow a physician or NPP to present within 30 minutes of being called and prohibit enforcement of CMSs retroactive reinterpretation that the direct supervision requirements applied to services furnished since January 1, 2001; S.1932/H.R. 3890 Better Care, Lower Cost Act , AHA has not taken position on the bill, but did establish an AHA working group to analyze the legislation 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; requested that the increasing number of hospital compliance reviews performed by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) Office of Audit Services in which the OIG has extrapolated audit findings to estimate Medicare overpayments to the hospitals and the hospitals Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs)have sought to recover the extrapolated overpayment amounts be halted without delay; Support HR 5481, The Flexibility in Health IT Reporting (Flex-It) Act, a bill to continue the use of a 3-month quarter EHR reporting period for health care providers to demonstrate meaningful use for 2015 under the Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive payment programs.

Client expense: $4,270,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), SENATE

H.R. 4930, the Advancing Care for Exceptional Kids Act - provisions related to Medicaid-eligible children with medically complex needs Issues related to the CMS Medicare wage index H.R. 4188, the Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmission Program Act - provisions related to accounting for socio-economic status for purposes of Medicares Hospital Readmission Reduction Program S. 2501, the Hospital Readmissions Program Accuracy and Accountability Act - provisions related to accounting for socio-economic status for purposes of Medicares Hospital Readmission Reduction Program General issues related to the outlook for SGR reform Issues related to Graduate Medical Education (GME)

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

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.R. 1180, S.577, Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2013, Issues pertaining to increasing the cap on the number of resident physicians. H.R. 1201, Training Tomorrow's Doctors Today Act, Issues pertaining to increasing the cap on the number of resident physicians. H.R. 1920, S. 1555, DSH Reduction Relief Act of 2013, Issues regarding delaying implementation of DSH cuts. S.1871, SGR Repeal and Medicare Beneficiary Access Act of 2013, Issues pertaining to the Sustainable Growth Rate and its offsets. H.R.2810, Medicare Patient Access and Quality Improvement Act of 2013, Issues pertaining to the Sustainable Growth Rate and its offsets. Issues pertaining to offsets for SGR patch. H.R. 3698, S. 2082, Two-Midnight Rule Delay Act of 2013, Support for delaying the two-midnight rule from CMS and issuing a clear policy on stays for less than two midnights. H.R. 4188, Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmission Program Act, Issues relating to adjusting for patient disparities. S. 2501, Hospital Readmissions Program Accuracy and Accountability Act of 2014, Issues relating to adjusting for patient disparities/socioeconomic status.

Client expense: $100,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Economic Development Administration, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

HR3590 PL No. 111-148 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act HR4302 PL No. 113-93 Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 HR1250 Medicare Audit Improvement Act of 2013 HR4188 Establishing beneficiary equity in the hospital readmission program act of 2014 S2501 Hospital Readmissions Program Accuracy and Accountability Act

Client expense: $140,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.R. 4188, Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmission Program Act, issues relating to Medicare Advantage star ratings; S. 2501, Hospital Readmissions Program Accuracy and Accountability Act of 2014, issues relating to Medicare Advantage star ratings;S. 2783, Value Based Insurance Design for Better Care Act of 2014; Implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PL 111-148), issues relating to Medicare Advantage and Medicare Advantage star rating, Medicare sustainable growth rate, doc fix, managed care for dual eligible individuals, insurer fees, Medicare reimbursement rates, and Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB); Medicare Part D.

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

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

H.R. 4188, Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmission Program Act, issues relating to Medicare Advantage star ratings; S. 2501, Hospital Readmissions Program Accuracy and Accountability Act of 2014, issues relating to Medicare Advantage star ratings;S. 2783, Value Based Insurance Design for Better Care Act of 2014; Implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PL 111-148), issues relating to Medicare Advantage and Medicare Advantage star rating, Medicare sustainable growth rate, doc fix, managed care for dual eligible individuals, insurer fees, Medicare reimbursement rates, and Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB); Medicare Part D.

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

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

Issues pertaining to Medicaid reform, block grant proposals, per capita caps Medicare and Medicaid Graduate Medical education, Medicaid provider taxes, Medicare bad debt payments Medicare and Medicaid paymentMedicaid Waivers Extension of Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate Medicare Evaluation and Management Reimbursement Reduction Proposal Issues related to waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid Medicare Disproportionate Share Hospital Payments H.R. 574 Medicare Physician Payment Innovation Act of 2013, all provisions H.R. 1853 Medicaid Accountability and Care Act, all provisions H.R. 574 Medicare Physician Payment Act, all provisions 5.577/HR 1180 Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act , all provisions H.R. 1201 Training Tomorrow's Doctors Act, all provisions H.R. 1250/5.1012 Medicare Audit Improvement Act, all provisions H.R. 1487 Improved Healthcare at a Lower Cost Act, all provisions H.R. 1698 Stabilize Medicaid and CHIP Coverage, all provisions H.R. 1326 Health Care Price Transparency Promotion Act, all provisions H.R. 1920 DSH Reduction Relief Act, all provisions Issues related to Medicaid enrollment of newborns CMS FY2014 Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System Rule Issues related to admission and medical review criteria for inpatient services ("two midnights rule") S.1555 DSH Reduction Relief Act of 2013, all provisions S.1871 SGR Repeal and Medicare Beneficiary Access Act - all sections H.R. 2810 Medicare Patient Access and Quality Improvement Act - all sections H.R. 4302 Protecting Access to Medicare Act - all sections H.R. 4015 SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act S. 1980 Medicaid and CHIP Continuous Quality Act H.R. 3678 Two-Midnight Rule Delay Act - all sections H.R. 4188 Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmission Program Act S. 2082 Two-Midnight Rule Coordination and Improvement Act S. 2501 Hospitals Readmissions Program Accuracy and Accountability Act, all sections Issues related to quality measures reporting in Medicaid S. 2461 CHIP Extension act of 2014, all provisions Issues related to Medicare payment for patients in "observation status" in hospitals CMS FY 2014 Outpatient Prospective Payment System Rule Issues related to Medicare Recovery Audit Contractors S. 2941 Medicare Protection Act, all Provisions Extension of SSA 1902 (a) (b) (c) - Medicaid Primary Care payment parity Childrens Health Insurance Program Medicare Hospital Re-admissions Program Meaningful Use Stage 2 H.R. 5481 The Flexibility in Health IT Reporting Act H.R. 5364 CHIP Extension and Improvement Act, All provisions

Client expense: $160,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, White House Office

Medicare Audit Improvement Act of 2013 (H.R. 1250) Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act (S. 577/H.R. 1180) Protecting Seniors Access to Medicare Act of 2013 (H.R. 351 and S. 351) The DSH Reduction Relief Act of 2013 (H.R. 1920) Rural Hospital Access Act (H.R. 1787) Rural Hospital Fairness Act (H.R. 2578) Two Midnight Rule Delay Act (H.R. 3698)/Two-Midnight Rule Coordination and Improvement Act of 2014 (S. 2082) Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmission Program Act (H.R. 4188)/ Hospital Readmissions Program Accuracy and Accountability Act of 2014 (S. 2501) Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act (S. 2359) Flexibility in Health IT Reporting Act (HR 5481) Making the Education of Nurses Dependable for Schools (MEND) Act (H.R. 5227)? Medicare physician fee schedule fix Structural changes to Medicare - combining Parts A and B Severe sepsis protocols Medicare and Medicaid Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) Programs Funding for National Institutes of Health Medicare and Medicaid Payment reductions, including Graduate Medical Education, bad debt payments, post-acute care payments, Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) Payments, CAH payments, IPPS coding offset, rural hospital payments, Medicare Dependent Hospital authorization, inpatient coding offset, outpatient department hold harmless for certain rural and Sole Community Hospitals, hospital outpatient department (HOPD) evaluation and management (E/M) services, Medicaid provider taxes, and sequestration. Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentive Payment Programs Medicaid, New York State Medicaid Redesign Team, 1115 Waiver Medicare Advantage Plan implementation of sequestration reductions Hospital and health system pricing transparency Clinical quality measures and electronic clinical quality measures FY 2014 Inpatient Prospective Payment System Final Rule (CMS-1599-F) - Two-Midnight Policy FFY 2015 Inpatient Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule (CMS-1607-P) - Two-Midnight Policy Meaningful Use Proposed Rule (CMS-0052-P) Vital Access Provider (VAP) program

Client expense: $210,000 · Firm income: Not reported

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

Draft House and Senate Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015, Title II H.R.5464, Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015, Title IIIssues: Support funding for National Institutes of Health (NIH), Title VII and Title VIII health professions and nursing education programs, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), National Health Service Corps (NHSC), Children's Hospitals Graduate Medical Education program (CHGME), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), biodefense and public health preparedness programs, and CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) and the Prevention Epicenters Program. Maintain NIH salary cap at Executive Level II. Encourage the highest possible allocation for the Labor-HHS Subcommittee. H.R. 4486 and draft Senate, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015, Title II President's Budget, FY 2016 Issues: Support funding for Veterans Affairs medical research, research infrastructure, and health care. Issue: Funding for Community Health Centers and the National Health Service Corps. Debt in Health Education Loan programs (Debt HELP) bill (draft) Issues: Expand National Health Service Corps State Loan Repayment program, align Department of Education and Health Resources and Services Administration student loan programs. S. 577, Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2013 H.R. 1180, Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2013 Issue: Support lifting the cap on the number of residents Medicare will count when determining teaching hospitals' Medicare Direct Graduate Medical Education and Indirect Medical Education payments. H.R. 1201, Training Tomorrow's Doctors Today Act Issues: Support lifting cap on number of residents Medicare will count when determining teaching hospitals' Medicare Direct Graduate Medical Education (DGME) and Indirect Medical Education (IME) payments and increase Graduate Medical Education (GME) accountability and transparency. P.L. 111-148, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Title V Issue: Reauthorizing National Health Service Corps Fund. H.R. 487, Primary Care Workforce Access Improvement Act Issue: Residency training in community-based settings. P.L. 111-148, Affordable Care Act, Sections 5503 and 5506 Issue: Redistribution of residency positions. Issue: Implementation of and funding for Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program under section 340G of the Public Health Service Act. Issue: Development and implementation of new Medicare Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) formula required under the Affordable Care Act. H.R. 2810/S. 1871, SGR Repeal and Medicare Beneficiary Access Improvement Act of 2013. Issues: Support repeal of Medicare's sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula; Medicare physician payment reform. Issue: Support the use of animals in medical research. S. 2553/H.R. 4994, Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation Act of 2014 Issue: Standardization of post-acute care assessment data for quality, payment, and discharge planning. Issue: Promote interprofessional education and training of the health care workforce. Issue: Support funding for the National Healthcare Workforce Commission.Issue: Implementation of Health Insurance Exchanges mandated by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to recognize and not penalize the unique missions of medical schools and teaching hospitals. Issue: Oppose reduction in Medicare hospital outpatient department reimbursement. Issue: Oppose discretionary spending cuts through sequestration, including NIH, Titles VII and VIII health professions and nursing education programs, and other science programs. Issue: Support primary care workforce development S. 1759, Teaching Health Center Reauthorization Act Issue: Legislation to reauthorize the Teaching Health Center Program and payments. Issue: Draft legislation on pain education in undergraduate and graduate medical education. H.R.548/S. 1152, The Building A Health Care Workforce for the Future Act Issue: Support bill to increase scholarship opportunities for medical students and encourage primary care workforce development. H.R. 5294, Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2014 Issue: Support bill to improve health equity. Issue: Oppose implementation of Hospital-Acquired Condition (HAC) program and inclusion of Medicare add-on payments in HAC reduction program and penalties. H.R. 3698, Two Midnight Rule Delay Act of 2013 S. 2082, Two Midnight Rule Coordination and Improvement Act of 2014 Issue: Support delay of enforcement of new Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) inpatient criteria (e.g., "Two-Midnight" rule) in FY 2014 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) final rule. Issue: Support Medicare Graduate Medical Education (GME) per Resident Amount and cap trigger technical corrections and administrative relief. H.R. 4188, Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmissions Program Act. S. 2501, Hospital Readmission Accuracy and Accountability Act. Issue: Support inclusion of socioeconomic status as part of hospital readmissions program, including support for adoption of National Quality Forum (NQF) recommendations. President's Budget, FY 2015 Issues: Oppose proposed reductions in Medicare Direct Graduate Medical Education (DGME) and Indirect Medical Education (IME) payments; Oppose use of Medicare GME funding for creation of new GME grant program; oppose elimination of Children's Hospitals GME program. Issue: Legislation on educating health professionals regarding appropriate use of antibiotics. H.R. 4427, Enrich Act Draft Senate legislation Issue: Educating health professionals on nutrition.Issue: Support report language and efforts of HHS agencies to support efforts of urban-based institutions to improve health equity. Support use of holistic review in admissions. Issue: Support ACA consumer outreach and enrollment efforts. Issue: Implementation of the 340B drug discount program. Issue: Oppose Medicare payment reductions as offsets for non-Medicare spending. Issue: Support preservation of funding for the Primary Care Residency Expansion program. S. 2229, Expanding Primary Care Access and Workforce Act Issue: Offer comments on primary care workforce legislation. H.R. 5411, Trafficking Awareness Training for Health Care Act of 2014 Issue: Medical education curricula content pertaining to human trafficking. S. 2658/H.R.5580, Accelerating Biomedical Research Act Issue: To increase discretionary spending cap to increase funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). H.R. 4942, Underserved Veterans Access to Health Care Act Issue: Support increasing funding for VA GME and Medicare GME. S. 2450, Veterans' Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act H.R. 4810, Veteran Access to Care Act Issue: Addressing VA backlogs by increasing care for veterans provided by non-VA facilities. S. 2115, American Cures Act H.R. 4384, America HEALS ACT Issue: Support establishment of a fund to provide an expanded and sustained investment in biomedical research. H.R. 4879, Research for All Act Issues: Support inclusion of male and female cells, tissues and animals in basic biomedical research. Support update of National Institutes of Health (NIH) guidelines to increase participation of women in clinical trials. Issue: FDA regulation of laboratory-derived tests S. 2728, Community Based Medical Education Act of 2014 Issue: Oppose reduction of Medicare GME/IME payments S. 2645, The Recovery Enhancement for Addiction Treatment (TREAT) Act Issue: Support legislation to increase access to care for patients addicted to opioids Submitted comments to: the Food and Drug Administration responding to draft guidance entitled Informed Consent Information Sheet: Guidance for IRBs, Clinical Investigators, and Sponsors. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the CY 2015 Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the CY 2015 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems and Quality Reporting Programs. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in support of additional transparency and comment opportunity in the valuation of physician and other healthcare professional services. the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to express concern of the delays and complications in the Open Payments Review and Dispute Process.the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury regarding standards for the use of reference-based pricing structures. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on Modifications to the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentive Programs for 2014 and Revisions to the Certified EHR Technology Definition Proposed Rule. National Quality Forum on its Draft Report: Priority Setting for Performance Measurement: Addressing Performance Measure Gaps for the Health Workforce.

Client expense: $1,250,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ), Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Federal Reserve System, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Patent & Trademark Office (PTO), SENATE, Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), White House Office