Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015
Legislative Progress
Momentum (last 30 days)
0
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0 actions · 0 new cosponsors · 0 votes
Speed vs cohort
48pct
11d open
vs 6,526 other HR bills in the 114th — cohort avg 56d
Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to expand and modify enrollment and disenrollment options for Medicare Advantage (MA) eligible individuals. Specifically, the bill extends the annual period in which an individual enrolled in MA may elect to instead receive benefits under the original Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) program as well as elect to change qualified prescription drug coverage. Furthermore, any MA-eligible individual (whether or not enrolled in MA) may once per period change a previous election with respect to receiving benefits through MA or Medicare FFS, including changing from one MA plan to another. Unsolicited marketing during this period is prohibited.
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Filing registrants (9)
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Congress.gov source codes: H11100, H11100-A
Introduced in House
Congress.gov source codes: 1000, Intro-H
Bills with similar content found using semantic analysis.
Sources: Congress.gov
2016 · fourth_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
H.R. 34, 21st Century Cures Act (Upton) - Medicare Advantage and Medicaid issues H.R. 546, ACE Kids Act (Barton) - Medicaid Childrens Care Coordination Program H.R. 588, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act (Rothfus-Schrader) - MA enrollment opportunities H.R. 818, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Roskam-Carney) - reducing fraud H.R. 1021, Protecting the Integrity of Medicare Act (Brady) - reducing fraud H.R. 2488, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act (Rothfus-Schrader) - MA open enrollment period H.R. 2505, Increasing Access to Data in Medicare Advantage Act (Kelly) - annual reporting of MA enrollment data H.R. 2506, Preventing Unnecessary Plan Terminations Act (Buchanan) - preventing certain MA plan terminations H.R. 2507, Increasing Regulatory Fairness Act (Brady) - schedule for MA rates H.R. 2570, Strengthening Medicare Advantage through Innovation and Transparency for Seniors Act (Black) - Value-Based Insurance Design demonstration H.R. 2579, Securing Care for Seniors Act (Black) - MA risk adjustment model H.R. 2581, Preservation of Access for Seniors in Medicare Advantage Act (Brady) - Value-Based Insurance Design demonstration and MA open enrollment period H.R. 2582, Seniors Health Care Plan Protection Act (Buchanan) - preventing certain MA plan terminations, MA risk adjustment model H.R. 3718, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Roskam-Carney) - reducing fraud H.R. 3716, Ensuring Access to Quality Medicaid Providers Act (Bucshon) - oversight of terminated Medicaid providers H.R. 4275, Medicare Advantage Quality Payment Relief Act (Kelly) - calculation of MA benchmark cap H.R. 4442, CONNECT for Health Act (Black-Welch) - telehealth, remote patient monitoring services H.R. 4589, Excellence in Medicare Act (MacArthur) - MA payment cap H.R. 5273, Helping Hospitals Improve Patient Care Act (Tiberi) - MA issues, site-neutral payments H.R. 5506, Dialysis PATIENT Demonstration Act (Young) - demonstration program for Medicare beneficiaries with ESRD H.R. 5659, ESRD Choice Act (Smith) - option for ESRD patients to enroll in MA plans H.R. 5942, Dialysis PATIENTS Demonstration Act (Young) - demonstration program for Medicare beneficiaries with ESRD H.R. 6265, Medigap Reforms (McDermott) S. 298, ACE Kids Act (Grassley) - Medicaid Childrens Care Coordination Program S. 524, Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (Whitehouse) - Medicare Part D lock-in programs S. 861, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Carper-Enzi) - reducing fraud S. 1347, Electronic Health Fairness Act - preventing certain MA plan terminations, annual reporting of MA enrollment data S. 1396, Value-Based Insurance Design Seniors Copayment Reduction Act (Thune-Stabenow) - VBID demonstration S. 1549, Care Planning Act (Warner) - advanced illness care coordination for Medicare beneficiaries S. 1913, Stopping Medication Abuse and Protecting Seniors Act (Toomey) - Medicare Part D lock-in programs S. 2104, Preserving Medicare Advantage for all Medicare Beneficiaries Act (Portman-Casey) - preventing certain MA plan terminations, MA demonstration program S. 2349, Medicare Advantage Coverage Transparency Act (Heller) - MA enrollment data S. 2484, CONNECT for Health Act (Schatz-Wicker) - telehealth, remote patient monitoring services S. 2864, RxCAP Act (Wyden) - Medicare Part D cost-sharing S. 3090, Dialysis PATIENT Demonstration Act (Heller) - demonstration program for Medicare beneficiaries with ESRD S. 3504, Chronic Care Act (Hatch-Wyden-Isakson-Warner) - chronic care reforms, Medicare Advantage provisions Regulatory Issues: Ongoing implementation issues for the Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Part D prescription drug programs, including risk adjustment methodology, network adequacy and provider directories, encounter data and other data-related issues, and audit issues; bidding and payment issues (including MA rate assumptions, MA coding intensity, MA Secondary Payer issues, Part D reinsurance, Part D low income subsidies, Part D direct and indirect remuneration (DIR), and audits); in-home health risk assessments; Medicare Medical Loss Ratio issues; implementation of sequestration under the Medicare Advantage and Part D programs; implications of the health insurer fee for MA and Part D plans; application process, audits to evaluate compliance with MA and Part D program rules, benefit design rules, enrollment rules, requirements for notice and denial forms, marketing materials review and approval, marketing activities, including conduct and compensation of brokers and agents and plan sponsor marketing staff; measurement and oversight of plan performance including Special Needs Plans (SNPs); quality measures, grievance and appeals processes, fraud and abuse compliance including training; contracting issues for Dual Eligible SNPs; Federal preemption of State authority under MA and Part D programs, Part D prescription drug event data reporting, Part D formulary rules, Part D pharmacy access standards, Part D coverage gap discount program, including employer group waiver plan (EGWP) issues, and other operational issues; issues raised by Part D coverage of new specialty drugs, the Part D non-interference policy and related issues (e.g., preferred pharmacy and any willing pharmacy requirements, standards for network pharmacy reimbursement, and policies regarding sponsor negotiation of pharmacy price concessions); CMS's proposed Part B drug demonstration program; Medication Therapy Management Program requirements and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) Demonstration; MA EGWP issues; CMMI's value-based insurance design (VBID) demonstration; Part D requirements for offering basic and enhanced alternative plans; MA and Part D systems issues affecting enrollment and disenrollment processing and payment and other operational issues; issues relating to MA and Part D Star Rating system including measures, the methodology for calculating ratings, and the role of the ratings for payment purposes; implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) changes to the Part D coverage gap; functionality of the Medicare Personal Plan Finder and Drug Plan Finder; National Medicare Education Program; Medicare demonstration program on performance-based payments for physician groups; physician quality reporting initiative; issues relating to Medicare coverage policy and national coverage decisions; new payment system for physicians under MACRA, including implications for MA and Part D plans; Medicare clinical trials; Medicare/Medicaid integration for dual eligibles, including implementation of the Capitated Financial Alignment Demonstration and related issues (e.g., quality ratings); Medicaid managed care regulations and policies, including CMS' proposed substantial revisions to the managed care regulations, new mental health parity rules, the Medicaid managed care actuarial soundness standard, quality oversight, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), grievance and appeals processes, fraud and abuse compliance, beneficiary information requirements, treatment of Medicaid health plan member hospital days in the upper payment limit calculation; policies affecting State Medicaid funding, including block grants, the calculation of the federal medical assistance (federal matching) percentage (FMAP), and intergovernmental transfers (IGTs); coordination of benefits with state Medicaid programs; Medicaid prescription drug cost issues affecting Medicaid health plans including issues raised by Medicaid coverage of new specialty drugs; health plan-related Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) issues, including eligibility and outreach issues and CHIP reauthorization; implementation of Medicaid changes made in Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, including Medicaid managed care organization provider tax issues; standards for electronic prescribing; implementation of Medicaid changes of interest to Medicaid health plans made in the ACA including Medicaid expansion, the managed care organization (MCO) prescription drug rebate provisions, minimum payments to primary care providers (PCPs), interactions between the Medicaid program and health insurance exchanges, and Medicaid and CHIP maintenance of effort (MOE) requirements; implications of the health insurer fee for Medicaid health plans; issues related to Medicaid Managed long-term care including home and community-based waiver services (HCBS); expanding the availability of Medicare Advantage and Medicaid health plan telemedicine programs; implications of the new non-discrimination rules for health plans participating in public programs; issues related to Medigap coverage; issues related to business continuity in relation to pandemics or natural events (e.g., hurricane, tornado, etc.); cybersecurity; provider directories; value-based insurance design models; Part D prescriber enrollment requirements; Part D recovery audit contractor programs; issues relating to enrollment of beneficiaries with ESRD into MA plans; socioeconomic status impacts on star ratings related to MA and Part D programs; and other issues relating to health care reform implementation. *Add MACPAC to Agency List.
Client expense: $1,330,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Executive Office of the President (EOP), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Treasury, Dept of, White House Office
2016 · fourth_quarter · Health Issues
Affordable Care Act Issues - ACA Regulations, Postal Reform; Department of Labor Conflict of Interest Rule; HCR Implementation; Health Savings Accounts (HSA's); Re-insurance; Co-ops; Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters (NBPP); Health Care Bill; Market Stability; Year end priorities; Cost Sharing Reduction (CSR); "Better Way"; Repeal/Replace Modeling: ACA reform; Risk Corridors; Chronic Care; Comprehensive Care; Comprehensive Care and Recovery Act (CARA); Mental Health Reform; Premium Education; Third Party Payment of Premiums; Association Health Plans; SEPs; Grace Periods; Age Bands. HR 928 Introduced February 12, 2015 by Charles Boustany (R-LA) this bill repeals a provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that imposes an annual fee on a health insurance provider based on its net premium income. HR 2488 Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015 Introduced May 21,2015 by Keith Rothfus (R-PA) this bill amends title XVII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to expand and modify enrollment and disenrollment options for Medicare Advantage (MA) eligible individuals. Specifically, the bill extends the annual period in which an individual enrolled in MA may elect to instead receive benefits under the original Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) program as well as elect to change qualified prescription drug coverage. Furthermore, any MA-eligible individual (whether or not enrolled in MA) may once per period change a previous election with respect to receiving benefits through MA or Medicare FFS, including changing from one MA plan to another. Unsolicited marketing during this period is prohibited. HR 3463 Aligning Children's Dental Coverage Act Introduced September 9, 2015 by H. Griffith (R-VA) to amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to clarify the treatment of pediatric dental coverage in the individual and group markets outside of Exchanges established under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and for other purposes as introduced. HR 3742 Access to Marketplace Insurance Act Introduced October 9, 2015 by Kevin Cramer (R-ND) to amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to allow for certain third party payments. HR 4275 Medicare Advantage Quality Payment Relief Act of 2015 Introduced December 16, 2015 by Mike Kelly (R-PA) to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate a provision under the Medicare Advantage program that inadvertently penalizes Medicare Advantage plans for providing high quality care to Medicare beneficiaries. HR 5410 Health Coverage State Flexibility Act of 2016 Introduced June 8, 2016 by Bill Flores (R-TX) to amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to better align the grace period required for non-payment of premiums before discontinuing coverage under qualified health plans with such grace periods provided for under State Law. HR 5447 Small Business Health Care Relief Act of 2016 introduced June 21, 2016 by Charles Boustany, Jr. (R-LA) to provide an exception from certain group health plan requirements for qualified small employer health reimbursement arrangements. HR 5506 Introduced June 15, 2016 by Todd Young (R-IN) to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a demonstration program to provide integrated care for Medicare beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease, and for other purposes. HR 5547 Health Care Price Transparency Promotion Act of 2016 Introduced by Michael Burgess (R-IN) to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for increased price transparency of hospital information and to provide for additional research on consumer information on charges and out-of-pocket costs. HR 5589 Plan Verification and Fairness Act of 2016 Introduced June 28, 2016 by Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) to amend title I of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to require verification for eligibility for enrollment during special enrollment periods in PPACA insurance plans, and for other purposes. HR 5904 Tax Payers Before Insurers Act Introduced July 14, 2016 by Mark Walker (R-NC) to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to deposit certain funds into the general fund of the Treasury in accordance with provisions of Federal law with regard to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's Transitional Reinsurance Program. HR 5921 State Age Rating Flexibility Act Introduced July 21, 2016 by Larry Bucshon (R-IN) to amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service act to change the permissible age variation in health insurance rates. S. 524 Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 Introduced February 12, 2015 by Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) overdoses from heroin prescription drugs and opioid pain relievers last year surpassed car accidents as the leading cause of injury-related death in America, according to the Center for Disease Control. Deaths have reached their highest levels of the 21st Century in 2014, the most recent year for which data is available, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Heroin overdoses have more than tripled in the last five years, an issue receiving outsize attention nationally but especially during the presidential campaign season as New Hampshire has been one of the hardest-hit states. S. 1697 Small Business Healthcare Relief Act Introduced June 25, 2015 by Charles Grassley (R-IA) a bill to provide an exception from certain group health plan requirements to allow small businesses to use pre-tax dollars to assist employees in the purchase of policies in the individual health insurance market and for other purposes. S. 1945 Introduced August 5, 2015 by Bill Cassidy (R-LA) A bill to make available needed psychiatric, psychological, and supportive services for individuals with mental illness and families in mental health crisis, and for other purposes.
Client expense: $60,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
2016 · fourth_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
Medigap; Medicare Advantage; CHIP Reform; Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA); Chronic Care Reform; Exchanges; site neutral payments; Network Breadth Advisory Council; Rate Notice and Call Letter. HR 2488 Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015 Introduced May 21,2015 by Keith Rothfus (R-PA) this bill amends title XVII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to expand and modify enrollment and disenrollment options for Medicare Advantage (MA) eligible individuals. Specifically, the bill extends the annual period in which an individual enrolled in MA may elect to instead receive benefits under the original Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) program as well as elect to change qualified prescription drug coverage. Furthermore, any MA-eligible individual (whether or not enrolled in MA) may once per period change a previous election with respect to receiving benefits through MA or Medicare FFS, including changing from one MA plan to another. Unsolicited marketing during this period is prohibited. HR 2895 Introduced June 25, 2015 by Mike Pompeo (R-KS) Medicare Patient Access to Cancer Treatment Act of 2015 ti anebd tutke XVII of the Social Security Act to establish payment parity under the Medicare program for ambulatory care services furnished in the hospital outpatient department and the physician office setting. HR 3716 Introduced October 8, 2015 by Larry Bucshon (R-IN) to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require States to provide to the Secretary of Health and Human Services certain information with respect to provider terminations, and for other purposes. HR 4588 Introduced February 23, 2016 by Gene Green (D-Tx) To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide the same levele of Federal Matching assistance for every State that chooses to expand Medicaid coverage to newly eligible individuals, regardless of when such expansion takes place.
Client expense: $60,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
2016 · fourth_quarter · Insurance
Implementation of P.L. 111-148, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Issues relating to healthcare and health insurance policy, tax policy, Medicare Advantage and general Medicare policy, legislation and regulations that impact health insurance brokers. H.R. 815/S. 1661, Access to Professional Health Insurance Advisors Act of 2015. H.R. 2488, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015. H.R. 6184, Medicare Enrollment Protections Act, 21st Century Cures Act (Public Law No: 114-255), S. 3060, Small Business Health Care Relief Act.
Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $40,000
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
2016 · fourth_quarter · Health Issues
Implementation of P.L. 111-148, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Issues relating to healthcare and health insurance policy, tax policy, Medicare Advantage and general Medicare policy, legislation and regulations that impact health insurance brokers. H.R. 815/S. 1661, Access to Professional Health Insurance Advisors Act of 2015. H.R. 2488, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015. H.R. 6184, Medicare Enrollment Protections Act, 21st Century Cures Act (Public Law No: 114-255), S. 3060, Small Business Health Care Relief Act.
Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $40,000
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
2016 · fourth_quarter · Health Issues
Affordable Care Act (ACA) Issues; ACA Regulations; HCR Implementation; Re-insurance; Co-ops; Market Stability; Cost-sharing Reduction (CSR); Better Way; ACA Reform; Risk Corridors; Chronic Care; Mental Health Reform; Premium Education; Third Party Payment of Premiums; SEPs; Grace Periods; Age Bands, Individual Mandate. HR 928 Introduced February 12, 2015 by Charles Boustany (R-LA) This bill repeals a provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that imposes an annual fee on a health insurance provider based on its net premium income. HR 2488 Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015 Introduced May 21, 2015 by Keith Rothfus (R-PA) This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to expand and modify enrollment and disenrollment options for Medicare Advantage (MA) eligible individuals. Specifically, the bill extends the annual period in which an individual enrolled in MA may elect to instead receive benefits under the original Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) program as well as elect to change qualified prescription drug coverage. Furthermore, any MA-eligible individual (whether or not enrolled in MA) may once per period change a previous election with respect to receiving benefits through MA or Medicare FFS, including changing from one MA plan to another. Unsolicited marketing during this period is prohibited. HR 3463 Aligning Childrens Dental Coverage Act Introduced September 9, 2015 by H. Griffith (R-VA) To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to clarify the treatment of pediatric dental coverage in the individual and group markets outside of Exchanges established under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and for other purposes as introduced. HR 3742 Access to Marketplace Insurance Act Introduced October 9, 2015 by Kevin Cramer (R-ND) To amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to allow for certain third party payments. HR 4275 Medicare Advantage Quality Payment Relief Act of 2015 Introduced December 16, 2015 by Mike Kelly (R-PA) To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate a provision under the Medicare Advantage program that inadvertently penalizes Medicare Advantage plans for providing high quality care to Medicare beneficiaries. HR 5410 Health Coverage State Flexibility Act of 2016 Introduced June 8, 2016 by Bill Flores (R-TX) to amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to better align the grace period required for non-payment of premiums before discontinuing coverage under qualified health plans with such grace periods provided for under State law. HR 5447 Small Business Health Care Relief Act of 2016 Introduced June 21, 2016 by Charles Boustany, Jr. (R-LA) To provide an exception from certain group health plan requirements for qualified small employer health reimbursement arrangements. HR 5589 Plan Verification and Fairness Act of 2016 Introduced June 28, 2016 by Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) To amend title I of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to require verification for eligibility for enrollment during special enrollment periods in PPACA insurance plans, and for other purposes. HR 5904 Tax Payers Before Insurers Act Introduced July 14, 2016 by Mark Walker (R-NC) To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to deposit certain funds into the general fund of the Treasury in accordance with provisions of Federal law with regard to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's Transitional Reinsurance Program
2016 · fourth_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
Medicare Advantage; Site-neutral Payments; Rate Notice and Call Letter. Medicaid reimbursement HR 2488 Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015 Introduced May 21, 2015 by Keith Rothfus (R-PA) This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to expand and modify enrollment and disenrollment options for Medicare Advantage (MA) eligible individuals. Specifically, the bill extends the annual period in which an individual enrolled in MA may elect to instead receive benefits under the original Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) program as well as elect to change qualified prescription drug coverage. Furthermore, any MA-eligible individual (whether or not enrolled in MA) may once per period change a previous election with respect to receiving benefits through MA or Medicare FFS, including changing from one MA plan to another. Unsolicited marketing during this period is prohibited.
Client expense: $270,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
2016 · fourth_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
Medicare/Medicaid Issues; Medicare Advantage; CHIP Reform; Medicare Access & CHIP Reauthorization Act 2015 (MACRA); Chronic Care Reform; Exchanges; Site-neutral Payments; Rate Notice and Call Letter. HR 2488 Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015 Introduced May 21, 2015 by Keith Rothfus (R-PA) This bill amends title XVII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to expand and modify enrollment and disenrollment options for Medicare Advantage (MA) eligible individuals. The Bill extends the annual period in which an individual enrolled in MA may elect to instead receive benefits under the original Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) program as well as elect to change qualified prescription drug coverage. Furthermore, any MA-eligible individual (whether or not enrolled in MA) may once per period change a previous election with respect to receiving benefits through MA or Medicare FFS, including changing from one MA plan to another. Unsolicited marketing during this period is prohibited. HR 2895 Introduced June 25, 2015 by Mike Pompeo (R-KS) Medicare Patient Access to Cancer Treatment Act of 2015 To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish payment parity under the Medicare program for ambulatory cancer services furnished in the hospital outpatient department and the physician office setting. HR 3716 Introduced October 8, 2015 by Larry Bucshon (R-IN) To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require States to provide to the Secretary of Health and Human Services certain information with respect to provider termination, and for other purposes.
Client expense: $20,000 · Firm income: Not reported
2016 · fourth_quarter · Health Issues
Affordable Care Act (ACA) Issues; ACA Regulations, HCR Implementation; Market Stability; Health Savings Accounts (HSAs); Notice of Benefits and Payment Parameters (NBPP); Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs); Cost-sharing Reduction (CSR); Re-insurance; Risk Corridors; Better Way; Repeal/Replace Modeling; ACA Reform; Risk Programs; Premium Education; Chronic Care; Individual Market Reform; Third Party Payments of Premiums; Exchanges; Age Bands. HR 2488 Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015 Introduced May 21, 2015 by Keith Rothfus (R-PA) This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to expand and modify enrollment and disenrollment options for Medicare Advantage (MA) eligible individuals. Specifically, the bill extends the annual period in which an individual enrolled in MA may elect to instead receive benefits under the original Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) program as well as elect to change qualified prescription drug coverage. Furthermore, any MA-eligible individual (whether or not enrolled in MA) may once per period change a previous election with respect to receiving benefits through MA or Medicare FFS, including changing from one MA plan to another. Unsolicited marketing during this period is prohibited. HR 928 Introduced February 12, 2015 by Charles Boustany (R-LA). This bill repeals a provision of the ACA that imposes an annual fee on a health insurance provider based on its net premium income. HR 2646 Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act of 2015 Introduced May 4, 2015 by Tim Murphy (R-PA) To make available needed psychiatric, psychological, and supportive services for individuals with mental illness and families in mental health crisis, and for other purposes. HR 3742 Access to Marketplace Insurance Act Introduced October 9, 2015 by Kevin Cramer (R-ND) To amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to allow for certain third party payments. HR 5410 Health Coverage State Flexibility Act of 2016, Introduced June 21, 2016 by Bill Flores (R-TX), Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to revise the grace period that health insurers must provide to recipients of premium subsidies before discontinuing health coverage for nonpayment of premiums. HR 5506 Introduced June 15, 2016 by Todd Young (R-IN) To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a demonstration program to provide integrated care for Medicare beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease, and for other purposes. HR 5547 Health Care Price Transparency Promotion Act of 2016 Introduced by Michael Burgess (R-IN) To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for increased price transparency of hospital information and to provide for additional research on consumer information on charges and out-of picket costs. HR 5589 Plan Verification and Fairness Act of 2016 Introduced June 28, 2016 by Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) To amend title I of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to require verification for eligibility for enrollment during special enrollment periods in PPACA insurance plans, and for other purposes. HR 5904 Tax Payers Before Insurers Act Introduced July 14, 2016 by Mark Walker (R-NC) To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to deposit certain funds into the general fund of the Treasury in accordance with provision of Federal law with regard to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Acts Transitional reinsurance Program. HR 5921 State Age Rating Flexibility Act Introduced July 21, 2016 by Larry Bucshon (R-IN) To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Services Act to change the permissible age variation in health insurance premium rates. S. 524 Comprehensive Addition and Recovery Act of 2016 Introduced February 12, 2015 by Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) Overdoes from heroin, prescription drugs, and opioid pain relievers. Overdoses from heroin, prescription drugs, and opioid pain relievers last year surpassed car accidents as the leading cause of injury-related death in America, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Deaths have reached their highest levels of the 21st century in 2014, the most recent year for which data is available, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The bill authorizes the Attorney General and Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to address the national epidemics of prescription opioid abuse and heroin use. S. 1945 Mental Health Reform Act of 2015 Introduced August 5, 2015 by Bill Cassidy (R-LA) A bill to make available needed psychiatric, psychological and supportive services for individuals with mental illness and families in mental health crisis, and for other purposes. Network Adequacy standards and tiered networks.
2016 · fourth_quarter · Health Issues
H.R. 815 and S.1661: Legislation which removes broker commissions from the MLR calculation in the health reform law. H.R. 30 and S. 40: To restore the traditional 40-hour workweek from 30-hours H.R. 762 and S. 379: To increase the eligibility and effectiveness of the small business tax credit H.R. 928 and S.183: Legislation to eliminate the new national premium tax H.R. 588: Legislation to restore the open-enrollment period for Medicare beneficiaries to make a one-time plan switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or return to traditional Medicare for 90 days after the beginning of each calendar year. H.R. 290: the CARES act, which would change the three-day inpatient hospital admission requirement for Medicare beneficiaries who are in need of skilled nursing facility services to also allow hospital stays under observation status to count. H.R. 2: Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 H.R. 1624: To amend title I of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to revise the definition of small employer. Senator Burr, Hatch, and Uptons Patient Choice, Affordability, Responsibility, and Empowerment (CARE) Act which would replace the Affordable Care Act H.R. 876: Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require a hospital with an agreement with the Secretary of Health and Human Services to give each individual entitled to benefits under Medicare part A (Hospital Insurance), whom the hospital classifies for more than 24 hours as an outpatient under observation status or any other similar status, an adequate oral and written notification within 36 hours of that classification. H.R. 1533: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the excise tax on medical devices, and for other purposes. S. 620 and H.R. 1189: The Preserving Employee Wellness Programs Act, looks to reaffirm existing law allowing employee wellness programs tied to financial awards H.R. 1547: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal certain limitations on health care benefits enacted as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. H.R. 887: Electronic Health Fairness Act of 2015, Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to prohibit any patient encounter of an eligible professional occurring at an ambulatory surgical center from being treated as such an encounter in determining whether an eligible professional qualifies as a meaningful electronic health record (EHR) user. H.R. 1570: To provide for greater transparency and information with respect to Federal expenditures under the Medicaid and CHIP programs in the territories of the United States, and for other purposes. S. 254: Small Business Health Relief Act of 2015 H.R. 1270: Repeals provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, as added by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, that limit payments for medications from health savings accounts, medical savings accounts, and health flexible spending arrangements to only prescription drugs or insulin (thus allowing distributions from such accounts for over-the-counter drugs). S. 884: A bill to improve access to emergency medical services, and for other purposes. S. 836: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal certain limitations on health care benefits enacted by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. S. 839: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to extend the rural add-on payment in the Medicare home health benefit, and for other purposes. S. 844: A bill to repeal the medical device excise tax, and for other purposes. S. 861: A bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to curb waste, fraud, and abuse in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. H.R. 2712 and S. 1996: Commonsense Reporting and Verification Act of 2015, bill to ease PPACA employer reporting requirements. S. 1099: To amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to provide States with flexibility in determining the size of employers in the small group market. S. 1415: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the definition of large employer for purposes of applying the employer mandate. H.R. 879: This bill repeals, effective for taxable years beginning after 2017, the excise tax on the excess benefit portion of high-cost employer-sponsored health care plans. H.R. 2050: Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal, beginning with taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, the excise tax on employer-sponsored health care coverage for which there is an excess benefit (high-cost plans). H.R.2570: Strengthening Medicare Advantage through Innovation and Transparency for Seniors of 2015 H.R. 2911 and S. 1697: To provide an exception from certain group health plan requirements to allow small businesses to use pre-tax dollars to assist employees in the purchase of policies in the individual health insurance market, and for other purposes. House passed budget resolution for upcoming fiscal year S. 2045: Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal, beginning with taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, the excise tax on employer-sponsored health care coverage for which there is an excess benefit (high-cost plans). S. 2075: This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, the excise tax on employer-sponsored health care coverage for which there is an excess benefit (high-cost plans). The bill expresses the sense of the Senate that the revenue loss resulting from the repeal of such excise tax should be offset by corresponding revenue. -H.R.3762: Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 -H.R.2029: The Omnibus Appropriations bill -2015 Reconciliation bill -H.R. 5447 and S. 3060: Small Business Health Care Relief Act of 2016 -H.R. 3463: Aligning Children's Dental Coverage Act (ACDC) -H.R. 5589: To amend title I of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to require verification for eligibility for enrollment during special enrollment periods in PPACA insurance plans, and for other purposes. -S. 3244: The legislation clarifies that people outside the public Exchanges can have the same choices for dental coverage as people inside the public Exchanges. -H.R. 2488: Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015 -H.R. 6184: legislation that would allow seniors enrolled in COBRA coverage to transition to Medicare Part B without a penalty -H.R 2581: Preservation of Access for Seniors in Medicare Advantage Act of 2015 -H.R.173: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the excise tax on high cost employer-sponsored health coverage -S.58: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the excise tax on high cost employer-sponsored health coverage. -H.R.246: A bill to repeal the annual fee on health insurance providers enacted by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
2016 · fourth_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
Medigap; Medicare Advantage; CHIP Reform; Medicare Access & CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA); Chronic Care Reform; Exchanges; Site-neutral Payments; Network Breadth Advisory Council; Rate Notice and Call Letter. HR 2488 Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015 Introduced May 21, 2015 by Keith Rothfus (R-PA) This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to expand and modify enrollment and disenrollment options for Medicare Advantage (MA) eligible individuals. Specifically, the bill extends the annual period in which an individual enrolled in MA may elect to instead receive benefits under the original Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) program as well as elect to change qualified prescription drug coverage. Furthermore, any MA-eligible individual (whether or not enrolled in MA) may once per period change a previous election with respect to receiving benefits through MA or Medicare FFS, including changing from one MA plan to another. Unsolicited marketing during this period is prohibited. HR 2895 Introduced June 25, 2015 by Mike Pompeo (R-KS) Medicare Patient Access to Cancer Treatment Act of 2015 To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish payment parity under the Medicare program for ambulatory cancer care services furnished in the hospital outpatient department and the physician office setting. HR 3716 Introduced October 8, 2015 by Larry Bucshon (R-IN) To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require States to provide to the Secretary of Health and Human Services certain information with respect to provider terminations, and for other purposes. HR 5273 Helping Hospitals Improve Patient Care Act of 2016 Introduced May 18, 2016 by Patrick Tiberi (R-OH) To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for regulatory relief under the Medicare program for certain providers of services and suppliers and increased transparency in hospital coding and enrollment data, and for other purposes.
2016 · fourth_quarter · Health Issues
Affordable Care Act (ACA) Issues; ACA Regulations; Postal Reform; Department of Labor Conflict of Interest Rule; HCR Implementation; Health Savings Accounts (HSAs); Re-insurance; Co-ops; Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters (NBPP); Health Care Bill; Market Stability; Year-end Priorities; Cost-sharing Reduction (CSR); Better Way; Repeal/Replace Modeling; ACA Reform; Risk Corridors; Chronic Care; Comprehensive Care and Recovery Act (CARA); Mental Health Reform; Premium Education; Third Party Payment of Premiums; Association Health Plans; SEPs; Grace Periods; Age Bands. HR 928 Introduced February 12, 2015 by Charles Boustany (R-LA) This bill repeals a provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that imposes an annual fee on a health insurance provider based on its net premium income. HR 1934 Cancer Care Payment Reform Act of 2015 Introduced April 22, 2015 by Cathy McMorris Rodgers To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a national Oncology Medical Home Demonstration Project under the Medicare program for the purpose of changing the Medicare payment for cancer care in order to enhance the quality of care and to improve cost efficiency, and for other purposes. HR 2488 Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015 Introduced May 21, 2015 by Keith Rothfus (R-PA) This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to expand and modify enrollment and disenrollment options for Medicare Advantage (MA) eligible individuals. Specifically, the bill extends the annual period in which an individual enrolled in MA may elect to instead receive benefits under the original Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) program as well as elect to change qualified prescription drug coverage. Furthermore, any MA-eligible individual (whether or not enrolled in MA) may once per period change a previous election with respect to receiving benefits through MA or Medicare FFS, including changing from one MA plan to another. Unsolicited marketing during this period is prohibited. HR 2646 Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act of 2015 Introduced May 4, 2015 by Tim Murphy (R-PA) To make available needed psychiatric, psychological, and supportive services for individuals with mental illness and families in mental health crisis, and for other purposes. HR 3244 Providing Innovative Care for Complex Cases Demonstration Act of 2015 Introduced July 28, 2015 by Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a pilot program to improve care for the most costly Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries through the use of comprehensive and effective care management while reducing costs to the Federal Government for these beneficiaries, and for other purposes. HR 3463 Aligning Childrens Dental Coverage Act Introduced September 9, 2015 by H. Griffith (R-VA) To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to clarify the treatment of pediatric dental coverage in the individual and group markets outside of Exchanges established under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and for other purposes as introduced. HR 3742 Access to Marketplace Insurance Act Introduced October 9, 2015 by Kevin Cramer (R-ND) To amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to allow for certain third party payments. HR 4275 Medicare Advantage Quality Payment Relief Act of 2015 Introduced December 16, 2015 by Mike Kelly (R-PA) To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate a provision under the Medicare Advantage program that inadvertently penalizes Medicare Advantage plans for providing high quality care to Medicare beneficiaries. HR 5273 Helping Hospitals Improve Patient Care Act of 2016 Introduced May 18, 2016 by Patrick Tiberi (R-OH) To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for regulatory relief under the Medicare program for certain providers of services and suppliers and increased transparency in hospital coding and enrollment data, and for other purposes. HR 5410 Health Coverage State Flexibility Act of 2016 Introduced June 8, 2016 by Bill Flores (R-TX) to amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to better align the grace period required for non-payment of premiums before discontinuing coverage under qualified health plans with such grace periods provided for under State law. HR 5447 Small Business Health Care Relief Act of 2016 Introduced June 21, 2016 by Charles Boustany, Jr. (R-LA) To provide an exception from certain group health plan requirements for qualified small employer health reimbursement arrangements. HR 5506 Introduced June 15, 2016 by Todd Young (R-IN) To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a demonstration program to provide integrated care for Medicare beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease, and for other purposes. HR 5547 Health Care Price Transparency Promotion Act of 2016 Introduced by Michael Burgess (R-IN) To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for increased price transparency of hospital information and to provide for additional research on consumer information on charges and out-of-pocket costs. HR 5589 Plan Verification and Fairness Act of 2016 Introduced June 28, 2016 by Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) To amend title I of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to require verification for eligibility for enrollment during special enrollment periods in PPACA insurance plans, and for other purposes. HR 5904 Tax Payers Before Insurers Act Introduced July 14, 2016 by Mark Walker (R-NC) To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to deposit certain funds into the general fund of the Treasury in accordance with provisions of Federal law with regard to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's Transitional Reinsurance Program. HR 5921 State Age Rating Flexibility Act Introduced July 21, 2016 by Larry Bucshon (R-IN) To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to change the permissible age variation in health insurance premium rates. S. 524 Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 Introduced February 12, 2015 by Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) Overdoses from heroin, prescription drugs, and opioid pain relievers last year surpassed car accidents as the leading cause of injury-related death in America, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Deaths have reached their highest levels of the 21st century in 2014, the most recent year for which data is available, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Heroin overdoses have more than tripled in the last five years, an issue receiving outsize attention nationally but especially during the presidential campaign season as New Hampshire has been one of the hardest-hit states. S. 1697 Small Business Healthcare Relief Act Introduced June 25, 2015 by Charles Grassley (R-IA) A bill to provide an exception from certain group health plan requirements to allow small businesses to use pre-tax dollars to assist employees in the purchase of policies in the individual health insurance market, and for other purposes. S. 1945 Mental Health Reform Act of 2015 Introduced August 5, 2015 by Bill Cassidy (R-LA) A bill to make available needed psychiatric, psychological, and supportive services for individuals with mental illness and families in mental health crisis, and for other purposes. S. 2713 Introduced March 17, 2016 by Lamar Alexander (R-TN) Advancing Precision Medicine Act of 2016 A bill to provide for the implementation of a Precision Medicine Initiative
2016 · third_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
H.R. 546, ACE Kids Act (Barton) - Medicaid Childrens Care Coordination Program H.R. 588, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act (Rothfus-Schrader) - MA enrollment opportunities H.R. 818, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Roskam-Carney) - reducing fraud H.R. 1021, Protecting the Integrity of Medicare Act (Brady) - reducing fraud H.R. 2488, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act (Rothfus-Schrader) - MA open enrollment period H.R. 2505, Increasing Access to Data in Medicare Advantage Act (Kelly) - annual reporting of MA enrollment data H.R. 2506, Preventing Unnecessary Plan Terminations Act (Buchanan) - preventing certain MA plan terminations H.R. 2507, Increasing Regulatory Fairness Act (Brady) - schedule for MA rates H.R. 2570, Strengthening Medicare Advantage through Innovation and Transparency for Seniors Act (Black) - Value-Based Insurance Design demonstration H.R. 2579, Securing Care for Seniors Act (Black) - MA risk adjustment model H.R. 2581, Preservation of Access for Seniors in Medicare Advantage Act (Brady) - Value-Based Insurance Design demonstration and MA open enrollment period H.R. 2582, Seniors Health Care Plan Protection Act (Buchanan) - preventing certain MA plan terminations, MA risk adjustment model H.R. 3718, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Roskam-Carney) - reducing fraud H.R. 3716, Ensuring Access to Quality Medicaid Providers Act (Bucshon) - oversight of terminated Medicaid providers H.R. 4275, Medicare Advantage Quality Payment Relief Act (Kelly) - calculation of MA benchmark cap H.R. 4442, CONNECT for Health Act (Black-Welch) - telehealth, remote patient monitoring services H.R. 4589, Excellence in Medicare Act (MacArthur) - MA payment cap H.R. 5273, Helping Hospitals Improve Patient Care Act (Tiberi) - MA issues, site-neutral payments H.R. 5506, Dialysis PATIENT Demonstration Act (Young) - demonstration program for Medicare beneficiaries with ESRD H.R. 5659, ESRD Choice Act (Smith) - option for ESRD patients to enroll in MA plans H.R. 5942, Dialysis PATIENTS Demonstration Act (Young) - demonstration program for Medicare beneficiaries with ESRD H.R. 6265, Medigap Reforms (McDermott) S. 298, ACE Kids Act (Grassley) - Medicaid Childrens Care Coordination Program S. 524, Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (Whitehouse) - Medicare Part D lock-in programs S. 861, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Carper-Enzi) - reducing fraud S. 1347, Electronic Health Fairness Act - preventing certain MA plan terminations, annual reporting of MA enrollment data S. 1396, Value-Based Insurance Design Seniors Copayment Reduction Act (Thune-Stabenow) - VBID demonstration S. 1549, Care Planning Act (Warner) - advanced illness care coordination for Medicare beneficiaries S. 1913, Stopping Medication Abuse and Protecting Seniors Act (Toomey) - Medicare Part D lock-in programs S. 2104, Preserving Medicare Advantage for all Medicare Beneficiaries Act (Portman-Casey) - preventing certain MA plan terminations, MA demonstration program S. 2349, Medicare Advantage Coverage Transparency Act (Heller) - MA enrollment data S. 2484, CONNECT for Health Act (Schatz-Wicker) - telehealth, remote patient monitoring services S. 2864, RxCAP Act (Wyden) - Medicare Part D cost-sharing S. 3090, Dialysis PATIENT Demonstration Act (Heller) - demonstration program for Medicare beneficiaries with ESRD Regulatory Issues: Ongoing implementation issues for the Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Part D prescription drug programs, including risk adjustment methodology, network adequacy and provider directories, encounter data and other data-related issues, and audit issues; bidding and payment issues (including MA rate assumptions, MA coding intensity, MA Secondary Payer issues, Part D reinsurance, Part D low income subsidies, Part D direct and indirect remuneration (DIR), and audits); in-home health risk assessments; Medicare Medical Loss Ratio issues; implementation of sequestration under the Medicare Advantage and Part D programs; implications of the health insurer fee for MA and Part D plans; application process, audits to evaluate compliance with MA and Part D program rules, benefit design rules, enrollment rules, requirements for notice and denial forms, marketing materials review and approval, marketing activities, including conduct and compensation of brokers and agents and plan sponsor marketing staff; measurement and oversight of plan performance including Special Needs Plans (SNPs); quality measures, grievance and appeals processes, fraud and abuse compliance including training; contracting issues for Dual Eligible SNPs; Federal preemption of State authority under MA and Part D programs, Part D prescription drug event data reporting, Part D formulary rules, Part D pharmacy access standards, Part D coverage gap discount program, including employer group waiver plan (EGWP) issues, and other operational issues; issues raised by Part D coverage of new specialty drugs, the Part D non-interference policy and related issues (e.g., preferred pharmacy and any willing pharmacy requirements, standards for network pharmacy reimbursement, and policies regarding sponsor negotiation of pharmacy price concessions); CMS's proposed Part B drug demonstration program; Medication Therapy Management Program requirements and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) Demonstration; MA EGWP issues; CMMI's value-based insurance design (VBID) demonstration; Part D requirements for offering basic and enhanced alternative plans; MA and Part D systems issues affecting enrollment and disenrollment processing and payment and other operational issues; issues relating to MA and Part D Star Rating system including measures, the methodology for calculating ratings, and the role of the ratings for payment purposes; implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) changes to the Part D coverage gap; functionality of the Medicare Personal Plan Finder and Drug Plan Finder; National Medicare Education Program; Medicare demonstration program on performance-based payments for physician groups; physician quality reporting initiative; issues relating to Medicare coverage policy and national coverage decisions; new payment system for physicians under MACRA, including implications for MA and Part D plans; Medicare clinical trials; Medicare/Medicaid integration for dual eligibles, including implementation of the Capitated Financial Alignment Demonstration and related issues (e.g., quality ratings); Medicaid managed care regulations and policies, including CMS' proposed substantial revisions to the managed care regulations, new mental health parity rules, the Medicaid managed care actuarial soundness standard, quality oversight, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), grievance and appeals processes, fraud and abuse compliance, beneficiary information requirements, treatment of Medicaid health plan member hospital days in the upper payment limit calculation; policies affecting State Medicaid funding, including block grants, the calculation of the federal medical assistance (federal matching) percentage (FMAP), and intergovernmental transfers (IGTs); coordination of benefits with state Medicaid programs; Medicaid prescription drug cost issues affecting Medicaid health plans including issues raised by Medicaid coverage of new specialty drugs; health plan-related Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) issues, including eligibility and outreach issues and CHIP reauthorization; implementation of Medicaid changes made in Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, including Medicaid managed care organization provider tax issues; standards for electronic prescribing; implementation of Medicaid changes of interest to Medicaid health plans made in the ACA including Medicaid expansion, the managed care organization (MCO) prescription drug rebate provisions, minimum payments to primary care providers (PCPs), interactions between the Medicaid program and health insurance exchanges, and Medicaid and CHIP maintenance of effort (MOE) requirements; implications of the health insurer fee for Medicaid health plans; issues related to Medicaid Managed long-term care including home and community-based waiver services (HCBS); expanding the availability of Medicare Advantage and Medicaid health plan telemedicine programs; implications of the new non-discrimination rules for health plans participating in public programs; issues related to Medigap coverage; issues related to business continuity in relation to pandemics or natural events (e.g., hurricane, tornado, etc.); cybersecurity; provider directories; value-based insurance design models; Part D prescriber enrollment requirements; Part D recovery audit contractor programs; issues relating to enrollment of beneficiaries with ESRD into MA plans; socioeconomic status impacts on star ratings related to MA and Part D programs; and other issues relating to health care reform implementation.
2016 · third_quarter · Health Issues
Affordable Care Act Issues - Chronic Care Innovations; Payment reform 2017 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters (NBPP); ACA Regulations, Co-ops, Implementation; Market Stability Department of Labor Conflict of Interest Rule; Grace Periods, Special Enrollment Periods; Reinsurance; Risk Corridors; Risk Mitigation, Risk Programs; Premiums; Health Reimbursment Arrangements (HRA;s) Legislation; Individual Market Reform; Third Party Payments; Exchanges; Age Bands. Other Health Care Issues - Mental Health Parity; Opioid Education, End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD); Zika Virus; Postal Reform, End Stage Renal Disease. HR 928 Introduced February 12, 2015 by Charles Boustany (R-LA) this bill repeals a provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that imposes an annual fee on a health insurance provider based on its net premium income. HR 1934 Cancer Care Payment Reform Act of 2015 Introduced April 22, 2015 by Cathy McMorris Rodgers to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a national Oncology Medical Home demonstration Project under the Medicare program for the purpose of changing the Medicare payment for cancer care in order to enhance the quality of care and to improve cost efficiency and for other purposes. HR 2488 Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015 Introduced May 21,2015 by Keith Rothfus (R-PA) this bill amends title XVII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to expand and modify enrollment and disenrollment options for Medicare Advantage (MA) eligible individuals. Specifically, the bill extends the annual period in which an individual enrolled in MA may elect to instead receive benefits under the original Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) program as well as elect to change qualified prescription drug coverage. Furthermore, any MA-eligible individual (whether or not enrolled in MA) may once per period change a previous election with respect to receiving benefits through MA or Medicare FFS, including changing from one MA plan to another. Unsolicited marketing during this period is prohibited. HR 3244 Providing Innovative Care for Complex Cases Demonstration Act of 2015 Introduced July 28, 2015 by Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a pilot program to improve care for the most costly Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries through the use of comprehensive and effective care management while reducing costs to the Federal Government for these beneficiaries, and for other purposes. HR 3463 Aligning Children's Dental Coverage Act Introduced September 9, 2015 by H. Griffith (R-VA) to amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to clarify the treatment of pediatric dental coverage in the individual and group markets outside of Exchanges established under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and for other purposes as introduced. HR 3742 Access to Marketplace Insurance Act Introduced October 9, 2015 by Kevin Cramer (R-ND) to amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to allow for certain third party payments. HR 4275 Medicare Advantage Quality Payment Relief Act of 2015 Introduced December 16, 2015 by Mike Kelly (R-PA) to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate a provision under the Medicare Advantage program that inadvertently penalizes Medicare Advantage plans for providing high quality care to Medicare beneficiaries. HR 5273 Helping Hospitals Improve Patient Care Act of 2016 Introduced May 18, 2016 by Patrick Taberi (R-OH) to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for regulatory relief under the Medicare program for certain providers of services and suppliers and increased transparency in hospital coding and enrollment data, and for other purposes. HR 5410 Health Coverage State Flexibility Act of 2016 Introduced June 8, 2016 by Bill Flores (R-TX) to amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to better align the grace period required for non-payment of premiums before discontinuing coverage under qualified health plans with such grace periods provided for under State Law. HR 5506 Introduced June 15, 2016 by Todd Young (R-IN) to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a demonstration program to provide integrated care for Medicare beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease, and for other purposes. HR 5547 Health Care Price Transparency Promotion Act of 2016 Introduced by Michael Burgess (R-IN) to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for increased price transparency of hospital information and to provide for additional research on consumer information on charges and out-of-pocket costs. HR 5589 Plan Verification and Fairness Act of 2016 Introduced June 28, 2016 by Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) to amend title I of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to require verification for eligibility for enrollment during special enrollment periods in PPACA insurance plans, and for other purposes. HR 5921 State Age Rating Flexibility Act Introduced July 21, 2016 by Larry Bucshon (R-IN) to amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service act to change the permissible age variation in health insurance rates. S. 524 Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 Introduced February 12, 2015 by Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) overdoses from heroin prescription drugs and opioid pain relievers last year surpassed car accidents as the leading cause of injury-related death in America, according to the Center for Disease Control. Deaths have reached their highest levels of the 21st Century in 2014, the most recent year for which data is available, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Heroin overdoses have more than tripled in the last five years, an issue receiving outsize attention nationally but especially during the presidential campaign season as New Hampshire has been one of the hardest-hit states. S. 1697 Small Business Healthcare Relief Act Introduced June 25, 2015 by Charles Grassley (R-IA) a bill to provide an exception from certain group health plan requirements to allow small businesses to use pre-tax dollars to assist employees in the purchase of policies in the individual health insurance market and for other purposes. S. 1945 Introduced August 5, 2015 by Bill Cassidy (R-LA) A bill to make available needed psychiatric, psychological, and supportive services for individuals with mental illness and families in mental health crisis, and for other purposes.
2016 · third_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
Medigap; Medicare Advantage; CHIP Reform; Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA); Chronic Care Reform; Exchanges; Quality Improvement Strategy for QHPs; Rate Notice and Call Letter; QHP Quality Rating System (QRS)' MHP: FAQ 8 and 9; Form 5500; Schedule j. HR 2488 Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015 Introduced May 21,2015 by Keith Rothfus (R-PA) this bill amends title XVII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to expand and modify enrollment and disenrollment options for Medicare Advantage (MA) eligible individuals. Specifically, the bill extends the annual period in which an individual enrolled in MA may elect to instead receive benefits under the original Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) program as well as elect to change qualified prescription drug coverage. Furthermore, any MA-eligible individual (whether or not enrolled in MA) may once per period change a previous election with respect to receiving benefits through MA or Medicare FFS, including changing from one MA plan to another. Unsolicited marketing during this period is prohibited. HR 3716 Introduced October 8, 2015 by Larry Bucshon (R-IN) to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require States to provide to the Secretary of Health and Human Services certain information with respect to provider terminations, and for other purposes. HR 4588 Introduced February 23, 2016 by Gene Green (D-Tx) To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide the same levele of Federal Matching assistance for every State that chooses to expand Medicaid coverage to newly eligible individuals, regardless of when such expansion takes place.
Client expense: $50,000 · Firm income: Not reported
2016 · third_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
Medicare Advantage; Medicaid; Medicare Access & CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA); Site-neutral Payments; Rate Notice and Call Letter; QHP Quality Rating System (QRS); ESRD HR 5506 Introduced June 15, 2016 by Todd Young (R-IN) To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a demonstration program to provide integrated care for Medicare beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease, and for other purposes. HR 4275 Medicare Advantage Quality Payment Relief Act of 2015 Introduced December 16, 2015 by Mike Kelly (R-PA) To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate a provision under the Medicare Advantage program that inadvertently penalizes Medicare Advantage plans for providing high quality care to Medicare beneficiaries. HR 2488 Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015 Introduced May 21, 2015 by Keith Rothfus (R-PA) This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to expand and modify enrollment and disenrollment options for Medicare Advantage (MA) eligible individuals. Specifically, the bill extends the annual period in which an individual enrolled in MA may elect to instead receive benefits under the original Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) program as well as elect to change qualified prescription drug coverage. Furthermore, any MA-eligible individual (whether or not enrolled in MA) may once per period change a previous election with respect to receiving benefits through MA or Medicare FFS, including changing from one MA plan to another. Unsolicited marketing during this period is prohibited.
Client expense: $290,000 · Firm income: Not reported
2016 · third_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
Medicare and Medicaid issues, Medigap issues, Medicare Advantage, CHIP reform, chronic care reform HR 2488 Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015 Introduced May 21, 2015 by Keith Rothfus (R-PA) This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to expand and modify enrollment and disenrollment options for Medicare Advantage (MA) eligible individuals. Specifically, the bill extends the annual period in which an individual enrolled in MA may elect to instead receive benefits under the original Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) program as well as elect to change qualified prescription drug coverage. Furthermore, any MA-eligible individual (weather or not enrolled in MA) may once per period change a previous election with respect to receiving benefits through MA or Medicare FFS, including changing from one MA plan to another. Unsolicited marketing during this period is prohibited. HR 2895 Introduced June 25, 2015 by Mike Pompeo (R-KS) Medicare Patient Access to Cancer Treatment Act of 2015 To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish payment parity under the Medicare program for ambulatory cancer care services furnished in the hospital outpatient department and the physician office setting. HR 3716 Introduced October 8, 2015 by Larry Bucshon (R-IN) To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require States to provide to the Secretary of Health and Human Services certain information with respect to provider terminations, and for other purposes. HR 4588 Introduced February 23, 2016 by Gene Green (D-TX) To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide the same level of Federal matching assistance for every State that chooses to expand Medicaid coverage to newly eligible individuals, regardless of when such expansion takes place. HR 5273 Helping Hospitals Improve Patient Care Act of 2016 Introduced May 18, 2016 by Patrick Taberi (R-OH) To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for regulatory relief under the Medicare program for certain providers of services and suppliers and increased transparency in hospital coding and enrollment data, and for other purposes.
2016 · third_quarter · Health Issues
Implementation of P.L. 111-148, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Issues relating to healthcare and health insurance policy, tax policy, Medicare Advantage and general Medicare policy, legislation and regulations that impact health insurance brokers. H.R. 815/S. 1661, Access to Professional Health Insurance Advisors Act of 2015. H.R. 2488, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015. H.R. 6184, Medicare Enrollment Protections Act.
Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $40,000
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
2016 · third_quarter · Insurance
Implementation of P.L. 111-148, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Issues relating to healthcare and health insurance policy, tax policy, Medicare Advantage and general Medicare policy, legislation and regulations that impact health insurance brokers. H.R. 815/S. 1661, Access to Professional Health Insurance Advisors Act of 2015. H.R. 2488, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015. H.R. 6184, Medicare Enrollment Protections Act.
Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $40,000
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
2016 · third_quarter · Health Issues
Affordable Care Act - Chronic Care Innovations; Payment reform; CBPP; 2017 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters; ACA Regulations, Implementation; Open Enrollment; Market Stability; Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs); Reinsurance; Risk corridors; Risk Mitigation; Risk Programs; Premiums; Individual Market Reform; Third party payments; Exchanges; Age Bands. Other Health Care Issues- Mental Health Reform; End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD); Health Savings Accounts; Opioid Education. HR 2488 Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015 Introduced May 21, 2015 by Keith Rothfus (R-PA) This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to expand and modify enrollment and disenrollment options for Medicare Advantage (MA) eligible individuals. Specifically, the bill extends the annual period in which an individual enrolled in MA may elect to instead receive benefits under the original Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) program as well as elect to change qualified prescription drug coverage. Furthermore, any MA-eligible individual (whether or not enrolled in MA) may once per period change a previous election with respect to receiving benefits through MA or Medicare FFS, including changing from one MA plan to another. Unsolicited marketing during this period is prohibited. HR 928 Introduced February 12, 2015 by Charles Boustany (R-LA). This bill repeals a provision of the ACA that imposes an annual fee on a health insurance provider based on its net premium income. HR 2646 Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act of 2015 Introduced May 4, 2015 by Tim Murphy (R-PA) To make available needed psychiatric, psychological, and supportive services for individuals with mental illness and families in mental health crisis, and for other purposes. HR 3742 Access to Marketplace Insurance Act Introduced October 9, 2015 by Kevin Cramer (R-ND) To amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to allow for certain third party payments. HR 5410 Health Coverage State Flexibility Act of 2016, Introduced June 21, 2016 by Bill Flores (R-TX), Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to revise the grace period that health insurers must provide to recipients of premium subsidies before discontinuing health coverage for nonpayment of premiums. HR 5506 Introduced June 15, 2016 by Todd Young (R-IN) To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a demonstration program to provide integrated care for Medicare beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease, and for other purposes. HR 5589 Plan Verification and Fairness Act of 2016 Introduced June 28, 2016 by Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) To amend title I of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to require verification for eligibility for enrollment during special enrollment periods in PPACA insurance plans, and for other purposes. HR 5904 Tax Payers Before Insurers Act Introduced July 14, 2016 by Mark Walker (R-NC) To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to deposit certain funds into the general fund of the Treasury in accordance with provision of Federal law with regard to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Acts Transitional reinsurance Program. HR 5921 State Age Rating Flexibility Act Introduced July 21, 2016 by Larry Bucshon (R-IN) To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Services Act to change the permissible age variation in health insurance premium rates. S. 524 Comprehensive Addition and Recovery Act of 2016 Introduced February 12, 2015 by Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) Overdoes from heroin, prescription drugs, and opioid pain relievers. Overdoses from heroin, prescription drugs, and opioid pain relievers last year surpassed car accidents as the leading cause of injury-related death in America, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Deaths have reached their highest levels of the 21st century in 2014, the most recent year for which data is available, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The bill authorizes the Attorney General and Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to address the national epidemics of prescription opioid abuse and heroin use. S. 1945 Mental Health Reform Act of 2015 Introduced August 5, 2015 by Bill Cassidy (R-LA) A bill to make available needed psychiatric, psychological and supportive services for individuals with mental illness and families in mental health crisis, and for other purposes. S. 2713 Introduced March 17, 2016 by Lamar Alexander (R-TN) Advancing Precision Medicine Act of 2016 A bill to provide for the implementation of Precision Medicine Initiative. Network Adequacy standards and network tiering.
2016 · third_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
Medicare/Medicaid Issues; Medicare Advantage; CHIP Reform; Medicare Access & CHIP Reauthorization Act 2015 (MACRA); Chronic Care Reform; Exchanges; Site-neutral Payments; Quality Improvement Strategy for QHPs; Rate Notice and Call Letter; QHP Quality Rating System (QRS); MHP. HR 2488 Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015 Introduced May 21, 2015 by Keith Rothfus (R-PA) This bill amends title XVII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to expand and modify enrollment and disenrollment options for Medicare Advantage (MA) eligible individuals. The Bill extends the annual period in which an individual enrolled in MA may elect to instead receive benefits under the original Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) program as well as elect to change qualified prescription drug coverage. Furthermore, any MA-eligible individual (whether or not enrolled in MA) may once per period change a previous election with respect to receiving benefits through MA or Medicare FFS, including changing from one MA plan to another. Unsolicited marketing during this period is prohibited. HR 2895 Introduced June 25, 2015 by Mike Pompeo (R-KS) Medicare Patient Access to Cancer Treatment Act of 2015 To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish payment parity under the Medicare program for ambulatory cancer services furnished in the hospital outpatient department and the physician office setting. HR 3716 Introduced October 8, 2015 by Larry Bucshon (R-IN) To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require States to provide to the Secretary of Health and Human Services certain information with respect to provider termination, and for other purposes. HR 4588 Introduced February 23, 2016 by Green (D-TX) To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide the same level of Federal matching assistance for every State that chooses to expand Medicaid coverage to newly eligible individuals, regardless of when such expansion takes place.
2016 · third_quarter · Health Issues
Affordable Care Act Issues - Chronic Care Innovations; Payment reform; 2017 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters (NBPP); ACA Regulations; Co-ops; Implementation; Market Stability; Department of Labor Conflict of Interest Rule; Grace Periods; Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs); Reinsurance; Risk Corridors; Risk Mitigation; Risk Programs; Premiums; Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) Legislation; Individual Market Reform; Third-party Payments; Exchanges; Age Bands Other Health Care Issues - Mental Health Reform; End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD); Zika Virus; Postal Reform; Health Savings Accounts HR 928 Introduced February 12, 2015 by Charles Boustany (R-LA) This bill repeals a provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that imposes an annual fee on a health insurance provider based on its net premium income. HR 1934 Cancer Care Payment Reform Act of 2015 Introduced April 22, 2015 by Cathy McMorris Rodgers To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a national Oncology Medical Home Demonstration Project under the Medicare program for the purpose of changing the Medicare payment for cancer care in order to enhance the quality of care and to improve cost efficiency, and for other purposes. HR 2488 Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015 Introduced May 21, 2015 by Keith Rothfus (R-PA) This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to expand and modify enrollment and disenrollment options for Medicare Advantage (MA) eligible individuals. Specifically, the bill extends the annual period in which an individual enrolled in MA may elect to instead receive benefits under the original Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) program as well as elect to change qualified prescription drug coverage. Furthermore, any MA-eligible individual (whether or not enrolled in MA) may once per period change a previous election with respect to receiving benefits through MA or Medicare FFS, including changing from one MA plan to another. Unsolicited marketing during this period is prohibited. HR 2646 Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act of 2015 Introduced May 4, 2015 by Tim Murphy (R-PA) To make available needed psychiatric, psychological, and supportive services for individuals with mental illness and families in mental health crisis, and for other purposes HR 3244 Providing Innovative Care for Complex Cases Demonstration Act of 2015 Introduced July 28, 2015 by Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a pilot program to improve care for the most costly Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries through the use of comprehensive and effective care management while reducing costs to the Federal Government for these beneficiaries, and for other purposes. HR 3463 Aligning Childrens Dental Coverage Act Introduced September 9, 2015 by H. Griffith (R-VA) To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to clarify the treatment of pediatric dental coverage in the individual and group markets outside of Exchanges established under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and for other purposes as introduced. HR 3742 Access to Marketplace Insurance Act Introduced October 9, 2015 by Kevin Cramer (R-ND) To amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to allow for certain third party payments. HR 4275 Medicare Advantage Quality Payment Relief Act of 2015 Introduced December 16, 2015 by Mike Kelly (R-PA) To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate a provision under the Medicare Advantage program that inadvertently penalizes Medicare Advantage plans for providing high quality care to Medicare beneficiaries. HR 5273 Helping Hospitals Improve Patient Care Act of 2016 Introduced May 18, 2016 by Patrick Taberi (R-OH) To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for regulatory relief under the Medicare program for certain providers of services and suppliers and increased transparency in hospital coding and enrollment data, and for other purposes. HR 5410 Health Coverage State Flexibility Act of 2016 Introduced June 8, 2016 by Bill Flores (R-TX) to amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to better align the grace period required for non-payment of premiums before discontinuing coverage under qualified health plans with such grace periods provided for under State law. HR 5447 Small Business Health Care Relief Act of 2016 Introduced June 21, 2016 by Charles Boustany, Jr. (R-LA) To provide an exception from certain group health plan requirements for qualified small employer health reimbursement arrangements. HR 5506 Introduced June 15, 2016 by Todd Young (R-IN) To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a demonstration program to provide integrated care for Medicare beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease, and for other purposes. HR 5547 Health Care Price Transparency Promotion Act of 2016 Introduced by Michael Burgess (R-IN) To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for increased price transparency of hospital information and to provide for additional research on consumer information on charges and out-of-pocket costs. HR 5589 Plan Verification and Fairness Act of 2016 Introduced June 28, 2016 by Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) To amend title I of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to require verification for eligibility for enrollment during special enrollment periods in PPACA insurance plans, and for other purposes. HR 5904 Tax Payers Before Insurers Act Introduced July 14, 2016 by Mark Walker (R-NC) To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to deposit certain funds into the general fund of the Treasury in accordance with provisions of Federal law with regard to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's Transitional Reinsurance Program. HR 5921 State Age Rating Flexibility Act Introduced July 21, 2016 by Larry Bucshon (R-IN) To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to change the permissible age variation in health insurance premium rates. S. 524 Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 Introduced February 12, 2015 by Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) Overdoses from heroin, prescription drugs, and opioid pain relievers last year surpassed car accidents as the leading cause of injury-related death in America, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Deaths have reached their highest levels of the 21st century in 2014, the most recent year for which data is available, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Heroin overdoses have more than tripled in the last five years, an issue receiving outsize attention nationally but especially during the presidential campaign season as New Hampshire has been one of the hardest-hit states. S. 1697 Small Business Healthcare Relief Act Introduced June 25, 2015 by Charles Grassley (R-IA) A bill to provide an exception from certain group health plan requirements to allow small businesses to use pre-tax dollars to assist employees in the purchase of policies in the individual health insurance market, and for other purposes. S. 1945 Mental Health Reform Act of 2015 Introduced August 5, 2015 by Bill Cassidy (R-LA) A bill to make available needed psychiatric, psychological, and supportive services for individuals with mental illness and families in mental health crisis, and for other purposes. S. 2713 Introduced March 17, 2016 by Lamar Alexander (R-TN) Advancing Precision Medicine Act of 2016 A bill to provide for the implementation of a Precision Medicine Initiative.
2016 · third_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
Medigap; Medicare Advantage; CHIP Reform; Medicare Access & CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA); Chronic Care Reform; Exchanges; Site-neutral Payments; Quality Improvement Strategy for QHPs; Rate Notice and Call Letter; QHP Quality Rating System (QRS); MHP; FAQ 8 and 9; Form 5500; Schedule J HR 2488 Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015 Introduced May 21, 2015 by Keith Rothfus (R-PA) This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to expand and modify enrollment and disenrollment options for Medicare Advantage (MA) eligible individuals. Specifically, the bill extends the annual period in which an individual enrolled in MA may elect to instead receive benefits under the original Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) program as well as elect to change qualified prescription drug coverage. Furthermore, any MA-eligible individual (whether or not enrolled in MA) may once per period change a previous election with respect to receiving benefits through MA or Medicare FFS, including changing from one MA plan to another. Unsolicited marketing during this period is prohibited. HR 2895 Introduced June 25, 2015 by Mike Pompeo (R-KS) Medicare Patient Access to Cancer Treatment Act of 2015 To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish payment parity under the Medicare program for ambulatory cancer care services furnished in the hospital outpatient department and the physician office setting. HR 3716 Introduced October 8, 2015 by Larry Bucshon (R-IN) To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require States to provide to the Secretary of Health and Human Services certain information with respect to provider terminations, and for other purposes. HR 4588 Introduced February 23, 2016 by Gene Green (D-TX) To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide the same level of Federal matching assistance for every State that chooses to expand Medicaid coverage to newly eligible individuals, regardless of when such expansion takes place. HR 5273 Helping Hospitals Improve Patient Care Act of 2016 Introduced May 18, 2016 by Patrick Tiberi (R-OH) To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for regulatory relief under the Medicare program for certain providers of services and suppliers and increased transparency in hospital coding and enrollment data, and for other purposes.
2016 · third_quarter · Health Issues
H.R. 815 and S.1661: Legislation which removes broker commissions from the MLR calculation in the health reform law. H.R. 30 and S. 40: To restore the traditional 40-hour workweek from 30-hours H.R. 762 and S. 379: To increase the eligibility and effectiveness of the small business tax credit H.R. 928 and S.183: Legislation to eliminate the new national premium tax H.R. 588: Legislation to restore the open-enrollment period for Medicare beneficiaries to make a one-time plan switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or return to traditional Medicare for 90 days after the beginning of each calendar year. H.R. 290: the CARES act, which would change the three-day inpatient hospital admission requirement for Medicare beneficiaries who are in need of skilled nursing facility services to also allow hospital stays under observation status to count. H.R. 2: Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 H.R. 1624: To amend title I of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to revise the definition of small employer. Senator Burr, Hatch, and Uptons Patient Choice, Affordability, Responsibility, and Empowerment (CARE) Act which would replace the Affordable Care Act H.R. 876: Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require a hospital with an agreement with the Secretary of Health and Human Services to give each individual entitled to benefits under Medicare part A (Hospital Insurance), whom the hospital classifies for more than 24 hours as an outpatient under observation status or any other similar status, an adequate oral and written notification within 36 hours of that classification. H.R. 1533: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the excise tax on medical devices, and for other purposes. S. 620 and H.R. 1189: The Preserving Employee Wellness Programs Act, looks to reaffirm existing law allowing employee wellness programs tied to financial awards H.R. 1547: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal certain limitations on health care benefits enacted as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. H.R. 887: Electronic Health Fairness Act of 2015, Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to prohibit any patient encounter of an eligible professional occurring at an ambulatory surgical center from being treated as such an encounter in determining whether an eligible professional qualifies as a meaningful electronic health record (EHR) user. H.R. 1570: To provide for greater transparency and information with respect to Federal expenditures under the Medicaid and CHIP programs in the territories of the United States, and for other purposes. S. 254: Small Business Health Relief Act of 2015 H.R. 1270: Repeals provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, as added by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, that limit payments for medications from health savings accounts, medical savings accounts, and health flexible spending arrangements to only prescription drugs or insulin (thus allowing distributions from such accounts for over-the-counter drugs). S. 884: A bill to improve access to emergency medical services, and for other purposes. S. 836: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal certain limitations on health care benefits enacted by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. S. 839: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to extend the rural add-on payment in the Medicare home health benefit, and for other purposes. S. 844: A bill to repeal the medical device excise tax, and for other purposes. S. 861: A bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to curb waste, fraud, and abuse in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. H.R. 2712 and S. 1996: Commonsense Reporting and Verification Act of 2015, bill to ease PPACA employer reporting requirements. S. 1099: To amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to provide States with flexibility in determining the size of employers in the small group market. S. 1415: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the definition of large employer for purposes of applying the employer mandate. H.R. 879: This bill repeals, effective for taxable years beginning after 2017, the excise tax on the excess benefit portion of high-cost employer-sponsored health care plans. H.R. 2050: Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal, beginning with taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, the excise tax on employer-sponsored health care coverage for which there is an excess benefit (high-cost plans). H.R.2570: Strengthening Medicare Advantage through Innovation and Transparency for Seniors of 2015 H.R. 2911 and S. 1697: To provide an exception from certain group health plan requirements to allow small businesses to use pre-tax dollars to assist employees in the purchase of policies in the individual health insurance market, and for other purposes. House passed budget resolution for upcoming fiscal year S. 2045: Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal, beginning with taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, the excise tax on employer-sponsored health care coverage for which there is an excess benefit (high-cost plans). S. 2075: This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, the excise tax on employer-sponsored health care coverage for which there is an excess benefit (high-cost plans). The bill expresses the sense of the Senate that the revenue loss resulting from the repeal of such excise tax should be offset by corresponding revenue. -H.R.3762: Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 -H.R.2029: The Omnibus Appropriations bill -2015 Reconciliation bill -H.R. 5447 and S. 3060: Small Business Health Care Relief Act of 2016 -H.R. 3463: Aligning Children's Dental Coverage Act (ACDC) -H.R. 5589: To amend title I of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to require verification for eligibility for enrollment during special enrollment periods in PPACA insurance plans, and for other purposes. -S. 3244: The legislation clarifies that people outside the public Exchanges can have the same choices for dental coverage as people inside the public Exchanges. -H.R. 2488: Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015 -H.R. 6184: legislation that would allow seniors enrolled in COBRA coverage to transition to Medicare Part B without a penalty -H.R 2581: Preservation of Access for Seniors in Medicare Advantage Act of 2015
2016 · second_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
H.R. 546, ACE Kids Act (Barton) - Medicaid Childrens Care Coordination Program H.R. 588, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act (Rothfus-Schrader) - MA enrollment opportunities H.R. 818, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Roskam-Carney) - reducing fraud H.R. 1021, Protecting the Integrity of Medicare Act (Brady) - reducing fraud H.R. 2488, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act (Rothfus-Schrader) - MA open enrollment period H.R. 2505, Increasing Access to Data in Medicare Advantage Act (Kelly) - annual reporting of MA enrollment data H.R. 2506, Preventing Unnecessary Plan Terminations Act (Buchanan) - preventing certain MA plan terminations H.R. 2507, Increasing Regulatory Fairness Act (Brady) - schedule for MA rates H.R. 2570, Strengthening Medicare Advantage through Innovation and Transparency for Seniors Act (Black) - Value-Based Insurance Design demonstration H.R. 2579, Securing Care for Seniors Act (Black) - MA risk adjustment model H.R. 2581, Preservation of Access for Seniors in Medicare Advantage Act (Brady) - Value-Based Insurance Design demonstration and MA open enrollment period H.R. 2582, Seniors Health Care Plan Protection Act (Buchanan) - preventing certain MA plan terminations, MA risk adjustment model H.R. 3718, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Roskam-Carney) - reducing fraud H.R. 3716, Ensuring Access to Quality Medicaid Providers Act (Bucshon) - oversight of terminated Medicaid providers H.R. 4275, Medicare Advantage Quality Payment Relief Act (Kelly) - calculation of MA benchmark cap H.R. 4442, CONNECT for Health Act (Black-Welch) - telehealth, remote patient monitoring services H.R. 4589, Excellence in Medicare Act (MacArthur) - MA payment cap H.R. 5273, Helping Hospitals Improve Patient Care Act (Tiberi) - MA issues, site-neutral payments H.R. 5506, Dialysis PATIENT Demonstration Act (Young) - demonstration program for Medicare beneficiaries with ESRD Draft Bill on Option for ESRD Patients to Enroll in MA Plans (Ways and Means Committee) H.Con.Res. 125, Budget Resolution (Price) - Medicare, Medicaid issues S. 298, ACE Kids Act (Grassley) - Medicaid Childrens Care Coordination Program S. 524, Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (Whitehouse) - Medicare Part D lock-in programs S. 861, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Carper-Enzi) - reducing fraud S. 1347, Electronic Health Fairness Act - preventing certain MA plan terminations, annual reporting of MA enrollment data S. 1396, Value-Based Insurance Design Seniors Copayment Reduction Act (Thune-Stabenow) - VBID demonstration S. 1549, Care Planning Act (Warner) - advanced illness care coordination for Medicare beneficiaries S. 1913, Stopping Medication Abuse and Protecting Seniors Act (Toomey) - Medicare Part D lock-in programs S. 2104, Preserving Medicare Advantage for all Medicare Beneficiaries Act (Portman-Casey) - preventing certain MA plan terminations, MA demonstration program S. 2349, Medicare Advantage Coverage Transparency Act (Heller) - MA enrollment data S. 2484, CONNECT for Health Act (Schatz-Wicker) - telehealth, remote patient monitoring services S. 2864, RxCAP Act (Wyden) - Medicare Part D cost-sharing S. 3090, Dialysis PATIENT Demonstration Act (Heller) - demonstration program for Medicare beneficiaries with ESRD Regulatory Issues: Ongoing implementation issues for the Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Part D prescription drug programs, including risk adjustment methodology, network adequacy and provider directories, encounter data and other data-related issues, and audit issues; bidding and payment issues (including MA rate assumptions, MA coding intensity, MA Secondary Payer issues, Part D reinsurance, Part D low income subsidies, Part D direct and indirect remuneration (DIR), and audits); in-home health risk assessments; Medicare Medical Loss Ratio issues; implementation of sequestration under the Medicare Advantage and Part D programs; implications of the health insurer fee for MA and Part D plans; application process, audits to evaluate compliance with MA and Part D program rules, benefit design rules, enrollment rules, requirements for notice and denial forms, marketing materials review and approval, marketing activities, including conduct and compensation of brokers and agents and plan sponsor marketing staff; measurement and oversight of plan performance including Special Needs Plans (SNPs); quality measures, grievance and appeals processes, fraud and abuse compliance including training; contracting issues for Dual Eligible SNPs; Federal preemption of State authority under MA and Part D programs, Part D prescription drug event data reporting, Part D formulary rules, Part D pharmacy access standards, Part D coverage gap discount program, including employer group waiver plan (EGWP) issues, and other operational issues; issues raised by Part D coverage of new specialty drugs, the Part D non-interference policy and related issues (e.g., preferred pharmacy and any willing pharmacy requirements, standards for network pharmacy reimbursement, and policies regarding sponsor negotiation of pharmacy price concessions); CMS's proposed Part B drug demonstration program; Medication Therapy Management Program requirements and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) Demonstration; MA EGWP issues; CMMI's value-based insurance design (VBID) demonstration; Part D requirements for offering basic and enhanced alternative plans; MA and Part D systems issues affecting enrollment and disenrollment processing and payment and other operational issues; issues relating to MA and Part D Star Rating system including measures, the methodology for calculating ratings, and the role of the ratings for payment purposes; implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) changes to the Part D coverage gap; functionality of the Medicare Personal Plan Finder and Drug Plan Finder; National Medicare Education Program; Medicare demonstration program on performance-based payments for physician groups; physician quality reporting initiative; issues relating to Medicare coverage policy and national coverage decisions; new payment system for physicians under MACRA, including implications for MA and Part D plans; Medicare clinical trials; Medicare/Medicaid integration for dual eligibles, including implementation of the Capitated Financial Alignment Demonstration and related issues (e.g., quality ratings); Medicaid managed care regulations and policies, including CMS' proposed substantial revisions to the managed care regulations, new mental health parity rules, the Medicaid managed care actuarial soundness standard, quality oversight, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), grievance and appeals processes, fraud and abuse compliance, beneficiary information requirements, treatment of Medicaid health plan member hospital days in the upper payment limit calculation; policies affecting State Medicaid funding, including block grants, the calculation of the federal medical assistance (federal matching) percentage (FMAP), and intergovernmental transfers (IGTs); coordination of benefits with state Medicaid programs; Medicaid prescription drug cost issues affecting Medicaid health plans including issues raised by Medicaid coverage of new specialty drugs; health plan-related Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) issues, including eligibility and outreach issues and CHIP reauthorization; implementation of Medicaid changes made in Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, including Medicaid managed care organization provider tax issues; standards for electronic prescribing; implementation of Medicaid changes of interest to Medicaid health plans made in the ACA including Medicaid expansion, the managed care organization (MCO) prescription drug rebate provisions, minimum payments to primary care providers (PCPs), interactions between the Medicaid program and health insurance exchanges, and Medicaid and CHIP maintenance of effort (MOE) requirements; implications of the health insurer fee for Medicaid health plans; issues related to Medicaid Managed long-term care including home and community-based waiver services (HCBS); expanding the availability of Medicare Advantage and Medicaid health plan telemedicine programs; implications of the new non-discrimination rules for health plans participating in public programs; issues related to Medigap coverage; issues related to business continuity in relation to pandemics or natural events (e.g., hurricane, tornado, etc.); cybersecurity; provider directories; value-based insurance design models; Part D prescriber enrollment requirements; Part D recovery audit contractor programs; socioeconomic status impacts on star ratings related to MA and Part D programs; and other issues relating to health care reform implementation. *Add MACPAC to Agency List.
2016 · second_quarter · Health Issues
Implementation of P.L. 111-148, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Issues relating to healthcare and health insurance policy, tax policy, Medicare Advantage and general Medicare policy, legislation and regulations that impact health insurance brokers. H.R. 815/S. 1661, Access to Professional Health Insurance Advisors Act of 2015. H.R. 2488, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015.
Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $40,000
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
2016 · second_quarter · Insurance
Implementation of P.L. 111-148, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Issues relating to healthcare and health insurance policy, tax policy, Medicare Advantage and general Medicare policy, legislation and regulations that impact health insurance brokers. H.R. 815/S. 1661, Access to Professional Health Insurance Advisors Act of 2015. H.R. 2488, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015.
Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $40,000
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
2016 · second_quarter · Health Issues
Affordable Care Act Issues - Chronic Care Innovations; Payment reform; 2017 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters (NBPP); ACA Regulations; Implementation; Cyber Security;Open Enrollment; Market Stability; Department of Labor Fiduciary Rule; Grace Periods; Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs); Reinsurance; Taskforce; Premiums; Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) Legislation; Individual Market Reform Other Health Care Issues - Mental Health Parity; Opioid Education; End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD); Zika Virus; Air Ambulances Federal Employee Health Benefit Program (FEHBP) regarding proposals to allow additional types of carriers including regional PPOs to be included in the coverage options offered by OPM HR 928 Introduced February 12, 2015 by Charles Boustany (R-LA) This bill repeals a provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that imposes an annual fee on a health insurance provider based on its net premium income. HR 1934 Cancer Care Payment Reform Act of 2015 Introduced April 22, 2015 by Cathy McMorris Rodgers To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a national Oncology Medical Home Demonstration Project under the Medicare program for the purpose of changing the Medicare payment for cancer care in order to enhance the quality of care and to improve cost efficiency, and for other purposes. HR 2488 Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015 Introduced May 21, 2015 by Keith Rothfus (R-PA) This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to expand and modify enrollment and disenrollment options for Medicare Advantage (MA) eligible individuals. Specifically, the bill extends the annual period in which an individual enrolled in MA may elect to instead receive benefits under the original Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) program as well as elect to change qualified prescription drug coverage. Furthermore, any MA-eligible individual (whether or not enrolled in MA) may once per period change a previous election with respect to receiving benefits through MA or Medicare FFS, including changing from one MA plan to another. Unsolicited marketing during this period is prohibited. HR 2646 Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act of 2015 Introduced May 4, 2015 by Tim Murphy (R-PA) To make available needed psychiatric, psychological, and supportive services for individuals with mental illness and families in mental health crisis, and for other purposes HR 3244 Providing Innovative Care for Complex Cases Demonstration Act of 2015 Introduced July 28, 2015 by Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a pilot program to improve care for the most costly Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries through the use of comprehensive and effective care management while reducing costs to the Federal Government for these beneficiaries, and for other purposes. HR 3463 Aligning Childrens Dental Coverage Act Introduced September 9, 2015 by H. Griffith (R-VA) To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to clarify the treatment of pediatric dental coverage in the individual and group markets outside of Exchanges established under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and for other purposes as introduced. HR 3742 Access to Marketplace Insurance Act Introduced October 9, 2015 by Kevin Cramer (R-ND) To amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to allow for certain third party payments. HR 4275 Medicare Advantage Quality Payment Relief Act of 2015 Introduced December 16, 2015 by Mike Kelly (R-PA) To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate a provision under the Medicare Advantage program that inadvertently penalizes Medicare Advantage plans for providing high quality care to Medicare beneficiaries. HR 5273 Helping Hospitals Improve Patient Care Act of 2016 Introduced May 18, 2016 by Patrick Taberi (R-OH) To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for regulatory relief under the Medicare program for certain providers of services and suppliers and increased transparency in hospital coding and enrollment data, and for other purposes. HR 5410 Health Coverage State Flexibility Act of 2016 Introduced June 8, 2016 by Bill Flores (R-TX) to amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to better align the grace period required for non-payment of premiums before discontinuing coverage under qualified health plans with such grace periods provided for under State law. HR 5447 Small Business Health Care Relief Act of 2016 Introduced June 21, 2016 by Charles Boustany, Jr. (R-LA) To provide an exception from certain group health plan requirements for qualified small employer health reimbursement arrangements. HR 5506 Introduced June 15, 2016 by Todd Young (R-IN) To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a demonstration program to provide integrated care for Medicare beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease, and for other purposes. HR 5547 Health Care Price Transparency Promotion Act of 2016 Introduced by Michael Burgess (R-IN) To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for increased price transparency of hospital information and to provide for additional research on consumer information on charges and out-of-pocket costs. HR 5589 Plan Verification and Fairness Act of 2016 Introduced June 28, 2016 by Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) To amend title I of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to require verification for eligibility for enrollment during special enrollment periods in PPACA insurance plans, and for other purposes. S. 524 Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 Introduced February 12, 2015 by Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) Overdoses from heroin, prescription drugs, and opioid pain relievers last year surpassed car accidents as the leading cause of injury-related death in America, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Deaths have reached their highest levels of the 21st century in 2014, the most recent year for which data is available, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Heroin overdoses have more than tripled in the last five years, an issue receiving outsize attention nationally but especially during the presidential campaign season as New Hampshire has been one of the hardest-hit states. S. 1697 Small Business Healthcare Relief Act Introduced June 25, 2015 by Charles Grassley (R-IA) A bill to provide an exception from certain group health plan requirements to allow small businesses to use pre-tax dollars to assist employees in the purchase of policies in the individual health insurance market, and for other purposes. S. 1945 Mental Health Reform Act of 2015 Introduced August 5, 2015 by Bill Cassidy (R-LA) A bill to make available needed psychiatric, psychological, and supportive services for individuals with mental illness and families in mental health crisis, and for other purposes. S. 2713 Introduced March 17, 2016 by Lamar Alexander (R-TN) Advancing Precision Medicine Act of 2016 A bill to provide for the implementation of a Precision Medicine Initiative.
2016 · second_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
Medigap; Medicare Advantage; CHIP Reform; Medicare Access & CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA); Chronic Care Reform; Exchanges; ICD-10; Site-neutral Payments; Medicare Fraud; Quality Improvement Strategy for QHPs; Rate Notice and Call Letter; Medical Billing; Transparency Tools; QHP Quality Rating System (QRS) HR 2488 Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015 Introduced May 21, 2015 by Keith Rothfus (R-PA) This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to expand and modify enrollment and disenrollment options for Medicare Advantage (MA) eligible individuals. Specifically, the bill extends the annual period in which an individual enrolled in MA may elect to instead receive benefits under the original Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) program as well as elect to change qualified prescription drug coverage. Furthermore, any MA-eligible individual (whether or not enrolled in MA) may once per period change a previous election with respect to receiving benefits through MA or Medicare FFS, including changing from one MA plan to another. Unsolicited marketing during this period is prohibited. HR 2895 Introduced June 25, 2015 by Mike Pompeo (R-KS) Medicare Patient Access to Cancer Treatment Act of 2015 To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish payment parity under the Medicare program for ambulatory cancer care services furnished in the hospital outpatient department and the physician office setting. HR 3716 Introduced October 8, 2015 by Larry Bucshon (R-IN) To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require States to provide to the Secretary of Health and Human Services certain information with respect to provider terminations, and for other purposes. HR 4588 Introduced February 23, 2016 by Gene Green (D-TX) To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide the same level of Federal matching assistance for every State that chooses to expand Medicaid coverage to newly eligible individuals, regardless of when such expansion takes place. HR 5273 Helping Hospitals Improve Patient Care Act of 2016 Introduced May 18, 2016 by Patrick Taberi (R-OH) To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for regulatory relief under the Medicare program for certain providers of services and suppliers and increased transparency in hospital coding and enrollment data, and for other purposes.
2016 · second_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
Medigap; Medicare Advantage; Medicare Access & CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA); Chronic Care Reform; Exchanges; ICD-10; Site-neutral Payments; Medicare Fraud; Quality Improvement Strategy for QHPs; Rate Notice and Call Letter; Medical Billing; Transparency Tools; QHP Quality Rating System (QRS); Star Rating System; Risk Adjustment; Employer Group Waivers HR 2488 Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015 Introduced May 21, 2015 by Keith Rothfus (R-PA) This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to expand and modify enrollment and disenrollment options for Medicare Advantage (MA) eligible individuals. Specifically, the bill extends the annual period in which an individual enrolled in MA may elect to instead receive benefits under the original Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) program as well as elect to change qualified prescription drug coverage. Furthermore, any MA-eligible individual (whether or not enrolled in MA) may once per period change a previous election with respect to receiving benefits through MA or Medicare FFS, including changing from one MA plan to another. Unsolicited marketing during this period is prohibited.
Client expense: $290,000 · Firm income: Not reported
2016 · second_quarter · Health Issues
Affordable Care Act Issues - Chronic Care Innovations; Payment reform; 2017 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters (NBPP); ACA Regulations; Implementation; Cyber Security;Open Enrollment; Market Stability; Grace Periods; Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs); Reinsurance; Taskforce; Premiums; Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) Legislation; Individual Market Reform; Tobacco Cessation Programs Other Health Care Issues - Mental Health Parity; Opioid Education; End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) HR 928 Introduced February 12, 2015 by Charles Boustany (R-LA) This bill repeals a provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that imposes an annual fee on a health insurance provider based on its net premium income. HR 2488 Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015 Introduced May 21, 2015 by Keith Rothfus (R-PA) This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to expand and modify enrollment and disenrollment options for Medicare Advantage (MA) eligible individuals. Specifically, the bill extends the annual period in which an individual enrolled in MA may elect to instead receive benefits under the original Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) program as well as elect to change qualified prescription drug coverage. Furthermore, any MA-eligible individual (whether or not enrolled in MA) may once per period change a previous election with respect to receiving benefits through MA or Medicare FFS, including changing from one MA plan to another. Unsolicited marketing during this period is prohibited. HR 2646 Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act of 2015 Introduced May 4, 2015 by Tim Murphy (R-PA) To make available needed psychiatric, psychological, and supportive services for individuals with mental illness and families in mental health crisis, and for other purposes HR 3463 Aligning Childrens Dental Coverage Act Introduced September 9, 2015 by H. Griffith (R-VA) To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to clarify the treatment of pediatric dental coverage in the individual and group markets outside of Exchanges established under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and for other purposes as introduced. HR 4275 Medicare Advantage Quality Payment Relief Act of 2015 Introduced December 16, 2015 by Mike Kelly (R-PA) To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate a provision under the Medicare Advantage program that inadvertently penalizes Medicare Advantage plans for providing high quality care to Medicare beneficiaries. HR 5410 Health Coverage State Flexibility Act of 2016 Introduced June 8, 2016 by Bill Flores (R-TX) to amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to better align the grace period required for non-payment of premiums before discontinuing coverage under qualified health plans with such grace periods provided for under State law. HR 5447 Small Business Health Care Relief Act of 2016 Introduced June 21, 2016 by Charles Boustany, Jr. (R-LA) To provide an exception from certain group health plan requirements for qualified small employer health reimbursement arrangements. HR 5506 Introduced June 15, 2016 by Todd Young (R-IN) To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a demonstration program to provide integrated care for Medicare beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease, and for other purposes. HR 5589 Plan Verification and Fairness Act of 2016 Introduced by Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) To amend title I of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to require verification for eligibility for enrollment during special enrollment periods in PPACA insurance plans, and for other purposes. S. 524 Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 Introduced February 12, 2015 by Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) Overdoses from heroin, prescription drugs, and opioid pain relievers last year surpassed car accidents as the leading cause of injury-related death in America, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Deaths have reached their highest levels of the 21st century in 2014, the most recent year for which data is available, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Heroin overdoses have more than tripled in the last five years, an issue receiving outsize attention nationally but especially during the presidential campaign season as New Hampshire has been one of the hardest-hit states.
2016 · second_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
Medicare/Medicaid Issues; Medicare Advantage; Chronic Care Reform; Exchanges; Site-neutral Payments; Quality Improvement Strategy for QHPs; network adequacy standards. HR 2488 Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015 Introduced May 21, 2015 by Keith Rothfus (R-PA) This bill amends title XVII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to expand and modify enrollment and disenrollment options for Medicare Advantage (MA) eligible individuals. The Bill extends the annual period in which an individual enrolled in MA may elect to instead recieve benefits under the original Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) program as well as elect to change qualified perscription drug coverage. HR 2895 Introduced June 25, 2015 by Mike Pompeo (R-KS) Medicare Patient Access to Cancer Treatment Act of 2015 To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to estblish payment parity under the Medicare program for ambulatory cancer services furnished in the hospital outpatient department and the physician office setting. HR 3716 Introduced October 8, 2015 by Larry Bucshon (R-IN) To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require States to provide to the Secretary of Health and Human Services certin information with respect to provider termination, and for other purposes.
Client expense: $30,000 · Firm income: Not reported
2016 · second_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
Medigap; Medicare Advantage; CHIP Reform; Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA); Chronic Care Reform; Exchanges; ICD-10; Site-Neutral Payments; Medicare Fraud; Quality Improvement Strategy for QHPs; Rate Notice and Call Letter; Medical Billing; Transparency Tools; QHP Quality Rating System (QRS) HR 2488 Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015 Introduced May 21,2015 by Keith Rothfus (R-PA) this bill amends title XVII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to expand and modify enrollment and disenrollment options for Medicare Advantage (MA) eligible individuals. Specifically, the bill extends the annual period in which an individual enrolled in MA may elect to instead receive benefits under the original Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) program as well as elect to change qualified prescription drug coverage. Furthermore, any MA-eligible individual (whether or not enrolled in MA) may once per period change a previous election with respect to receiving benefits through MA or Medicare FFS, including changing from one MA plan to another. Unsolicited marketing during this period is prohibited. HR 2895 Introduced June 25, 2015 by Mike Pompeo (R-KS) Medicare Patient Access to Cancer treatment Act of 2015 to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish payment parity under the Medicare program for ambulatory cancer care services furnished in the hospital outpatient department and the physician office setting. HR 3716 Introduced October 8, 2015 by Larry Bucshon (R-IN) to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require States to provide to the Secretary of Health and Human Services certain information with respect to provider terminations, and for other purposes. HR 4588 Introduced February 23, 2016 by Gene Green (D-Tx) To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide the same levele of Federal Matching assistance for every State that chooses to expand Medicaid coverage to newly eligible individuals, regardless of when such expansion takes place. HR 5273 Helping Hospitals Improve Patient Care Act of 2016 Introduced May 1, 2016 by Patrick Taberi (R-OH) to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for regulatory relief under the Medicare program for certain providers of services and suppliers and increased transparency in hospital coding and enrollment data and for other purposes.
2016 · second_quarter · Health Issues
Affordable Care Act Issues - Chronic Care Innovations; Payment reform 2017 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters (NBPP); ACA Regulations, Implementation; Cyber Security; Open Enrollment; Market Stability; Department of Labor Fiduciary Rule; Grace Periods; Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs); Reinsurance; Taskforce; Premiums; Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) Legislation; Individual Market Reform Other Health Care Issues - Mental Health Parity; Opioid Education, End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD); Zika Virus; Air Ambulances Federal Employee Health Benefit Program (FEHBP) regarding proposals to allow additional types of carriers including regional PPOs to be included in the coverage options offered by OPM HR 928 Introduced February 12, 2015 by Charles Boustany (R-LA) this bill repeals a provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that imposes an annual fee on a health insurance provider based on its net premium income. HR 1934 Cancer Care Payment Reform Act of 2015 Introduced April 22, 2015 by Cathy McMorris Rodgers to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a national Oncology Medical Home demonstration Project under the Medicare program for the purpose of changing the Medicare payment for cancer care in order to enhance the quality of care and to improve cost efficiency and for other purposes. HR 2488 Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015 Introduced May 21,2015 by Keith Rothfus (R-PA) this bill amends title XVII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to expand and modify enrollment and disenrollment options for Medicare Advantage (MA) eligible individuals. Specifically, the bill extends the annual period in which an individual enrolled in MA may elect to instead receive benefits under the original Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) program as well as elect to change qualified prescription drug coverage. Furthermore, any MA-eligible individual (whether or not enrolled in MA) may once per period change a previous election with respect to receiving benefits through MA or Medicare FFS, including changing from one MA plan to another. Unsolicited marketing during this period is prohibited. HR 2646 Helping Families i Mental Health Crisis Act of 2015 introduced May 4, 2015 by Tim Murphy (R-PA) to make available needed psychiatric, psychological and supportive services for individuals with mental illness and families in mental health crisis and for other purposes. HR 3244 Providing Innovative Care for Complex Cases Demonstration Act of 2015 Introduced July 28, 2015 by Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a pilot program to improve care for the most costly Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries through the use of comprehensive and effective care management while reducing costs to the Federal Government for these beneficiaries, and for other purposes. HR 3463 Aligning Children's Dental Coverage Act Introduced September 9, 2015 by H. Griffith (R-VA) to amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to clarify the treatment of pediatric dental coverage in the individual and group markets outside of Exchanges established under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and for other purposes as introduced. HR 3742 Access to Marketplace Insurance Act Introduced October 9, 2015 by Kevin Cramer (R-ND) to amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to allow for certain third party payments. HR 4275 Medicare Advantage Quality Payment Relief Act of 2015 Introduced December 16, 2015 by Mike Kelly (R-PA) to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate a provision under the Medicare Advantage program that inadvertently penalizes Medicare Advantage plans for providing high quality care to Medicare beneficiaries. HR 5273 Helping Hospitals Improve Patient Care Act of 2016 Introduced May 18, 2016 by Patrick Taberi (R-OH) to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for regulatory relief under the Medicare program for certain providers of services and suppliers and increased transparency in hospital coding and enrollment data, and for other purposes. HR 5410 Health Coverage State Flexibility Act of 2016 Introduced June 8, 2016 by Bill Flores (R-TX) to amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to better align the grace period required for non-payment of premiums before discontinuing coverage under qualified health plans with such grace periods provided for under State Law. HR 5447 Small Business Health Care Relief Act of 2016 Introduced June 21, 2016 by Charles Boustany, Jr. (R-LA) to provide an exception from certain group health plan requirements for qualified small employer health reimbursement arrangements. HR 5506 Introduced June 15, 2016 by Todd Young (R-IN) to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a demonstration program to provide integrated care for Medicare beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease, and for other purposes. HR 5547 Health Care Price Transparency Promotion Act of 2016 Introduced by Michael Burgess (R-IN) to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for increased price transparency of hospital information and to provide for additional research on consumer information on charges and out-of-pocket costs. HR 5589 Plan Verification and Fairness Act of 2016 Introduced June 28, 2016 by Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) to amend title I of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to require verification for eligibility for enrollment during special enrollment periods in PPACA insurance plans, and for other purposes. S. 524 Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 Introduced February 12, 2015 by Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) overdoses from heroin prescription drugs and opioid pain relievers last year surpassed car accidents as the leading cause of injury-related death in America, according to the Center for Disease Control. Deaths have reached their highest levels of the 21st Century in 2014, the most recent year for which data is available, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Heroin overdoses have more than tripled in the last five years, an issue receiving outsize attention nationally but especially during the presidential campaign season as New Hampshire has been one of the hardest-hit states. S. 1697 Small Business Healthcare Relief Act Introduced June 25, 2015 by Charles Grassley (R-IA) a bill to provide an exception from certain group health plan requirements to allow small businesses to use pre-tax dollars to assist employees in the purchase of policies in the individual health insurance market and for other purposes. S. 1945 Introduced August 5, 2015 by Bill Cassidy (R-LA) A bill to make available needed psychiatric, psychological, and supportive services for individuals with mental illness and families in mental health crisis, and for other purposes. S. 2713 Introduced March 17, 2016 by Lamar Alexander (R-TN) Advancing Precision Medicine Act of 2016 A bill to provide for the implementation of a Precision Medicine Initiative.
2016 · second_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
Medicare and Medicaid issues, Medigap issues, Medicare Advantage, CHIP reform, chronic care reform HR 2488 Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015 Introduced May 21, 2015 by Keith Rothfus (R-PA) This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to expand and modify enrollment and disenrollment options for Medicare Advantage (MA) eligible individuals. Specifically, the bill extends the annual period in which an individual enrolled in MA may elect to instead receive benefits under the original Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) program as well as elect to change qualified prescription drug coverage. Furthermore, any MA-eligible individual (weather or not enrolled in MA) may once per period change a previous election with respect to receiving benefits through MA or Medicare FFS, including changing from one MA plan to another. Unsolicited marketing during this period is prohibited. HR 2895 Introduced June 25, 2015 by Mike Pompeo (R-KS) Medicare Patient Access to Cancer Treatment Act of 2015 To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish payment parity under the Medicare program for ambulatory cancer care services furnished in the hospital outpatient department and the physician office setting. HR 3716 Introduced October 8, 2015 by Larry Bucshon (R-IN) To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require States to provide to the Secretary of Health and Human Services certain information with respect to provider terminations, and for other purposes. HR 4588 Introduced February 23, 2016 by Gene Green (D-TX) To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide the same level of Federal matching assistance for every State that chooses to expand Medicaid coverage to newly eligible individuals, regardless of when such expansion takes place. HR 5273 Helping Hospitals Improve Patient Care Act of 2016 Introduced May 18, 2016 by Patrick Taberi (R-OH) To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for regulatory relief under the Medicare program for certain providers of services and suppliers and increased transparency in hospital coding and enrollment data, and for other purposes.
2016 · second_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
Medicare and Medicaid issues, Medigap issues, Medicare Advantage, CHIP reform, chronic care reform HR 2488 Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015 Introduced May 21, 2015 by Keith Rothfus (R-PA) This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to expand and modify enrollment and disenrollment options for Medicare Advantage (MA) eligible individuals. Specifically, the bill extends the annual period in which an individual enrolled in MA may elect to instead receive benefits under the original Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) program as well as elect to change qualified prescription drug coverage. Furthermore, any MA-eligible individual (weather or not enrolled in MA) may once per period change a previous election with respect to receiving benefits through MA or Medicare FFS, including changing from one MA plan to another. Unsolicited marketing during this period is prohibited. HR 2895 Introduced June 25, 2015 by Mike Pompeo (R-KS) Medicare Patient Access to Cancer Treatment Act of 2015 To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish payment parity under the Medicare program for ambulatory cancer care services furnished in the hospital outpatient department and the physician office setting. HR 3716 Introduced October 8, 2015 by Larry Bucshon (R-IN) To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require States to provide to the Secretary of Health and Human Services certain information with respect to provider terminations, and for other purposes. HR 4588 Introduced February 23, 2016 by Gene Green (D-TX) To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide the same level of Federal matching assistance for every State that chooses to expand Medicaid coverage to newly eligible individuals, regardless of when such expansion takes place. HR 5273 Helping Hospitals Improve Patient Care Act of 2016 Introduced May 18, 2016 by Patrick Taberi (R-OH) To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for regulatory relief under the Medicare program for certain providers of services and suppliers and increased transparency in hospital coding and enrollment data, and for other purposes.
2016 · second_quarter · Health Issues
H.R. 815 and S.1661: Legislation which removes broker commissions from the MLR calculation in the health reform law. H.R. 30 and S. 40: To restore the traditional 40-hour workweek from 30-hours H.R. 762 and S. 379: To increase the eligibility and effectiveness of the small business tax credit H.R. 928 and S.183: Legislation to eliminate the new national premium tax H.R. 588: Legislation to restore the open-enrollment period for Medicare beneficiaries to make a one-time plan switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or return to traditional Medicare for 90 days after the beginning of each calendar year. H.R. 290: the CARES act, which would change the three-day inpatient hospital admission requirement for Medicare beneficiaries who are in need of skilled nursing facility services to also allow hospital stays under observation status to count. H.R. 2: Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 H.R. 1624: To amend title I of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to revise the definition of small employer. Senator Burr, Hatch, and Uptons Patient Choice, Affordability, Responsibility, and Empowerment (CARE) Act which would replace the Affordable Care Act H.R. 876: Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require a hospital with an agreement with the Secretary of Health and Human Services to give each individual entitled to benefits under Medicare part A (Hospital Insurance), whom the hospital classifies for more than 24 hours as an outpatient under observation status or any other similar status, an adequate oral and written notification within 36 hours of that classification. H.R. 1533: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the excise tax on medical devices, and for other purposes. S. 620 and H.R. 1189: The Preserving Employee Wellness Programs Act, looks to reaffirm existing law allowing employee wellness programs tied to financial awards H.R. 1547: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal certain limitations on health care benefits enacted as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. H.R. 887: Electronic Health Fairness Act of 2015, Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to prohibit any patient encounter of an eligible professional occurring at an ambulatory surgical center from being treated as such an encounter in determining whether an eligible professional qualifies as a meaningful electronic health record (EHR) user. H.R. 1570: To provide for greater transparency and information with respect to Federal expenditures under the Medicaid and CHIP programs in the territories of the United States, and for other purposes. S. 254: Small Business Health Relief Act of 2015 H.R. 1270: Repeals provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, as added by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, that limit payments for medications from health savings accounts, medical savings accounts, and health flexible spending arrangements to only prescription drugs or insulin (thus allowing distributions from such accounts for over-the-counter drugs). S. 884: A bill to improve access to emergency medical services, and for other purposes. S. 836: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal certain limitations on health care benefits enacted by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. S. 839: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to extend the rural add-on payment in the Medicare home health benefit, and for other purposes. S. 844: A bill to repeal the medical device excise tax, and for other purposes. S. 861: A bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to curb waste, fraud, and abuse in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. H.R. 2712 and S. 1996: Commonsense Reporting and Verification Act of 2015, bill to ease PPACA employer reporting requirements. S. 1099: To amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to provide States with flexibility in determining the size of employers in the small group market. S. 1415: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the definition of large employer for purposes of applying the employer mandate. H.R. 879: This bill repeals, effective for taxable years beginning after 2017, the excise tax on the excess benefit portion of high-cost employer-sponsored health care plans. H.R. 2050: Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal, beginning with taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, the excise tax on employer-sponsored health care coverage for which there is an excess benefit (high-cost plans). H.R.2570: Strengthening Medicare Advantage through Innovation and Transparency for Seniors of 2015 H.R. 2911 and S. 1697: To provide an exception from certain group health plan requirements to allow small businesses to use pre-tax dollars to assist employees in the purchase of policies in the individual health insurance market, and for other purposes. House passed budget resolution for upcoming fiscal year S. 2045: Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal, beginning with taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, the excise tax on employer-sponsored health care coverage for which there is an excess benefit (high-cost plans). S. 2075: This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, the excise tax on employer-sponsored health care coverage for which there is an excess benefit (high-cost plans). The bill expresses the sense of the Senate that the revenue loss resulting from the repeal of such excise tax should be offset by corresponding revenue. -H.R.3762: Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 -H.R.2029: The Omnibus Appropriations bill -2015 Reconciliation bill -H.R. 5447 and S. 3060: Small Business Health Care Relief Act of 2016 -H.R. 3463: Aligning Children's Dental Coverage Act (ACDC) -H.R. 5589: To amend title I of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to require verification for eligibility for enrollment during special enrollment periods in PPACA insurance plans, and for other purposes. -S. 3244: The legislation clarifies that people outside the public Exchanges can have the same choices for dental coverage as people inside the public Exchanges. -H.R. 2488: Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015
2016 · first_quarter · Health Issues
Implementation of P.L. 111-148, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Issues relating to healthcare and health insurance policy, tax policy, Medicare Advantage and general Medicare policy, legislation and regulations that impact health insurance brokers. H.R. 815/S. 1661, Access to Professional Health Insurance Advisors Act of 2015. H.R. 2488, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015.
Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $40,000
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, White House Office
2016 · first_quarter · Insurance
Implementation of P.L. 111-148, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Issues relating to healthcare and health insurance policy, tax policy, Medicare Advantage and general Medicare policy, legislation and regulations that impact health insurance brokers. H.R. 815/S. 1661, Access to Professional Health Insurance Advisors Act of 2015. H.R. 2488, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015.
Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $40,000
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, White House Office
2016 · first_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
H.R. 588, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act (Rothfus-Schrader) - MA enrollment opportunities H.R. 818, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Roskam-Carney) - reducing fraud H.R. 1021, Protecting the Integrity of Medicare Act (Brady) - reducing fraud H.R. 2488, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act (Rothfus-Schrader) - MA open enrollment period H.R. 2505, Increasing Access to Data in Medicare Advantage Act (Kelly) - annual reporting of MA enrollment data H.R. 2506, Preventing Unnecessary Plan Terminations Act (Buchanan) - preventing certain MA plan terminations H.R. 2507, Increasing Regulatory Fairness Act (Brady) - schedule for MA rates H.R. 2570, Strengthening Medicare Advantage through Innovation and Transparency for Seniors Act (Black) - Value-Based Insurance Design demonstration H.R. 2579, Securing Care for Seniors Act (Black) - MA risk adjustment model H.R. 2581, Preservation of Access for Seniors in Medicare Advantage Act (Brady) - Value-Based Insurance Design demonstration and MA open enrollment period H.R. 2582, Seniors Health Care Plan Protection Act (Buchanan) - preventing certain MA plan terminations, MA risk adjustment model H.R. 3718, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Roskam-Carney) - reducing fraud H.R. 3716, Ensuring Access to Quality Medicaid Providers Act (Bucshon) - oversight of terminated Medicaid providers H.R. 4275, Medicare Advantage Quality Payment Relief Act (Kelly) - calculation of MA benchmark cap H.R. 4442, CONNECT for Health Act (Black-Welch) - telehealth, remote patient monitoring services H.R. 4589, Excellence in Medicare Act (MacArthur) - MA payment cap H.Con.Res. 125, Budget Resolution (Price) - Medicare, Medicaid issues S. 524, Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (Whitehouse) - Medicare Part D lock-in programs S. 861, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Carper-Enzi) - reducing fraud S. 1347, Electronic Health Fairness Act - preventing certain MA plan terminations, annual reporting of MA enrollment data S. 1396, Value-Based Insurance Design Seniors Copayment Reduction Act (Thune-Stabenow) - VBID demonstration S. 1549, Care Planning Act (Warner) - advanced illness care coordination for Medicare beneficiaries S. 1913, Stopping Medication Abuse and Protecting Seniors Act (Toomey) - Medicare Part D lock-in programs S. 2104, Preserving Medicare Advantage for all Medicare Beneficiaries Act (Portman-Casey) - preventing certain MA plan terminations, MA demonstration program S. 2349, Medicare Advantage Coverage Transparency Act (Heller) - MA enrollment data S. 2484, CONNECT for Health Act (Schatz-Wicker) - telehealth, remote patient monitoring services Regulatory Issues: Ongoing implementation issues for the Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Part D prescription drug programs, including risk adjustment methodology, encounter data and other data-related issues, and audit issues; bidding and payment issues (including MA rate assumptions, MA coding intensity, MA Secondary Payer issues, Part D reinsurance, Part D low income subsidies, and audits); in-home health risk assessments; Medicare Medical Loss Ratio issues; implementation of sequestration under the Medicare Advantage and Part D programs; implications of the health insurer fee for MA and Part D plans; application process, audits to evaluate compliance with MA and Part D program rules, benefit design rules, , enrollment rules, marketing materials review and approval, marketing activities, including conduct and compensation of brokers and agents and plan sponsor marketing staff; measurement and oversight of plan performance including Special Needs Plans (SNPs); quality measures, grievance and appeals processes, fraud and abuse compliance including training; contracting issues for Dual Eligible SNPs; Federal preemption of State authority under MA and Part D programs, Part D prescription drug event data reporting, Part D formulary rules, Part D pharmacy access standards, Part D coverage gap discount program, including employer group waiver plan (EGWP) issues, and other operational issues; issues raised by Part D coverage of new specialty drugs, the Part D non-interference policy and related issues (e.g., preferred pharmacy and any willing pharmacy requirements, standards for network pharmacy reimbursement, and policies regarding sponsor negotiation of pharmacy price concessions); CMS's proposed Part B drug demonstration program; Medication Therapy Management Program requirements and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) Demonstration; MA EGWP issues; CMMI's value-based insurance design (VBID) demonstration; Part D requirements for offering basic and enhanced alternative plans; MA and Part D systems issues affecting enrollment and disenrollment processing and payment and other operational issues; issues relating to MA and Part D Star Rating system including measures, the methodology for calculating ratings, and the role of the ratings for payment purposes; implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) changes to the Part D coverage gap; functionality of the Medicare Personal Plan Finder and Drug Plan Finder; National Medicare Education Program; Medicare demonstration program on performance-based payments for physician groups; physician quality reporting initiative; issues relating to Medicare coverage policy and national coverage decisions; new payment system for physicians under MACRA, including implications for MA and Part D plans; Medicare clinical trials; Medicare/Medicaid integration for dual eligibles, including the Capitated Financial Alignment Demonstration; Medicaid managed care regulations and policies, including CMS' proposed substantial revisions to the managed care regulations, new mental health parity rules, the Medicaid managed care actuarial soundness standard, quality oversight, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), grievance and appeals processes, fraud and abuse compliance, beneficiary information requirements, treatment of Medicaid health plan member hospital days in the upper payment limit calculation; policies affecting State Medicaid funding, including block grants, the calculation of the federal medical assistance (federal matching) percentage (FMAP), and intergovernmental transfers (IGTs); coordination of benefits with state Medicaid programs; Medicaid prescription drug cost issues affecting Medicaid health plans including issues raised by Medicaid coverage of new specialty drugs; health plan-related Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) issues, including eligibility and outreach issues and CHIP reauthorization; implementation of Medicaid changes made in Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, including Medicaid managed care organization provider tax issues; standards for electronic prescribing; implementation of Medicaid changes of interest to Medicaid health plans made in the ACA including Medicaid expansion, the managed care organization (MCO) prescription drug rebate provisions, minimum payments to primary care providers (PCPs), interactions between the Medicaid program and health insurance exchanges, and Medicaid and CHIP maintenance of effort (MOE) requirements; implications of the health insurer fee for Medicaid health plans; issues related to Medigap coverage; issues related to business continuity in relation to pandemics or natural events (e.g., hurricane, tornado, etc.); cybersecurity; provider directories; value-based insurance design models; Part D prescriber enrollment requirements; Part D recovery audit contractor programs; socioeconomic status impacts on star ratings related to MA and Part D programs; and other issues relating to health care reform implementation.
2015 · third_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
H.R. 6, 21st Century Cures Act (Upton) - timing of certain Medicare Part D payments H.R. 588, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act (Rothfus-Schrader) - MA enrollment opportunities H.R. 818, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Roskam-Carney) - reducing fraud H.R. 1021, Protecting the Integrity of Medicare Act (Brady) - reducing fraud H.R. 2488, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act (Rothfus-Schrader) - MA open enrollment period H.R. 2505, Increasing Access to Data in Medicare Advantage Act (Kelly) - annual reporting of MA enrollment data H.R. 2506, Preventing Unnecessary Plan Terminations Act (Buchanan) - preventing certain MA plan terminations H.R. 2507, Increasing Regulatory Fairness Act (Brady) - rulemaking schedule for MA rates H.R. 2570, Strengthening Medicare Advantage through Innovation and Transparency for Seniors Act (Black) - Value-Based Insurance Design demonstration H.R. 2579, Securing Care for Seniors Act (Black) - MA risk adjustment model H.R. 2581, Preservation of Access for Seniors in Medicare Advantage Act (Brady) - Value-Based Insurance Design demonstration and MA open enrollment period H.R. 2582, Seniors Health Care Plan Protection Act (Buchanan) - preventing certain MA plan terminations, MA risk adjustment model S. 861, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Carper-Enzi) - reducing fraud S. 1396, Value-Based Insurance Design Seniors Copayment Reduction Act (Thune-Stabenow) - VBID demonstration S. 1549, Care Planning Act (Warner) - advanced illness care coordination for Medicare beneficiaries S. 2104, Preserving Medicare Advantage for all Medicare Beneficiaries Act (Portman-Casey) - preventing certain MA plan terminations, MA demonstration program Regulatory Issues: Ongoing implementation issues for the Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Part D prescription drug programs, including risk adjustment methodology, encounter data and other data-related issues, and audit issues; bidding and payment issues (including MA rate assumptions, MA coding intensity, MA Secondary Payer issues, Part D reinsurance, Part D low income subsidies, and audits); in-home health risk assessments; Medicare Medical Loss Ratio issues; implementation of sequestration under the Medicare Advantage and Part D programs; implications of the health insurer fee for MA and Part D plans; application process, audits to evaluate compliance with MA and Part D program rules, benefit design rules, SSA and CMS premium withhold processing issues, enrollment rules, marketing materials review and approval, marketing activities, including conduct and compensation of brokers and agents and plan sponsor marketing staff; measurement and oversight of plan performance including Special Needs Plans (SNPs); quality measures, grievance and appeals processes, fraud and abuse compliance including training; contracting issues for Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (SNPs); Federal preemption of State authority under MA and Part D programs, Part D prescription drug event data reporting, Part D formulary rules, Part D pharmacy access standards, Part D coverage gap discount program, including employer group waiver plan (EGWP) issues, and other operational issues; issues raised by Part D coverage of new specialty drugs, the Part D non-interference policy and related issues (e.g., preferred pharmacy and any willing pharmacy requirements, standards for network pharmacy reimbursement, and policies regarding sponsor negotiation of pharmacy price concessions); Medication Therapy Management Program requirements; Part D requirements for offering basic and enhanced alternative plans; MA and Part D systems issues affecting enrollment and disenrollment processing and payment and other operational issues; issues relating to MA and Part D Star Rating system including measures, the methodology for calculating ratings, and the role of the ratings for payment purposes; implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) changes to the Part D coverage gap; implementation issues for the Medicare Retiree Drug Subsidy program; functionality of the Medicare Personal Plan Finder and Drug Plan Finder; National Medicare Education Program; Medicare demonstration program on performance-based payments for physician groups; physician quality reporting initiative; issues relating to Medicare coverage policy and national coverage decisions; Medicare clinical trials; Medicare/Medicaid integration for dual eligibles, including the Capitated Financial Alignment Demonstration; Medicaid managed care regulations and policies, including the Medicaid managed care actuarial soundness standard, quality oversight, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), grievance and appeals processes, fraud and abuse compliance, beneficiary information requirements, treatment of Medicaid health plan member hospital days in the upper payment limit calculation; policies affecting State Medicaid funding, including block grants, the calculation of the federal medical assistance (federal matching) percentage (FMAP), and intergovernmental transfers (IGTs); coordination of benefits with state Medicaid programs; Medicaid prescription drug cost issues affecting Medicaid health plans including issues raised by Medicaid coverage of new specialty drugs; health plan-related Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) issues, including eligibility and outreach issues and CHIP reauthorization; implementation of Medicaid changes made in Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, including Medicaid managed care organization provider tax issues; standards for electronic prescribing; implementation of Medicaid changes of interest to Medicaid health plans made in the ACA including Medicaid expansion, the managed care organization (MCO) prescription drug rebate provisions, minimum payments to primary care providers (PCPs), interactions between the Medicaid program and health insurance exchanges, and Medicaid and CHIP maintenance of effort (MOE) requirements; implications of the health insurer fee for Medicaid health plans; issues related to Medigap coverage; issues related to business continuity in relation to pandemics or natural events (e.g., hurricane, tornado, etc.); cybersecurity; provider directories; value-based insurance design models; Part D prescriber enrollment requirements; Part D recovery audit contractor programs; socioeconomic status impacts on star ratings related to MA and Part D programs; and other issues relating to health care reform implementation. *Add MACPAC to Agency List
2015 · fourth_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
H.R. 588, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act (Rothfus-Schrader) - MA enrollment opportunities H.R. 818, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Roskam-Carney) - reducing fraud H.R. 1021, Protecting the Integrity of Medicare Act (Brady) - reducing fraud H.R. 1314, Bipartisan Budget Act - Medicare Part B premium and deductible, Medicare sequestration cuts H.R. 2488, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act (Rothfus-Schrader) - MA open enrollment period H.R. 2505, Increasing Access to Data in Medicare Advantage Act (Kelly) - annual reporting of MA enrollment data H.R. 2506, Preventing Unnecessary Plan Terminations Act (Buchanan) - preventing certain MA plan terminations H.R. 2507, Increasing Regulatory Fairness Act (Brady) - schedule for MA rates H.R. 2570, Strengthening Medicare Advantage through Innovation and Transparency for Seniors Act (Black) - Value-Based Insurance Design demonstration H.R. 2579, Securing Care for Seniors Act (Black) - MA risk adjustment model H.R. 2581, Preservation of Access for Seniors in Medicare Advantage Act (Brady) - Value-Based Insurance Design demonstration and MA open enrollment period H.R. 2582, Seniors Health Care Plan Protection Act (Buchanan) - preventing certain MA plan terminations, MA risk adjustment model H.R. 3696, Protecting Medicare Beneficiaries Act (Titus) - Medicare Part B premiums and deductibles H.R. 3718, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Roskam-Carney) - reducing fraud H.R. 3831, Securing Fairness in Regulatory Timing Act (Brady) - revised schedule for MA payment rates H.R. 4275, Medicare Advantage Quality Payment Relief Act (Kelly) - calculation of MA benchmark cap S. 861, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Carper-Enzi) - reducing fraud S. 1347, Electronic Health Fairness Act - preventing certain MA plan terminations, annual reporting of MA enrollment data S. 1396, Value-Based Insurance Design Seniors Copayment Reduction Act (Thune-Stabenow) - VBID demonstration S. 1549, Care Planning Act (Warner) - advanced illness care coordination for Medicare beneficiaries S. 2104, Preserving Medicare Advantage for all Medicare Beneficiaries Act (Portman-Casey) - preventing certain MA plan terminations, MA demonstration program S. 2148, Protecting Medicare Beneficiaries Act (Wyden) - Medicare Part B premiums and deductibles S. 2349, Medicare Advantage Coverage Transparency Act (Heller) - MA enrollment data S. 2351, Securing Fairness in Regulatory Timing Act (Isakson) - revised schedule for MA payment rates Regulatory Issues: Ongoing implementation issues for the Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Part D prescription drug programs, including risk adjustment methodology, encounter data and other data-related issues, and audit issues; bidding and payment issues (including MA rate assumptions, MA coding intensity, MA Secondary Payer issues, Part D reinsurance, Part D low income subsidies, and audits); in-home health risk assessments; Medicare Medical Loss Ratio issues; implementation of sequestration under the Medicare Advantage and Part D programs; implications of the health insurer fee for MA and Part D plans; application process, audits to evaluate compliance with MA and Part D program rules, benefit design rules, SSA and CMS premium withhold processing issues, enrollment rules, marketing materials review and approval, marketing activities, including conduct and compensation of brokers and agents and plan sponsor marketing staff; measurement and oversight of plan performance including Special Needs Plans (SNPs); quality measures, grievance and appeals processes, fraud and abuse compliance including training; contracting issues for Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (SNPs); Federal preemption of State authority under MA and Part D programs, Part D prescription drug event data reporting, Part D formulary rules, Part D pharmacy access standards, Part D coverage gap discount program, including employer group waiver plan (EGWP) issues, and other operational issues; issues raised by Part D coverage of new specialty drugs, the Part D non-interference policy and related issues (e.g., preferred pharmacy and any willing pharmacy requirements, standards for network pharmacy reimbursement, and policies regarding sponsor negotiation of pharmacy price concessions); Medication Therapy Management Program requirements; Part D requirements for offering basic and enhanced alternative plans; MA and Part D systems issues affecting enrollment and disenrollment processing and payment and other operational issues; issues relating to MA and Part D Star Rating system including measures, the methodology for calculating ratings, and the role of the ratings for payment purposes; implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) changes to the Part D coverage gap; implementation issues for the Medicare Retiree Drug Subsidy program; functionality of the Medicare Personal Plan Finder and Drug Plan Finder; National Medicare Education Program; Medicare demonstration program on performance-based payments for physician groups; physician quality reporting initiative; issues relating to Medicare coverage policy and national coverage decisions; Medicare clinical trials; Medicare/Medicaid integration for dual eligibles, including the Capitated Financial Alignment Demonstration; Medicaid managed care regulations and policies, including the Medicaid managed care actuarial soundness standard, quality oversight, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), grievance and appeals processes, fraud and abuse compliance, beneficiary information requirements, treatment of Medicaid health plan member hospital days in the upper payment limit calculation; policies affecting State Medicaid funding, including block grants, the calculation of the federal medical assistance (federal matching) percentage (FMAP), and intergovernmental transfers (IGTs); coordination of benefits with state Medicaid programs; Medicaid prescription drug cost issues affecting Medicaid health plans including issues raised by Medicaid coverage of new specialty drugs; health plan-related Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) issues, including eligibility and outreach issues and CHIP reauthorization; implementation of Medicaid changes made in Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, including Medicaid managed care organization provider tax issues; standards for electronic prescribing; implementation of Medicaid changes of interest to Medicaid health plans made in the ACA including Medicaid expansion, the managed care organization (MCO) prescription drug rebate provisions, minimum payments to primary care providers (PCPs), interactions between the Medicaid program and health insurance exchanges, and Medicaid and CHIP maintenance of effort (MOE) requirements; implications of the health insurer fee for Medicaid health plans; issues related to Medigap coverage; issues related to business continuity in relation to pandemics or natural events (e.g., hurricane, tornado, etc.); cybersecurity; provider directories; value-based insurance design models; Part D prescriber enrollment requirements; Part D recovery audit contractor programs; socioeconomic status impacts on star ratings related to MA and Part D programs; Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation demonstrations for MA and PDP plans; and other issues relating to health care reform implementation. *Add MACPAC to Agency List
2015 · third_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
H.R. 6, 21st Century Cures Act (Upton) - timing of certain Medicare Part D payments H.R. 588, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act (Rothfus-Schrader) - MA enrollment opportunities H.R. 818, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Roskam-Carney) - reducing fraud H.R. 1021, Protecting the Integrity of Medicare Act (Brady) - reducing fraud H.R. 2488, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act (Rothfus-Schrader) - MA open enrollment period H.R. 2505, Increasing Access to Data in Medicare Advantage Act (Kelly) - annual reporting of MA enrollment data H.R. 2506, Preventing Unnecessary Plan Terminations Act (Buchanan) - preventing certain MA plan terminations H.R. 2507, Increasing Regulatory Fairness Act (Brady) - rulemaking schedule for MA rates H.R. 2570, Strengthening Medicare Advantage through Innovation and Transparency for Seniors Act (Black) - Value-Based Insurance Design demonstration H.R. 2579, Securing Care for Seniors Act (Black) - MA risk adjustment model H.R. 2581, Preservation of Access for Seniors in Medicare Advantage Act (Brady) - Value-Based Insurance Design demonstration and MA open enrollment period H.R. 2582, Seniors Health Care Plan Protection Act (Buchanan) - preventing certain MA plan terminations, MA risk adjustment model S. 861, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Carper-Enzi) - reducing fraud S. 1396, Value-Based Insurance Design Seniors Copayment Reduction Act (Thune-Stabenow) - VBID demonstration S. 1549, Care Planning Act (Warner) - advanced illness care coordination for Medicare beneficiaries S. 2104, Preserving Medicare Advantage for all Medicare Beneficiaries Act (Portman-Casey) - preventing certain MA plan terminations, MA demonstration program Regulatory Issues: Ongoing implementation issues for the Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Part D prescription drug programs, including risk adjustment methodology, encounter data and other data-related issues, and audit issues; bidding and payment issues (including MA rate assumptions, MA coding intensity, MA Secondary Payer issues, Part D reinsurance, Part D low income subsidies, and audits); in-home health risk assessments; Medicare Medical Loss Ratio issues; implementation of sequestration under the Medicare Advantage and Part D programs; implications of the health insurer fee for MA and Part D plans; application process, audits to evaluate compliance with MA and Part D program rules, benefit design rules, SSA and CMS premium withhold processing issues, enrollment rules, marketing materials review and approval, marketing activities, including conduct and compensation of brokers and agents and plan sponsor marketing staff; measurement and oversight of plan performance including Special Needs Plans (SNPs); quality measures, grievance and appeals processes, fraud and abuse compliance including training; contracting issues for Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (SNPs); Federal preemption of State authority under MA and Part D programs, Part D prescription drug event data reporting, Part D formulary rules, Part D pharmacy access standards, Part D coverage gap discount program, including employer group waiver plan (EGWP) issues, and other operational issues; issues raised by Part D coverage of new specialty drugs, the Part D non-interference policy and related issues (e.g., preferred pharmacy and any willing pharmacy requirements, standards for network pharmacy reimbursement, and policies regarding sponsor negotiation of pharmacy price concessions); Medication Therapy Management Program requirements; Part D requirements for offering basic and enhanced alternative plans; MA and Part D systems issues affecting enrollment and disenrollment processing and payment and other operational issues; issues relating to MA and Part D Star Rating system including measures, the methodology for calculating ratings, and the role of the ratings for payment purposes; implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) changes to the Part D coverage gap; implementation issues for the Medicare Retiree Drug Subsidy program; functionality of the Medicare Personal Plan Finder and Drug Plan Finder; National Medicare Education Program; Medicare demonstration program on performance-based payments for physician groups; physician quality reporting initiative; issues relating to Medicare coverage policy and national coverage decisions; Medicare clinical trials; Medicare/Medicaid integration for dual eligibles, including the Capitated Financial Alignment Demonstration; Medicaid managed care regulations and policies, including the Medicaid managed care actuarial soundness standard, quality oversight, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), grievance and appeals processes, fraud and abuse compliance, beneficiary information requirements, treatment of Medicaid health plan member hospital days in the upper payment limit calculation; policies affecting State Medicaid funding, including block grants, the calculation of the federal medical assistance (federal matching) percentage (FMAP), and intergovernmental transfers (IGTs); coordination of benefits with state Medicaid programs; Medicaid prescription drug cost issues affecting Medicaid health plans including issues raised by Medicaid coverage of new specialty drugs; health plan-related Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) issues, including eligibility and outreach issues and CHIP reauthorization; implementation of Medicaid changes made in Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, including Medicaid managed care organization provider tax issues; standards for electronic prescribing; implementation of Medicaid changes of interest to Medicaid health plans made in the ACA including Medicaid expansion, the managed care organization (MCO) prescription drug rebate provisions, minimum payments to primary care providers (PCPs), interactions between the Medicaid program and health insurance exchanges, and Medicaid and CHIP maintenance of effort (MOE) requirements; implications of the health insurer fee for Medicaid health plans; issues related to Medigap coverage; issues related to business continuity in relation to pandemics or natural events (e.g., hurricane, tornado, etc.); cybersecurity; provider directories; value-based insurance design models; Part D prescriber enrollment requirements; Part D recovery audit contractor programs; socioeconomic status impacts on star ratings related to MA and Part D programs; and other issues relating to health care reform implementation. *Add MACPAC to Agency List
2015 · second_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
H.R. 2, Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act - Medicare physician payment reform, CHIP funding, Medigap, Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans, Medicare Cost Plans, fraud provisions, QI and TMA programs H.R. 6, 21st Century Cures Act (Upton) - timing of certain Medicare Part D payments H.R. 588, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act (Rothfus-Schrader) - MA enrollment opportunities H.R. 818, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Roskam-Carney) - reducing fraud H.R. 1021, Protecting the Integrity of Medicare Act (Brady) - reducing fraud H.R. 1892, Trade Adjustment Assistance Reauthorization Act (Reichert) - Medicare sequestration cuts H.R. 2488, Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act (Rothfus-Schrader) - MA open enrollment period H.R. 2505, Increasing Access to Data in Medicare Advantage Act (Kelly) - annual reporting of MA enrollment data H.R. 2506, Preventing Unnecessary Plan Terminations Act (Buchanan) - preventing certain MA plan terminations H.R. 2507, Increasing Regulatory Fairness Act (Brady) - rulemaking schedule for MA rates H.R. 2570, Strengthening Medicare Advantage through Innovation and Transparency for Seniors Act (Black) - Value-Based Insurance Design demonstration H.R. 2579, Securing Care for Seniors Act (Black) - MA risk adjustment model H.R. 2581, Preservation of Access for Seniors in Medicare Advantage Act (Brady) - Value-Based Insurance Design demonstration and MA open enrollment period H.R. 2582, Seniors Health Care Plan Protection Act (Buchanan) - preventing certain MA plan terminations, MA risk adjustment model H.Con.Res. 27, Budget Resolution (Price) - Medicare, Medicaid, health policy issues S. 861, Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act (Carper-Enzi) - reducing fraud S. 1268, Trade Adjustment Assistance Reauthorization Act (Hatch) - Medicare sequestration cuts S. 1396, Value-Based Insurance Design Seniors Copayment Reduction Act (Thune-Stabenow) - VBID demonstration S. 1549, Care Planning Act (Warner) - advanced illness care coordination for Medicare beneficiaries S.Con.Res. 11, Budget Resolution (Enzi) - Medicare, Medicaid, health policy issues Regulatory Issues: Ongoing implementation issues for the Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Part D prescription drug programs, including risk adjustment methodology, encounter data and other data-related issues, Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) audits, Part D prescriber enrollment requirement, and provider directories and audit issues; bidding and payment issues (including MA rate assumptions, MA coding intensity, MA Secondary Payer issues, Part D reinsurance, Part D low income subsidies, and audits); in-home health risk assessments; Medicare Medical Loss Ratio issues; implementation of sequestration under the Medicare Advantage and Part D programs; implications of the health insurer fee for MA and Part D plans; application process, audits to evaluate compliance with MA and Part D program rules, benefit design rules, SSA and CMS premium withhold processing issues, enrollment rules, marketing materials review and approval, marketing activities, including conduct and compensation of brokers and agents and plan sponsor marketing staff; measurement and oversight of plan performance including Special Needs Plans (SNPs); quality measures, grievance and appeals processes, fraud and abuse compliance including training; contracting issues for Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (SNPs); Federal preemption of State authority under MA and Part D programs, Part D prescription drug event data reporting, Part D formulary rules, Part D pharmacy access standards, Part D coverage gap discount program, including employer group waiver plan (EGWP) issues, and other operational issues; issues raised by Part D coverage of new specialty drugs, the Part D non-interference policy and related issues (e.g., preferred pharmacy and any willing pharmacy requirements, standards for network pharmacy reimbursement, and policies regarding sponsor negotiation of pharmacy price concessions); ICD-10; Value-Based Insurance Design; Medication Therapy Management Program requirements; Part D requirements for offering basic and enhanced alternative plans; MA and Part D systems issues affecting enrollment and disenrollment processing and payment and other operational issues; issues relating to MA and Part D Star Rating system including measures, the methodology for calculating ratings, and the role of the ratings for payment purposes; implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) changes to the Part D coverage gap; ongoing implementation issues for the Medicare cost plan program including enrollment, marketing materials review and approval and other operational issues; implementation issues for the Medicare Retiree Drug Subsidy program; functionality of the Medicare Personal Plan Finder and Drug Plan Finder; National Medicare Education Program; Medicare demonstration program on performance-based payments for physician groups; physician quality reporting initiative; issues relating to Medicare coverage policy and national coverage decisions; Medicare clinical trials; Medicare/Medicaid integration for dual eligibles, including the Capitated Financial Alignment Demonstration; Medicaid managed care regulations and policies, including the Medicaid managed care actuarial soundness standard, quality oversight, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), grievance and appeals processes, fraud and abuse compliance, beneficiary information requirements, treatment of Medicaid health plan member hospital days in the upper payment limit calculation; policies affecting State Medicaid funding, including block grants, the calculation of the federal medical assistance (federal matching) percentage (FMAP), and intergovernmental transfers (IGTs); coordination of benefits with state Medicaid programs; Medicaid prescription drug cost issues affecting Medicaid health plans including issues raised by Medicaid coverage of new specialty drugs; health plan-related Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) issues, including eligibility and outreach issues and CHIP reauthorization; implementation of Medicaid changes made in Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, including Medicaid managed care organization provider tax issues; standards for electronic prescribing; implementation of Medicaid changes of interest to Medicaid health plans made in the ACA including Medicaid expansion, the managed care organization (MCO) prescription drug rebate provisions, minimum payments to primary care providers (PCPs), interactions between the Medicaid program and health insurance exchanges, and Medicaid and CHIP maintenance of effort (MOE) requirements; implications of the health insurer fee for Medicaid health plans ; issues related to Medigap coverage financing for infectious disease; and other issues relating to health care reform implementation. *Add MACPAC to Agency List
| Republican |
| GA |
| Kevin Brady | Republican | TX |
| Kurt Schrader | Democratic | OR |
| Mark E. Amodei | Republican | NV |
| Susan W. Brooks | Republican | IN |
Client expense: $270,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
Client expense: $20,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
Client expense: $330,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE, Treasury, Dept of, White House Office
Client expense: $2,160,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), SENATE, White House Office
Client expense: $2,160,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), SENATE, White House Office
Client expense: $1,710,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Executive Office of the President (EOP), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), SENATE, Treasury, Dept of, White House Office
Client expense: $50,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
Client expense: $15,183 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
Client expense: $30,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
Client expense: $30,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
Client expense: $2,150,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), SENATE, White House Office
Client expense: $2,150,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), SENATE, White House Office
Client expense: $330,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE, Treasury, Dept of, White House Office
Client expense: $1,710,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Executive Office of the President (EOP), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Treasury, Dept of, White House Office
Client expense: $2,180,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), SENATE, White House Office
Client expense: $2,180,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), SENATE, White House Office
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
Client expense: $290,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
Client expense: $30,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
Client expense: $30,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
Client expense: $52,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
Client expense: $290,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), SENATE
Client expense: $330,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE, Treasury, Dept of, White House Office
Client expense: $2,210,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ), Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Executive Office of the President (EOP), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Government Accountability Office (GAO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Pension & Welfare Benefits Administration, SENATE, Treasury, Dept of, White House Office
Client expense: $2,470,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ), Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Executive Office of the President (EOP), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Government Accountability Office (GAO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Patent & Trademark Office (PTO), Pension & Welfare Benefits Administration, SENATE, Treasury, Dept of, White House Office
Client expense: $1,850,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ), Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Executive Office of the President (EOP), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Government Accountability Office (GAO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Pension & Welfare Benefits Administration, SENATE, Treasury, Dept of, White House Office
Client expense: $2,450,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ), Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Executive Office of the President (EOP), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Government Accountability Office (GAO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Patent & Trademark Office (PTO), Pension & Welfare Benefits Administration, SENATE, Treasury, Dept of, White House Office
Client expense: $2,310,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ), Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Executive Office of the President (EOP), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Government Accountability Office (GAO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Pension & Welfare Benefits Administration, SENATE, Treasury, Dept of, White House Office