Excellence in Medicare Act

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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