To provide for a limitation on availability of funds for Contribution to the International Development Association for fiscal year 2024.

Lobbying to Improve Prescription Drug Affordability and Accessibility: Advocacy for people living with Parkinson's via Medicare Part D redesign and benefits, including expanding the low-income subsidy (LIS) program, capping out-of-pocket costs, implementing a smoothing mechanism, and streamlining utilization management processes. Medicare Part D Six Protected Classes Policy: Requires Part D plans to cover all drugs in six classes: immunosuppressants, antidepressants, antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, antiretrovirals, and antineoplastics. Access to a wide range of treatment options for antidepressants and antipsychotics is essential for Parkinson's patients due to non-motor symptoms such as depression and psychosis. Advocacy includes coalition meetings and letters to CMS in response to Medicare Prescription Payment Plan Part One Guidance to support continued protection for the six protected classes. H.R.2360/S.652/S.1339 - Safe Step Act: A bill requiring group health plans to provide an exception process for any medication step therapy protocol to ensure that Parkinson's patients can access treatments safely and efficiently. Led a digital campaign to allow constituents to write to members of Congress in support of the legislation. H.R.830/S.1375 - Help Ensure Lower Patient Copays Act: This bill requires health insurance plans to apply third-party payments, financial assistance, discounts, and other reductions in out-of-pocket expenses toward a plan's cost-sharing requirements. Many Parkinson's patients rely on such payments to afford medications, and this legislation ensures they count toward out-of-pocket costs. S.1544/H.R.1199 - Facilitating Innovative Nuclear Diagnostics Act of 2023: A bill to establish separate payment requirements for diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals, including DaTscans, under the Medicare prospective payment system for hospital outpatient department services. This will help confirm Parkinson's diagnoses more efficiently. CMS-1809-P (2025 Medicare Outpatient Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule): Supported CMS's proposal to separate payment for certain diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals, including those used to diagnose Parkinson's disease and atypical parkinsonisms, from the procedure payment and reimburse them separately. H.R.8702/S.4532 - Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act: A bill to establish requirements regarding the use of prior authorization under Medicare Advantage plans. Lobbying CMS: Advocacy efforts to direct Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractors to provide clarification on the use of claim modifiers for DME therapies administered via an external infusion pump to expedite patient access to new Parkinson's therapies once they are approved by the FDA.

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

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

Lobbying to improve prescription drug affordability and accessibility for people living with Parkinson's via Medicare Part D redesign and benefits, including expanding the low-income subsidy (LIS) program, capping out-of-pocket costs, implementing a smoothing mechanism, and streamlining utilization management processes. The Medicare Part D Six Protected Classes Policy: requires Part D plan to cover all drugs in six classes: immunosuppressants, antidepressants, antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, antiretrovirals, and antineoplastics. For people living with Parkinson's, most of whom are Medicare beneficiaries, it is essential to have access to wide range of treatment options for antidepressants and antipsychotics. Parkinson's causes non-motor symptoms, including depression and psychosis, and individuals often experience different side effects, reactions, and efficacy based on which medications they take. Partnership for Part D Access coalition congressional meetings and signed coalition letter to CMS in response to Medicare Prescription Payment Plan Part One Guidance in support of continued protection for the six protected classes policy. Signed Medicare Access for Prescription Rx (MAPRx) coalition comment letter in response to Medicare Prescription Payment Plan Part One Guidance. Signed Alliance for Aging Research coalition letter in response to Medicare Prescription Payment Plan Part One Guidance in support of proposed beneficiary protections and to provide feedback on implementation considerations for the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan program. H.R.2360/S.652/S.1339 - Safe Step Act: a bill to require group health plans to provide an exception process for any medication step therapy protocol to help ensure that people living with Parkinson's disease can safely and efficiently access treatments. Led a digital campaign to allow constituents to write their members of Congress in support of this legislation. Lobbying the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to direct Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractors to provide additional clarification regarding the use of claim modifiers for DME therapies that require administration via an external infusion pump to expedite patient access once new Parkinson's therapies receive approvals from the Food and Drug Administration. Lobbying the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to direct Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractors to provide additional clarification regarding the use of claim modifiers for DME therapies that require administration via an external infusion pump to expedite patient access once new Parkinson's therapies receive approvals from the Food and Drug Administration. H.R.2360/S.652/S.1339 - Safe Step Act: a bill to require group health plans to provide an exception process for any medication step therapy protocol to help ensure that people living with Parkinson's disease can safely and efficiently access treatments. Led an digital campaign to allow constituents to write their members of Congress in support of this legislation. H.R.8702/S.4532 - Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act: a bill to establish requirements with respect to the use of prior authorization under Medicare Advantage plans. H.R.830/S.1375 - Help Ensure Lower Patient Copays Act: a bill to require health insurance plans to apply certain payments made by, or on behalf of, a plan enrollee toward a plan's cost-sharing requirements. Specifically, plans must apply third-party payments, financial assistance, discounts, product vouchers, and other reductions in out-of-pocket expenses toward the requirements. Many Parkinson's patients rely on such third-party payments to afford medications to treat and manage their disease symptoms, and this legislation will ensure that all payments whether they come directly out of a pocket or with the help of copay assistance-counts toward out-of-pocket costs of patients. S.1544/H.R.1199 - Facilitating Innovative Nuclear Diagnostics Act of 2023: a bill to establish separate payment requirements for diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals, including DaTscans, which can aid in confirming a Parkinson's diagnosis, under the Medicare prospective payment system for hospital outpatient department services.

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

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

Lobbying to improve prescription drug affordability and accessibility for people living with Parkinson's via Medicare Part D redesign and benefits, including expanding the low-income subsidy (LIS) program, capping out-of-pocket costs, implementing a smoothing mechanism, and streamlining utilization management processes. The Medicare Part D Six Protected Classes Policy: requires Part D plan to cover all drugs in six classes: immunosuppressants, antidepressants, antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, antiretrovirals, and antineoplastics. For people living with Parkinson's, most of whom are Medicare beneficiaries, it is essential to have access to wide range of treatment options for antidepressants and antipsychotics. Parkinson's causes non-motor symptoms, including depression and psychosis, and individuals often experience different side effects, reactions, and efficacy based on which medications they take. Lobbying the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to direct Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractors to provide additional clarification regarding the use of claim modifiers for DME therapies that require administration via an external infusion pump to expedite patient access once new Parkinson's therapies receive approvals from the Food and Drug Administration. H.R.2360/S.652/S.1339 - Safe Step Act: a bill to require group health plans to provide an exception process for any medication step therapy protocol to help ensure that people living with Parkinson's disease can safely and efficiently access treatments. Led an digital campaign to allow constituents to write their members of Congress in support of this legislation.

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

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