Health Partnership Act

S. 1002, Hospital Fair Competition Act, Definition and treatment of specialty hospitals and physicians’ referral of their patients. S. 1337, Fair and Reliable Medical Justice Act, Authorizes grants to states to carry out pilot programs on alternative dispute resolution for medical malpractice claims. S. 1955, Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act, Would allow small businesses to pool their risk in plans that are not subject to state insurance regulations. S. 2510, Small Employers Health Benefits Act, Would allow small business to pool their risk in plans that are subject to state insurance regulations. S. 2554, Affordability in the Individual Market Act, Expands the definition of what is deductible under IRS for Health Savings Accounts and the co-payment of health insurance. S. 2772, Health Partnership Act, Federal grant program to assist states in expanding and improving access to quality health care. S. 3546, Dietary Supplement and Nonprescription Drug Consumer Protection Act, Requires MDs to report adverse events associated with dietary supplements and other nonpresecription drugs. S. 3708, Translational Research at NIH, The appropriations committee’s report on Labor/HHS encouraged research into translating basic science into practice in the physician’s office. HR 676, US Physician Shortage Elimination Act, Additional support for medical students and residents who commit to work in underserved areas. HR 5866, Medicare Physician Payment Reform and Quality Improvement Act, Would repeal the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula used in calculating an annual Medicare payment rate. HR 8916, Patients’ Access to Physicians Act, Would specify that Medicare payment to physicians for 2007 and 2008 would be the MEI, plus one percent. No bill, Medicaid reforms, Discussions of how to reform the Medicaid program to control costs and improve quality. No bill, Reauthorization of Title VII Programs, Enhancement of family medicine programs.

Client expense: $903,802 · Firm income: Not reported

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

S. 1002, Hospital Fair Competition Act, Definition and treatment of specialty hospitals and physicians’ referral of their patients. S. 1418, Wired for Health Care Quality Act, Requires interoperability standards in health information technology. S. 1955, Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act, Would allow small businesses to pool their risk in plans that are not subject to state insurance regulations. S. 2510, Small Employers Health Benefits Act, Would allow small business to pool their risk in plans that are subject to state insurance regulations. S. 2554, Affordability in the Individual Market Act, Expands the definition of what is deductible under IRS for Health Savings Accounts and the co-payment of health insurance. S. 2772, Health Partnership Act, Federal grant program to assist states in expanding and improving access to quality health care. S. 3500, Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act, Extends through 2008 the Medicare incentive payment program for physician scarcity areas. S. 3701, Catastrophic Health Care Coverage Promotion Act, Would create a pilot program to give access to health insurance to uninsured Americans and those with catastrophic healthcare costs. S. 3708, Translational Research at NIH, The appropriations committee’s report on Labor/HHS encouraged research into translating basic science into practice in the physician’s office. S. 2071/HR 4403, Community and Rural Medical Residency Preservation Act, Would provide a legislative directive to CMS to resolve the issue of volunteer faculty precepting. HR 4157, Health Information Technology Promotion Act, Funding for health information technology. HR 5573, The Health Centers Renewal Act, Renews the Community Health Centers program. HR 5647, Pandemic Flu, Public health awareness & preparedness. HR 5856, AmeriCare Act, Would provide universal health care eligibility for all residents of the US for Medicare. HR 6111, Tax Fairness & Health Care Act of 2006, Institutes a pay-for-performance system for physicians Prevents cuts to physician payment rates under Medicare. No bill, Medicaid reforms, Discussions of how to reform the Medicaid program to control costs and improve quality.

Client expense: $903,802 · Firm income: Not reported

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

S. 3701: A bill to determine successful methods to provide protection from catastrophic health expenses for individuals who have exceeded health insurance coverage for uninsured individuals, and for other purposes. S. 3900: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the quality and efficiency of health care, to provide the public with information on provider and supplier performance, and to enhance the education and awareness of consumers for evaluating health care services through the development and release of reports based on Medicare enrollment, claims, survey, and assessment data. Other Matters: Department of Health and Human Services - Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, relating to guidance clarifying reimbursement for drugs that can be covered under Parts B and D of Medicare. S.4—Title: A bill to reduce healthcare costs, expand access to affordable healthcare coverage, and improve healthcare and strengthen the healthcare safety net, and for other purposes. S.16—Title: A bill to reduce to the cost of quality health care coverage and improve the availability of health care coverage for all Americans. S.309—Title: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for the disposition of unused health benefits in cafeteria plans and flexible spending arrangements. S.544—Title: A bill to amend title IX of the Public Health Service Act to provide for the improvement of patient safety and to reduce the incidence of events that adversely effect patient safety. S.637—Title: A bill to establish a national health program administered by the Office of Personnel Management to offer health benefits plans to individuals who are not Federal employees, and for other purposes. S.1015—Title: A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for cooperative governing of individual health insurance coverage offered in interstate commerce. S.1286—Title: A bill to require States to report data on Medicaid beneficiaries who are employed. S.1356—Title: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide incentives for the provision of high quality care under the Medicare program. S.1418—A bill to enhance the adoption of a nationwide inter operable health information technology system and to improve the quality and reduce the costs of health care in the United States. S.1932—An original bill to provide for reconciliation pursuant to section 202(a) of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2006, including provisions to include value based purchasing in Medicare. S.1955—A bill to amend title I of the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974 and the Public Health Service Act to expand health care access and reduce costs through the creation of small business health plans and through modernization of the health insurance marketplace. S.2229—A bill to provide quality, affordable health care for all Americans. S.2510—A bill to establish a national health program administered by the Office of Personnel Management to offer health benefits plans to individuals who are not Federal employees, and for other purposes. S.2772—A bill to provide for innovation in health care through State initiatives that expand coverage and access and improve quality and efficiency in the health care system. S.3701—A bill to determine successful methods to provide protection from catastrophic health expenses for individuals who have exceeded health insurance coverage for uninsured individuals, and for other purposes. S.3585—A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to improve and expand the availability of health savings accounts, and for other purposes. H.R.1872—To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax incentives for the purchase of qualified health insurance, and for other purposes. H.R.2073—To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax subsidies to encourage small employers to offer affordable health coverage to their employees through qualified health pooling arrangements, to encourage the establishment and operation of these arrangements, and for other purposes. H.R.2203—To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals a refundable and advanceable credit against income tax for health insurance costs, to allow employees who elect not to participate in employer subsidized health plans an exclusion from gross income for employer payments in lieu of such participation, and for other purposes. H.R.2234—To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make health information technology grants, and for other purposes. H.R.2355—To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for cooperative governing of individual health insurance coverage offered in interstate commerce. H.R. 4157: To promote a better health information system. H.R.4511—To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow the use of flexible spending and health reimbursement arrangements in combination with health savings accounts, and for other purposes. H.R. 4859: To amend chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, to provide for the implementation of a system of electronic health records under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. H.R.4832—To amend the Social Security Act to establish an Office of Health Information Technology for the purpose of creating a national interoperable health information infrastructure, to provide loans to health care entities seeking to implement such infrastructure, and to provide exceptions to certain health anti-kickback laws to encourage the dissemination of health information technology. H.R.5262—To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax incentives for the payment of premiums for high deductible health plans, and for other purposes. H.R.5586—To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow distributions from health savings accounts to be used for the purchase of non-group coverage under high deductible health insurance. H.R. 5743: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to improve and expand the availability of health savings accounts, and for other purposes. H.R. 5864: To provide for innovation in health care through State initiatives that expand coverage and access. H.R. 5886: To amend the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for a AmeriCare that assures the provision of health insurance coverage to all residents, and for other purposes. H.R. 6134: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand health coverage through the use of high deductible health plans and to encourage the use of health savings accounts. H.R.525--To amend Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to improve access and choice for entrepreneurs with small businesses with respect to medical care for their employees.

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

Government targets: Executive Office of the President (EOP), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), SENATE

S.2229—A bill to provide quality, affordable health care for all Americans. S.2510—A bill to establish a national health program administered by the Office of Personnel Management to offer health benefits plans to individuals who are not Federal employees, and for other purposes. S.2772—A bill to provide for innovation in health care through State initiatives that expand coverage and access and improve quality and efficiency in the health care system. S.3701—A bill to determine successful methods to provide protection from catastrophic health expenses for individuals who have exceeded health insurance coverage for uninsured individuals, and for other purposes. S.3585—A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to improve and expand the availability of health savings accounts, and for other purposes. S. 3701: A bill to determine successful methods to provide protection from catastrophic health expenses for individuals who have exceeded health insurance coverage for uninsured individuals, and for other purposes. S. 3900: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the quality and efficiency of health care, to provide the public with information on provider and supplier performance, and to enhance the education and awareness of consumers for evaluating health care services through the development and release of reports based on Medicare enrollment, claims, survey, and assessment data. H.R. 5864: To provide for innovation in health care through State initiatives that expand coverage and access. H.R. 5886: To amend the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for a AmeriCare that assures the provision of health insurance coverage to all residents, and for other purposes. H.R. 6134: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand health coverage through the use of high deductible health plans and to encourage the use of health savings accounts. S.4—Title: A bill to reduce healthcare costs, expand access to affordable healthcare coverage, and improve healthcare and strengthen the healthcare safety net, and for other purposes. S.16—Title: A bill to reduce to the cost of quality health care coverage and improve the availability of health care coverage for all Americans. S.306—Title: A bill to prohibit discrimination on the basis of genetic information with respect to health insurance and employment. S.309—Title: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for the disposition of unused health benefits in cafeteria plans and flexible spending arrangements. S.544—Title: A bill to amend title IX of the Public Health Service Act to provide for the improvement of patient safety and to reduce the incidence of events that adversely effect patient safety. S.637—Title: A bill to establish a national health program administered by the Office of Personnel Management to offer health benefits plans to individuals who are not Federal employees, and for other purposes. S.1015—Title: A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for cooperative governing of individual health insurance coverage offered in interstate commerce. S. 1085: A bill to provide for paid sick leave to ensure that Americans can address their own health needs and the health needs of their families. S.1286—Title: A bill to require States to report data on Medicaid beneficiaries who are employed. S.1356—Title: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide incentives for the provision of high quality care under the Medicare program. S.1418—A bill to enhance the adoption of a nationwide inter operable health information technology system and to improve the quality and reduce the costs of health care in the United States. S.1932—An original bill to provide for reconciliation pursuant to section 202(a) of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2006, including provisions to include value based purchasing in Medicare. S.1955—A bill to amend title I of the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974 and the Public Health Service Act to expand health care access and reduce costs through the creation of small business health plans and through modernization of the health insurance marketplace. entrepreneurs with small businesses with respect to medical care for their employees. H.R.1227—To prohibit discrimination on the basis of genetic information with respect to health insurance and employment. H.R.1872—To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax incentives for the purchase of qualified health insurance, and for other purposes. H.R. 1902: To provide for paid sick leave to ensure that Americans can address their own health needs and the health needs of their families. H.R.2071—To amend titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act to provide for FamilyCare coverage for parents of enrolled children, and for other purposes. H.R.2073—To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax subsidies to encourage small employers to offer affordable health coverage to their employees through qualified health pooling arrangements, to encourage the establishment and operation of these arrangements, and for other purposes. H.R.2203—To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals a refundable and advanceable credit against income tax for health insurance costs, to allow employees who elect not to participate in employer subsidized health plans an exclusion from gross income for employer payments in lieu of such participation, and for other purposes. H.R.2234—To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make health information technology grants, and for other purposes. H.R.2355—To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for cooperative governing of individual health insurance coverage offered in interstate commerce. H.R. 4157: To promote a better health information system. H.R.4511—To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow the use of flexible spending and health reimbursement arrangements in combination with health savings accounts, and for other purposes. H.R. 4859: To amend chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, to provide for the implementation of a system of electronic health records under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. H.R.4832—To amend the Social Security Act to establish an Office of Health Information Technology for the purpose of creating a national interoperable health information infrastructure, to provide loans to health care entities seeking to implement such infrastructure, and to provide exceptions to certain health anti-kickback laws to encourage the dissemination of health information technology. H.R.5262—To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax incentives for the payment of premiums for high deductible health plans, and for other purposes. H.R.5586—To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow distributions from health savings accounts to be used for the purchase of non-group coverage under high deductible health insurance. H.R. 5743: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to improve and expand the availability of health savings accounts, and for other purposes. H.R.66—To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to improve health care choice by providing for the tax deductibility of medical expenses by individuals. H.R.525—To amend title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to improve access and choice for

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $320,996

Government targets: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Labor Relations Board (NLRB), SENATE, Treasury, Dept of, White House Office

H.R. 2650: “Patient Protection Act” (Norwood); H.R. 3204: “State High Risk Pool Funding Extension Act” (Shadegg); H.R. 4157: “Health Information Technology Promotion Act” (Johnson); H.R. 4519: “State High Risk Pool Funding Extension Act” (Shadegg); H.R. 4859: “Federal Family Health Information Technology Act” (Porter); H.R. 5559: “Independent Health Record Bank Act”; H.R. 6053: "Health Care Price Transparency Act" (Burgess); S. 4: “Healthy America Act” (Frist); S. 22: “Medical Care Access Protection Act” (Ensign); S. 23: “Healthy Mothers and Healthy Babies Access to Care Act” (Santorum); S. 288: “State High Risk Pool Funding Extension Act” (Gregg); S. 306: “Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act” (Snowe); S. 1012: “Patients’ Bill of Rights Act” (Kennedy); S. 1262: “Health Technology to Enhance Quality Act” (Frist-Clinton); S. 1337: “Fair and Reliable Medical Justice Act” (Enzi-Baucus); S. 1355: “Health Information Technology Quality and Improvement Act” (Enzi-Kennedy); S. 1418: “Wired for Health Care Quality Act” (Enzi); S. 2300: “Lower Prices Reduced with Increased Competition and Efficient Development of Drugs Act” (Stabenow-Lott); S. 2772: “Health Partnership Act” (Voinovich-Bingaman); S. 3454: “Independent Health Record Bank Act” (Brownback); S. 3582: "Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act" (Kohl); S. 3701 "Catastrophic Health Coverage Promotion Act" (Smith-Wyden); S. 3776 "State-Based Health Care Reform Act" (Feingold); and S. 3846 "Federal Employees Electronic Personal Health Records Act" (Carper). HCR (Regulatory Issues): HIPAA administrative simplification issues, including privacy, security, and electronic transactions and code sets; FEHBP enrollment data clearinghouse initiative; FEHBP community rating policies, including similarly sized subscriber group (SSSG) requirements; health plan compliance with Executive Order 13224; implementation of the health savings account provisions of the Medicare Act; issues related to implementation of the National Health Information Infrastructure; implementation of the National Provider Identifier (NPI) standards; issues relating to market consolidation; issues relating to quality improvement; issues related to potential priority research topics for the effective health care program; and ERISA requirements for benefit plan reporting. HCR (Legislative Issues): H.R. 5: “HEALTH Act” (Gingrey); H.R. 1227: “Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act” (Biggert); H.R. 1402: “Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act” (Kennedy-Ramstad); H.R. 2259: “Patients’ Bill of Rights Act” (Dingell) (continued)

Client expense: $3,700,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ), Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Executive Office of the President (EOP), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA), Treasury, Dept of

HR 5647; Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriation Act 2007 S 3708; Labor, HHS Education and Related Agencies, Spending bill, provisions to related AHRQ S 2772; Health Partnership Act Physician Payment

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

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

S. 2772 Reauthorization of NIH Legislation; S. 1171/H.R. 1245 Gynecologic Cancer Education and Awareness Act; S. 306/H.R. 1227 Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2005; S. 471 Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act; H.R. 1522 Troops to Teachers Improvement Act of 2006

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

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

* S. 2772, "Health Partnership Act" Issue: Funding Initiatives to Cover the Uninsured. S. 1355, "Health Information Technology Quality and Improvement Act" S. 1262, "Health Technology to Enhance Quality Act of 2005" S. 1418, "Wired for Healthcare Quality Act" H.R. 4157,"Health Information Technology Protection Act of 2005" S. 4024, "Minority Health and Health Disparity Elimination Act" Issues: Collection of student data; Title VII reauthorization; minority health and health disparities research at NIH. Issue: Promoting/Supporting investment in health information technologies. Issue: Reauthorization of health professions education programs under Title VII of the Public Health Service Act. Issue: Current and future physician workforce shortages. 7 8 9 10

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

Government targets: Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), SENATE, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)

Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2005 (H.R. 525) Health Insurance Marketlace Modernization and Affordability Act of 2005 (S. 1955) Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 (H.R. 810) FDA Drug Safety Issues Patient Navigator, Outreach, and Chronic Diseases Prevention Act (P.L. 109-18) Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2005 (S. 1283/H.R. 3248) Health Partnership Act (S.2772)

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

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

S 1262, Health Technology to Enhance Quality Act of 2005. State high-risk health insurance pools - HR 4519, State High Risk Pool Funding Extension Act of 2005. Association health plans - HR 525, Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2005; HR 1872, Health Coverage for the Uninsured Act of 2005; HR 5288, Small Business Health Plans Act of 2006; HR 5262, Tax Free Health Savings Act of 2006; HR 6134, Health Opportunity Patient Empowerment Act of 2006; S 406, Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2005; S 1955, Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act of 2005; S 2510, Small Employers Health Benefits Program Act of 2006 HR 5, HEALTH Act; HR 1227, Genetic Information Non discrimination Act; HR 1402, Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act; HR 2259, Patients' Bill of Rights Act; HR 2650, Patient Protection Act; HR 3204, State High Risk Pool Funding Extension Act; HR 4859, Federal Family Health Information Technology Act; HR 5559, Independent Health Record Bank Act; HR 6053, Health Care Price Transparency Promotion Act; S 4, Healthy America Act; S 22, Medical Care Access Protection Act; S 23, Healthy Mothers and Healthy Babies Access to Care Act; S 288, State high Risk Pool Extension Act; S 306, Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act; S 1012, Patients' Bill of Rights Act; S 1337, Fair and Reliable Medical Justice Act; S 2300 Lower Prices Reduced with Increased Competition and Efficient Development of Drugs Act; S 2772, Health Partnership Act; S 3454, Independent Health Record Act; S 3582, Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act; S 3701, Catastrophic Health Coverage Promotion Act; S 3776, State-based Health Care Reform Act; S 3846, Federal Employees Electronic Personal Health Records Act Healthcare for the uninsured - Legislative proposal concerning this issue. Health information technology - HR 4157, Health Information Technology Promotion Act of 2005; S 1418, Wired for Health Care Quality Act; S 1355, Better Healthcare Through Information Technology Act;

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $180,000

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