A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to make a technical correction in the definition of outpatient speech-language pathology services.

Home health agency payment limits and patient rehabilitation PPS Medicare and audiology reimbursement issues, including direct access and fee schedule changes Medicare coverage issues for speech-language pathology - including coverage of augmentative communication devices State Licensure equivalency with ASHA certification; CMS's definition of speech-language pathologists and audiologists; role of physician in dysphagia evaluation; local medical review policies - S. 657/H.R. 3795 (SLP Supplier Status - Separating SLP & PT in Outpatient Medicare Statute); Value-based purchasing in the payment for physicians' services under the Medicare Program - H.R. 3617; implementation of CMS therapy caps exception process and documentation of functional progress. RBRVS/Medicare Fee Schedule Medicare Prospective Payment System (PPS) - skilled nursing facilities (student minutes supervision); rehabilitation hospitals; outpatient hospital services Medicare part B $1500 Cap - Repeal on the cap S. 438

Client expense: $2,000,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ), Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Education, Dept of, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

HR 916/S 438 - Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to repeal caps on Medicare outpatient therapy services; S 3516 - Rural Equity Payment Index Reform Extension Act, to extend the floor onthe work geographic index under the Medicare physician fee schedule; S 3677 - Medicare Independent Living Act, to eliminate the "in the home" restriction for Medicare coverage of devices to enhance the mobility of individuals with functional limitations, impairments, and disabilities; HR 5866 - Medicare Physican Payment Reform and Quality Improvement Act, to reform Medicare payment to health care professionals billing through the Medicare physician fee schedule; HR 3373/S 1405 - Preserving Patient Access to Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospitals Act, to extend until two years after passage of the bill the 50% compliance threshold used to determine if a hospital or unit of a hospital is an inpatient rehabilitation facility; HR 3795/S 657 - to amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to modify the definition of outpatient speech-language pathology services in order to recognize speech-language pathologists as suppliers under the Medicare program; Payment for physical therapist services under the Medicare physician fee schedule; Medicare skilled nursing facility payment for physical therapist services; Medicare "pay for performance"; Proposed quality standards for suppliers of durable medical equipment. HR 1333/S 647 - Medicare Patient Access to Physical Therapists Act, to amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act ot authorize physical therapists to evaluate and treat Medicare beneficiaries without requirement of a physician referral;

Client expense: $800,000 · Firm income: Not reported

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

Children's Health Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-310) Managed Care Reform Separate SLP/PT in Medicare Outpatient Statute - S. 657

Client expense: $320,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ), Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE