Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009

Department of Veterans Affairs appropriations and its delivery of benefits and services to veterans, their dependents and survivors: HR 5360, HR 5225, HR 5120, HR 4894, HR 4887, HR 4477, HR 4048, HR 3949, HR 3491, HR 3219, HR 3155, HR 3082, HR 2990, HR 2980, HR 2898, HR 2879, HR 2770, HR 2738, HR 2734, HR 2713, HR 2583, HR 2573, HR 2419, HR 2389, HR 2342, HR 2254, HR 2180, HR 1879, HR 1818, HR 1546, HR 1388, HR 1377, HR 1335, HR 1302, HR 1293, HR 1211, HR 1204, HR 1203, HR 1197, HR 1171, HR 1169, HR 1088, HR 1017, HR 1016, HR 953, HR 952, HR 816, HR 811, HR 775, HR 667, HR 658, HR 612, HR 593, HR 466, HR 456, HR 341, HR 333, HR 303, HR 297, HR 296, HR 295, HR 294, HR 293, H. RES. 261, HR 177, HR 114, HR 108, H. Con. Res 85, HR 32, S 3234, S 3148, S 1963, S 1939, S 1779, S 1407, S 1237, S 1204, S 944, S 847, S 821, S 820, S 801, S 728, S 658, S 642, S 597, S. 546, S. 535, S 423, S 407, S 404, S 277, S 252, S 66, S. Con. Res 60, S. Con. Res. 13.

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

Government targets: Defense, Dept of (DOD), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Labor, Dept of (DOL), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Small Business Administration (SBA), U.S. Postal Service (USPS), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Veterans Employment & Training Service

S 239, Veterans Health Equity Act of 2009, all sections relating to vision. S 246, Veterans Health Care Quality Improvement Act, all sections relating to vision. S 498, A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize dental insurance for veterans and survivors and dependents of veterans, and for other purposes, all sections relating to vision. S 658, Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009, all sections relating to vision. S 793, Department of Veterans Affairs Vision Scholars Act of 2009, all sections relating to vision. HR 568, Veteran Health Care Quaility Improvement Act, all sections relating to vision. HR 3155, Caregiver Assistance and Resource Enhancement Act, all sections relating to vision. HR 4360 , To designate the Department of Veterans Affairs blind rehabilitation center in Long Beach, California, as the "Major Charles R. Soltes, Jr., O.D. Department of Veterans Affairs Blind Rehabilitation Center", all sections relating to vision. HR 5360, Blinded Veterans Adaptive Housing Improvement Act of 2010, all sections relating to vision.

Client expense: $332,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Lobbying to assure that TRICARE health care programs were held harmless in the civilian Health Care Reform Act (HR3962) and qualified as "minimum essential coverage" HR4877 and S3148; lobbying on behalf of bills to allow children of TRICARE beneficiaries until they reach the age of 26 to be covered in their parents' TRICARE coverage; lobbying against any proposed increases in TRICARE co-pays, deductibles or enrollment fees HR816; lobbying to end the ban of concurrent receipt of military retired pay and VA Disability pay (including HR333, HR303,S546, HR811, HR4213); lobbying in favor of improvements in National Guard and Reserve benefits including proper implementation of TRR for Grey Area retirees, reducing in minimum age for receipt of military retired pay HR1695; in favor of NG &R Families Act of 2009 S644; allowing foregiveness of certain overpayments of retired pay paid to deceased retired members of the Armed Forces for the month of their death HR613; lobbying in support of ending the SBP/DIC offset HR775, S535, HR2243; lobbying in support of improving military health care for military retirees who live in Rural areas S658; lobbying in favor of permitting a "Special Needs Trust" for appropriate disabled SBP beneficiaries HR2059, HR3324; lobbying for changes and improvements in the former Spouse Protection Act (USFSPA); lobbying in favor of increased benefits and training for caretakes of our Wounded Warriors; lobbying for increases in use of Space A travel for retirees' survivors HR4403

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

Department of Veterans Affairs appropriations and its delivery of benefits and services to veterans, their dependents and survivors: HR 5360, HR 4894, HR 4887, HR 4477, HR 4048, HR 3949, HR 3491, HR 3155, HR 3082, HR 2990, HR 2980, HR 2898, HR 2879, HR 2770, HR 2738, HR 2734, HR 2713, HR 2583, HR 2573, HR 2419, HR 2389, HR 2342, HR 2254, HR 2180, HR 1879, HR 1818, HR 1546, HR 1388, HR 1377, HR 1335, HR 1302, HR 1293, HR 1211, HR 1204, HR 1203, HR 1197, HR 1171, HR 1169, HR 1088, HR 1017, HR 1016, HR 953, HR 952, HR 816, HR 811, HR 775, HR 667, HR 658, HR 612, HR 593, HR 466, HR 456, HR 341, HR 333, HR 303, HR 297, HR 296, HR 295, HR 294, HR 293, H.RES. 261, HR 177, HR 114, HR 108, H.Con. Res 85, HR 32, S 3148, S 1963, S 1939, S 1779, S 1407, S 1204, S 944, S 847, S 821, S 820, S 801, S 728, S 658, S 642, S 597, S. 546, S. 535, S 423, S 407, S 404, S 277, S 252, S 66, S.Con.Res. 13.

Client expense: $190,000 · Firm income: Not reported

FY 2011 Budget Resolution, in regard to increasing the Department of Veterans Affairs health care budget. S 1963, bill to amend Title 38, United States Code - to enhance the capacity of the Department of Veterans Affairs to recruit and retain nurses and other critical health care professionals and to improve the provision of health care to veterans. HR 919, bill to amend Title 38 to enhance the capacity of the Department of Veterans Affairs to recruit and retain nurses and other critical health care professionals. S 597, Women's Veterans Health Improvement Act of 2008 - provisions to identify and address needs of women veterans and their families through research, training and certification programs, and participation on VA advisory committees. S 362/HR 949, to amend Section 7422 of Title 38, which provides medical professionals with collective bargaining rights, including the right to resolve disputes with management over matters affecting working conditions through grievances, arbitrations, and negotiations. S 362/HR 949 would give VA registered nurses, psychiatrists, doctors, and dentists the same bargaining rights as their counterparts in military hospitals and prison facilities. S 1155/HR 1302 - provision to establish a full-time Director of Physician Assistant Services with the Department of Veterans Affairs. S 658 - provisions to improve access to health care for rural veterans. Recommending an increase in the mileage rate and greater oversight of contract care program (such as Project HERO, VA's contract health care program already underway) to include collection of data comparing amount of travel required for visits to contract care facilities to amount of travel required to receive care at nearest VA facility; and its resulting impact on VA's capacity to provide services in-house. S801/HR 2342, bill to provide support services to family caregivers of severely injured or disabled veterans. HR 1016/S 423, HRes 804, bills to provide advance appropriations for VA health care.

H.R. 84, the "Veterans Timely Access to Health Care Act" H.R. 294, a bill to guarantee loans to veteran owned small businesses H.R. 761, a bill to clarify eligibility for burial in a national cemetery H.R. 949, to improve collective bargaining rights and procedures H.R. 1017, the "Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act" H.R. 1036, the "Veterans Physical Therapy Services Improvement Act of 2009" H.R. 1075, the "RECOVER Act (Restoring Essential Care for Our Veterans for Effective Recovery)" H.R. 1335/S. 821, a bill to eliminate co-payments for catastropically disabled veterans H.R. 1169, a bill to increase the specially adapted housing and automobile assistance grants H.R. 1293, the "Disabled Veterans Improvement and Structural Alteration Grant Increase Act of 2009" H.R. 2379, the "Veterans Group Life Insurance Improvements Act of 2009" H.R. 2461, the "Veterans Small Business Verification Act" H.R. 2504, to provide for an increase in the annual amount authorized the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out homeless veterans programs from $150 million to $200 million H.R. 2559, the "Help Our Homeless Veterans Act" H.R. 2614, the "Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education Reauthorization Act of 2009" H.R. 2696, the "Servicemembers' Right Protection Act" H.R. 2698, the "Veterans and Survivors Behavioral Health Awareness Act" H.R. 2699, the "Armed Forces Behavioral Health Awareness Act" H.R. 2713, the "Disabled Veterans Life Insurance Enhancement Act" H.R. 2735, a bill to make improvements to the comprehensive programs for homeless veterans H.R. 2770, a bill to modernize and clarify the laws governing VA Nonprofit Research Corporations H.R. 2774, the "Families of Veterans Financial Security Act of 2009" H.R. 2874, the "Helping Active Duty Deployed Act of 2009" H.R. 2879/S. 658, the Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009" H.R. 3073, a bill to establish a grant program to assist veterans at risk of becoming homeless H.R. 3219, the "Veterans' Insurance and Health Care Improvements Act of 2009" H.R. 3407, the "Severly Injured Veterans Benefits Improvement Act" H.R. 3441, a bill to provide for automatic enrollment of veterans returning from combat zones into the VA health care system H.R. 3485, the "Veterans Pension Protection Act" H.R. 3544, the "National Cemeteries Expansion Act of 2009" H.R. 3926, the "Armed Forces Breast Cancer Research Act" H.R. 4006, the "Rural, American Indian Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009" H.R. 4241, to allow for increased flexibility in payments for State veterans homes Discussion draft legislation concerning various homeless veterans issues Discussion draft legislation to reform and expand the VA Supportive Housing Program carried out by HUD Discussion of the impact on veteran owned businesses by the Center for Veterans Enterprise Discussion draft legislation to improve VA continuing professional education Discussion draft legislation to waive certain requirements relating to VA mental health counselors Discussion draft legislation to make improvement to VA performance pay and collective bargaining rights S. 977, the "Prisoner of War Benefit Act of 2009" S. 1118, a bill to increase the rates of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation S. 1394, the "Veterans Entitlement to Service Act of 2009" S. 1444, the "Combat PTSD Act" S. 1467, the Lance Corporal Josel Lopez Fairness for Servicemembers' Harmed by Vaccines Act of 2009" S. 1518, the "Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans Act of 2009" S. 1752, a bill to provide compensation for veterans with Parkinson's disease S. 1753, a bill to increase the amount of Temporary Residence Assistance available S. 1963, the "Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2009"

HR 568 Veteran Health Care Quality Improvement Act. HR 3155 Caregiver Assistance and Resource Enhancement Act. HR 4360 To designate the Department of Veterans Affairs blind rehabilitation center in Long Beach, California, as the "Major Charles R. Soltes, Jr., O.D. Department of Veterans Affairs Blind Rehabilitation Center". HR 4369 Major Soltes Department of Veterans Affairs Blind Rehabilitation Center. S 239 Veterans Health Equity Act of 2009. S 246 Veterans Health Care Quality Improvement Act. S 498 A bill to amend title 38, USC to authorize dental insurance for veterans and survivors and dependents. S 658 Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009. S 793 Department of Veterans Affairs Vision Scholars Act of 2009. H.Res 1226 Commending EyeCare America for its work over the last 25 years.

Client expense: $450,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Lobbying in opposition to including to including any of the TRICARE plans in the proposed health care reform bills (including HR3590, HR3962) lobbying against any proposed increases in TRICARE co-pays, deductibles,or enrollment fees, HR816;lobbying to end the ban of concurrent receipt of military retired pay and VA disability pay (including HR333, HR303, S546,HR811) lobbying in favor of improvments in National Guard and Reserve benefits including proper implementation of HR270 available TRICARE for Grey Area retirees; and in favor of quick implementation; HR 270; S1106; lobbying in favor of increasing pay under the National Guard and Reserve Pay Equity Act of 2009 S644; lobbying in support of reducing the minimum age for receipt of military retired pay for non-regular service HR1695, S1390; lobbying in favor of allowing the survivors of a military retiree to retian the full last month of his or her retired pay "provide for foregiveness of certain overpayments of retired pay paid to deceased retired members of the Armed Forces following death" HR613; lobbying in support of the ending of the SBP/DIC Offset (HR775, S535, HR2243); lobbying to improve military health care for veterans and retirees who live in rural areas S658; lobbying in favor of canges and improvments in the Uniform services Former Spouse Protection Act (USFSPA); lobbying in support of increased benefits for caretakers of our wounded warriors; lobbying in favor of permitting a "Special Needs Trust" for appropriat disabled SBP beneficiaries

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

Department of Veterans Affairs appropriations and its delivery of benefits and services to veterans, their dependents and survivors: HR 4894, HR 4887, HR 4477, HR 4048, HR 3949, HR 3491, HR 3155, HR 3082, HR 2990, HR 2898, HR 2879, HR 2770, HR 2738, HR 2734, HR 2583, HR 2573, HR 2419, HR 2389, HR 2342, HR 2254, HR 2180, HR 1818, HR 1546, HR 1388, HR 1377, HR 1335, HR 1302, HR 1293, HR 1211, HR 1204, HR 1203, HR 1197, HR 1171, HR 1088, HR 1017, HR 1016, HR 953, HR 952, HR 816, HR 811, HR 775, HR 667, HR 658, HR 612, HR 593, HR 466, HR 456, HR 341, HR 333, HR 303, HR 297, HR 296, HR 295, HR 294, HR 293, H.RES. 261, HR 177, HR 114, HR 108, H.Con. Res 85, HR 32, S 3148, S 1963, S 1939, S 1779, S 1407, S 1204, S 944, S 847, S 821, S 820, S 801, S 728, S 658, S 642, S 597, S 546, S 423, S 407, S 404, S 277, S 252, S 66, S.Con.Res. 13

Client expense: $190,000 · Firm income: Not reported

H.Con.Res. 85/S.Con.Res. 13, FY 2010 Budget Resolution, in regard to increasing the Department of Veterans Affairs health care budget. S 423/HR 1016, bills to authorize advance appropriations for VA health care - provisions to reform the VA health care funding process and enhance Congress' ability to better predict and oversee health care spending. S 252, bill to amend Title 38, United States Code - to enhance the capacity of the Department of Veterans Affairs to recruit and retain nurses and other critical health care professionals and to improve the provision of health care to veterans. HR 919, bill to amend Title 38 to enhance the capacity of the Department of Veterans Affairs to recruit and retain nurses and other critical health care professionals. S 597, Women's Veterans Health Improvement Act of 2008 - provisions to identify and address needs of women veterans and their families through research, training and certification programs, and participation on VA advisory committees. S 362/HR 949, to amend Section 7422 of Title 38, which provides medical professionals with collective bargaining rights, including the right to resolve disputes with management over matters affecting working conditions through grievances, arbitrations, and negotiations. S 362/HR 949 would give VA registered nurses, psychiatrists, doctors, and dentists the same bargaining rights as their counterparts in military hospitals and prison facilities. HR 1302 - provision to establish a full-time Director of Physician Assistant Services with the Department of Veterans Affairs. S 658 - provisions to improve access to health care for rural veterans. Recommending an increase in the mileage rate and greater oversight of contract care program (such as Project HERO, VA's contract health care program already underway) to include collection of data comparing amount of travel required for visits to contract care facilities to amount of travel required to receive care at nearest VA facility; and its resulting impact on VA's capacity to provide services in-house. S801/HR 2342, bill to provide support services to family caregivers of severely injured or disabled veterans. HR 1016/S 423, HRes 804, bills to provide advance appropriations for VA health care.

HR 1377, Expand Eligibility for Reimbursement to Vets for Emergency Care in Non-VA Facilities, all provisions. HR 2770, Veterans Nonprofit Research and Education Corporations Enhancement Act of 2009, all provisions. HR 3082, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2010 , all provisions. HR 3219, Veterans' Insurance and Health Care Improvements Act of 2009, all provisions. HR 4360, To designate the Department of Veterans Affairs blind rehabilitation center in Long Beach, California, all provisions. S 423, Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009, all provisions. S 658, Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009, all provisions. S 1407, Medicare Part D Home and Community Services Copayment Equity Act of 2009, all provisions.

Client expense: $446,000 · Firm income: Not reported

H.R. 294, a bill to guarantee loans to veterans owned small businesses H.R. 761, a bill to clarify eligibility for burial in a national cemetery H.R. 1016/S. 423, the "Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act: (Advance appropriations for VA Health Care) H.R. 1017, the "Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act." H.R. 1036, the "Veterans Physical Therapy Services Improvement Act of 2009" H.R. 1335/S. 821, a bill to eliminate co-payments for catastrophically disabled veterans H.R. 1169, a bill to increase the specially adapted housing and automobile assistance grants H.R. 2504, to provide for an increase in the annual amount authorized the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out homeless veterans programs from $150 million to $200 million. H.R. 2559, the "Help Our Homeless Veterans Act" H.R. 2735, a bill to make improvements to the comprehensive programs for homeless veterans H.R. 2879/S. 658, the "Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009" H.R. 2379, the "Veterans Group Life Insurance Improvements Act of 2009" H.R. 2461, the "Veterans Small Business Verification Act" H.R. 2614, the "Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education Reauthorization Act of 2009" H.R. 2696, the "Servicemembers' Rights Protection Act" H.R. 2713, the "Disabled Veterans Life Insurance Enhancement Act" H.R. 2774, the "Families of Veterans Financial Security Act of 2009" H.R. 2874, the "Helping Active Duty Deployed Act of 2009" H.R. 3073, a bill to establish a grant program to assist veterans at risk of becoming homeless H.R. 3219, the "Veterans' Insurance and Health Care Improvements Act of 2009" H.R. 3407, the Severely Injured Veterans Benefits Improvement Act" H.R. 3485, the "Veterans Pension Protection Act" H.R. 3441, a bill to provide for automatic enrollment of veterans returning from combat zones into the VA health care system H.R. 3544, the National Cemeteriest Expansion Act of 2009" Discussion Draft legislation concerning various homeless veterans issues Discussion Draft legislation to reform and expand the VA Supportive Housing Program carried out by HUD S. 977, the "Prisoner of War Benefit Act of 2009" S. 1118, a bill to increase rates of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation S. 1394, the "Veterans Entitlement to Service Act of 2009" S. 1444, the "Combat PTSD Act" S. 1467, the :Lance Corporal Josef Lopez Fairness for Servicemembers' Harmed by Vaccines Act of 2009" S. 1518, the "Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans Act of 2009" S. 1752, a bill to provide compensation for veterans with Parkinson's disease S. 1753, a bill to increase the amount of Temporary Residence Assistance available S. 1963, the "Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2009"

Lobbying in opposition to including any of the TRICARE plans in the proposed health care reforms (HR3590, HR3962); Lobbbying against any possible increases of co-pays, deductibles, or enrollment fees in any of th TRICARE programs (including in support of HR816); lobbying in favor of HR270, S731, S1106 allowing National Guard and Reserve Gray Area Retirees to purchase TRS at full cost; lobbying against interpreting Gray Area TRICARE as a different program than TRS with a different cost basis; lobbying in favor with a different cost basis; and lobbying in favor of quick implementation; lobbying in favor of allowing the survivors of a military retiree who dies to retain the last month of his or hers retired pay (HR613); lobbying in support of early retirement og National Guard and Reserves to apply for those who served on or after 9/11/01 (Sec 660 of S1390 NDAA Conference Report and HR1695 ); lobbying in support of increasing pay under the National Guard and Reserve Retired Pay Equity Act for 2009 S644; lobbying in support of allowing longevity military retirees with less than a 50% rated VA service connected disability to receive both their retired pay and their disability pay; and in support Military Medical retirees (Chapter 61) with less than 20 years service to receive both their retired pay and their VA disability pay (including support of S546, HR333, HR303, HR811, HR2990; lobbying in favor of additional improvements in military health care including wounded warrior programs, improved DoD provided health care for retirees in rural areas and improvements in mental health care; (S658) lobbying in favor of adequate funding for DoD health Care and other needed DoD funding (including HR3326); lobbying in support of Defense Appropriations Act including increases in active duty pay (HR2647) lobbying in favor increasing the time a called up Guard or Reserve member has TRICARE prior to activation to 180 days from the former 90 days; lobbying in favor of ending the SBP/DIC offset (HR775, S536, HR1804, HR2243); lobbying in favor of changes and improvmentd in the Uniformed Services Former Spouse Protection Act (USFSPA) lobbying in favor of improvements in voting procedures for active duty service members and their families who are serving and living abroad; lobbying in support adequate funding in the of Military Construction and VA Appropriations (HR3082, S1407); lobbying in favor of additional benefits (including health care, stipends and education benefits) for caretakers of our wounded warriors (HR2647); lobbying in favor of creating a "Special Needs Trust" for disabled beneficiaries who qualify for SBP

Department of Veterans Affairs appropriations and its delivery of benefits and services to veterans, their dependents and survivors: 3949, HR 3491, HR 3155, HR 3082, HR 2990, HR 2898, HR 2879, HR 2770, HR 2738, HR 2734, HR 2583, HR 2573, HR 2419, HR 2389, HR 2342, HR 2254, HR 2180, HR 1818, HR 1546, HR 1388, HR 1377, HR 1335, HR 1302, HR 1293, HR 1211, HR 1204, HR 1203, HR 1197, HR 1171, HR 1088, HR 1017, HR 1016, HR 953, HR 952, HR 816, HR 811, HR 775, HR 667, HR 658, HR 612, HR 593, HR 466, HR 456, HR 341, HR 333, HR 303, HR 297, HR 296, HR 295, HR 294, HR 293, H.RES. 261, HR 177, HR 114, HR 108, H.Con. Res 85, HR 32, S 1963, S 1939, S 1779, S 1407, S 1204, S 944, S 847, S 821, S 820, S 801, S 728, S 658, S 642, S 597, S 423, S 407, S 404, S 277, S 252, S 66, S.Con.Res. 13

Client expense: $190,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Defense, Dept of (DOD), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Labor, Dept of (DOL), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Small Business Administration (SBA), U.S. Postal Service (USPS), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Veterans Employment & Training Service

See page five for specific Health Care issues. H. R. 3200 - America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 H. R. 914 - Physician Workforce Enhancement Act of 2009 H. R. 1678 - Mitigating the Impact of Uncompensated Service and Time Act of 2009 H. R. 2 - Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 H. R. 1016 - Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 H. R. 84 - Veterans Timely Access to Health Care Act H. R. 1213 - Screening Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Very Efficiently Act of 2009 H. R. 2891 - Access to Frontline Health Care Act of 2009 H. R. 2350 - Preserving Patient Access to Primary Care Act of 2009 H. R. 2251/S. 973 - Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2009 H. R. 2844/S. 1249/H. R. 3074 - Medicare Payment Improvement Act of 2009 H. R. 1377 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand veteran eligibility for reimbursement by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for emergency treatment furnished in a non-Department facility, and for other purposes. H.R. 2718/S. 1110/S. 1380 - Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) Reform Act of 2009 S. 733- National Trauma Center Stabilization Act of 2009 S. 330 - Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act of 2009 S. 179 - Health Information Technology Act of 2009 S. 717 - 21st Century Cancer ALERT (Access to Life-Saving Early detection, Research and Treatment) Act S. 252 - Veterans Health Care Authorization Act of 2009 S. 597 - Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 S. 658 - Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 S. 734 - Rural Veterans Health Care Access and Quality Act of 2009 S. 1679 - Affordable Health Choices Act

Client expense: $59,412 · Firm income: Not reported

See page seven for specific Veterans' issues. H. R. 1016 - Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 H. R. 84 - Veterans Timely Access to Health Care Act H. R. 1377 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand veteran eligibility for reimbursement by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for emergency treatment furnished in a non-Department facility, and for other purposes. S. 252 - Veterans Health Care Authorization Act of 2009 S. 597 - Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 S. 658 - Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 S. 734 - Rural Veterans Health Care Access and Quality Act of 2009

Client expense: $59,412 · Firm income: Not reported

See page seven for specific Veterans' issues. H. R. 1016 - Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 H. R. 84 - Veterans Timely Access to Health Care Act H. R. 1377 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand veteran eligibility for reimbursement by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for emergency treatment furnished in a non-Department facility, and for other purposes. S. 252 - Veterans Health Care Authorization Act of 2009 S. 597 - Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 S. 658 - Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 S. 734 - Rural Veterans Health Care Access and Quality Act of 2009

Client expense: $32,952 · Firm income: Not reported

See page five for specific Health Care issues. H. R. 3200 - America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 H. R. 914 - Physician Workforce Enhancement Act of 2009 H. R. 1678 - Mitigating the Impact of Uncompensated Service and Time Act of 2009 H. R. 2 - Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 H. R. 1016 - Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 H. R. 84 - Veterans Timely Access to Health Care Act H. R. 1213 - Screening Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Very Efficiently Act of 2009 H. R. 2891 - Access to Frontline Health Care Act of 2009 H. R. 2350 - Preserving Patient Access to Primary Care Act of 2009 H. R. 2251/S. 973 - Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2009 H. R. 2844/S. 1249/H. R. 3074 - Medicare Payment Improvement Act of 2009 H. R. 1377 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand veteran eligibility for reimbursement by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for emergency treatment furnished in a non-Department facility, and for other purposes. H.R. 2718/S. 1110/S. 1380 - Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) Reform Act of 2009 S. 733- National Trauma Center Stabilization Act of 2009 S. 330 - Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act of 2009 S. 179 - Health Information Technology Act of 2009 S. 717 - 21st Century Cancer ALERT (Access to Life-Saving Early detection, Research and Treatment) Act S. 252 - Veterans Health Care Authorization Act of 2009 S. 597 - Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 S. 658 - Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 S. 734 - Rural Veterans Health Care Access and Quality Act of 2009 S. 1679 - Affordable Health Choices Act

Client expense: $32,952 · Firm income: Not reported

See page seven for specific Veterans' issues. H. R. 1016 - Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 H. R. 84 - Veterans Timely Access to Health Care Act H. R. 1377 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand veteran eligibility for reimbursement by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for emergency treatment furnished in a non-Department facility, and for other purposes. S. 252 - Veterans Health Care Authorization Act of 2009 S. 597 - Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 S. 658 - Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 S. 734 - Rural Veterans Health Care Access and Quality Act of 2009

Client expense: $59,412 · Firm income: Not reported

See page five for specific Health Care issues. H. R. 3200 - America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 H. R. 914 - Physician Workforce Enhancement Act of 2009 H. R. 1678 - Mitigating the Impact of Uncompensated Service and Time Act of 2009 H. R. 2 - Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 H. R. 1016 - Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 H. R. 84 - Veterans Timely Access to Health Care Act H. R. 1213 - Screening Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Very Efficiently Act of 2009 H. R. 2891 - Access to Frontline Health Care Act of 2009 H. R. 2350 - Preserving Patient Access to Primary Care Act of 2009 H. R. 2251/S. 973 - Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2009 H. R. 2844/S. 1249/H. R. 3074 - Medicare Payment Improvement Act of 2009 H. R. 1377 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand veteran eligibility for reimbursement by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for emergency treatment furnished in a non-Department facility, and for other purposes. H.R. 2718/S. 1110/S. 1380 - Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) Reform Act of 2009 S. 733- National Trauma Center Stabilization Act of 2009 S. 330 - Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act of 2009 S. 179 - Health Information Technology Act of 2009 S. 717 - 21st Century Cancer ALERT (Access to Life-Saving Early detection, Research and Treatment) Act S. 252 - Veterans Health Care Authorization Act of 2009 S. 597 - Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 S. 658 - Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 S. 734 - Rural Veterans Health Care Access and Quality Act of 2009 S. 1679 - Affordable Health Choices Act

Client expense: $59,412 · Firm income: Not reported

H.Con.Res. 85/S.Con.Res. 13, FY 2010 Budget Resolution, in regard to increasing the Department of Veterans Affairs health care budget. S 423/HR 1016, bills to authorize advance appropriations for VA health care - provisions to reform the VA health care funding process and enhance Congress' ability to better predict and oversee health care spending. S 252, bill to amend Title 38, United States Code - to enhance the capacity of the Department of Veterans Affairs to recruit and retain nurses and other critical health-care professionals and to improve the provision of health care to veterans. HR 919, bill to amend Title 38 to enhance the capacity of the Department of Veterans Affairs to recruit and retain nurses and other critical health care professionals. S 597, Women's Veterans Health Improvement Act of 2008 - provisions to identify and address needs of women veterans and their families through research, training and certification programs, and participation on VA advisory committees. S 362/HR 949, to amend Section 7422 of Title 38, which provides medical professionals with collective rights, including the right to resolve disputes with management over matters affecting working conditions through grievances, arbitrations and negotiations. S 362/HR 949 would give VA registered nurses, psychiatrists, doctors, and dentists the same bargaining rights as their counterparts in military hospitals and prison facilities. HR 1302 - provision to establish a full-time Director of Physician Assistant Services with the Department of Veterans Affairs. S 658 - provisions to improve access to health care for rural veterans. Recommending an increase in the mileage rate and greater oversight of contract care program (such as Project HERO, VA's contract health care program already underway) to include collection of data comparing amount of travel required for visits to contract care facilities to amount of travel required to receive care at nearest VA facility; and its resulting impact on VA's capacity to provide services in-house. S8 01/HR 2342, bill to provide support services to family caregivers of severely injured or disabled veterans. HR 1016/S 423, HRes 804 bills to provide advance appropriations for VA health care.

S.252 Veterans Health Care Authorization Act of 2009 S.263 Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009 S.274 Veterans Jobs Opportunity Act of 2009 S.315 Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2009 S.423 Advanced Approps S.459 SUPPORT for Substance Use Disorders ActSupporting Uniformed Personnel by Providing Oversight and Relevant Treatment for Substance Use Disorders Act S.475 Military Spouses Residency Relief Act S.498 A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize dental insurance for veterans and survivors and dependents of veterans, and for other purposes. S.514 Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act of 2009 S.535 A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan by veterans' dependency and indemnity compensation, and for other purposes. S.543 Veteran and Servicemember Caregiver Support Act of 2009 S.559 A bill to provide benefits under the Post-Deployment/Mobilization Respite Absence program for certain periods before the implementation of the program. S.597 Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 S.658 Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 S.669 Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act S.699 Far South Texas Veterans Medical Center Act of 2009 S.711 Post-Deployment Health Assessment Act of 2009 S.728 Veterans' Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act of 2009 S.731 A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for continuity of TRICARE Standard coverage for certain members of the Retired Reserve. S.734 Rural Veterans Health Care Access and Quality Act of 2009 S.772 Honor Act of 2009 S.801 Family Caregiver Program Act of 2009 S.831 National Guard and Reserve Retired Pay Equity Act of 2009 S.842 A bill to repeal the sunset of certain enhancements of protections of servicemembers relating to mortgages and mortgage foreclosures, to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay mortgage holders unpaid bala S.847 Education Benefits for Survivors who Enlist S.902 SERV ActServices, Education, and Rehabilitation for Veterans Act S.944 Wounded Warrior Transition Assistance Act of 2009 S.1026Military Voting Protection Act of 2009 S.1106Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act S.1415Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act S.1467Lance Corporal Josef Lopez Fairness for Servicemembers Harmed by Vaccines Act of 2009 S.1495Service Dogs for Veterans Act of 2009 S.1668National Guard Education Equality Act H.R.32Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2009 H.R.270TRICARE Continuity of Coverage for National Guard and Reserve Families Act of 2009 H.R.294Veteran-Owned Small Business Promotion Act of 2009 H.R.466Wounded Veteran Job Security Act H.R.593To amend title 10, United States Code, to expand the authorized concurrent receipt of disability severance pay from the Department of Defense and compensation for the same disability under any law administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs to cove H.R.613Military Retiree Survivor Comfort Act H.R.620Jobs for Veterans Act of 2009 H.R.775To repeal the requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan to offset the receipt of veterans dependency and indemnity compensation. H.R.784To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress quarterly reports on vacancies in mental health professional positions in Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities. H.R.785To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to provide outreach and training to certain college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring F H.R.819To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the payment of dependency and indemnity compensation to the survivors of former prisoners of war who died on or before September 30, 1999, under the same eligibility conditions as apply to payment of d H.R.950To amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning. H.R.952COMBAT PTSD ActCompensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Act H.R.1016Advance Approps H.R.1036Veterans Physical Therapy Services Improvement Act of 2009 H.R.1098Veterans' Worker Retraining Act of 2009 H.R.1169To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing and automobiles and adapted equipment. H.R.1182Military Spouses Residency Relief Act H.R.1211Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act H.R.1308Veterans Mental Health Screening and Assessment Act H.R.1336Veterans Education Improvement Act of 2009 H.R.1401VET Corps Act of 2009 H.R.1474Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009 H.R.1633Honor the WISH ActHonor the Written Intent of our Soldier Heroes Act H.R.2058Post-Deployment Health Assessment Act of 2009 H.R.2393Military Voting Protection Act of 2009 H.R.2416To require the Department of Veterans Affairs to use purchases of goods or services through the Federal supply schedules for the purpose of meeting certain contracting goals for participation by small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans, including veterans with service-connected disabilities. H.R.2419Military Personnel War Zone Toxic Exposure Prevention Act H.R.2456Veterans Education Tuition Support Act of 2009VETS Act of 2009 H.R.2547Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act H.R.2562Service Members Home Ownership Act of 2009 H.R.2614Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education Reauthorization Act of 2009 H.R.2696Servicemembers' Rights Protection Act H.R.2825Safety in Defense Contracting Act H.R.2874Helping Active Duty Deployed Act of 2009 H.R.2879Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 H.R.2928To amend title 38, United State Code, to provide for an apprenticeship and on-job training program under the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Program. H.R.2931To direct the Secretary of Defense to adopt a program of professional and confidential screenings for members of the armed forces on active duty to detect mental health conditions for the purpose of reducing the incidence of suicide among such members and H.R.3223To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs contracting goals and preferences for small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans. H.R.3267To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide relief with respect to the children of members of the Armed Forces of the United States who die as a result of service in a combat zone. H.R.3337Post-9/11 Veterans' Job Training Act of 2009 H.R.3441To provide for automatic enrollment of veterans returning from combat zones into the VA medical system, and for other purposes. H.R.3467Veterans Education Enhancement and Fairness Act of 2009 H.R.3554National Guard Education Equality Act H.R.3561To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of educational assistance provided to certain veterans for flight training. H.R.3577Education Assistance to Realign New Eligibilities for Dependents (EARNED) Act of 2009 H.R.3579To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of the reporting fees payable to educational institutions that enroll veterans receiving educational assistance from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Department of Veterans Affairs appropriations and its delivery of benefits and services to veterans, their dependents and survivors: HR 3491, HR 3155, HR 3082, HR 2898, HR 2879, HR 2770, HR 2738, HR 2734, HR 2583, HR 2573, HR 2419, HR 2389, HR 2342, HR 2254, HR 1818, HR 1546, HR 1388, HR 1377, HR 1335, HR 1302, HR 1293, HR 1211, HR 1204, HR 1203, HR 1197, HR 1171, HR 1088, HR 1017, HR 1016, HR 953, HR 952, HR 816, HR 811, HR 775, HR 667, HR 658, HR 612, HR 593, HR 466, HR 456, HR 341, HR 333, HR 303, HR 297, HR 296, HR 295, HR 294, HR 293, H.RES. 261, HR 177, HR 114, HR 108, H.Con. Res 85, HR 32, S 1407, S 1204, S 944, S 847, S 821, S 820, S 801, S 728, S 658, S 642, S 597, S 423, S 407, S 404, S 277, S 252, S 66, S.Con.Res. 13

Client expense: $210,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Defense, Dept of (DOD), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Labor, Dept of (DOL), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Small Business Administration (SBA), U.S. Postal Service (USPS), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Veterans Employment & Training Service

H.R. 294, a bill to guarantee loans to veteran owned small businesses H.R. 761, a bill to clarify eligibilty for burial in a national cemetery H.R. 1016/S. 423, the "Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act" (Advance appropriations for VA Health Care) H.R. 1335/S. 821, a bill to eliminate co-payments for catastrophically disabled veterans H.R. 2879/S. 658, the "Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009" H.R. 1017, the "Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act" H.R. 1036, the "Veterans Physical Therapy Services Improvement Act of 2009" H.R. 1169, a bill to increase the specially adapted housing and automobile assistance grants H.R. 1182, the "Military Spouses Residency Relief Act" H.R. 2243, the Surviving Spouses" Benefit Improvement Act of 2009" H.R. 2379, the "Veterans Group Life Insurance Improvements Act of 2009" H.R. 2416 H.R. 2461, the " Veterans Small Business Verification Act" H.R. 2504 H.R. 2559, the "Help Our Homeless Veterans Act" H.R. 2614, the "Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education Reauthorization Act of 2009" H.R. 2696, the "Servicemembers' Rights Protection Act" H.R. 2713, the "Disabled Veterans Life Insurance Enhancement Act" H.R. 2735 H.R. 2774, the "Families of Veterans Financial Security Act of 2009" H.R. 2874, the "Helping Active Duty Depolyed Act of 2009" H.R. 2928 H.R. 2968 H.R. 3073 H.R. 3219, the "Veterans' Insurance and Health Care Improvements Act of 2009" H.R. 3223 H.R. 3407, the "Severly Injured Veterans Benefits Improvement Act" H.R. 3441 H.R. 3485, the "Veterans Pension Protection Act" H.R. 3544, the "National Cemeteries Expansion Act of 2009" H.R. 3554 H.R. 3561 H.R. 3577, the "Educational Assistance to Realign New Eligibilities for Dependents Act" Discussion Draft legislation concerning various homeless veterans issues S. 1495, the "Service Dogs for Veterans Act of 2009"

H.Con.Res. 85/S.Con.Res. 13, FY 2010 Budget Resolution, in regard to increasing the Department of Veterans Affairs health care budget. S 423/HR 1016, bills to authorize advance appropriations for VA health care - provisions to reform the VA health care funding process and enhance Congress' ability to better predict and oversee health care spending. S 252, bill to amend Title 38, United States Code - to enhance the capacity of the Department of Veterans Affairs to recruit and retain nurses and other critical health-care professionals and to improve the provision of health care to veterans. HR 919, bill to amend Title 38 to enhance the capacity of the Department of Veterans Affairs to recruit and retain nurses and other critical health care professionals. S 597, Women's Veterans Health Improvement Act of 2008 - provisions to identify and address needs of women veterans and their families through research, training and certification programs, and participation on VA advisory committees. S 362/HR 949, to amend Section 7422 of Title 38, which provides medical professionals with collective rights, including the right to resolve disputes with management over matters affecting working conditions through grievances, arbitrations and negotiations. S 362/HR 949 would give VA registered nurses, psychiatrists, doctors, and dentists the same bargaining rights as their counterparts in military hospitals and prison facilities. HR 1302 - provision to establish a full-time Director of Physician Assistant Services with the Department of Veterans Affairs. S 658 - provisions to improve access to health care for rural veterans. Recommending an increase in the mileage rate and greater oversight of contract care program (such as Project HERO, VA's contract health care program already underway) to include collection of data comparing amount of travel required for visits to contract care facilities to amount of travel required to receive care at nearest VA facility; and its resulting impact on VA's capacity to provide services in-house. S801/HR 2342, bill to provide support services to family caregivers of severely injured or disabled veterans.

Lobbying in opposition of possible TRICARE programs' enrollment fees, deductibles and co-pays; in opposition of creation of enrollment fees for TRICARE Standard and TRICARE for Life HR816; lobbying in favor of allowing Grey Area Guard and Reserve retirees to continue to purchase TRS HR270 S731 S1106; lobbying in favor of forgiving "overpayments of retired pay to deceased retired members of the Armed Forces (forgiveness of last months retired pay) HR 613; in support of all military retirees longevity or Chapter 61 medical retirement) to qualify for Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) and thus receive their full retired pay and their full VA disability pay including S546, HR333, HR 303, HR 811 and HR2990; Improvments in National Guard and Reservist pay and benefits including HR208, S644 Reduction of minimum age when retiree of non-regular service is qualified to receive military retired pay HR1695; Improvments in health care (TRICARE) for active duty, families, wounded warriors and their families and survivors including the National Defense Authorization Act HR2647, National Defense Appropriations Act; improvement in rural healthcare S658 Lobbying for increases of military pay Lobbying to improve voting laws to allow service members and their families to have effective voting rights; Lobbying for improved benefits for caregivers of Service members; Ending the SBP/DIC offset including HR775, S536, HR1804; Permintting the creation of a Special Needs Trust for disabled beneficiaries who qualify for SBP

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

See page six for specific Health Care issues. H. R. 914 - Physician Workforce Enhancement Act of 2009 H. R. 1678 - Mitigating the Impact of Uncompensated Service and Time Act of 2009 H. R. 2 - Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 H. R. 1016 - Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 H. R. 84 - Veterans Timely Access to Health Care Act H. R. 1213 - Screening Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Very Efficiently Act of 2009 H. R. 2891 - Access to Frontline Health Care Act of 2009 H. R. 2350 - Preserving Patient Access to Primary Care Act of 2009 H. R. 2251/S. 973 - Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2009 H. R. 2844/S. 1249/H. R. 3074 - Medicare Payment Improvement Act of 2009 H. R. 1377 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand veteran eligibility for reimbursement by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for emergency treatment furnished in a non-Department facility, and for other purposes. S. 733- National Trauma Center Stabilization Act of 2009 S. 330 - Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act of 2009 S. 179 - Health Information Technology Act of 2009 S. 717 - 21st Century Cancer ALERT (Access to Life-Saving Early detection, Research and Treatment) Act S. 252 - Veterans Health Care Authorization Act of 2009 S. 597 - Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 S. 658 - Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 S. 734 - Rural Veterans Health Care Access and Quality Act of 2009 Affordable Health Choices Act

Client expense: $17,638 · Firm income: Not reported

See page eight for specific Veterans' issues. H. R. 1016 - Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 H. R. 84 - Veterans Timely Access to Health Care Act H. R. 1377 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand veteran eligibility for reimbursement by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for emergency treatment furnished in a non-Department facility, and for other purposes. S. 252 - Veterans Health Care Authorization Act of 2009 S. 597 - Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 S. 658 - Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 S. 734 - Rural Veterans Health Care Access and Quality Act of 2009

Client expense: $17,638 · Firm income: Not reported

See page eight for specific Veterans' issues. H. R. 1016 - Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 H. R. 84 - Veterans Timely Access to Health Care Act H. R. 1377 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand veteran eligibility for reimbursement by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for emergency treatment furnished in a non-Department facility, and for other purposes. S. 252 - Veterans Health Care Authorization Act of 2009 S. 597 - Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 S. 658 - Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 S. 734 - Rural Veterans Health Care Access and Quality Act of 2009

Client expense: $72,555 · Firm income: Not reported

See page six for specific Health Care issues. H. R. 914 - Physician Workforce Enhancement Act of 2009 H. R. 1678 - Mitigating the Impact of Uncompensated Service and Time Act of 2009 H. R. 2 - Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 H. R. 1016 - Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 H. R. 84 - Veterans Timely Access to Health Care Act H. R. 1213 - Screening Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Very Efficiently Act of 2009 H. R. 2891 - Access to Frontline Health Care Act of 2009 H. R. 2350 - Preserving Patient Access to Primary Care Act of 2009 H. R. 2251/S. 973 - Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2009 H. R. 2844/S. 1249/H. R. 3074 - Medicare Payment Improvement Act of 2009 H. R. 1377 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand veteran eligibility for reimbursement by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for emergency treatment furnished in a non-Department facility, and for other purposes. S. 733- National Trauma Center Stabilization Act of 2009 S. 330 - Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act of 2009 S. 179 - Health Information Technology Act of 2009 S. 717 - 21st Century Cancer ALERT (Access to Life-Saving Early detection, Research and Treatment) Act S. 252 - Veterans Health Care Authorization Act of 2009 S. 597 - Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 S. 658 - Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 S. 734 - Rural Veterans Health Care Access and Quality Act of 2009 Affordable Health Choices Act

Client expense: $72,555 · Firm income: Not reported

H.R. 147, the "Homeless Veterans Assistance Fund" H.R. 228, the "Visual Improvement and Orientation and Mobility Professionals Education Assistance Program" H.R. 297, the "Veterans Rehabilitation and Employment Subsistence Allowance Improve Act of 2009" H.R. 446, the "Wounded Veteran Job Security Act" H.R. 784, a bill to require the VA to provide quarterly reports on vacancies in the mental health profession H.R. 785/S. 597, the "Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act" H.R. 929, a bill to provide for job training skills relevant to the job market for qualified veterans H.R. 942, a bill to conduct a pilot project to allow veterans to use educational assistance to apply to training costs when purchasing a franchise H.R. 950, a bill to increase educational assistance for certain veterans H.R. 1016/S. 423, the "Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act" (Advance appropriations for VA Health Care) H.R. 1037, a bill to establish a pilot program that will expand the current scope of the work-study program H.R. 1088, the "Veterans Employment Rights Realignment Act of 2009" H.R. 1098, the "Veterans' Worker Retaining Act of 2009" H.R. 1168, the "Veterans' Retraining Act of 2009" H.R. 1171, the "Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program Reauthorization Act of 2009" H.R. 1172, a bill that directs the VA to include on its internet website a list of organizations that provide scholarships to veterans and their surviors H.R. 1197, the "Medal of Honor Health Care Equity Act of 2009" H.R. 1302, a bill to establish the position of Director of Physician Assistant Services at VA H.R. 1335/S821, a bill to eliminate co-payments for catastropically disabled veterans H.R. 1546, the "Caring for Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2009" H.R. 1821, the "Equity for Injured Veterans Act of 2009" H.R. 1879, the "National Guard Employment Protection Act of 2009" H.R. 2180, a bill to waive housing loan fees for certain veterans with service-connected disabilities called to active service H.R. 2713, "Disabled Veterans Life Insurance Enhancement Act" H.R. 2379, the "Veterans Group Life Insurance Imporovements Act of 2009" H.R. 2734, the "Health Care for Family Caregivers Act of 2009" H.R. 2738, a bill to proved travel expenses for family caregivers accompanying veterans to medical treatment facilities H.R. 2774, the "Families of Veterans Financial Security Act of 2009" H.R. 2770, the "Veterans Nonprofit Research and Education Corporations Enhancement Act of 2009" H.R. 2879/S. 658, the "Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009" H.R. 2898, the "Wounded Warrior Caregiver Assistance Act" H.R. 2968, a bill to eliminate the required reduction in the amount of the accelerated death benefit payable to certain terminally-ill persons insured under SGLI an VGLI S. 226, a bill to desigante the Merril Lundman Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic S. 239, the "Veterans Health Equity Act of 2009" S. 246, the Veterans Health Care Quality Improvement Act" S. 252, the "Veterans Health Care Authorization Act of 2009" S. 263, the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009" S. 315, the Veterans Outreach Improve Act of 2009" S. 347 S. 362, a bill to improve collective bargaining rights and prcedures for VA employees S. 404, the "Veterans' Emergency Care Fairness Act of 2009" S. 407, the "Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009" S. 475, the "Military Spouses Residency Relief Act" S. 498, a bill to authorize dental insurance for veterans and survivors and dependents S. 509, a bill to authorize a VA medical facility in Walla Walla Washington S. 514, the "Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act of 2009" S. 543, the "Veteran and Servicemember Caregiver Support Act of 2009" S. 663, the "Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II" S. 669, the "Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act" S. 691, to establish a national cemetery in Southern Colorado S. 699, the "Far South Texas Veterans Medical Center Act of 2009" S. 728, the "Veterans' Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act of 2009" S. 734, the "Rural Veterans Health Care Access and Quality Act of 2009" S. 746, to establish a national cemetery in Sarpy County, Nebraska S. 772, the "Honor Act of 2009" S. 793, the "Department of Veterans Affairs Vision Scholars Act of 2009" S. 801, the "Family Caregiver Program Act of 2009" S. 820, the "Veterans Mobility Enhancement Act of 2009" S. 842 S. 847

H.Con.Res. 85/S.Con.Res. 13, FY 2010 Budget Resolution, in regard to increasing the Department of Veterans Affairs health care budget. S 423, bill to authorize advance appropriations for VA health care - provisions to reform the VA health care funding process and enhance Congress' ability to better predict and oversee health care spending. S 252, bill to amend Title 38, United States Code - provisions to increase the capacity of the Department of Veterans Affairs to recruit and retain nurses and other critical health-care professionals. S 597, Women's Veterans Health Improvement Act of 2008 - provisions to identify and address needs of women veterans and their families through research, training and certification programs, and participation on VA advisory committees. S 362, to amend Section 7422 of Title 38, which provides medical professionals with collective rights, including the right to resolve disputes with management over matters affecting working conditions through grievances, arbitrations and negotiations. S 362 would give VA registered nurses, psychiatrists, doctors, and dentists the same bargaining rights as their counterparts in military hospitals and prison facilities. S 246/HR 568, bill to amend Title 38, United States Code - provisions relating to improving the quality of care provided to veterans in the Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities and the recruitment of highly qualified doctors to hard to fill positions in these facilities. HR 1302 - provision to establish a full-time Director of Physician Assistant Services with the Department of Veterans Affairs. HR 1377, bill to amend Title 38, United States Code - provisions for expansion of veteran eligibility for reimbursement by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for emergency treatment furnished in a non-Department facility. S 658 - provisions to improve access to health care for rural veterans. Recommending an increase in the mileage rate and greater oversight of contract care program (such as Project HERO, VA's contract health care program already underway) to include collection of data comparing amount of travel required for visits to contract care facilities to amount of travel required to receive care at nearest VA facility; and its resulting impact on VA's capacity to provide services in-house.

Brady/ Wilson Hospital Stimulus Letter to Obama Administration - Working with Reps. Robert Brady (D-PA) and Joe Wilson (R-SC) urging their House colleagues to sign a letter asking the President to include relief for hospitals in the plan; HR 1 and S 1 American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009, HR 598 Assistance for Unemployed Workers and Struggling Families Act, HR 629 Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, S 350 Health Insurance Assistance for the Unemployed Act of 2009; HITECH Act Energy and Commerce Recovery and Reinvestment Act, all bills related to issues in the Economic Stimulus Bill pertaining to FMAP increase, DSH payments, moratoria through June 30 on Medicaid provider tax regs and hospital outpatient services, Medicare teaching hospitals IME, long-term care hospitals, health IT, tax exempt bonds, and provide for a portion of the economic recovery package relating to revenue measures, unemployment, and health; HR 2 and S 275 Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009, this bill will secure health care coverage for more than 7 million low-income children currently covered by the State Childrens Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and add coverage to nearly 4 million more. It also contains provisions to improve coverage of dental and mental health benefits for children and to eliminate the five-year waiting period for coverage under SCHIP of legal immigrant children and pregnant women; S 2 Middle Class Opportunity Act, Card Check provisions; S 4 Comprehensive Health Reform Act of 2009, a bill to guarantee affordable, quality health coverage for all Americans, and for other purposes; S 45 MCAP Act, a bill to improve patient access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system; S 77 Children's Mental Health Parity Act, a bill to amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to provide for equal coverage of mental health services under the State Children's Health Insurance Program; HR 241a bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to require the amounts reimbursed to institutional providers of health care services under the TRICARE program to be the same as amounts reimbursed under Medicare, and to require the Secretary of Defense to contract for health care services with at least one teaching hospital in urban areas; HR 298 Improving Children's Doctor Access Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to require SCHIP annual reports to include information on the HEDIS measure relating to access to primary care practitioners by individuals eligible for child health assistance under such plans and on State efforts to avoid certain displacement of private health coverage, and to express the sense of Congress that such States should utilize Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems consumer satisfaction surveys to measure access by such individuals to physicians; S 179 Health Information Technology Act of 2009, a bill to improve quality in health care by providing incentives for adoption of modern information technology; HR 464 More Children, More Choices Act of 2009, a bill to provide for a 5-year SCHIP reauthorization for coverage of low-income children, an expansion of child health care insurance coverage through tax fairness, and a health care Federalism initiative, and for other purposes; HR 468 and S 245 Retooling the Health Care Workforce for an Aging America Act of 2009, a bill to expand, train, and support all sectors of the health care workforce to care for the growing population of older individuals in the United States; HR 676 United States National Health Care Act or the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act, a bill to provide for comprehensive health insurance coverage for all United States residents, improved health care delivery, and for other purposes; HR 688 and S 326 Kids First Act, a bill to amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program through fiscal year 2013, and for other purposes; Tricare letter sent to DOD from Sen. Ben Nelson urging DoD to revise the rule, expand the transition to the new payment system, offer other adjustments to cushion the financial blow on certain hospitals, and conduct a detailed analysis of its impact on the field; S 391 Healthy Americans Act, a bill to provide affordable, guaranteed private health coverage that will make Americans healthier and can never be taken away; HR 914 Physician Workforce Enhancement Act of 2009, a bill to amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to establish a loan program for eligible hospitals to establish residency training programs; HR 936 National Trauma Center Stabilization Act of 2009, a bill to ensure the continued and future availability of lifesaving trauma health care in the United States and to prevent further trauma center closures and downgrades by assisting trauma centers with uncompensated care costs, core mission services, emergency needs, and information technology; HR 956 HealthCARE Act of 2009, a bill to expand the number of individuals and families with health insurance coverage, and for other purposes; S 408 Wakefield Act, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide a means for continued improvement in emergency medical services for children; HR 1075 RECOVER Act (Restoring Essential Care for Our Veterans for Effective Recovery), a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand access to hospital care for veterans in major disaster areas, and for other purposes; HR 1085Health Insurance Coverage Protection Act, a bill to impose a limitation on lifetime aggregate limits imposed by health plans; HR 1086 Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2009; a bill to improve patient access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system; HR 1087 ADOPT HIT Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the deduction under section 179 for the purchase of qualified health care information technology by medical care providers, and for other purposes; HR 1092 No Discrimination in Health Insurance Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, Public Health Service Act, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to prohibit discrimination in group health coverage and individual health insurance coverage; HR 1101 Midwifery Care Access and Reimbursement Equity Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for reimbursement of certified midwife services and to provide for more equitable reimbursement rates for certified nurse-midwife services; S 441 Quality Reform Expansion and Savings Act of 2009, a bill to encourage the development of coordinated quality reforms to improve health care delivery and reduce the cost of care in the health care system; S 442 Health Insurance Coverage Protection Act, a bill to impose a limitation on lifetime aggregate limits imposed by health plans; S 444 National Health Information Technology and Privacy Advancement Act of 2009, a bill to provide for the establishment of a health information technology and privacy system; S 486 Access for All America Act, a bill to achieve access to comprehensive primary health care services for all Americans and to reform the organization of primary care delivery through an expansion of the Community Health Center and National Health Service Corps programs; S 491 Federal and Military Retiree Health Care Equity Act, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow Federal civilian and military retirees to pay health insurance premiums on a pretax basis and to allow a deduction for TRICARE supplemental premiums; HR 1253 Health Insurance Restrictions and Limitations Clarification Act of 2009, a bill to require that limitations and restrictions on coverage under group health plans be timely disclosed to group health plan sponsors and timely communicated to participants and beneficiaries under such plans in a form that is easily understandable; HR 1296 Access for All America Act, a bill to achieve access to comprehensive primary health care services for all Americans and to reform the organization of primary care delivery through an expansion of the Community Health Center and National Health Service Corps programs; HR 1411 United States Primary and Preventive Health Care Corps Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a Primary and Public Health Scholarship Program; HR 1460 Nurses Higher Education and Loan Repayment Act, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a graduate degree loan repayment program for nurses who become nursing school faculty members; HR 1494Nursing Home Emergency Assistance Act, a bill to ensure that a private for-profit nursing home affected by a major disaster receives the same reimbursement as a public nursing home affected by a major disaster; HR 1495 Comprehensive Health Care Reform Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make health care coverage more accessible and affordable; HR 1496 Child Health Care Affordability Act, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals a credit against income tax for medical expenses for dependents; HR 1497 Treat Physicians Fairly Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow medical care providers a credit against income tax for uncompensated emergency medical care and to allow hospitals a deduction for such care; HR 1558 and S 623 Preexisting Condition Patient Protection Act of 2009, would prohibit health insurers from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease; S 616 Enhancing Safety in Medicine Utilizing Leading Advanced Simulation Technologies to Improve Outcomes Now Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize medical simulation enhancement programs, and for other purposes; HR 1581 Patient-Focused Critical Care Enhancement Act, a bill to optimize the delivery of critical care medicine and expand the critical care workforce; HR 1591 Fulfilling America's Promise to Our Veterans Act, a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify that the United States may not recover or collect any charges from a third party for hospital care or medical services provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to a veteran for a service-connected disability; S 628 Conrad State 30 Improvement Act, a bill to provide incentives to physicians to practice in rural and medically underserved communities; HR 1614 and S 652 Community Coalitions for Access and Quality Improvement Act of 2009, a bill to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to community health coalitions to assist in the development of integrated health care delivery; S 658 Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009, a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve health care for veterans who live in rural areas; HR 1691 and S 688 Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act of 2009, a bill to require that health plans provide coverage for a minimum hospital stay for mastectomies, lumpectomies, and lymph node dissection for the treatment of breast cancer and coverage for secondary consultations; HR 1699 Patient Access to Critical Lab Tests Act, a bill to require that certain complex diagnostic laboratory tests performed by an independent laboratory after a hospital outpatient encounter or inpatient stay during which the specimen involved was collected shall be treated as services for which payment may be made directly to the laboratory under part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act; S 698 State-Based Health Care Reform Act, a bill to ensure the provision of high-quality health care coverage for uninsured individuals through State health care coverage pilot projects that expand coverage and access and improve quality and efficiency in the health care system; S 703 American Health Security Act of 2009, a bill to provide for health care for every American and to control the cost and enhance the quality of the health care system; HR 1745 Family Health Care Accessibility Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide liability protections for volunteer practitioners at health centers under section 330 of such Act; S 733 National Trauma Center Stabilization Act of 2009, a bill to ensure the continued and future availability of life saving trauma health care in the United States and to prevent further trauma center closures and downgrades by assisting trauma centers with uncompensated care costs, core mission services, and emergency needs; S 734 Rural Veterans Health Care Access and Quality Act of 2009, a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the capacity of the Department of Veterans Affairs to recruit and retain physicians in Health Professional Shortage Areas and to improve the provision of health care to veterans in rural areas; Letter to HHS about the action plan to prevent Healthcare associated infections; Provided information to members of Congress about the Quality and Patient Safety Transparency initiatives by state; Working with Rep. Nathan Deal to get legislation introduced on provider price transparency.

S.263Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009 S.274Veterans Jobs Opportunity Act of 2009 S.423Advanced Approps S.597Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 S.658 Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 S.699 Far South Texas Veterans Medical Center Act of 2009 H.R.32Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2009 H.R.270TRICARE Continuity of Coverage for National Guard and Reserve Families Act of 2009 H.R.593To amend title 10, United States Code, to expand the authorized concurrent receipt of disability severance pay from the Department of Defense and compensation for the same disability under any law administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs to cover all veterans who have a combat-related disability, as defined under section 1413a of such title. H.R.620Jobs for Veterans Act of 2009 H.R.775To repeal the requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan to offset the receipt of veterans dependency and indemnity compensation. H.R.784To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress quarterly reports on vacancies in mental health professional positions in Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities. H.R.785To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to provide outreach and training to certain college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and for other purposes. H.R.819To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the payment of dependency and indemnity compensation to the survivors of former prisoners of war who died on or before September 30, 1999, under the same eligibility conditions as apply to payment of dependency and indemnity compensation to the survivors of former prisoners of war who die after that date. H.R.952COMBAT PTSD ActCompensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Act H.R.1016Advance Approps H.R.1036Veterans Physical Therapy Services Improvement Act of 2009 H.R.1211Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act H.R.1401VET Corps Act of 2009 H.R.1474Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009