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2010 · fourth_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
See next page and see also HCR - Health Care Issues. Medicare/Medicaid Community Choice Act (HR 1670 and S 683) (changed to Community First Choice Option in health reform) Advocated to end the institutional bias in Medicaid. The bill would amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide individuals with disabilities and older Americans with equal access to community-based attendant services and supports, and for other purposes. HR 3790 to repeal the Medicare competitive acquisition program for durable medical equipment and prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) in a budget neutral manner. Medicare In the Home restriction (HR 3184 and S 1186) - reintroduction of legislation to reverse the CMS rule that Medicare will pay for wheelchairs only as needed in the home rather than as needed for the individual to go to medical appointments, go to the pharmacy and grocery store, attend worship services, accompany children to school and other activities, vote and otherwise be independent and participate in the community. HR 2390, the Guidance, Understanding and Information for Dual Eligibles (GUIDE) Act to provide one-on-one counseling to people with cognitive impairments navigate and protect their rights with regard to the confusing Part D Prescription Drug Benefit Program authorized under the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) of 2003. S 700/HR 1708 to end the waiting period for Medicare for people who qualify for Title II Social Security disability benefits and people with life-threatening conditions. DME Competitive Bidding - Met with CMS officials to discuss implementation of the DMEPOS competitive bidding program to make the transition as easy as possible for members who are Medicare beneficiaries. S 1630 a bill to amend Medicare to improve prescription drug coverage under Medicare part D and to amend the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to improve prescription drug coverage under private health insurance Supported HR 3799 that would cap out of pocket prescription costs at a max of $200 per prescription and at $500 total for any group of prescriptions in Medicare Part D. For people with chronic conditions who participate in Medicare Part D the increasing costs of specialty medicines can cause hardships and make access to prescription drugs unattainable. Supported HR 3621, the Medicare Premium Fairness Act, to protect millions of seniors and people with disabilities who receive Social Security benefits from unfair increases in their 2010 Medicare Part B premiums. -- Advocated that Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) make Medicare Part D improvements including reassignmentof Low Income Subsity (LIS) recipients who have previously chosen Part D plans based on premium lability, curb waste of unused drugs, address the established price threshold for prescription medications to be included on the Specialty Tier i Part D plans' formularies, address the problems of co-payments and co-insurance and pricing of both specialty tier medications and all medications, create an appeals process for medications placed on specialty tiers, and study the impact of excessive cost-sharing. -- Supported extending the moratoriumon Medicare therapy caps. -- Worked with numerous consumer, manufacturer, and supplier groups on crafting legislation that would create a separate benefit category for complex rehab equipment under Medicare. Opposed HR 1255, a bill that would make it more difficult for the Protection and Advocacy System to file suits on behalf of people who are confined to institutions. Met with senior administration officials and members of Congress to discuss introduction of legislation that would simplify billing of complex rehabilitation technology under Medicare as well as provide some additional coverage in certain circumstances. See also Health.
Client expense: $80,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation, Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Executive Office of the President (EOP), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)
2010 · fourth_quarter · Health Issues
Health care reform and issues in both health care reform and independent legislation. See following page. See also Medicare and Medicaid. Support implementation of comprehensive health care reform legislation (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, HR 3590 and Health Care & Education Reconciliation Act of 201, HR 4872) and the related goals of reducing costs, improving quality and expanding health care coverage for Americans with disabilities and chronic conditions and all Americans (including those who lack health insurance). Issues with asterisks * indicate legislation pursued both as part of health care reform and independently. Issues include: Provide for health coverage that adequately meets the needs of people with disabilities and chronic conditions including -- Covering durable medical equipment, prosthetics and orthotics (DMEPOS) including but not limited to power wheelchairs that meet the individual needs of people with disabilities and chronic conditions, enable them to be as independent as possible, to live in their homes and participate in their communities, and enable them to be employed without fear of losing health care/services and supports they need. This includes retaining the first month purchase option for people who have permanent or long-term need for power wheelchairs and including DMEPOS as covered in essential health insurance benefits; delaying CMS competitive bidding program; and having DMEPOS included as essential benefits in health insurance coverage. Providing insurance market reforms, such as those included in House and/or Senate bills, that could greatly improve the lives of people with disabilities and chronic conditions by allowing increased access to health care, such as: --Requiring health insurers to provide the same coverage, charge the same premiums and renew policies to people no matter what their disability or other pre-existing or newly acquired conditions. Currently, unless they have employer-sponsored plans, people with disabilities are often denied coverage altogether, the policies exclude needed services or the premiums are way too costly. --Prohibiting annual and lifetime caps on coverage. People with serious injuries or conditions often quickly exceed these caps due to lengthy hospital stays and/or extensive rehabilitation -- Requiring health insurance to cover rehabilitation and habilitative services. -- Providing for a temporary high risk pool through which people with disabilities and other pre-existing conditions may obtain health insurance pending full implementation of health insurance market reforms. Concerns about the proposed excise tax on medical devices -- that an excise tax on manufacturers would increase their costs which are likely to be passed on to consumers, resulting in increased costs for medical equipment for people with disabilities and chronic conditions who depend on them. Providing for prevention and wellness including --Developing standards for accessible medical equipment; --Authorizing funds to establish a Prevention and Public Health Investment Fund; --Providing for community Transformation Grants that include focus on the needs of people with disabilities; -- Including disability status within data collection on health disparities; -- Proving training programs for primary care providers and dentistry professionals on how to treat individuals with disabilities; Concerns about well-intended wellness provisions that reward people for meeting health standards set by employers and insurance companies with potentially serious unintended onsequences that people with disabilities or other chronic conditions will be unable to meet the health or participation standards because of a limitation, and consequently they would have to pay more for their health coverage, including but not limited to higher deductibles, than people without disabilities or chronic conditions. Providing for comparative effectiveness research and using the resulting information in a way that respects that what works for many people will not work for all; Providing for home and community-based services and supports for people with disabilities and chronic conditions such as Community Living Assistance and Supports (CLASS) provisions* and the Community First ChoiceOption in health care reform. Support increasing Medicaid elibility to a nationwide standard for those whose incomes are up to 133% of the Federal Poverty Level. Since many people with disabilities have low incomes, this would extend Medicaid coverage to many people with disabilities, including childless adults. - Support elimination of Medicare Part D coverage gap (Part D "donut hole") and immediate $250 rebate for beneficiaries who fall into donut hole in 2010. continued next page Note -- Asterisk * indicates issue pursued both independently and as part of health care reform. CLASS Act* -- S. 697/H.R. 1721 included in HR 3590 (Senate health care reform bill) and HR 3962 (House health care reform bill) . Support legislation to establish a voluntary payroll deduction insurance plan so that people with disabilities will be able to pay for assistance with activities of daily living. This would enable them to remain in their homes and off of the Medicaid program. CBO estimates that the CLASS provisions will save Medicaid $2.5 billion in the first 10 years alone. Community Choice Act* (S. 683/H.R. 1670). Support legislation to make services in the home and community the norm under Medicaid - enabling people to stay in their homes and remain part of their communities rather than having to go into nursing homes or other institutions to receive needed services. Became Community First Choice Option in health care reform bills. End Medicares 24-month waiting period* - S 700/HR 1708. Support legislation to end the waiting period for Medicare for people who qualify for Title II Social Security disability benefits and people with life-threatening conditions. Comparative Effectiveness Research HR 2502/S 1213* Support legislation to create non-government independent entities to study the comparative effectiveness of treatments in health care. Mental Illness Chronic Care Improvement (MICCI) Act, S 1136* Support legislation to facilitate access to needed medical services. Amend the Medicare Savings Programs and the Low Income Subsidy* to align, simplify and increase income eligibility, eliminate or substantially increase asset limits, stabilize the programs and make administrative simplifications. First month purchase option* Advocated to maintain the current ability for Medicare beneficiaries to purchase their power wheelchair in the first month of use. Both the House and Senate included language in health reform that would require a beneficiary to rent a power wheelchair for 13 months before purchase. Supported inclusion in HR 3590 and HR 3962 of provisions to exempt Class III and higher power wheel chairs from the rental period and to retain the first-month purchase option under existing law. Community First Choice Option* would allow states to create Medicaid plans that would reverse the institutional bias in Medicaid. The option would provide a 6% increase in FMAP matching funds to states. Supported H.R.2575 to provide parity under group health plans and group health insurance coverage in the provision of benefits for prosthetic devices and orthotics devices, components and benefits for other medical and surgical services. Met with senior HHS officials to talk about implementation of health reform. See also Medicare and Medicaid.
2010 · fourth_quarter · Health Issues
S 2 Middle Class Opportunity Act, Card Check provisions; 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 241, a 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; 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; 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 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 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; 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 1494 Nursing 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 1558 and S 623 Preexisting Condition Patient Protection Act of 2009, to prohibit health insurers from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions; 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; 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; 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 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; 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; HR 1670 and S 683 Community Choice Act of 2009, to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide individuals with disabilities and older Americans with equal access to community-based attendant services and supports and which would allow disabled Medicaid recipients to receive care in their homes rather than in nursing homes; HR 2003 and S 830 Children's Hospitals Education Equity Act, a bill to modify the definition of children's hospital for purposes of making payments to children's hospitals that operate graduate medical education programs; HR 1998 Health Care Safety Net Enhancement Act of 2009, a bill to improve access to emergency medical services; HR 2043 Nurse Education, Expansion, and Development Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize capitation grants to increase the number of nursing faculty and students; HR 2066 Graduate Psychology Education Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to promote mental and behavioral health services for underserved populations; S 890 Health Information Technology (IT) Public Utility Act of 2009, a bill to provide for the use of improved health information technology with respect to certain safety net health care providers; HR 2176 Nursing and Allied Health Education Preservation Act of 2009, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to continue the ability of hospitals to supply a needed workforce of nurses and allied health professionals by preserving funding for hospital operated nursing and allied health education programs; HR 2218 Parental Consent Act of 2009, a bill to prohibit the use of Federal funds for any universal or mandatory mental health screening program; S 957 Public Health Emergency Response Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to ensure that victims of public health emergencies have meaningful and immediate access to medically necessary health care services; S 958 MediKids Health Insurance Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Social Security Act to guarantee comprehensive health care coverage for all children born after 2009; HR 2231 Public Health Emergency Response Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to ensure that victims of public health emergencies have meaningful and immediate access to medically necessary health care services; HR 2233 Health Empowerment Zone Act of 2009, a bill to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to designate health empowerment zones; S 966 and HR 2252 National Health Care Quality Act, a bill to improve the Federal infrastructure for health care quality improvement in the United States; HR 2249 Health Care Price Transparency Promotion Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for increased price transparency of hospital information and to provide for additional research on consumer information on charges and out-of-pocket costs; HR 2251 and S 973 Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2009, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for the distribution of additional residency positions; S 979 and HR 2360 SHOP Act, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a nationwide health insurance purchasing pool for small businesses and the self-employed that would offer a choice of private health plans and make health coverage more affordable, predictable, and accessible; HR 2273 Nurse Staffing Standards for Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish direct care registered nurse-to-patient staffing ratio requirements in hospitals; S 999 Child Health Care Crisis Relief Act of 2009, a bill to increase the number of well-trained mental health service professionals (including those based in schools) providing clinical mental health care to children and adolescents; S 1001 Health Promotion FIRST Act, a bill to provide for increased research, coordination and expansion of health promotion programs through the Department of Health and Human Services; HR 2350 Preserving Patient Access to Primary Care Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act and the Social Security Act to increase the number of primary care physicians and primary care providers and to improve patient access to primary care services; HR 2369 Improving the Quality of Mental and Substance Use Health Care Act of 2009, a bill to improve mental and substance use health care; S 1020 Patient-Focused Critical Care Enhancement Act, a bill to optimize the delivery of critical care medicine and expand the critical care workforce; S 1022 Nurses' Higher Education and Loan Repayment Act of 2009, 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 2381 Nurse and Health Care Worker Protection Act of 2009, a bill to direct the Secretary of Labor to issue an occupational safety and health standard to reduce injuries to patients, direct-care registered nurses, and all other health care workers by establishing a safe patient handling and injury prevention standard, and for other purposes; HR 2388 Physician Availability Act of 2009, a bill to assure that the services of a nonemergency department physician are available to hospital patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week in all non-Federal hospitals with at least 100 licensed beds; S 1028 Strengthening America's Public Health System Act, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve the Nation's surveillance and reporting for diseases and conditions; S 1031 National Nursing Shortage Reform and Patient Advocacy Act, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish direct care registered nurse-to-patient staffing ratio requirements in hospitals; HR 2427 and S 1050 Informed Consumer Choices in Health Care Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to establish Federal standards for health insurance forms, quality, fair marketing, and honesty in out-of-network coverage in the group and individual health insurance markets, to improve transparency and accountability in those markets, and to establish a Federal Office of Health Insurance Oversight to monitor performance in those markets; S 1104 Nurse-Managed Health Clinic Investment Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish the Nurse- Managed Health Clinic Investment program; HR 2536 Emergency Nursing Supply Relief Act, to provide relief for the shortage of nurses in the United States; HR 2691 a bill to provide assistance to adolescents and young adults with serious mental health disorders as they transition to adulthood ; S 1173 Community-Based Health Care Retraining Act, a bill to establish a demonstration project to train unemployed workers for employment as health care professionals; S 1174 Preserving Patient Access to Primary Care Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act and the Social Security Act to increase the number of primary care physicians and primary care providers and to improve patient access to primary care services; S 1176 Allied Health Reinvestment Act, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to promote and improve the allied health professionals; HR 2744 Equal Rights for Health Care Act Title 42, a bill to prohibit discrimination in Federal assisted health care services and research programs on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability status; HR 2754 Nurse-Managed Health Clinic Investment Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish the Nurse-Managed Health Clinic Investment program; S 1220 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; HR 2785 Health Care Paperwork Reduction and Fraud Prevention Act of 2009, a bill to reduce the amount of paperwork and improve payment policies for health care services, to prevent fraud and abuse through health care provider education; HR 2804Ensuring Continuous Coverage under SCHIP Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to require 12-month continuous coverage under the State Children's Health Insurance Program; HR 2810 Public Health Workforce Investment Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish various programs for the recruitment and retention of public health workers and to eliminate critical public health workforce shortages in Federal, State, local, and tribal public health agencies and health centers; HR 2816 States' Right To Innovate in Health Care Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Social Security Act to provide grants and flexibility through demonstration projects for States to provide universal, comprehensive, cost-effective systems of health care coverage, with simplified administration; HR 2824 Doctor-Patient Relationship and Research Protection Act, to enhance the conduct and support of federally funded comparative effectiveness research relating to health care; HR 2891 Access to Frontline Health Care Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a Frontline Providers Loan Repayment Program; HR 2925 Communities Building Access Act, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for community projects that will reduce the number of individuals who are uninsured with respect to health care; HR 2930 Primary Care Training Enhancement Act, a bill to enhance the primary care workforce through modifications to the medical residency training programs and use of qualified teaching health centers and through State primary care scholarship and loan repayment programs; S 1278 Consumers Health Care Act of 2009, a bill to establish the Consumers Choice Health Plan, a public health insurance plan that provides an affordable and accountable health insurance option for consumers; HR 2937 and S 1305 MRSA Infection Prevention and Patient Protection Act, a bill to prevent health care facility-acquired infections; HR 2948 Healthcare Improvements for Generating High Performance (HIGH Performance) Act of 2009, a bill to amend title IX of the Public Health Service Act to provide for the implementation of best practices in the delivery of health care in the United States; HR 2957 Rural Health Access Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the National Health Service Corps Scholarship and Loan Repayment Programs; S 1299 Worker Infection Protection Act, a bill to protect health care workers and first responders, including police, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, and other workers at risk of workplace exposure to infectious agents and drug resistant infections; Hatch amendment # 21 requiring the IOM to make recommendations to Congress on how to reduce unnecessary hospital readmissions; HR 2975 Medical Practice Protection Act of 2009, a bill to improve the medical care by reducing the excessive burden imposed by the civil liability system on the health care delivery system; HR 3000 Josephine Butler United States Health Service Act, a bill to establish a United States Health Service to provide high quality comprehensive health care for all Americans and to overcome the deficiencies in the present system of health care delivery; HR 3002 and S 1259 PATIENTS Act of 2009, a bill to protect all patients by prohibiting the use of data obtained from comparative effictiveness research accounts to deny coverage of items or services under Federal health care programs and to ensure that comparative effectiveness research accounts for advancements in personalized medicine and differences in patient treatment response; S 1355 Rural Health Clinic Patient Access and Improvement Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve access to health care for individuals residing in underserved rural areas; S 1403 Strengthen Social Work Training Act of 2009, a bill to amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to ensure that social work students or social work schools are eligible for support under certain programs that would assist individuals in pursuing health careers or for grants for training projects in geriatrics, and to establish a social work training program; S 1404 Supporting Child Maltreatment Prevention Efforts in Community Health Centers Act of 2009, a bill to implement demonstration projects at federally qualified community health centers to promote universal access to family-centered, evidence-based behavioral health interventions that prevent child maltreatment and promote family well-being by addressing parenting practices and skills for families from diverse socio-economic, cultural, racial, ethnic, and other backgrounds; HR3134 Healthcare Innovation Zone Program Act of 2009, a bill to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a Healthcare Innovation Zone pilot program; H.R.3148, a bill to amend the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 respecting the scoring of preventive health savings; H.R.3151 and S 1585 Rural Access to Nurse Anesthesia Services Act of 2009, a bill to permit pass-through payment for reasonable costs of certified registered nurse anesthetist services in critical access hospitals notwithstanding the reclassification of such hospitals as urban hospitals, including hospitals located in ``Lugar counties'', and for on-call and standby costs for such services; H.R.3185 and S1569, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide payment to hospitals for costs of expanded advanced practice nurse training programs; H.R. 3191 Positive Aging Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for integration of mental health services and mental health treatment outreach teams, and for other purposes; H.R. 3199 Emergency Medic Transition (EMT) Act of 2009 , a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide grants to State emergency medical service departments to provide for the expedited training and licensing of veterans with prior medical training; H.R. 3200 America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, a bill to provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending; H.R. 3217 Health Care Choice Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for cooperative governing of individual health insurance coverage offered in interstate commerce; H.R. 3218 Improving Health Care for All Americans Act, a bill to provide a refundable tax credit for medical costs, to expand access to health insurance coverage through individual membership associations (IMAs), and to assist in the establishment of high risk pools; H.R.3234 Community-Based Health Care Retraining Act, a bill to establish a demonstration project to train unemployed workers for employment as health care professionals; H.R. 3242 Women's Health Office Act of 2009, a bill to improve the health of women through the establishment of Offices of Women's Health within the Department of Health and Human Services; S.1459 Health Care Choice Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for cooperative governing of individual health insurance coverage offered in interstate commerce; H.R. 3391 NO TITLE, a bill to allow for the continuation of critical access hospital designation for certain hospitals in geographic areas experiencing population growth; H.R. 3400 Empowering Patients First Act, a bill to provide for incentives to encourage health insurance coverage; HR 3472 a bill to provide for health insurance coverage premium discounts for healthy behavior and improvements toward healthy behavior; HR 3483 Steps Toward Access and Reform (STAR) Act of 2009, a bill to reform the medical liability system, improve access to health care for rural and indigent patients, enhance access to affordable prescription drugs; S 1572, a bill to provide for a point of order against any legislation that eliminates or reduces the ability of Americans to keep their health plan or their choice of doctor or that decreases the number of Americans enrolled in private health insurance, while increasing the number of Americans enrolled in government-managed health care; HR 3652 Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility, and Excellence in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act and title XVIII of the Social Security Act to make the provision of technical services for medical imaging examinations and radiation therapy treatments safer, more accurate, and less costly; S 1720 Health Professions and Primary Care Reinvestment Act, a bill to amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to provide improved training and primary care; HR 3664 Healthcare Innovation Zone Pilot Act of 2009, a bill to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a Healthcare Innovation Zone pilot program; S 1730 Fairness in Health Insurance Act, a bill to provide for minimum loss ratios for health insurance coverage; S 1734 Medical Liability Reform Act of 2009, a bill to reduce the cost of health care and ensure patient access to doctors by ending excessive malpractice verdicts through common-sense lawsuit reform; S 1742 Women's Hospitals Education Equity Act, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide assistance for graduate medical education funding for women's hospitals; Comment letter expressing concerns taht ONC's certification criteria for EHR eliminates flexibility CMS established in rule for achieving meaningful use; HR 4626 Health Insurance Industry Fair Competition Act, to restore the application of the Federal antitrust laws to the business of health insurance to protect competition and consumers; HR 4851 Continuing Extension Act of 2010, to provide a temporary extension of certain programs; Meetings with CMS and HHS to encourage reimbursement under the National Disaster Medical System for hospitals that provided services to victims of the Haitian earthquake; HR 4700 The Transparency in All Health Care Pricing Act of 2010, to provide for transparency in health care pricing; HR 4803 The Patients Right to Know Act, to ensure health care consumer and provider access to certain health benefits plan information and to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide transparency in hospital price and quality information; HR 6072 and S 3708 Electronic Health Record Incentives for Multi-Campus Hospitals Act of 2010, to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to clarify the application of EHR payment incentives in cases of multi-campus hospitals; HR 6376 to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act with respect to physician supervision of therapeutic hospital outpatient services; HR 6095 to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to preserve integrated care for durable medical equipment under the competitive bidding program for qualified hospital-related DME entities; S 3653 Healthcare Bureacrats Elimination Act, A bill to remove unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats from seniors' personal health decisions by repealing the IPAB.
2010 · fourth_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
S. 683 and H.R. 1670, Community Choice Act, provisions providing independence for individuals with disabilities, and implementation of the Community First Choice Option for Medicaid. Implementation of Medicaid Section 1917 (d) regarding trusts and transfer of asset rules. Implementation of the Olmstead decision regarding community integration. Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) increase. S. 493 and H.R. 1205, Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2009. Home and Community Based Services Waiver (Section 1915(c)) and Option (Section 1915 (i)). Implementation of the Affordable Care Act, P.L. 111-148 and P.L. 111-192, including Medicaid Health and Long Term Services and Supports provisions.
Client expense: $20,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Education, Dept of, Election Assistance Commission (EAC), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Government Accountability Office (GAO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA), Treasury, Dept of, White House Office
2010 · fourth_quarter · Insurance
Patients' Rights Legislation; PL 110-343: Mental Health Parity; PL 108-173: Medicare Prescription Drug and Mondernization Act of 2003; HR 1721: Comunity Living Assistance Services and Supports Act; HR 1670/S 683: Community Choice Act; HR 3043: Medicare Adult Day Services Act of 2009; PL 111-148: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; PL 111-152: Affordable Health Care for America Act; HR 4872: Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010; and PL 79-271: Social Security Act of 1935.
Client expense: $51,583 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Council on Disability, SENATE, Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Architectural & Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (ACCESS), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), White House Office
| Democratic |
| NY |
| Christopher Dodd | Democratic | CT |
| Daniel K. Inouye | Democratic | HI |
| Debbie Stabenow | Democratic | MI |
| Edward Kaufman | Democratic | DE |
| Edward Kennedy | Democratic | MA |
| Frank R. Lautenberg | Democratic | NJ |
| John F. Kerry | Democratic | MA |
| Jon Tester | Democratic | MT |
| Joseph I. Lieberman | Independent | CT |
| Kirsten E. Gillibrand | Democratic | NY |
| Mark Begich | Democratic | AK |
| Mark Udall | Democratic | CO |
| Michael F. Bennet | Democratic | CO |
| Pat Roberts | Republican | KS |
| Patty Murray | Democratic | WA |
| Richard J. Durbin | Democratic | IL |
| Robert Menendez | Democratic | NJ |
| Robert P. Casey, Jr. | Democratic | PA |
| Roland Burris | Democratic | IL |
| Sherrod Brown | Democratic | OH |
| Susan M. Collins | Republican | ME |
| Tim Johnson | Democratic | SD |
Client expense: $80,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation, Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Executive Office of the President (EOP), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)
Client expense: $5,390,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), SENATE, White House Office
2010 · fourth_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
H.R. 3590: the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act H.R. 4872: the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 H.R. 5712: Veterans', Seniors', Childrens', Health Tech. Corrections Act of 2010. S. 534: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to reduce cost-sharing under part D of such title for certain non-institutional full-benefit dual eligible individuals. S. 647: A bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to improve the transparency of information on skilled nursing facilities and nursing facilities and to clarify and improve the targeting of the enforcement of requirements with respect to such facilities. S.1110: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to create a sensible infrastructure for delivery system reform by renaming the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, making the Commission an executive branch agency, and providing the Commission new resources and authority to implement Medicare payment policy. S. 683: A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide individuals with disabilities and older American with equal access to community-based attendant services and supports, and for other purposes. S. 46: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to repeal the Medicare outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps. S. 750: A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to attract and retain trained health care professionals and direct care workers dedicated to providing quality care to the growing population of older Americans. H.R. 2006: To amend the Social Security Act to enhance the social security of the Nation by ensuing adequate public-private infrastructure and to resolve to prevent, detect, treat, intervene in, and prosecute elder abuse, neglect and exploitation, and for other purposes. H.R. 43: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to repeal the Medicare outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps. H.R. 448: Elder Abuse Victims Act of 2009. H.R. 3200: America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009. To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes. H.R. 1407: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to reduce cost-sharing under Part D of such title of certain non-instutional full-benefit dual eligible individuals. S. 702: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow long-term care insurance to be offered under Cafeteria plans and flexible spending arrangements and to provide additional consumer protections for long-term care insurance. H.R. 1255: To protect the interests of each resident of intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded in class action lawsuits on behalf of such resident. H.R. 1457: To amend the Public Health Service Act to deem certain geriatric health training to be obligated service for purposes of the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program, and for other purposes. H.R. 3962: To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes. S. 1679: An original bill to make quality, affordable health care available to all Americans, reduce costs, improve health care quality, enhance disease prevention, and strengthen the health care workforce. H.R. 2223: To provide for nationwide expansion of the pilot program for national and State background checks on direct patient access employees of long-term care facilities or providers. S. 1131: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide certain high cost Medicare beneficiaries suffering from multiple chronic conditions with access to coordinated, primary care medical services in lower cost treatment settings, such as their residences, under a plan of care developed by a team of qualified and experiences health care professionals. S.1004: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide Medicare beneficiaries with access to geriatric assessments and chronic care management and coordination services, and for other purposes. H.R. 2: To amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to extend and improve the Children's Health Insurance Program, and for other purposes. S. 795: A bill to amend the Social Security Act to enhance the social security of the Nation by ensuring adequate public-private infrastructure and to resolve to prevent, detect, treat, intervene in, and prosecute elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, and for other purposes. S.631: A bill to provide for nationwide expansion of the pilot program for national and State background checks on direct patient access employees of long-term care facilities or providers. S. 458: A bill to amend the False Claims Act. H.R. 2043: To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize capitation grants to increase the number of nursing faculty and students, and for other purposes. H.R. 1642: To provide loans and grants for fire sprinkler retrofitting in nursing facilities. H.R. 1494: 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. H.R. 448: To protect seniors in the United States from elder abuse by establishing specialized elder abuse prosecution and research programs and activities to aid victims of elder abuse, to provide training to prosecutors and other law enforcement related to elder abuse prevention and protection, to establish programs that provide for emergency crisis response teams to combat elder abuse, and for other purposes. H.R. 3191: To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for integration of mental health services and mental health treatment outreach teams, and for other purposes. S. 386: A bill to improve enforcement of mortgage fraud, securities fraud, financial institutional fraud, and other frauds related to federal assistance and relief programs, for the recovery of funds lost to these frauds, and for other purposes. H.R. 5457: Nursing Home Patient and Medicaid Assistance Act of 2010. H.R. 6130: The Strengthening Medicare Anti-Fraud Measures Act of 2010. H.R. 6261: To amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to improve oversight of nursing facilities under the Medicare and Medicaid programs by ensuring adequate, trained surveyors, and for other purposes. H.R. 1586: FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act-which provides for an extension of additional FMAP support until June 2011. H.R. 6074: Enhancing Quality through Survey System Improvements Act of 2010. H.R. 5950: A bill introduced on June 29th, Rep Joe Courtney (D-CT), introduced the Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2010, which requires observation stays exceeding 24 hours to be considered as inpatient days for the purpose of meeting the 3-day inpatient hospital requirement for Medicare coverage of SNF stays. H.R. 5546: To provide for the establishment of a fraud, waste and abuse detection and mitigation program for the Medicare program under Titles XVIII of the Social Security Act. S. 2781: Rosa's Law. H.R. 5457: Nursing Home Patient and Medicaid Assistance Act of 2010. H.R. 4494: Medicare and Medicaid Extenders Act of 2010. H.R. 2520: the Patient's Choice Act. H.R. 4529: Roadmap for America's Future Act of 2010. This bill raises several major concerns for LTC financing, including impacts on providers and beneficiaries of all types.
Client expense: $500,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE
2010 · fourth_quarter · Health Issues
H.R. 1205/S. 493, ABLE Act of 2009, relating to savings for individuals with disabilities, all provisions; H.R. 2413/S. 819, Autism Treatment Acceleration Act of 2009, providing for enhanced treatment, support, services, and research for individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families, all provisions; H.R. 1707/5. 706, Helping HANDS for Autism Act of 2009, relating to housing, awareness, and navigation demonstration services for individuals with autism spectrum disorders, all provisions; H.R. 1600/S, 1169, to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the treatment of autism under TRICARE; all provisions; H.R. 1670/S. 683 Community Choice Act of 2009, relating to equal access to community-based attendant services and supports and other purposes, all provisions; S. 1373, Federal Research Public Access Act of 2009, providing for the development of public access policies relating to research, all provisions; H.R. 4247, Keeping All Students Safe Act, to prevent and reduce the use of physical restraint and seclusion in schools, all provisions; S.2860, Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act, to protect students from inappropriate seclusion and physical restraint, all provisions; H.R. 3590, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, relating to healthcare reform, Title I, provisions relating to nondiscrimination and to essential health benefits; H.R. 4872, Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, relating to healthcare reform, Title II, provisions relating to health; H.R. 5756, TRAIN Act of 2010, to improve services rendered to children and adults on the autism spectrum and their families, all provisions; S. 4044, Combating Autism Reauthorization Act of 2010, relating to reauthorizing and strengthening the Combating Autism Act of 2006, all provisions.
Client expense: $120,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ), Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Natl Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE
2010 · fourth_quarter · Health Issues
Long-Term Care S. 683/ H.R. 1670 - The Community Choice Act of 2009 H.R. 2516 - Medical Rights Act S.1150 - Advance Planning and Compassionate Care Act of 2009 H.R. 2520 - Patients' Choice Act H.R. 463/ S. 21 - Prevention First Act of 2009 Health Care Reform Implementation
Client expense: $57,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Education, Dept of, Employment & Training Administration, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA), State, Dept of (DOS), White House Office
2010 · fourth_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
H.R. 1670/S. 683, the "Community Choice Act" H.R. 1708/S. 700, the "Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period Act of 2009" The "Benefits Rating Acceleration for Veterans Entitlement Act (BRAVE)
Client expense: $85,269 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), SENATE, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)
2010 · fourth_quarter · Health Issues
S. 683/H.R. 1670, Community Choice Act of 2009, provisions related to Developmental Disabilities H.R.1721/S.697, The Community Living Assistance Services & Supports Act (CLASS Act), provisions related to Developmental Disabilities H.R.2413/S.819, Autism Treatment Acceleration Act, provisions related to Developmental Disabilities H.R.3184/S.1186, Medicare Independent Living Act of 2009, provisions related to Developmental Disabilities Public Law 111-148, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, provisions related to Developmental Disabilities Public Law 111-152, Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, provisions related to Developmental Disabilities S.4044, Combating Autism Reauthorization Act of 2010, provisions related to Developmental Disabilities
Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $20,000
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), SENATE
2010 · third_quarter · Health Issues
Health care reform and issues in both health care reform and independent legislation. See following page. See also Medicare and Medicaid. Support implementation of comprehensive health care reform legislation (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, HR 3590 and Health Care & Education Reconciliation Act of 201, HR 4872) and the related goals of reducing costs, improving quality and expanding health care coverage for Americans with disabilities and chronic conditions and all Americans (including those who lack health insurance). Issues with asterisks * indicate legislation pursued both as part of health care reform and independently. Issues include: Provide for health coverage that adequately meets the needs of people with disabilities and chronic conditions including -- Covering durable medical equipment, prosthetics and orthotics (DMEPOS) including but not limited to power wheelchairs that meet the individual needs of people with disabilities and chronic conditions, enable them to be as independent as possible, to live in their homes and participate in their communities, and enable them to be employed without fear of losing health care/services and supports they need. This includes retaining the first month purchase option for people who have permanent or long-term need for power wheelchairs and including DMEPOS as covered in essential health insurance benefits; delaying CMS competitive bidding program; and having DMEPOS included as essential benefits in health insurance coverage. Providing insurance market reforms, such as those included in House and/or Senate bills, that could greatly improve the lives of people with disabilities and chronic conditions by allowing increased access to health care, such as: --Requiring health insurers to provide the same coverage, charge the same premiums and renew policies to people no matter what their disability or other pre-existing or newly acquired conditions. Currently, unless they have employer-sponsored plans, people with disabilities are often denied coverage altogether, the policies exclude needed services or the premiums are way too costly. --Prohibiting annual and lifetime caps on coverage. People with serious injuries or conditions often quickly exceed these caps due to lengthy hospital stays and/or extensive rehabilitation -- Requiring health insurance to cover rehabilitation and habilitative services. -- Providing for a temporary high risk pool through which people with disabilities and other pre-existing conditions may obtain health insurance pending full implementation of health insurance market reforms. Concerns about the proposed excise tax on medical devices -- that an excise tax on manufacturers would increase their costs which are likely to be passed on to consumers, resulting in increased costs for medical equipment for people with disabilities and chronic conditions who depend on them. Providing for prevention and wellness including --Developing standards for accessible medical equipment; --Authorizing funds to establish a Prevention and Public Health Investment Fund; --Providing for community Transformation Grants that include focus on the needs of people with disabilities; -- Including disability status within data collection on health disparities; -- Proving training programs for primary care providers and dentistry professionals on how to treat individuals with disabilities; Concerns about well-intended wellness provisions that reward people for meeting health standards set by employers and insurance companies with potentially serious unintended onsequences that people with disabilities or other chronic conditions will be unable to meet the health or participation standards because of a limitation, and consequently they would have to pay more for their health coverage, including but not limited to higher deductibles, than people without disabilities or chronic conditions. Providing for comparative effectiveness research and using the resulting information in a way that respects that what works for many people will not work for all; Providing for home and community-based services and supports for people with disabilities and chronic conditions such as Community Living Assistance and Supports (CLASS) provisions* and the Community First ChoiceOption in health care reform. Support increasing Medicaid elibility to a nationwide standard for those whose incomes are up to 133% of the Federal Poverty Level. Since many people with disabilities have low incomes, this would extend Medicaid coverage to many people with disabilities, including childless adults. - Support elimination of Medicare Part D coverage gap (Part D "donut hole") and immediate $250 rebate for beneficiaries who fall into donut hole in 2010. continued next page Note -- Asterisk * indicates issue pursued both independently and as part of health care reform. CLASS Act* -- S. 697/H.R. 1721 included in HR 3590 (Senate health care reform bill) and HR 3962 (House health care reform bill) . Support legislation to establish a voluntary payroll deduction insurance plan so that people with disabilities will be able to pay for assistance with activities of daily living. This would enable them to remain in their homes and off of the Medicaid program. CBO estimates that the CLASS provisions will save Medicaid $2.5 billion in the first 10 years alone. Community Choice Act* (S. 683/H.R. 1670). Support legislation to make services in the home and community the norm under Medicaid - enabling people to stay in their homes and remain part of their communities rather than having to go into nursing homes or other institutions to receive needed services. Became Community First Choice Option in health care reform bills. End Medicares 24-month waiting period* - S 700/HR 1708. Support legislation to end the waiting period for Medicare for people who qualify for Title II Social Security disability benefits and people with life-threatening conditions. Comparative Effectiveness Research HR 2502/S 1213* Support legislation to create non-government independent entities to study the comparative effectiveness of treatments in health care. Mental Illness Chronic Care Improvement (MICCI) Act, S 1136* Support legislation to facilitate access to needed medical services. Amend the Medicare Savings Programs and the Low Income Subsidy* to align, simplify and increase income eligibility, eliminate or substantially increase asset limits, stabilize the programs and make administrative simplifications. First month purchase option* Advocated to maintain the current ability for Medicare beneficiaries to purchase their power wheelchair in the first month of use. Both the House and Senate included language in health reform that would require a beneficiary to rent a power wheelchair for 13 months before purchase. Supported inclusion in HR 3590 and HR 3962 of provisions to exempt Class III and higher power wheel chairs from the rental period and to retain the first-month purchase option under existing law. Community First Choice Option* would allow states to create Medicaid plans that would reverse the institutional bias in Medicaid. The option would provide a 6% increase in FMAP matching funds to states. Supported H.R.2575 to provide parity under group health plans and group health insurance coverage in the provision of benefits for prosthetic devices and orthotics devices, components and benefits for other medical and surgical services. Met with senior HHS officials to talk about implementation of health reform. See also Medicare and Medicaid.
Client expense: $80,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation, Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Executive Office of the President (EOP), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)
2010 · third_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
See next page and see also HCR - Health Care Issues. Medicare/Medicaid Community Choice Act (HR 1670 and S 683) (changed to Community First Choice Option in health reform) Advocated to end the institutional bias in Medicaid. The bill would amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide individuals with disabilities and older Americans with equal access to community-based attendant services and supports, and for other purposes. HR 3790 to repeal the Medicare competitive acquisition program for durable medical equipment and prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) in a budget neutral manner. Medicare In the Home restriction (HR 3184 and S 1186) - reintroduction of legislation to reverse the CMS rule that Medicare will pay for wheelchairs only as needed in the home rather than as needed for the individual to go to medical appointments, go to the pharmacy and grocery store, attend worship services, accompany children to school and other activities, vote and otherwise be independent and participate in the community. HR 2390, the Guidance, Understanding and Information for Dual Eligibles (GUIDE) Act to provide one-on-one counseling to people with cognitive impairments navigate and protect their rights with regard to the confusing Part D Prescription Drug Benefit Program authorized under the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) of 2003. S 700/HR 1708 to end the waiting period for Medicare for people who qualify for Title II Social Security disability benefits and people with life-threatening conditions. DME Competitive Bidding - Met with CMS officials to discuss implementation of the DMEPOS competitive bidding program to make the transition as easy as possible for members who are Medicare beneficiaries. S 1630 a bill to amend Medicare to improve prescription drug coverage under Medicare part D and to amend the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to improve prescription drug coverage under private health insurance Supported HR 3799 that would cap out of pocket prescription costs at a max of $200 per prescription and at $500 total for any group of prescriptions in Medicare Part D. For people with chronic conditions who participate in Medicare Part D the increasing costs of specialty medicines can cause hardships and make access to prescription drugs unattainable. Supported HR 3621, the Medicare Premium Fairness Act, to protect millions of seniors and people with disabilities who receive Social Security benefits from unfair increases in their 2010 Medicare Part B premiums. -- Advocated that Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) make Medicare Part D improvements including reassignmentof Low Income Subsity (LIS) recipients who have previously chosen Part D plans based on premium lability, curb waste of unused drugs, address the established price threshold for prescription medications to be included on the Specialty Tier i Part D plans' formularies, address the problems of co-payments and co-insurance and pricing of both specialty tier medications and all medications, create an appeals process for medications placed on specialty tiers, and study the impact of excessive cost-sharing. -- Supported extending the moratoriumon Medicare therapy caps. -- Worked with numerous consumer, manufacturer, and supplier groups on crafting legislation that would create a separate benefit category for complex rehab equipment under Medicare. Opposed HR 1255, a bill that would make it more difficult for the Protection and Advocacy System to file suits on behalf of people who are confined to institutions. See also Health.
Client expense: $80,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation, Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Executive Office of the President (EOP), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)
S.330/H.R.684, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act of 2009 - Discussed legislation which would create a government-operated Medicare prescription drug plan. Provided information on the need for nursing education capacity and the retention of newer and older nurses in the workplace (no bill). S.683/H.R.1670, Community Choice Act - Supported Community First Choice Option version of this legislation in health care reform and inquired about eligibility criteria and implementation. S.631/H.R.2223, Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act in Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L.111-148) - Discussed implementation of criminal background checks for employees of long-term care providers in healthcare reform law. Discussed implementation of healthcare coverage for the 50-64 year old population, age rating, and closing the doughnut hole. S.1133/H.R. 2580, Empowering Medicare Patient Choices Act - Discussed legislation that would promote patient decision aids to help people make informed, evidence-based decisions about health care treatment options. S. 960, Medicare Early Access Act of 2009 - Support for legislation to let Americans aged 55-64 who are otherwise without access to group or public coverage buy into Medicare. H.R. 2700, Prescription Coverage Now Act of 2009 - Discussed legislation that would assist low-invome individuals in obtaining subsidized prescription drug coverage under the Medicare prescription drug program by expediting the application and qualification process and by revising the resource standards used to determine eligibility for such subsidies, and for other purposes. S. 1185, Medicare Financial Stability for Beneficiaries Act of 2009 - Discussed legislation that would ensure that low-income beneficiaries have improved access to health care under the Medicare and Medicaid programs. H.R. 2716, Medicare Savings Program Improvement Act of 2009 - Discussed legislation that would provide financial stability for older Americans and people with disabilities through improvements in the Medicare Savings Program. Advocated for modernizing Medicare funding so that nursing education funds are directed to advanced nurse practice programs to help produce more highly-skilled nurses to care for the Medicare population (no bill). Discussed ideas to improve medicare for medicare beneficiaries. (no bill) Discussed Medicare physician payment issues. (no bill) S. 2128, Prevent Healthcare Fraud Act - Discussed Medicare Fraud. Discussed idea of an annual physical for Medicare beneficiaries (no bill). S.975 Seniors and Taxpayers Obligation and Protection Act - Lobbied in support of legislation. S.1256 Home and Community Balanced Incentives Act - Discussed implementation of certain enacted provisions. H.R. 3631, Medicare Premium Fairness Act - Lobbied to pass legislation to allow premiums for Medicare Part B to remain at 2009 levels for all beneficiaries. S. 2926, the Economic Fairness for Seniors Act - Discussed the implications of legislation to provide $250 in economic relief to seniors, veterans and the disabled in response to the lack of a COLA in 2010; allow Medicare Part B premiums to remain at 2009 levels for all beneficiaries and to study the use of a new Consumer Price Index for use in calculating future Social Security COLAs. H.R. 3590, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - Lobbied in support of and on new implementation of health care law that would reform the health care system to provide affordable quality health care, reduce drug costs and expand access to long-term services and supports. H.R. 4872, Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act - Lobbied in support of and on implementation of health care law to make improvements in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and implementation of certain provisions. H.R. 4993/S. 2814, Home Health Planning Improvement Act of 2010 - Wrote letters in support of Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, and Physician Assistants being able to order Medicare funded home health care. Extension of enhanced FMAP (no bill number) H. R. 3962/P.L. 111-192, Preservation of Access to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries and Pension Relief Act of 2010 - Which among other things, postpones the reduction of Medicare reimbursements for physician services until November 30, 2010. H.R. 6130, Strengthening Medicare Anti-Fraud Measures Act - Discussed medicare fraud. H.R. 5044/S. 3632, Medicare Fraud Enforcement and Prevention Act - Discussed medicare fraud. H.R. 5546, no official title, anti-fraud measure -Discussed medicare fraud. H.R. 5950, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act - To count a periof of observation status in a hospital exceeding 24 hours toward satisfying the 3-day inpatient hospital requirement for coverage of skilled nursing facility services under Medicare. H.R. 2773/S. 1295, Medicare Transitional Care Act and S. Amdt. 3273, Protection and Affordable Care Act - To cover transitional care services to improve the quality and care under the Medicare Program. S. 3632, The Medicare and Medicaid Fraud Enforcement and Prevention Act of 2010 - Fraud bill would seek to curtail wasted fraud and abuse in the Medicare and Healthcare Programs. House Amendment to Senate Amendment to H.R. 2847 "Jobs for Main Street Act" - Discussed redirection of some TARP funds to extend unemployment insurance and COBRA eligibility and FMAP assistance to state governments. H.R. 4213 American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act/American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act - Lobbied for extension of UI, COBRA, FMAP, and SGR. S. 3686, Labor, HHS, Education and related agencies Appropriations Act, FY 2011 - Lobbied for FMAP fix and related health care programs. H.R. 3081, Continuing Resolution, FY 2011 - Lobbied for FMAP fix inclusion in appropriations legislation. S. 2814/H.R. 4993, Home Health Care Planning Improvements Act of 2010 - Legislation would allow advanced practice nurses and physician assistants to order medicare supported home health care. Discussed Durable Medical Equipment bidding. (no bill)
Client expense: $4,710,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Administration on Aging, Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Energy, Dept of, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Government Accountability Office (GAO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Office of the Vice President of the United States, SENATE, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Social Security Administration (SSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), Treasury, Dept of, White House Office
2010 · third_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
S. 683 and H.R. 1670, Community Choice Act, provisions providing independence for individuals with disabilities, and implementation of the Community First Choice Option for Medicaid. Implementation of Medicaid Section 1917 (d) regarding trusts and transfer of asset rules. Implementation of the Olmstead decision regarding community integration. Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP increase). S. 493 and H.R. 1205, Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2009. Home and Community Based Services Waiver (Section 1915(c)) and Option (Section 1915 (i)). Implementation of the Affordable Choices Act, P.L. 111-148 and P.L. 111-192, including Medicaid Health and Long Term Services and Supports provisions.
Client expense: $30,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Education, Dept of, Election Assistance Commission (EAC), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Government Accountability Office (GAO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA), Treasury, Dept of, White House Office
2010 · third_quarter · Insurance
Patients' Rights Legislation; PL 110-343: Mental Health Parity; PL 108-173: Medicare Prescription Drug and Mondernization Act of 2003; HR 1721: Comunity Living Assistance Services and Supports Act; HR 1670/S 683: Community Choice Act; HR 3043: Medicare Adult Day Services Act of 2009; PL 111-148: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; PL 111-152: Affordable Health Care for America Act; HR 4872: Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010; and PL 79-271: Social Security Act of 1935.
Client expense: $57,615 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Council on Disability, SENATE, Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Architectural & Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (ACCESS), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), White House Office
2010 · third_quarter · Health Issues
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 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 1085 Health 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 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 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; 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 1494 Nursing 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 1558 and S 623 Preexisting Condition Patient Protection Act of 2009, to prohibit health insurers from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions; 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; 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; 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; 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; HR 1670 and S 683 Community Choice Act of 2009, to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide individuals with disabilities and older Americans with equal access to community-based attendant services and supports and which would allow disabled Medicaid recipients to receive care in their homes rather than in nursing homes; HR 2003 and S 830 Children's Hospitals Education Equity Act, a bill to modify the definition of children's hospital for purposes of making payments to children's hospitals that operate graduate medical education programs; HR 1998 Health Care Safety Net Enhancement Act of 2009, a bill to improve access to emergency medical services; HR 2043 Nurse Education, Expansion, and Development Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize capitation grants to increase the number of nursing faculty and students; HR 2066 Graduate Psychology Education Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to promote mental and behavioral health services for underserved populations; S 890 Health Information Technology (IT) Public Utility Act of 2009, a bill to provide for the use of improved health information technology with respect to certain safety net health care providers; HR 2176 Nursing and Allied Health Education Preservation Act of 2009, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to continue the ability of hospitals to supply a needed workforce of nurses and allied health professionals by preserving funding for hospital operated nursing and allied health education programs; HR 2218 Parental Consent Act of 2009, a bill to prohibit the use of Federal funds for any universal or mandatory mental health screening program; S 957 Public Health Emergency Response Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to ensure that victims of public health emergencies have meaningful and immediate access to medically necessary health care services; S 958 MediKids Health Insurance Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Social Security Act to guarantee comprehensive health care coverage for all children born after 2009; HR 2231 Public Health Emergency Response Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to ensure that victims of public health emergencies have meaningful and immediate access to medically necessary health care services; HR 2233 Health Empowerment Zone Act of 2009, a bill to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to designate health empowerment zones; S 966 and HR 2252 National Health Care Quality Act, a bill to improve the Federal infrastructure for health care quality improvement in the United States; HR 2249 Health Care Price Transparency Promotion Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for increased price transparency of hospital information and to provide for additional research on consumer information on charges and out-of-pocket costs; HR 2251 and S 973 Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2009, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for the distribution of additional residency positions; S 979 and HR 2360 SHOP Act, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a nationwide health insurance purchasing pool for small businesses and the self-employed that would offer a choice of private health plans and make health coverage more affordable, predictable, and accessible; HR 2273 Nurse Staffing Standards for Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish direct care registered nurse-to-patient staffing ratio requirements in hospitals; S 999 Child Health Care Crisis Relief Act of 2009, a bill to increase the number of well-trained mental health service professionals (including those based in schools) providing clinical mental health care to children and adolescents; S 1001 Health Promotion FIRST Act, a bill to provide for increased research, coordination and expansion of health promotion programs through the Department of Health and Human Services; HR 2350 Preserving Patient Access to Primary Care Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act and the Social Security Act to increase the number of primary care physicians and primary care providers and to improve patient access to primary care services; HR 2369 Improving the Quality of Mental and Substance Use Health Care Act of 2009, a bill to improve mental and substance use health care; S 1020 Patient-Focused Critical Care Enhancement Act, a bill to optimize the delivery of critical care medicine and expand the critical care workforce; S 1022 Nurses' Higher Education and Loan Repayment Act of 2009, 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 2381 Nurse and Health Care Worker Protection Act of 2009, a bill to direct the Secretary of Labor to issue an occupational safety and health standard to reduce injuries to patients, direct-care registered nurses, and all other health care workers by establishing a safe patient handling and injury prevention standard, and for other purposes; HR 2388 Physician Availability Act of 2009, a bill to assure that the services of a nonemergency department physician are available to hospital patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week in all non-Federal hospitals with at least 100 licensed beds; S 1028 Strengthening America's Public Health System Act, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve the Nation's surveillance and reporting for diseases and conditions; S 1031 National Nursing Shortage Reform and Patient Advocacy Act, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish direct care registered nurse-to-patient staffing ratio requirements in hospitals; HR 2427 and S 1050 Informed Consumer Choices in Health Care Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to establish Federal standards for health insurance forms, quality, fair marketing, and honesty in out-of-network coverage in the group and individual health insurance markets, to improve transparency and accountability in those markets, and to establish a Federal Office of Health Insurance Oversight to monitor performance in those markets; HR 2520 Patients' Choice Act, a bill to provide comprehensive solutions for the health care system of the United States; HR 2535 Blueprint for Health Act of 2009, a bill to establish a Blueprint for Health in order to create a comprehensive system of care incorporating medical homes to improve the delivery and affordability of health care through disease prevention, health promotion, and education about and better management of chronic conditions; S 1104 Nurse-Managed Health Clinic Investment Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish the Nurse-Managed Health Clinic Investment program; HR 2536 Emergency Nursing Supply Relief Act, to provide relief for the shortage of nurses in the United States; HR 2691 a bill to provide assistance to adolescents and young adults with serious mental health disorders as they transition to adulthood ; S 1173 Community-Based Health Care Retraining Act, a bill to establish a demonstration project to train unemployed workers for employment as health care professionals; S 1174 Preserving Patient Access to Primary Care Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act and the Social Security Act to increase the number of primary care physicians and primary care providers and to improve patient access to primary care services; S 1176 Allied Health Reinvestment Act, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to promote and improve the allied health professionals; HR 2744 Equal Rights for Health Care Act Title 42, a bill to prohibit discrimination in Federal assisted health care services and research programs on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability status; HR 2754 Nurse-Managed Health Clinic Investment Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish the Nurse-Managed Health Clinic Investment program; HR 2778 Health Equity and Accountability through Research Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to redesignate the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities as the National Institute for Minority Health and Health Disparities; S 1220 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; HR 2785 Health Care Paperwork Reduction and Fraud Prevention Act of 2009, a bill to reduce the amount of paperwork and improve payment policies for health care services, to prevent fraud and abuse through health care provider education; HR 2804Ensuring Continuous Coverage under SCHIP Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to require 12-month continuous coverage under the State Children's Health Insurance Program; HR 2810 Public Health Workforce Investment Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish various programs for the recruitment and retention of public health workers and to eliminate critical public health workforce shortages in Federal, State, local, and tribal public health agencies and health centers; HR 2816 States' Right To Innovate in Health Care Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Social Security Act to provide grants and flexibility through demonstration projects for States to provide universal, comprehensive, cost-effective systems of health care coverage, with simplified administration; HR 2824 Doctor-Patient Relationship and Research Protection Act, to enhance the conduct and support of federally funded comparative effectiveness research relating to health care; HR 2891 Access to Frontline Health Care Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a Frontline Providers Loan Repayment Program; HR 2925 Communities Building Access Act, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for community projects that will reduce the number of individuals who are uninsured with respect to health care; HR 2930 Primary Care Training Enhancement Act, a bill to enhance the primary care workforce through modifications to the medical residency training programs and use of qualified teaching health centers and through State primary care scholarship and loan repayment programs; S 1278 Consumers Health Care Act of 2009, a bill to establish the Consumers Choice Health Plan, a public health insurance plan that provides an affordable and accountable health insurance option for consumers; HR 2937 and S 1305 MRSA Infection Prevention and Patient Protection Act, a bill to prevent health care facility-acquired infections; HR 2948 Healthcare Improvements for Generating High Performance (HIGH Performance) Act of 2009, a bill to amend title IX of the Public Health Service Act to provide for the implementation of best practices in the delivery of health care in the United States; HR 2957 Rural Health Access Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the National Health Service Corps Scholarship and Loan Repayment Programs; S 1299 Worker Infection Protection Act, a bill to protect health care workers and first responders, including police, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, and other workers at risk of workplace exposure to infectious agents and drug resistant infections; Hatch amendment # 21 requiring the IOM to make recommendations to Congress on how to reduce unnecessary hospital readmissions; HR 2975 Medical Practice Protection Act of 2009, a bill to improve the medical care by reducing the excessive burden imposed by the civil liability system on the health care delivery system; HR 3000 Josephine Butler United States Health Service Act, a bill to establish a United States Health Service to provide high quality comprehensive health care for all Americans and to overcome the deficiencies in the present system of health care delivery; HR 3002 and S 1259 PATIENTS Act of 2009, a bill to protect all patients by prohibiting the use of data obtained from comparative effictiveness research accounts to deny coverage of items or services under Federal health care programs and to ensure that comparative effectiveness research accounts for advancements in personalized medicine and differences in patient treatment response; S 1355 Rural Health Clinic Patient Access and Improvement Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve access to health care for individuals residing in underserved rural areas; S. 1403 Strengthen Social Work Training Act of 2009, a bill to amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to ensure that social work students or social work schools are eligible for support under certain programs that would assist individuals in pursuing health careers or for grants for training projects in geriatrics, and to establish a social work training program; S. 1404 Supporting Child Maltreatment Prevention Efforts in Community Health Centers Act of 2009, a bill to implement demonstration projects at federally qualified community health centers to promote universal access to family-centered, evidence-based behavioral health interventions that prevent child maltreatment and promote family well-being by addressing parenting practices and skills for families from diverse socioeconomic, cultural, racial, ethnic, and other backgrounds; HR3134 Healthcare Innovation Zone Program Act of 2009, a bill to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a Healthcare Innovation Zone pilot program; H.R.3148, a bill to amend the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 respecting the scoring of preventive health savings; H.R.3151 and S 1585 Rural Access to Nurse Anesthesia Services Act of 2009, a bill to permit pass-through payment for reasonable costs of certified registered nurse anesthetist services in critical access hospitals notwithstanding the reclassification of such hospitals as urban hospitals, including hospitals located in ``Lugar counties'', and for on-call and standby costs for such services; H.R.3158 Place Based Health Care Act of 2009, a bill to reform health care delivery by providing incentives for place-based health care, which seeks to bring health services to the patient by locating community health centers, federally qualified health centers, and community integrated health centers in or near settings that already serve a particular target population, such as schools, workplaces, and senior services facilities; H.R.3185 and S1569, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide payment to hospitals for costs of expanded advanced practice nurse training programs; H.R. 3191 Positive Aging Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for integration of mental health services and mental health treatment outreach teams, and for other purposes; H.R. 3199 Emergency Medic Transition (EMT) Act of 2009 , a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide grants to State emergency medical service departments to provide for the expedited training and licensing of veterans with prior medical training; H.R. 3200 America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, a bill to provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending; H.R. 3217 Health Care Choice Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for cooperative governing of individual health insurance coverage offered in interstate commerce; H.R. 3218 Improving Health Care for All Americans Act, a bill to provide a refundable tax credit for medical costs, to expand access to health insurance coverage through individual membership associations (IMAs), and to assist in the establishment of high risk pools; H.R.3234 Community-Based Health Care Retraining Act, a bill to establish a demonstration project to train unemployed workers for employment as health care professionals; H.R. 3242 Women's Health Office Act of 2009, a bill to improve the health of women through the establishment of Offices of Women's Health within the Department of Health and Human Services; S.1459 Health Care Choice Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for cooperative governing of individual health insurance coverage offered in interstate commerce; S. 1479 NO TITLE, a bill to provide for the treatment of certain hospitals; H.R. 3391 NO TITLE, a bill to allow for the continuation of critical access hospital designation for certain hospitals in geographic areas experiencing population growth; H.R. 3400 Empowering Patients First Act, a bill to provide for incentives to encourage health insurance coverage; H.R.3421 Medical Debt Relief Act of 2009, a bill to exclude from consumer credit reports medical debt that has been in collection and has been fully paid or settled; HR 3472 a bill to provide for health insurance coverage premium discounts for healthy behavior and improvements toward healthy behavior; HR 3483 Steps Toward Access and Reform (STAR) Act of 2009, a bill to reform the medical liability system, improve access to health care for rural and indigent patients, enhance access to affordable prescription drugs, and for other purposes S 1572, a bill to provide for a point of order against any legislation that eliminates or reduces the ability of Americans to keep their health plan or their choice of doctor or that decreases the number of Americans enrolled in private health insurance, while increasing the number of Americans enrolled in government-managed health care; S 1679 Affordable Health Choices Act, an original bill to make quality, affordable health care available to all Americans, reduce costs, improve health care quality, enhance disease prevention, and strengthen the health care workforce; HR 3652 Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility, and Excellence in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act and title XVIII of the Social Security Act to make the provision of technical services for medical imaging examinations and radiation therapy treatments safer, more accurate, and less costly; S 1720 Health Professions and Primary Care Reinvestment Act, a bill to amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to provide improved training and primary care; HR 3664 Healthcare Innovation Zone Pilot Act of 2009, a bill to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a Healthcare Innovation Zone pilot program; S 1730 Fairness in Health Insurance Act, a bill to provide for minimum loss ratios for health insurance coverage; S 1734 Medical Liability Reform Act of 2009, a bill to reduce the cost of health care and ensure patient access to doctors by ending excessive malpractice verdicts through common-sense lawsuit reform; Senate Finance Committee Americas Healthy Future Act of 2009, Senate Finance Committee health reform bill with provisions on coverage, disease prevention and wellness, delivery system reform, health care quality and efficiency, transparency and program integrity, and financing; Meeting with FTC, senate congressional staff re barriers to clinical integration; HR 3590 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the merged product of the health reform bills from the Senate Finance and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) committees; HR 3962 Affordable Health Care for America Act, a bill to provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes; HR 3700 Health Care Bill of Rights Act, a bill to establish requirements for any health reform legislation enacted by the Congress or the President during the 111th Congress; HR 3713 American Health Care Solutions Act of 2009, a bill to provide bipartisan solutions to lower health costs, increase access to affordable coverage, and give patients more choices and control; S 1742 Women's Hospitals Education Equity Act, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide assistance for graduate medical education funding for women's hospitals; Comments to CMS proposed rule defining meaningful use of electronic Health Records concern that the rules will severely limit hospitals' ability to access federal financing for health information technology and put many hospitals at risk for Medicare payment penalties beginning in 2015; FDA Grants Hospitals 18 Months to Replace Steris System 1 Processor; HR 4626 Health Insurance Industry Fair Competition Act, to restore the application of the Federal antitrust laws to the business of health insurance to protect competition and consumers; HR 4851 Continuing Extension Act of 2010, to provide a temporary extension of certain programs; Meetings with CMS and HHS to encourage reimbursement under the National Disaster Medical System for hospitals that provided services to victims of the Haitian earthquake; HR 4700 The Transparency in All Health Care Pricing Act of 2010, to provide for transparency in health care pricing; HR 4803 The Patients Right to Know Act, to ensure health care consumer and provider access to certain health benefits plan information and to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide transparency in hospital price and quality information; HR 6072 and S 3708 Electronic Health Record Incentives for Multi-Campus Hospitals Act of 2010, to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to clarify the application of EHR payment incentives in cases of multi-campus hospitals; HR 6376 to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act with respect to physician supervision of therapeutic hospital outpatient services
Client expense: $4,270,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), SENATE, White House Office
2010 · third_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
H.R. 3590: the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act H.R. 4872: the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 S. 534: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to reduce cost-sharing under part D of such title for certain non-institutional full-benefit dual eligible individuals. S. 647: A bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to improve the transparency of information on skilled nursing facilities and nursing facilities and to clarify and improve the trageting of the enforcement of requirements with respect to such facilities. S.1110: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to create a sensible infrastructure for delivery system reform by renaming the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, making the Commission an executive branch agency, and providing the Commission new resources and authority to implement Medicare payment policy. S. 683: A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide individuals with disabilities and older American with equal access to community-based attendant services and supports, and for other purposes. S. 46: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to repeal the Medicare outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps. S. 750: A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to attract and retain trained health care professionals and direct care workers dedicated to providing quality care to the growing population of older Americans. H.R. 2006: To amend the Social Security Act to enhance the social security of the Nation by ensuing adequate public-private infrastructure and to resolve to prevent, detect, treat, intervene in, and prosecute elder abuse, neglect and exploitation, and for other purposes. H.R. 43: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to repeal the Medicare outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps. H.R. 448: Elder Abuse Victims Act of 2009. H.R. 3200: America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009. To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes. H.R. 1407: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to reduce cost-sharing under Part D of such title of certain non-instutional full-benefit dual eligible individuals. S. 702: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow long-term care insurance to be offered under Cafeteria plans and flexible spending arrangements and to provide additional consumer protections for long-term care insurance. H.R. 1255: To protect the interests of each resident of intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded in class action lawsuits on behalf of such resident. H.R. 1457: To amend the Public Health Service Act to deem certain geriatric health training to be obligated service for purposes of the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program, and for other purposes. H.R. 3962: To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes. H.R. 4505: A bill that will allow state veterans homes to provide services to non-veteran parents of any child (one or more) who died while serving in the armed forces, has passed in the House and Senate. S. 1679: An original bill to make quality, affordable health care available to all Americans, reduce costs, improve health care quality, enhance disease prevention, and strengthen the health care workforce. H.R. 2223: To provide for nationwide expansion of the pilot program for national and State background checks on direct patient access employees of long-term care facilities or providers. S. 1131: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide certain high cost Medicare beneficiaries suffering from multiple chronic conditions with access to coordinated, primary care medical services in lower cost treatment settings, such as their residences, under a plan of care developed by a team of qualified and experiences health care professionals. S.1004: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide Medicare beneficiaries with access to geriatric assessments and chronic care management and coordination services, and for other purposes. H.R. 2: To amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to extend and improve the Children's Health Insurance Program, and for other purposes. S. 795: A bill to amend the Social Security Act to enhance the social security of the Nation by ensuring adequate public-private infrastructure and to resolve to prevent, detect, treat, intervene in, and prosecute elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, and for other purposes. S.631: A bill to provide for nationwide expansion of the pilot program for national and State background checks on direct patient access employees of long-term care facilities or providers. S. 458: A bill to amend the False Claims Act. H.R. 2043: To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize capitation grants to increase the number of nursing faculty and students, and for other purposes. H.R. 1642: To provide loans and grants for fire sprinkler retrofitting in nursing facilities. H.R. 1494: 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. H.R. 448: To protect seniors in the United States from elder abuse by establishing specialized elder abuse prosecution and research programs and activities to aid victims of elder abuse, to provide training to prosecutors and other law enforcement related to elder abuse prevention and protection, to establish programs that provide for emergency crisis response teams to combat elder abuse, and for other purposes. H.R. 3191: To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for integration of mental health services and mental health treatment outreach teams, and for other purposes. S. 386: A bill to improve enforcement of mortgage fraud, securities fraud, financial institutional fraud, and other frauds related to federal assistance and relief programs, for the recovery of funds lost to these frauds, and for other purposes. H.R. 5457: Nursing Home Patient and Medicaid Assistance Act of 2010. H.R. 6130: The Strengthening Medicare Anti-Fraud Measures Act of 2010. H.R. 6261: To amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to improve oversight of nursing facilities under the Medicare and Medicaid programs by ensuring adequate, trained surveyors, and for other purposes. H.R. 5712: Veterans', Seniors', Childrens', Health Tech. Corrections Act of 2010. H.R. 1586: FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act-which provides for an extension of additional FMAP support until June 2011. H.R. 6074: Enhancing Quality through Survey System Improvements Act of 2010. H.R. 5950: A bill introduced on June 29th, Rep Joe Courtney (D-CT), introduced the Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2010, which requires observation stays exceeding 24 hours to be considered as inpatient days for the purpose of meeting the 3-day inpatient hospital requirement for Medicare coverage of SNF stays. H.R. 5850: To solve the staffing issues and backlog in processing HUD 232 loans. H.R. 5950: Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2010. H.R. 5546: To provide for the establishment of a fraud, waste and abuse detection and mitigation program for the Medicare program under Titles XVIII of the Social Security Act. S. 2781: Rosa's Law. H.R. 5457: Nursing Home Patient and Medicaid Assistance Act of 2010.
Client expense: $500,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE
2010 · third_quarter · Health Issues
Long-Term Care S. 683/ H.R. 1670 - The Community Choice Act of 2009 H.R. 2516 - Medical Rights Act S.1150 - Advance Planning and Compassionate Care Act of 2009 H.R. 2520 - Patients' Choice Act H.R. 463/ S. 21 - Prevention First Act of 2009 Health Care Reform Implementation
Client expense: $51,000 · 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), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA), State, Dept of (DOS), White House Office
2010 · third_quarter · Health Issues
S. 683/H.R. 1670, Community Choice Act of 2009, provisions related to Developmental Disabilities H.R.1721/S.697, The Community Living Assistance Services & Supports Act (CLASS Act), provisions related to Developmental Disabilities H.R.2413/S.819, Autism Treatment Acceleration Act, provisions related to Developmental Disabilities H.R.3184/S.1186, Medicare Independent Living Act of 2009, provisions related to Developmental Disabilities Public Law 111-148, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, provisions related to Developmental Disabilities Public Law 111-152, Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, provisions related to Developmental Disabilities
Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $20,000
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), SENATE
2010 · third_quarter · Health Issues
H.R. 1205/S. 493, ABLE Act of 2009, relating to savings for individuals with disabilities, all provisions; H.R. 2413/S. 819, Autism Treatment Acceleration Act of 2009, providing for enhanced treatment, support, services, and research for individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families, all provisions; H.R. 1707/S. 706, Helping HANDS for Autism Act of 2009, relating to housing, awareness, and navigation demonstration services for individuals with autism spectrum disorders, all provisions; H.R. 1600/S. 1169, to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the treatment of autism under TRICARE; all provisions; H.R. 1670/S. 683 Community Choice Act of 2009, relating to equal access to community-based attendant services and supports and other purposes, all provisions; S. 1373, Federal Research Public Access Act of 2009, providing for the development of public access policies relating to research, all provisions; H.R. 4247, Keeping All Students Safe Act, to prevent and reduce the use of physical restraint and seclusion in schools, all provisions; S.2860, Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act, to protect students from inappropriate seclusion and physical restraint, all provisions; H.R. 3590, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, relating to healthcare reform, Title I, provisions relating to nondiscrimination and to essential health benefits; H.R. 4872, Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, relating to healthcare reform, Title II, provisions relating to health; H.R. 5756, TRAIN Act of 2010, to improve services rendered to children and adults on the autism spectrum and their families, all provisions.
Client expense: $130,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ), Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Council on Disability, Natl Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), SENATE, White House Office
2010 · third_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
H.R. 1670/S. 683, the "Community Choice Act" H.R. 1708/S. 700, the "Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period Act of 2009" The "Benefits Rating Acceleration for Veterans Entitlement Act (BRAVE)" ( Providing for expedition disability ratings for Social Security Disability Insurance)
Client expense: $68,397 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), SENATE, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)
2010 · second_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
The Direct Support Professionals Fiarness and Security Act of 2009 (H.R. 868) The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590) The Community Living Services and Supports Act (H.R. 1721 and S. 697) The Community Choice Act of 2009 (H.R. 1670 and S. 683) --American Workers, State and Business Relief Act of 2010 (supported Federal Medicaid Match provisions) (H.R. 4213) --A bill to extend the increase in the FMAP provided in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for an additional 6 months. (S. 3000)
Client expense: $44,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
2010 · second_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
See next page and see also HCR - Health Care Issues. Medicare/Medicaid Community Choice Act (HR 1670 and S 683) (changed to Community First Choice Option in health reform) Advocated to end the institutional bias in Medicaid. The bill would amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide individuals with disabilities and older Americans with equal access to community-based attendant services and supports, and for other purposes. HR 3790 to repeal the Medicare competitive acquisition program for durable medical equipment and prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) in a budget neutral manner. Medicare In the Home restriction (HR 3184 and S 1186) - reintroduction of legislation to reverse the CMS rule that Medicare will pay for wheelchairs only as needed in the home rather than as needed for the individual to go to medical appointments, go to the pharmacy and grocery store, attend worship services, accompany children to school and other activities, vote and otherwise be independent and participate in the community. HR 2390, the Guidance, Understanding and Information for Dual Eligibles (GUIDE) Act to provide one-on-one counseling to people with cognitive impairments navigate and protect their rights with regard to the confusing Part D Prescription Drug Benefit Program authorized under the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) of 2003. S 700/HR 1708 to end the waiting period for Medicare for people who qualify for Title II Social Security disability benefits and people with life-threatening conditions. DME Competitive Bidding - Met with CMS officials to discuss implementation of the DMEPOS competitive bidding program to make the transition as easy as possible for members who are Medicare beneficiaries. S 1630 a bill to amend Medicare to improve prescription drug coverage under Medicare part D and to amend the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to improve prescription drug coverage under private health insurance Supported HR 3799 that would cap out of pocket prescription costs at a max of $200 per prescription and at $500 total for any group of prescriptions in Medicare Part D. For people with chronic conditions who participate in Medicare Part D the increasing costs of specialty medicines can cause hardships and make access to prescription drugs unattainable. Supported HR 3621, the Medicare Premium Fairness Act, to protect millions of seniors and people with disabilities who receive Social Security benefits from unfair increases in their 2010 Medicare Part B premiums. -- Advocated that Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) make Medicare Part D improvements including reassignmentof Low Income Subsity (LIS) recipients who have previously chosen Part D plans based on premium lability, curb waste of unused drugs, address the established price threshold for prescription medications to be included on the Specialty Tier i Part D plans' formularies, address the problems of co-payments and co-insurance and pricing of both specialty tier medications and all medications, create an appeals process for medications placed on specialty tiers, and study the impact of excessive cost-sharing. -- Supported extending the moratoriumon Medicare therapy caps. Supported HR 4213 to extend federal FMAP assistance to the states until June 2011. Opposed HR 1255, a bill that would make it more difficult for the Protection and Advocacy System to file suits on behalf of people who are confined to institutions. See also Health.
Client expense: $80,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation, Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Executive Office of the President (EOP), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)
2010 · second_quarter · Health Issues
Health care reform and issues in both health care reform and independent legislation. See following page. See also Medicare and Medicaid. Support comprehensive health care reform legislation (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, HR 3590 and Health Care & Education Reconciliation Act of 201, HR 4872) and the related goals of reducing costs, improving quality and expanding health care coverage for Americans with disabilities and chronic conditions and all Americans (including those who lack health insurance). Issues with asterisks * indicate legislation pursued both as part of health care reform and independently. Issues include: Provide for health coverage that adequately meets the needs of people with disabilities and chronic conditions including -- Covering durable medical equipment, prosthetics and orthotics (DMEPOS) including but not limited to power wheelchairs that meet the individual needs of people with disabilities and chronic conditions, enable them to be as independent as possible, to live in their homes and participate in their communities, and enable them to be employed without fear of losing health care/services and supports they need. This includes retaining the first month purchase option for people who have permanent or long-term need for power wheelchairs and including DMEPOS as covered in essential health insurance benefits; delaying CMS competitive bidding program; and having DMEPOS included as essential benefits in health insurance coverage. Providing insurance market reforms, such as those included in House and/or Senate bills, that could greatly improve the lives of people with disabilities and chronic conditions by allowing increased access to health care, such as: --Requiring health insurers to provide the same coverage, charge the same premiums and renew policies to people no matter what their disability or other pre-existing or newly acquired conditions. Currently, unless they have employer-sponsored plans, people with disabilities are often denied coverage altogether, the policies exclude needed services or the premiums are way too costly. --Prohibiting annual and lifetime caps on coverage. People with serious injuries or conditions often quickly exceed these caps due to lengthy hospital stays and/or extensive rehabilitation -- Requiring health insurance to cover rehabilitation and habilitative services. -- Providing for a temporary high risk pool through which people with disabilities and other pre-existing conditions may obtain health insurance pending full implementation of health insurance market reforms. Concerns about the proposed excise tax on medical devices -- that an excise tax on manufacturers would increase their costs which are likely to be passed on to consumers, resulting in increased costs for medical equipment for people with disabilities and chronic conditions who depend on them. Providing for prevention and wellness including --Developing standards for accessible medical equipment; --Authorizing funds to establish a Prevention and Public Health Investment Fund; --Providing for community Transformation Grants that include focus on the needs of people with disabilities; -- Including disability status within data collection on health disparities; -- Proving training programs for primary care providers and dentistry professionals on how to treat individuals with disabilities; Concerns about well-intended wellness provisions that reward people for meeting health standards set by employers and insurance companies with potentially serious unintended onsequences that people with disabilities or other chronic conditions will be unable to meet the health or participation standards because of a limitation, and consequently they would have to pay more for their health coverage, including but not limited to higher deductibles, than people without disabilities or chronic conditions. Providing for comparative effectiveness research and using the resulting information in a way that respects that what works for many people will not work for all; Providing for home and community-based services and supports for people with disabilities and chronic conditions such as Community Living Assistance and Supports (CLASS) provisions* and the Community First ChoiceOption in health care reform. Support increasing Medicaid elibility to a nationwide standard for those whose incomes are up to 133% of the Federal Poverty Level. Since many people with disabilities have low incomes, this would extend Medicaid coverage to many people with disabilities, including childless adults. - Support elimination of Medicare Part D coverage gap (Part D "donut hole") and immediate $250 rebate for beneficiaries who fall into donut hole in 2010. continued next page Note -- Asterisk * indicates issue pursued both independently and as part of health care reform. CLASS Act* -- S. 697/H.R. 1721 included in HR 3590 (Senate health care reform bill) and HR 3962 (House health care reform bill) . Support legislation to establish a voluntary payroll deduction insurance plan so that people with disabilities will be able to pay for assistance with activities of daily living. This would enable them to remain in their homes and off of the Medicaid program. CBO estimates that the CLASS provisions will save Medicaid $2.5 billion in the first 10 years alone. Community Choice Act* (S. 683/H.R. 1670). Support legislation to make services in the home and community the norm under Medicaid - enabling people to stay in their homes and remain part of their communities rather than having to go into nursing homes or other institutions to receive needed services. Became Community First Choice Option in health care reform bills. End Medicares 24-month waiting period* - S 700/HR 1708. Support legislation to end the waiting period for Medicare for people who qualify for Title II Social Security disability benefits and people with life-threatening conditions. Comparative Effectiveness Research HR 2502/S 1213* Support legislation to create non-government independent entities to study the comparative effectiveness of treatments in health care. Mental Illness Chronic Care Improvement (MICCI) Act, S 1136* Support legislation to facilitate access to needed medical services. Amend the Medicare Savings Programs and the Low Income Subsidy* to align, simplify and increase income eligibility, eliminate or substantially increase asset limits, stabilize the programs and make administrative simplifications. First month purchase option* Advocated to maintain the current ability for Medicare beneficiaries to purchase their power wheelchair in the first month of use. Both the House and Senate included language in health reform that would require a beneficiary to rent a power wheelchair for 13 months before purchase. Supported inclusion in HR 3590 and HR 3962 of provisions to exempt Class III and higher power wheel chairs from the rental period and to retain the first-month purchase option under existing law. Community First Choice Option* would allow states to create Medicaid plans that would reverse the institutional bias in Medicaid. The option would provide a 6% increase in FMAP matching funds to states. Supported H.R.2575 to provide parity under group health plans and group health insurance coverage in the provision of benefits for prosthetic devices and orthotics devices, components and benefits for other medical and surgical services. Met with senior HHS officials to talk about implementation of health reform. See also Medicare and Medicaid.
Client expense: $80,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation, Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Executive Office of the President (EOP), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)
2010 · second_quarter · Insurance
Patients' Rights Legislation; PL 110-343: Mental Health Parity; PL 108-173: Medicare Prescription Drug and Mondernization Act of 2003; HR 1721: Comunity Living Assistance Services and Supports Act; HR 1670/S 683: Community Choice Act; HR 3043: Medicare Adult Day Services Act of 2009; HR 3590: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; HR 3962: Affordable Health Care for America Act; HR 4872: Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010; PL 79-271: Social Security Act of 1935.
Client expense: $70,970 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Education, Dept of, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Council on Disability, SENATE, Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Architectural & Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (ACCESS), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), White House Office
2010 · second_quarter · Health Issues
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 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 1085 Health 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 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 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; 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 1494 Nursing 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 1558 and S 623 Preexisting Condition Patient Protection Act of 2009, to prohibit health insurers from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions; 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; 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; 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; 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; HR 1670 and S 683 Community Choice Act of 2009, to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide individuals with disabilities and older Americans with equal access to community-based attendant services and supports and which would allow disabled Medicaid recipients to receive care in their homes rather than in nursing homes; HR 2003 and S 830 Children's Hospitals Education Equity Act, a bill to modify the definition of children's hospital for purposes of making payments to children's hospitals that operate graduate medical education programs; HR 1998 Health Care Safety Net Enhancement Act of 2009, a bill to improve access to emergency medical services; HR 2043 Nurse Education, Expansion, and Development Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize capitation grants to increase the number of nursing faculty and students; HR 2066 Graduate Psychology Education Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to promote mental and behavioral health services for underserved populations; S 890 Health Information Technology (IT) Public Utility Act of 2009, a bill to provide for the use of improved health information technology with respect to certain safety net health care providers; HR 2176 Nursing and Allied Health Education Preservation Act of 2009, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to continue the ability of hospitals to supply a needed workforce of nurses and allied health professionals by preserving funding for hospital operated nursing and allied health education programs; HR 2218 Parental Consent Act of 2009, a bill to prohibit the use of Federal funds for any universal or mandatory mental health screening program; S 957 Public Health Emergency Response Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to ensure that victims of public health emergencies have meaningful and immediate access to medically necessary health care services; S 958 MediKids Health Insurance Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Social Security Act to guarantee comprehensive health care coverage for all children born after 2009; HR 2231 Public Health Emergency Response Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to ensure that victims of public health emergencies have meaningful and immediate access to medically necessary health care services; HR 2233 Health Empowerment Zone Act of 2009, a bill to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to designate health empowerment zones; S 966 and HR 2252 National Health Care Quality Act, a bill to improve the Federal infrastructure for health care quality improvement in the United States; HR 2249 Health Care Price Transparency Promotion Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for increased price transparency of hospital information and to provide for additional research on consumer information on charges and out-of-pocket costs; HR 2251 and S 973 Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2009, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for the distribution of additional residency positions; S 979 and HR 2360 SHOP Act, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a nationwide health insurance purchasing pool for small businesses and the self-employed that would offer a choice of private health plans and make health coverage more affordable, predictable, and accessible; HR 2273 Nurse Staffing Standards for Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish direct care registered nurse-to-patient staffing ratio requirements in hospitals; S 999 Child Health Care Crisis Relief Act of 2009, a bill to increase the number of well-trained mental health service professionals (including those based in schools) providing clinical mental health care to children and adolescents; S 1001 Health Promotion FIRST Act, a bill to provide for increased research, coordination and expansion of health promotion programs through the Department of Health and Human Services; HR 2350 Preserving Patient Access to Primary Care Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act and the Social Security Act to increase the number of primary care physicians and primary care providers and to improve patient access to primary care services; HR 2369 Improving the Quality of Mental and Substance Use Health Care Act of 2009, a bill to improve mental and substance use health care; S 1020 Patient-Focused Critical Care Enhancement Act, a bill to optimize the delivery of critical care medicine and expand the critical care workforce; S 1022 Nurses' Higher Education and Loan Repayment Act of 2009, 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 2381 Nurse and Health Care Worker Protection Act of 2009, a bill to direct the Secretary of Labor to issue an occupational safety and health standard to reduce injuries to patients, direct-care registered nurses, and all other health care workers by establishing a safe patient handling and injury prevention standard, and for other purposes; HR 2388 Physician Availability Act of 2009, a bill to assure that the services of a nonemergency department physician are available to hospital patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week in all non-Federal hospitals with at least 100 licensed beds; S 1028 Strengthening America's Public Health System Act, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve the Nation's surveillance and reporting for diseases and conditions; S 1031 National Nursing Shortage Reform and Patient Advocacy Act, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish direct care registered nurse-to-patient staffing ratio requirements in hospitals; HR 2427 and S 1050 Informed Consumer Choices in Health Care Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to establish Federal standards for health insurance forms, quality, fair marketing, and honesty in out-of-network coverage in the group and individual health insurance markets, to improve transparency and accountability in those markets, and to establish a Federal Office of Health Insurance Oversight to monitor performance in those markets; HR 2520 Patients' Choice Act, a bill to provide comprehensive solutions for the health care system of the United States; HR 2535 Blueprint for Health Act of 2009, a bill to establish a Blueprint for Health in order to create a comprehensive system of care incorporating medical homes to improve the delivery and affordability of health care through disease prevention, health promotion, and education about and better management of chronic conditions; S 1104 Nurse-Managed Health Clinic Investment Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish the Nurse-Managed Health Clinic Investment program; HR 2536 Emergency Nursing Supply Relief Act, to provide relief for the shortage of nurses in the United States; HR 2691 a bill to provide assistance to adolescents and young adults with serious mental health disorders as they transition to adulthood ; S 1173 Community-Based Health Care Retraining Act, a bill to establish a demonstration project to train unemployed workers for employment as health care professionals; S 1174 Preserving Patient Access to Primary Care Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act and the Social Security Act to increase the number of primary care physicians and primary care providers and to improve patient access to primary care services; S 1176 Allied Health Reinvestment Act, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to promote and improve the allied health professionals; HR 2744 Equal Rights for Health Care Act Title 42, a bill to prohibit discrimination in Federal assisted health care services and research programs on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability status; HR 2754 Nurse-Managed Health Clinic Investment Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish the Nurse-Managed Health Clinic Investment program; HR 2778 Health Equity and Accountability through Research Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to redesignate the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities as the National Institute for Minority Health and Health Disparities; S 1220 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; HR 2785 Health Care Paperwork Reduction and Fraud Prevention Act of 2009, a bill to reduce the amount of paperwork and improve payment policies for health care services, to prevent fraud and abuse through health care provider education; HR 2804Ensuring Continuous Coverage under SCHIP Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to require 12-month continuous coverage under the State Children's Health Insurance Program; HR 2810 Public Health Workforce Investment Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish various programs for the recruitment and retention of public health workers and to eliminate critical public health workforce shortages in Federal, State, local, and tribal public health agencies and health centers; HR 2816 States' Right To Innovate in Health Care Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Social Security Act to provide grants and flexibility through demonstration projects for States to provide universal, comprehensive, cost-effective systems of health care coverage, with simplified administration; HR 2824 Doctor-Patient Relationship and Research Protection Act, to enhance the conduct and support of federally funded comparative effectiveness research relating to health care; HR 2891 Access to Frontline Health Care Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a Frontline Providers Loan Repayment Program; HR 2925 Communities Building Access Act, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for community projects that will reduce the number of individuals who are uninsured with respect to health care; HR 2930 Primary Care Training Enhancement Act, a bill to enhance the primary care workforce through modifications to the medical residency training programs and use of qualified teaching health centers and through State primary care scholarship and loan repayment programs; S 1278 Consumers Health Care Act of 2009, a bill to establish the Consumers Choice Health Plan, a public health insurance plan that provides an affordable and accountable health insurance option for consumers; HR 2937 and S 1305 MRSA Infection Prevention and Patient Protection Act, a bill to prevent health care facility-acquired infections; HR 2948 Healthcare Improvements for Generating High Performance (HIGH Performance) Act of 2009, a bill to amend title IX of the Public Health Service Act to provide for the implementation of best practices in the delivery of health care in the United States; HR 2957 Rural Health Access Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the National Health Service Corps Scholarship and Loan Repayment Programs; S 1299 Worker Infection Protection Act, a bill to protect health care workers and first responders, including police, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, and other workers at risk of workplace exposure to infectious agents and drug resistant infections; Hatch amendment # 21 requiring the IOM to make recommendations to Congress on how to reduce unnecessary hospital readmissions; HR 2975 Medical Practice Protection Act of 2009, a bill to improve the medical care by reducing the excessive burden imposed by the civil liability system on the health care delivery system; HR 3000 Josephine Butler United States Health Service Act, a bill to establish a United States Health Service to provide high quality comprehensive health care for all Americans and to overcome the deficiencies in the present system of health care delivery; HR 3002 and S 1259 PATIENTS Act of 2009, a bill to protect all patients by prohibiting the use of data obtained from comparative effictiveness research accounts to deny coverage of items or services under Federal health care programs and to ensure that comparative effectiveness research accounts for advancements in personalized medicine and differences in patient treatment response; S 1355 Rural Health Clinic Patient Access and Improvement Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve access to health care for individuals residing in underserved rural areas; S. 1403 Strengthen Social Work Training Act of 2009, a bill to amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to ensure that social work students or social work schools are eligible for support under certain programs that would assist individuals in pursuing health careers or for grants for training projects in geriatrics, and to establish a social work training program; S. 1404 Supporting Child Maltreatment Prevention Efforts in Community Health Centers Act of 2009, a bill to implement demonstration projects at federally qualified community health centers to promote universal access to family-centered, evidence-based behavioral health interventions that prevent child maltreatment and promote family well-being by addressing parenting practices and skills for families from diverse socioeconomic, cultural, racial, ethnic, and other backgrounds; HR3134 Healthcare Innovation Zone Program Act of 2009, a bill to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a Healthcare Innovation Zone pilot program; H.R.3148, a bill to amend the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 respecting the scoring of preventive health savings; H.R.3151 and S 1585 Rural Access to Nurse Anesthesia Services Act of 2009, a bill to permit pass-through payment for reasonable costs of certified registered nurse anesthetist services in critical access hospitals notwithstanding the reclassification of such hospitals as urban hospitals, including hospitals located in ``Lugar counties'', and for on-call and standby costs for such services; H.R.3158 Place Based Health Care Act of 2009, a bill to reform health care delivery by providing incentives for place-based health care, which seeks to bring health services to the patient by locating community health centers, federally qualified health centers, and community integrated health centers in or near settings that already serve a particular target population, such as schools, workplaces, and senior services facilities; H.R.3185 and S1569, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide payment to hospitals for costs of expanded advanced practice nurse training programs; H.R. 3191 Positive Aging Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for integration of mental health services and mental health treatment outreach teams, and for other purposes; H.R. 3199 Emergency Medic Transition (EMT) Act of 2009 , a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide grants to State emergency medical service departments to provide for the expedited training and licensing of veterans with prior medical training; H.R. 3200 America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, a bill to provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending; H.R. 3217 Health Care Choice Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for cooperative governing of individual health insurance coverage offered in interstate commerce; H.R. 3218 Improving Health Care for All Americans Act, a bill to provide a refundable tax credit for medical costs, to expand access to health insurance coverage through individual membership associations (IMAs), and to assist in the establishment of high risk pools; H.R.3234 Community-Based Health Care Retraining Act, a bill to establish a demonstration project to train unemployed workers for employment as health care professionals; H.R. 3242 Women's Health Office Act of 2009, a bill to improve the health of women through the establishment of Offices of Women's Health within the Department of Health and Human Services; S.1459 Health Care Choice Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for cooperative governing of individual health insurance coverage offered in interstate commerce; S. 1479 NO TITLE, a bill to provide for the treatment of certain hospitals; H.R. 3391 NO TITLE, a bill to allow for the continuation of critical access hospital designation for certain hospitals in geographic areas experiencing population growth; H.R. 3400 Empowering Patients First Act, a bill to provide for incentives to encourage health insurance coverage; H.R.3421 Medical Debt Relief Act of 2009, a bill to exclude from consumer credit reports medical debt that has been in collection and has been fully paid or settled; HR 3472 a bill to provide for health insurance coverage premium discounts for healthy behavior and improvements toward healthy behavior; HR 3483 Steps Toward Access and Reform (STAR) Act of 2009, a bill to reform the medical liability system, improve access to health care for rural and indigent patients, enhance access to affordable prescription drugs, and for other purposes S 1572, a bill to provide for a point of order against any legislation that eliminates or reduces the ability of Americans to keep their health plan or their choice of doctor or that decreases the number of Americans enrolled in private health insurance, while increasing the number of Americans enrolled in government-managed health care; S 1679 Affordable Health Choices Act, an original bill to make quality, affordable health care available to all Americans, reduce costs, improve health care quality, enhance disease prevention, and strengthen the health care workforce; HR 3652 Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility, and Excellence in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act and title XVIII of the Social Security Act to make the provision of technical services for medical imaging examinations and radiation therapy treatments safer, more accurate, and less costly; S 1720 Health Professions and Primary Care Reinvestment Act, a bill to amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to provide improved training and primary care; HR 3664 Healthcare Innovation Zone Pilot Act of 2009, a bill to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a Healthcare Innovation Zone pilot program; S 1730 Fairness in Health Insurance Act, a bill to provide for minimum loss ratios for health insurance coverage; S 1734 Medical Liability Reform Act of 2009, a bill to reduce the cost of health care and ensure patient access to doctors by ending excessive malpractice verdicts through common-sense lawsuit reform; Senate Finance Committee Americas Healthy Future Act of 2009, Senate Finance Committee health reform bill with provisions on coverage, disease prevention and wellness, delivery system reform, health care quality and efficiency, transparency and program integrity, and financing; Meeting with FTC, senate congressional staff re barriers to clinical integration; HR 3590 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the merged product of the health reform bills from the Senate Finance and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) committees; HR 3962 Affordable Health Care for America Act, a bill to provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes; HR 3700 Health Care Bill of Rights Act, a bill to establish requirements for any health reform legislation enacted by the Congress or the President during the 111th Congress; HR 3713 American Health Care Solutions Act of 2009, a bill to provide bipartisan solutions to lower health costs, increase access to affordable coverage, and give patients more choices and control; S 1742 Women's Hospitals Education Equity Act, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide assistance for graduate medical education funding for women's hospitals; Comments to CMS proposed rule defining meaningful use of electronic Health Records concern that the rules will severely limit hospitals' ability to access federal financing for health information technology and put many hospitals at risk for Medicare payment penalties beginning in 2015; FDA Grants Hospitals 18 Months to Replace Steris System 1 Processor; HR 4626 Health Insurance Industry Fair Competition Act, to restore the application of the Federal antitrust laws to the business of health insurance to protect competition and consumers; HR 4851 Continuing Extension Act of 2010, to provide a temporary extension of certain programs; Meetings with CMS and HHS to encourage reimbursement under the National Disaster Medical System for hospitals that provided services to victims of the Haitian earthquake; HR 4700 The Transparency in All Health Care Pricing Act of 2010, to provide for transparency in health care pricing; HR 4803 The Patients Right to Know Act, to ensure health care consumer and provider access to certain health benefits plan information and to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide transparency in hospital price and quality information.
Client expense: $4,230,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), SENATE, White House Office
2010 · second_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
S. 683 and H.R. 1670, Community Choice Act, provisions providing independence for individuals with disabilities, and implementation of the Community First Choice Option for Medicaid. P.L. 109-171, implementation of the Deficit ReductionAct, provisions dealing with Medicaid. H.R. 868, Direct Support Professionals Fairness and Security Act. Implementation of Medicaid Section 1917 (d) regarding trusts and transfer of asset rules. Implementation of the Olmstead decision regarding community integration. Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP increase). S. 493 and H.R. 1205, Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2009. Home and Community Based Services Waiver (Section 1915(c)) and Option (Section 1915 (i)). Implementation of the Affordable Choices Act, P.L. 111-148 and P.L. 111-192.
Client expense: $30,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Education, Dept of, Election Assistance Commission (EAC), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Government Accountability Office (GAO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA), Treasury, Dept of, White House Office
2010 · second_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
H.R. 3590: the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act H.R. 4872: the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 S. 534: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to reduce cost-sharing under part D of such title for certain non-institutional full-benefit dual eligible individuals. S. 647: A bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to improve the transparency of information on skilled nursing facilities and nursing facilities and to clarify and improve the trageting of the enforcement of requirements with respect to such facilities. S.1110: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to create a sensible infrastructure ofr delivery system reform by renaming the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, making the Commission an executive branch agency, and providing the Commission new resources and authority to implement Medicare payment policy. S. 683: A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide individuals with disabilities and older American with equal access to community-based attendant services and supports, and for other purposes. S. 46: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to repeal the Medicare outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps. S. 750: A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to attract and retain trained health care professionals and direct care workers dedicated to providing quality care to the growing population of older Americans. H.R. 2006: To amend the Social Security Act to enhance the social security of the Nation by ensuing adequate public-private infrastructure and to resolve to prevent, detect, treat, intervene in, and prosecute edler abuse, neglect and exploitation, and for other purposes. H.R. 43: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to repeal the Medicare outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps. H.R. 448: Elder Abuse Victims Act of 2009. H.R. 3200: America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009. To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes. H.R. 1407: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to reduce cost-sharing under Part D of such title of certain non-instutional full-benefit dual eligible individuals. S. 702: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow long-term care insurance to be offered under Cafeteria plans and flexible spending arrangements and to provide additional consumer protections for long-term care insurance. H.R. 1255: To protect the interests of each resident of intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded in class action lawsuits on behalf of such resident. H.R. 1457: To amend the Public Health Service Act to deem certain geriatric health training to be obligated service for purposes of the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program, and for other purposes. H.R. 3962: To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes. S. 1679: An original bill to make quality, affordable health care available to all Americans, reduce costs, improve health care quality, enhance disease prevention, and strengthen the health care workforce. H.R. 2223: To provide for nationwide expansion of the pilot program for national and State background checks on direct patient access employees of long-term care facilities or providers. S. 1131: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide certain high cost Medicare beneficiaries suffering from multiple chronic conditions with access to coordinated, primary care medical services in lower cost treatment settings, such as their residences, under a plan of care developed by a team of qualified and experiences health care professionals. S.1004: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide Medicare beneficiaries with access to geriatric assessments and chronic care management and coordination services, and for other purposes. H.R. 2: To amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to extend and improve the Children's Health Insurance Program, and for other purposes. S. 795: A bill to amend the Social Security Act to enhance the social security of the Nation by ensuring adequate public-private infrastructure and to resolve to prevent, detect, treat, intervene in, and prosecute elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, and for other purposes. S.631: A bill to provide for nationwide expansion of the pilot program for national and State background checks on direct patient access employees of long-term care facilities or providers. S. 458: A bill to amend the False Claims Act. H.R. 2043: To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize capitation grants to increase the number of nursing faculty and students, and for other purposes. H.R. 1642: To provide loans and grants for fire sprinkler retrofitting in nursing facilities. H.R. 1494: To ensure that a private for-profit nursing home affected by a major disaster receives the same rreimbursement as a public nursing home affected by a major disaster. H.R. 448: To protect seniors in the United States from elder abuse by establishing specialized elder abuse prosecution and research programs and activities to aid victims of elder abuse, to provide training to prosecutors and other law enforcement related to elder abuse prevention and protection, to establish programs that provide for emergency crisis response teams to combat elder abuse, and for other purposes. H.R. 3191: To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for integration of mental health services and mental health treatment outreach teams, and for other purposes. S. 386: A bill to improve enforcement of mortgage fraud, securities fraud, financial institutional fraud, and other frauds related to federal assistance and relief programs, for the recovery of funds lost to these frauds, and for other purposes. H.R. 5457: Nursing Home Patient and Medicaid Assistance Act of 2010.
Client expense: $480,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), SENATE
S.330/H.R.684, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act of 2009 - Discussed legislation which would create a government-operated Medicare prescription drug plan. Provided information on the need for nursing education capacity and the retention of newer and older nurses in the workplace (no bill). S.683/H.R.1670, Community Choice Act - Supported Community First Choice Option version of this legislation in health care reform and inquired about eligibility criteria. S.245, Retooling the Health Care Workforce for an Aging America Act - Discussed moving forward provisions not in healthcare reform. S.631/H.R.2223, Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act - Drafted comment letter on implementation of criminal background checks for employees of long-term care providers in healthcare reform law. Discussed implementation of healthcare coverage for the 50-64 year old population, age rating, and closing the doughnut hole. S.1133/H.R. 2580, Empowering Medicare Patient Choices Act - Discussed legislation that would promote patient decision aids to help people make informed, evidence-based decisions about health care treatment options. S. 960, Medicare Early Access Act of 2009 - Support for legislation to let Americans aged 55-64 who are otherwise without access to group or public coverage buy into Medicare. H.R. 2700, Prescription Coverage Now Act of 2009 - Discussed legislation that would assist low-invome individuals in obtaining subsidized prescription drug coverage under the Medicare prescription drug program by expediting the application and qualification process and by revising the resource standards used to determine eligibility for such subsidies, and for other purposes. S. 1185, Medicare Financial Stability for Beneficiaries Act of 2009 - Discussed legislation that would ensure that low-income beneficiaries have improved access to health care under the Medicare and Medicaid programs. H.R. 2716, Medicare Savings Program Improvement Act of 2009 - Discussed legislation that would provide financial stability for older Americans and people with disabilities through improvements in the Medicare Savings Program. Advocated for modernizing Medicare funding so that nursing education funds are directed to advanced nurse practice programs to help produce more highly-skilled nurses to care for the Medicare population (no bill). Discussed ideas to improve medicare for medicare beneficiaries. (no bill) Discussed Medicare physician payment issues. (no bill) S. 2128, Prevent Healthcare Fraud Act - Discussed Medicare Fraud. Discussed idea of an annual physical for Medicare beneficiaries (no bill). S.975 Seniors and Taxpayers Obligation and Protection Act - Lobbied in support of legislation. S.1256 Home and Community Balanced Incentives Act - Discussed implementation of certain enacted provisions. H.R. 3631, Medicare Premium Fairness Act - Lobbied to pass legislation to allow premiums for Medicare Part B to remain at 2009 levels for all beneficiaries. S. 2926, the Economic Fairness for Seniors Act - Discussed the implications of legislation to provide $250 in economic relief to seniors, veterans and the disabled in response to the lack of a COLA in 2010; allow Medicare Part B premiums to remain at 2009 levels for all beneficiaries and to study the use of a new Consumer Price Index for use in calculating future Social Security COLAs. H.R. 3590, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - Lobbied in support of and on new implementation of health care law that would reform the health care system to provide affordable quality health care, reduce drug costs and expand access to long-term services and supports. H.R. 4872, Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act - Lobbied in support of health care law to make improvements in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and implementation of certain provisions. House Amendment to Senate Amendment to H.R. 2847 "Jobs for Main Street Act" - Discussed redirection of some TARP funds to extend unemployment insurance and COBRA eligibility and FMAP assistance to state governments. H.R. 4213 American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act/American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act - Lobbied for extension of UI, COBRA, FMAP, and SGR.
Client expense: $4,250,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Administration on Aging, Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Energy, Dept of, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Government Accountability Office (GAO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Office of the Vice President of the United States, SENATE, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Social Security Administration (SSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), Treasury, Dept of, White House Office
S.330/H.R.684, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act of 2009 - Discussed legislation which would create a government-operated Medicare prescription drug plan. Provided information on the need for nursing education capacity and the retention of newer and older nurses in the workplace (no bill). S.683/H.R.1670, Community Choice Act - Supported Community First Choice Option version of this legislation in health care reform and inquired about eligibility criteria. S.245, Retooling the Health Care Workforce for an Aging America Act - Discussed moving forward provisions not in healthcare reform. S.631/H.R.2223, Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act - Drafted comment letter on implementation of criminal background checks for employees of long-term care providers in healthcare reform law. Discussed implementation of healthcare coverage for the 50-64 year old population, age rating, and closing the doughnut hole. S.1133/H.R. 2580, Empowering Medicare Patient Choices Act - Discussed legislation that would promote patient decision aids to help people make informed, evidence-based decisions about health care treatment options. S. 960, Medicare Early Access Act of 2009 - Support for legislation to let Americans aged 55-64 who are otherwise without access to group or public coverage buy into Medicare. H.R. 2700, Prescription Coverage Now Act of 2009 - Discussed legislation that would assist low-invome individuals in obtaining subsidized prescription drug coverage under the Medicare prescription drug program by expediting the application and qualification process and by revising the resource standards used to determine eligibility for such subsidies, and for other purposes. S. 1185, Medicare Financial Stability for Beneficiaries Act of 2009 - Discussed legislation that would ensure that low-income beneficiaries have improved access to health care under the Medicare and Medicaid programs. H.R. 2716, Medicare Savings Program Improvement Act of 2009 - Discussed legislation that would provide financial stability for older Americans and people with disabilities through improvements in the Medicare Savings Program. Advocated for modernizing Medicare funding so that nursing education funds are directed to advanced nurse practice programs to help produce more highly-skilled nurses to care for the Medicare population (no bill). Discussed ideas to improve medicare for medicare beneficiaries. (no bill) Discussed Medicare physician payment issues. (no bill) S. 2128, Prevent Healthcare Fraud Act - Discussed Medicare Fraud. Discussed idea of an annual physical for Medicare beneficiaries (no bill). S.975 Seniors and Taxpayers Obligation and Protection Act - Lobbied in support of legislation. S.1256 Home and Community Balanced Incentives Act - Discussed implementation of certain enacted provisions. H.R. 3631, Medicare Premium Fairness Act - Lobbied to pass legislation to allow premiums for Medicare Part B to remain at 2009 levels for all beneficiaries. S. 2926, the Economic Fairness for Seniors Act - Discussed the implications of legislation to provide $250 in economic relief to seniors, veterans and the disabled in response to the lack of a COLA in 2010; allow Medicare Part B premiums to remain at 2009 levels for all beneficiaries and to study the use of a new Consumer Price Index for use in calculating future Social Security COLAs. H.R. 3590, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - Lobbied in support of and on new implementation of health care law that would reform the health care system to provide affordable quality health care, reduce drug costs and expand access to long-term services and supports. H.R. 4872, Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act - Lobbied in support of health care law to make improvements in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and implementation of certain provisions. House Amendment to Senate Amendment to H.R. 2847 "Jobs for Main Street Act" - Discussed redirection of some TARP funds to extend unemployment insurance and COBRA eligibility and FMAP assistance to state governments. H.R. 4213 American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act/American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act - Lobbied for extension of UI, COBRA, FMAP, and SGR.
Client expense: $4,250,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Administration on Aging, Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Energy, Dept of, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Government Accountability Office (GAO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Office of the Vice President of the United States, SENATE, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Social Security Administration (SSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), Treasury, Dept of, White House Office
2010 · second_quarter · Health Issues
H.R. 1205/S. 493, ABLE Act of 2009, relating to savings for individuals with disabilities, all provisions; H.R. 2413/S. 819, Autism Treatment Acceleration Act of 2009, providing for enhanced treatment, support, services, and research for individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families, all provisions; H.R. 1707/S. 706, Helping HANDS for Autism Act of 2009, relating to housing, awareness, and navigation demonstration services for individuals with autism spectrum disorders, all provisions; H.R. 1600/S, 1169, to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the treatment of autism under TRICARE; all provisions; H.R. 1670/S. 683 Community Choice Act of 2009, relating to equal access to community-based attendant services and supports and other purposes, all provisions; S. 1373, Federal Research Public Access Act of 2009, providing for the development of public access policies relating to research, all provisions; H.R. 4247, Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act, all provisions; H.R. 3590, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, relating to healthcare reform, Title I, provisions relating to nondiscrimination and to essential health benefits; H.R. 4872, Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, relating to healthcare reform, Title II, provisions relating to health.
Client expense: $110,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), SENATE, White House Office
2010 · second_quarter · Health Issues
Long-Term Care S. 683/ H.R. 1670 - The Community Choice Act of 2009 H.R. 2516 - Medical Rights Act S.1150 - Advance Planning and Compassionate Care Act of 2009 H.R. 2520 - Patients' Choice Act H.R. 463/ S. 21 - Prevention First Act of 2009
Client expense: $67,500 · 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), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA), State, Dept of (DOS), White House Office
2010 · second_quarter · Health Issues
S. 683/H.R. 1670, Community Choice Act of 2009, provisions related to Developmental Disabilities H.R.1721/S.697, The Community Living Assistance Services & Supports Act (CLASS Act), provisions related to Developmental Disabilities H.R.2413/S.819, Autism Treatment Acceleration Act, provisions related to Developmental Disabilities H.R.3184/S.1186, Medicare Independent Living Act of 2009, provisions related to Developmental Disabilities America's Healthy Futures Act of 2009, provisions related to Developmental Disabilities H.R.3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, provisions related to Developmental Disabilities S.1679, Affordable Health Choices Act, provisions related to Developmental Disabilities H.R.3962, Affordable Health Care for America Act, provisions related to Developmental Disabilities Public Law 111-148, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, provisions related to Developmental Disabilities Public Law 111-152, Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, provisions related to Developmental Disabilities
Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $20,000
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), SENATE
2010 · second_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
H.R. 1670/S. 683, the "Community Choice Act" H.R. 1708/S. 700, the "Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period Act of 2009" The "Benefits Rating Acceleration for Veterans Entitlement Act (BRAVE)" (Providing for expediting disability ratings for Social Security Disability Insurance)
Client expense: $85,026 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), SENATE, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)
2010 · first_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
The Direct Support Professionals Fiarness and Security Act of 2009 (H.R. 868) The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590) The Community Living Services and Supports Act (H.R. 1721 and S. 697) The Community Choice Act of 2009 (H.R. 1670 and S. 683) --American Workers, State and Business Relief Act of 2010 (supported Federal Medicaid Match provisions) (H.R. 4213) --A bill to extend the increase in the FMAP provided in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for an additional 6 months. (S. 3000)
Client expense: $44,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
2010 · first_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
See next page and see also HCR - Health Care Issues. Medicare/Medicaid Community Choice Act (HR 1670 and S 683) (changed to Community First Choice Option in health reform) Advocated to end the institutional bias in Medicaid. The bill would amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide individuals with disabilities and older Americans with equal access to community-based attendant services and supports, and for other purposes. HR 3790 to repeal the Medicare competitive acquisition program for durable medical equipment and prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) in a budget neutral manner. Medicare In the Home restriction (HR 3184 and S 1186) - reintroduction of legislation to reverse the CMS rule that Medicare will pay for wheelchairs only as needed in the home rather than as needed for the individual to go to medical appointments, go to the pharmacy and grocery store, attend worship services, accompany children to school and other activities, vote and otherwise be independent and participate in the community. HR 2390, the Guidance, Understanding and Information for Dual Eligibles (GUIDE) Act to provide one-on-one counseling to people with cognitive impairments navigate and protect their rights with regard to the confusing Part D Prescription Drug Benefit Program authorized under the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) of 2003. S 700/HR 1708 to end the waiting period for Medicare for people who qualify for Title II Social Security disability benefits and people with life-threatening conditions. DME Competitive Bidding - Met with CMS officials to discuss implementation of the DMEPOS competitive bidding program to make the transition as easy as possible for members who are Medicare beneficiaries. S 1630 a bill to amend Medicare to improve prescription drug coverage under Medicare part D and to amend the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to improve prescription drug coverage under private health insurance Supported HR 3799 that would cap out of pocket prescription costs at a max of $200 per prescription and at $500 total for any group of prescriptions in Medicare Part D. For people with chronic conditions who participate in Medicare Part D the increasing costs of specialty medicines can cause hardships and make access to prescription drugs unattainable. Supported HR 3621, the Medicare Premium Fairness Act, to protect millions of seniors and people with disabilities who receive Social Security benefits from unfair increases in their 2010 Medicare Part B premiums. -- Advocated that Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) make Medicare Part D improvements including reassignmentof Low Income Subsity (LIS) recipients who have previously chosen Part D plans based on premium lability, curb waste of unused drugs, address the established price threshold for prescription medications to be included on the Specialty Tier i Part D plans' formularies, address the problems of co-payments and co-insurance and pricing of both specialty tier medications and all medications, create an appeals process for medications placed on specialty tiers, and study the impact of excessive cost-sharing. -- Supported extending the moratorium on Medicare therapy caps. See also Health.
Client expense: $80,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation, Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Executive Office of the President (EOP), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)
2010 · first_quarter · Health Issues
Health care reform and issues in both health care reform and independent legislation. See following page. See also Medicare and Medicaid. Support comprehensive health care reform legislation (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, HR 3590 and Health Care & Education Reconciliation Act of 201, HR 4872) and the related goals of reducing costs, improving quality and expanding health care coverage for Americans with disabilities and chronic conditions and all Americans (including those who lack health insurance). Issues with asterisks * indicate legislation pursued both as part of health care reform and independently. Issues include: Provide for health coverage that adequately meets the needs of people with disabilities and chronic conditions including -- Covering durable medical equipment, prosthetics and orthotics (DMEPOS) including but not limited to power wheelchairs that meet the individual needs of people with disabilities and chronic conditions, enable them to be as independent as possible, to live in their homes and participate in their communities, and enable them to be employed without fear of losing health care/services and supports they need. This includes retaining the first month purchase option for people who have permanent or long-term need for power wheelchairs and including DMEPOS as covered in essential health insurance benefits; delaying CMS competitive bidding program; and having DMEPOS included as essential benefits in health insurance coverage. Providing insurance market reforms, such as those included in House and/or Senate bills, that could greatly improve the lives of people with disabilities and chronic conditions by allowing increased access to health care, such as: --Requiring health insurers to provide the same coverage, charge the same premiums and renew policies to people no matter what their disability or other pre-existing or newly acquired conditions. Currently, unless they have employer-sponsored plans, people with disabilities are often denied coverage altogether, the policies exclude needed services or the premiums are way too costly. --Prohibiting annual and lifetime caps on coverage. People with serious injuries or conditions often quickly exceed these caps due to lengthy hospital stays and/or extensive rehabilitation -- Requiring health insurance to cover rehabilitation and habilitative services. -- Providing for a temporary high risk pool through which people with disabilities and other pre-existing conditions may obtain health insurance pending full implementation of health insurance market reforms. Concerns about the proposed excise tax on medical devices -- that an excise tax on manufacturers would increase their costs which are likely to be passed on to consumers, resulting in increased costs for medical equipment for people with disabilities and chronic conditions who depend on them. Providing for prevention and wellness including --Developing standards for accessible medical equipment; --Authorizing funds to establish a Prevention and Public Health Investment Fund; --Providing for community Transformation Grants that include focus on the needs of people with disabilities; -- Including disability status within data collection on health disparities; -- Proving training programs for primary care providers and dentistry professionals on how to treat individuals with disabilities; Concerns about well-intended wellness provisions that reward people for meeting health standards set by employers and insurance companies with potentially serious unintended onsequences that people with disabilities or other chronic conditions will be unable to meet the health or participation standards because of a limitation, and consequently they would have to pay more for their health coverage, including but not limited to higher deductibles, than people without disabilities or chronic conditions. Providing for comparative effectiveness research and using the resulting information in a way that respects that what works for many people will not work for all; Providing for home and community-based services and supports for people with disabilities and chronic conditions such as Community Living Assistance and Supports (CLASS) provisions* and the Community First ChoiceOption in health care reform. Support increasing Medicaid elibility to a nationwide standard for those whose incomes are up to 133% of the Federal Poverty Level. Since many people with disabilities have low incomes, this would extend Medicaid coverage to many people with disabilities, including childless adults. - Support elimination of Medicare Part D coverage gap (Part D "donut hole") and immediate $250 rebate for beneficiaries who fall into donut hole in 2010. continued next page Note -- Asterisk * indicates issue pursued both independently and as part of health care reform. CLASS Act* -- S. 697/H.R. 1721 included in HR 3590 (Senate health care reform bill) and HR 3962 (House health care reform bill) . Support legislation to establish a voluntary payroll deduction insurance plan so that people with disabilities will be able to pay for assistance with activities of daily living. This would enable them to remain in their homes and off of the Medicaid program. CBO estimates that the CLASS provisions will save Medicaid $2.5 billion in the first 10 years alone. Community Choice Act* (S. 683/H.R. 1670). Support legislation to make services in the home and community the norm under Medicaid - enabling people to stay in their homes and remain part of their communities rather than having to go into nursing homes or other institutions to receive needed services. Became Community First Choice Option in health care reform bills. End Medicares 24-month waiting period* - S 700/HR 1708. Support legislation to end the waiting period for Medicare for people who qualify for Title II Social Security disability benefits and people with life-threatening conditions. Comparative Effectiveness Research HR 2502/S 1213* Support legislation to create non-government independent entities to study the comparative effectiveness of treatments in health care. Mental Illness Chronic Care Improvement (MICCI) Act, S 1136* Support legislation to facilitate access to needed medical services. Amend the Medicare Savings Programs and the Low Income Subsidy* to align, simplify and increase income eligibility, eliminate or substantially increase asset limits, stabilize the programs and make administrative simplifications. First month purchase option* Advocated to maintain the current ability for Medicare beneficiaries to purchase their power wheelchair in the first month of use. Both the House and Senate included language in health reform that would require a beneficiary to rent a power wheelchair for 13 months before purchase. Supported inclusion in HR 3590 and HR 3962 of provisions to exempt Class III and higher power wheel chairs from the rental period and to retain the first-month purchase option under existing law. Community First Choice Option* would allow states to create Medicaid plans that would reverse the institutional bias in Medicaid. The option would provide a 6% increase in FMAP matching funds to states. Supported H.R.2575 to provide parity under group health plans and group health insurance coverage in the provision of benefits for prosthetic devices and orthotics devices, components and benefits for other medical and surgical services. See also Medicare and Medicaid.
Client expense: $80,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation, Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Executive Office of the President (EOP), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)
2010 · first_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
H.R. 684, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act (Berry) Part D reforms; H.R. 904, Medicaid Prescription Drug Rebate Equalization Act (Stupak) Medicaid drug costs; H.R. 1407, Medicare Part D Home and Community Services Copayment Equity Act (Doggett) Part D cost sharing; H.R. 1670, Community Choice Act (Davis) Medicaid coverage; H.R. 1832, Medicare Prescription Drug Affordability Act (Wexler) Part D reforms; (cont.) MMM (Legislative) H.R. 2501, Medicare Cost Contract Extension and Refinement Act (Pomeroy) Medicare cost plans; H.R. 2686, Medicare Advantage Payments (Israel) Medicare Advantage benchmark adjustments; H.R. 2688, Empowered at Home Act (Pallone) home and community-based services under Medicaid; H.R. 2700, Prescription Coverage Now Act (Doggett) low-income assistance under Medicare Part D; H.R. 2718, MedPAC Reform Act (Cooper) implementation of Medicare payment policies; H.R. 2758, Medicare Specialty Care Improvement and Protection Act (Kind) Medicare Advantage special needs plans; H.R. 2847, Jobs for Main Street Act (Mollohan) Medicaid FMAP; H.R. 2860, Medicare Drug Savings Through Choice Act (Murphy) Part D reforms; H.R. 3152, Helping Seniors Choose their Medicare Drug Plan Act (Holt) Part D enrollment; H.R. 3200, Americas Affordable Health Choices Act (Dingell) Medicare Advantage, Part D, special needs plans, Medicare cost plans, Medicaid issues including MCO provider taxes and eligibility expansion, Medigap open enrollment, Medicare FFS payment reform; H.R. 3418, Medicare Prescription Drug Cost Equalization Act (Ellsworth) Part D exceptions process; H.R. 3590, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Reid) Medicare Advantage, Part D, special needs plans, Medicare cost plans, Medicaid issues including eligibility expansion and prescription drug pricing, Medigap changes, Medicare FFS payment reform; H.R. 3631, Medicare Premium Fairness Act (Titus) Part B premiums; H.R. 3961, Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act (Dingell) Medicare physician payment; H.R. 3962, Americas Affordable Health Choices Act (Dingell) Medicare Advantage, Part D, special needs plans, Medicare cost plans, Medicaid issues including MCO provider taxes, eligibility expansion and prescription drug pricing, Medigap changes, Medicare FFS payment reform; H.R. 4213, Tax Extenders Act (Rangel) MA Special Needs Plans, Cost Plans, Medicare physician payment, Medicaid FMAP; H.R. 4263 (Baldwin) Medicaid FMAP extension; H.R. 4691, Temporary Extension Act (Rangel) Medicare physician payment; H.R. 4752, Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act (Welch) HHS Secretarys role in negotiating Part D drug prices; H.R. 4851, Continuing Extension Act (Levin) Medicare physician payment; H.R. 4872, Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act (Spratt) changes to Medicare Advantage funding, Medicare Part D coverage gap, Medicaid funding; H.R. 4917 (Schauer) Medicare Part D formulary changes; H.J.Res. 45 Medicare physician payment, pay-as-you-go budget rules; S. 75, Generics First Act (Kohl) Part D reforms; S. 266, Medicare Prescription Drug Gap Reduction Act (Nelson) Part D reforms; S. 330, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act (Durbin) Part D reforms; S. 534, Home and Community Services Copayment Equity Act (Nelson) Part D reforms; S. 547, Drug Rebate Equalization Act (Bingaman) Medicaid drug costs; S. 677, REPAIR Act (Ensign) means-testing Part D premiums; S. 683, Community Choice Act (Harkin) Medicaid coverage; S. 960, Medicare Early Access Act (Rockefeller) Medicare buy-in option; S. 1079, Medicare Cost Contract Extension and Refinement Act (Klobuchar) Medicare cost plans; S. 1307, Medicare Specialty Care Improvement and Protection Act (Feingold) Medicare Advantage special needs plans; S. 1380, MedPAC Reform Act (Rockefeller) implementation of Medicare payment policies; S. 1634, Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage Improvement Act (Rockefeller) government operated Part D plan, dual eligibles; S. 1669, Equal Access to Medicare Options Act (Kerry) guaranteed issue Medigap, Medicare Advantage enrollment; S. 1776, Medicare Physician Fairness Act (Stabenow) Medicare physician payment; S. 1796, Americas Healthy Future Act (Baucus) Medicare Advantage, Part D, special needs plans, Medicare cost plans, Medicaid issues including eligibility expansion and prescription drug rebates, Medigap restrictions, Medicare FFS payment reform; S. 2949, (Baucus) Medicaid QI Program funding; S. 3000 (Rockefeller) Medicaid FMAP extension; S. 3153, Continuing Extension Act (Grassley) Medicare physician payment MMM (Regulatory Issues) Ongoing implementation issues for the Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Part D prescription drug programs, including risk adjustment methodology, data, and audit issues, bidding and payment issues (including MA rate assumptions, MA coding intensity, MA Secondary Payer issues, Part D reinsurance, Part D low income subsidies, and audits), application process, audits to evaluate compliance with MA and Part D program rules, benefit design rules, SSA and CMS premium withhold processing issues, enrollment rules, marketing materials review and approval, marketing activities, including conduct and compensation of brokers and agents and plan sponsor marketing staff, measurement and oversight of plan performance including Special Needs Plans (SNPs); quality measures, grievance and appeals processes, compliance/fraud and abuse training, and Medicare/Medicaid integration and contracting issues for Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (SNPs); Federal preemption of State authority under MA and Part D programs, Part D prescription drug event data reporting, Part D formulary rules, Part D pharmacy access standards, and other operational issues; Medicare creditable drug coverage reporting requirements; implementation issues for the Medicare Retiree Drug Subsidy program; functionality of the Medicare Personal Plan Finder and Drug Plan Finder; National Medicare Education program; ongoing implementation issues for the Medicare cost plan program including enrollment, marketing materials review and approval and other operational issues, MA and Part D systems issues affecting enrollment and disenrollment processing and payment and other operational issues; Medicare demonstration program on performance-based payments for physician groups; physician quality reporting initiative; issues relating to Medicare coverage policy and national coverage decisions; Medicare clinical trials; Medicaid managed care regulations and policies, including the Medicaid managed care actuarial soundness standard, quality oversight, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), grievance and appeals processes, beneficiary information requirements, treatment of Medicaid health plan member hospital days in the upper payment limit calculation; policies affecting State Medicaid funding, including intergovernmental transfers (IGTs); coordination of benefits with state Medicaid programs; Medicaid prescription drug cost/rebate issues affecting Medicaid health plans; health plan-related Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) issues, including eligibility and outreach issues; implementation of Medicaid changes made in Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, including documentation of citizenship requirements, state benefit flexibility options, and Medicaid managed care organization provider tax issues; standards for electronic prescribing; and health information technology standards and policies.
Client expense: $2,700,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ), Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), 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), Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA), Treasury, Dept of
2010 · first_quarter · Health Issues
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 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 1085 Health 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 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 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; 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 1494 Nursing 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 1558 and S 623 Preexisting Condition Patient Protection Act of 2009, to prohibit health insurers from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions; 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; 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; 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; 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; HR 1670 and S 683 Community Choice Act of 2009, to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide individuals with disabilities and older Americans with equal access to community-based attendant services and supports and which would allow disabled Medicaid recipients to receive care in their homes rather than in nursing homes; HR 2003 and S 830 Children's Hospitals Education Equity Act, a bill to modify the definition of children's hospital for purposes of making payments to children's hospitals that operate graduate medical education programs; HR 1998 Health Care Safety Net Enhancement Act of 2009, a bill to improve access to emergency medical services; HR 2043 Nurse Education, Expansion, and Development Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize capitation grants to increase the number of nursing faculty and students; HR 2066 Graduate Psychology Education Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to promote mental and behavioral health services for underserved populations; S 890 Health Information Technology (IT) Public Utility Act of 2009, a bill to provide for the use of improved health information technology with respect to certain safety net health care providers; HR 2176 Nursing and Allied Health Education Preservation Act of 2009, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to continue the ability of hospitals to supply a needed workforce of nurses and allied health professionals by preserving funding for hospital operated nursing and allied health education programs; HR 2218 Parental Consent Act of 2009, a bill to prohibit the use of Federal funds for any universal or mandatory mental health screening program; S 957 Public Health Emergency Response Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to ensure that victims of public health emergencies have meaningful and immediate access to medically necessary health care services; S 958 MediKids Health Insurance Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Social Security Act to guarantee comprehensive health care coverage for all children born after 2009; HR 2231 Public Health Emergency Response Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to ensure that victims of public health emergencies have meaningful and immediate access to medically necessary health care services; HR 2233 Health Empowerment Zone Act of 2009, a bill to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to designate health empowerment zones; S 966 and HR 2252 National Health Care Quality Act, a bill to improve the Federal infrastructure for health care quality improvement in the United States; HR 2249 Health Care Price Transparency Promotion Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for increased price transparency of hospital information and to provide for additional research on consumer information on charges and out-of-pocket costs; HR 2251 and S 973 Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2009, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for the distribution of additional residency positions; S 979 and HR 2360 SHOP Act, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a nationwide health insurance purchasing pool for small businesses and the self-employed that would offer a choice of private health plans and make health coverage more affordable, predictable, and accessible; HR 2273 Nurse Staffing Standards for Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish direct care registered nurse-to-patient staffing ratio requirements in hospitals; S 999 Child Health Care Crisis Relief Act of 2009, a bill to increase the number of well-trained mental health service professionals (including those based in schools) providing clinical mental health care to children and adolescents; S 1001 Health Promotion FIRST Act, a bill to provide for increased research, coordination and expansion of health promotion programs through the Department of Health and Human Services; HR 2350 Preserving Patient Access to Primary Care Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act and the Social Security Act to increase the number of primary care physicians and primary care providers and to improve patient access to primary care services; HR 2369 Improving the Quality of Mental and Substance Use Health Care Act of 2009, a bill to improve mental and substance use health care; S 1020 Patient-Focused Critical Care Enhancement Act, a bill to optimize the delivery of critical care medicine and expand the critical care workforce; S 1022 Nurses' Higher Education and Loan Repayment Act of 2009, 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 2381 Nurse and Health Care Worker Protection Act of 2009, a bill to direct the Secretary of Labor to issue an occupational safety and health standard to reduce injuries to patients, direct-care registered nurses, and all other health care workers by establishing a safe patient handling and injury prevention standard, and for other purposes; HR 2388 Physician Availability Act of 2009, a bill to assure that the services of a nonemergency department physician are available to hospital patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week in all non-Federal hospitals with at least 100 licensed beds; S 1028 Strengthening America's Public Health System Act, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve the Nation's surveillance and reporting for diseases and conditions; S 1031 National Nursing Shortage Reform and Patient Advocacy Act, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish direct care registered nurse-to-patient staffing ratio requirements in hospitals; HR 2427 and S 1050 Informed Consumer Choices in Health Care Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to establish Federal standards for health insurance forms, quality, fair marketing, and honesty in out-of-network coverage in the group and individual health insurance markets, to improve transparency and accountability in those markets, and to establish a Federal Office of Health Insurance Oversight to monitor performance in those markets; HR 2520 Patients' Choice Act, a bill to provide comprehensive solutions for the health care system of the United States; HR 2535 Blueprint for Health Act of 2009, a bill to establish a Blueprint for Health in order to create a comprehensive system of care incorporating medical homes to improve the delivery and affordability of health care through disease prevention, health promotion, and education about and better management of chronic conditions; S 1104 Nurse-Managed Health Clinic Investment Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish the Nurse-Managed Health Clinic Investment program; HR 2536 Emergency Nursing Supply Relief Act, to provide relief for the shortage of nurses in the United States; HR 2691 a bill to provide assistance to adolescents and young adults with serious mental health disorders as they transition to adulthood ; S 1173 Community-Based Health Care Retraining Act, a bill to establish a demonstration project to train unemployed workers for employment as health care professionals; S 1174 Preserving Patient Access to Primary Care Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act and the Social Security Act to increase the number of primary care physicians and primary care providers and to improve patient access to primary care services; S 1176 Allied Health Reinvestment Act, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to promote and improve the allied health professionals; HR 2744 Equal Rights for Health Care Act Title 42, a bill to prohibit discrimination in Federal assisted health care services and research programs on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability status; HR 2754 Nurse-Managed Health Clinic Investment Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish the Nurse-Managed Health Clinic Investment program; HR 2778 Health Equity and Accountability through Research Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to redesignate the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities as the National Institute for Minority Health and Health Disparities; S 1220 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; HR 2785 Health Care Paperwork Reduction and Fraud Prevention Act of 2009, a bill to reduce the amount of paperwork and improve payment policies for health care services, to prevent fraud and abuse through health care provider education; HR 2804Ensuring Continuous Coverage under SCHIP Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to require 12-month continuous coverage under the State Children's Health Insurance Program; HR 2810 Public Health Workforce Investment Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish various programs for the recruitment and retention of public health workers and to eliminate critical public health workforce shortages in Federal, State, local, and tribal public health agencies and health centers; HR 2816 States' Right To Innovate in Health Care Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Social Security Act to provide grants and flexibility through demonstration projects for States to provide universal, comprehensive, cost-effective systems of health care coverage, with simplified administration; HR 2824 Doctor-Patient Relationship and Research Protection Act, to enhance the conduct and support of federally funded comparative effectiveness research relating to health care; HR 2891 Access to Frontline Health Care Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a Frontline Providers Loan Repayment Program; HR 2925 Communities Building Access Act, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for community projects that will reduce the number of individuals who are uninsured with respect to health care; HR 2930 Primary Care Training Enhancement Act, a bill to enhance the primary care workforce through modifications to the medical residency training programs and use of qualified teaching health centers and through State primary care scholarship and loan repayment programs; S 1278 Consumers Health Care Act of 2009, a bill to establish the Consumers Choice Health Plan, a public health insurance plan that provides an affordable and accountable health insurance option for consumers; HR 2937 and S 1305 MRSA Infection Prevention and Patient Protection Act, a bill to prevent health care facility-acquired infections; HR 2948 Healthcare Improvements for Generating High Performance (HIGH Performance) Act of 2009, a bill to amend title IX of the Public Health Service Act to provide for the implementation of best practices in the delivery of health care in the United States; HR 2957 Rural Health Access Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the National Health Service Corps Scholarship and Loan Repayment Programs; S 1299 Worker Infection Protection Act, a bill to protect health care workers and first responders, including police, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, and other workers at risk of workplace exposure to infectious agents and drug resistant infections; Hatch amendment # 21 requiring the IOM to make recommendations to Congress on how to reduce unnecessary hospital readmissions; HR 2975 Medical Practice Protection Act of 2009, a bill to improve the medical care by reducing the excessive burden imposed by the civil liability system on the health care delivery system; HR 3000 Josephine Butler United States Health Service Act, a bill to establish a United States Health Service to provide high quality comprehensive health care for all Americans and to overcome the deficiencies in the present system of health care delivery; HR 3002 and S 1259 PATIENTS Act of 2009, a bill to protect all patients by prohibiting the use of data obtained from comparative effictiveness research accounts to deny coverage of items or services under Federal health care programs and to ensure that comparative effectiveness research accounts for advancements in personalized medicine and differences in patient treatment response; S 1355 Rural Health Clinic Patient Access and Improvement Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve access to health care for individuals residing in underserved rural areas; S. 1403 Strengthen Social Work Training Act of 2009, a bill to amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to ensure that social work students or social work schools are eligible for support under certain programs that would assist individuals in pursuing health careers or for grants for training projects in geriatrics, and to establish a social work training program; S. 1404 Supporting Child Maltreatment Prevention Efforts in Community Health Centers Act of 2009, a bill to implement demonstration projects at federally qualified community health centers to promote universal access to family-centered, evidence-based behavioral health interventions that prevent child maltreatment and promote family well-being by addressing parenting practices and skills for families from diverse socioeconomic, cultural, racial, ethnic, and other backgrounds; HR3134 Healthcare Innovation Zone Program Act of 2009, a bill to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a Healthcare Innovation Zone pilot program; H.R.3148, a bill to amend the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 respecting the scoring of preventive health savings; H.R.3151 and S 1585 Rural Access to Nurse Anesthesia Services Act of 2009, a bill to permit pass-through payment for reasonable costs of certified registered nurse anesthetist services in critical access hospitals notwithstanding the reclassification of such hospitals as urban hospitals, including hospitals located in ``Lugar counties'', and for on-call and standby costs for such services; H.R.3158 Place Based Health Care Act of 2009, a bill to reform health care delivery by providing incentives for place-based health care, which seeks to bring health services to the patient by locating community health centers, federally qualified health centers, and community integrated health centers in or near settings that already serve a particular target population, such as schools, workplaces, and senior services facilities; H.R.3185 and S1569, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide payment to hospitals for costs of expanded advanced practice nurse training programs; H.R. 3191 Positive Aging Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for integration of mental health services and mental health treatment outreach teams, and for other purposes; H.R. 3199 Emergency Medic Transition (EMT) Act of 2009 , a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide grants to State emergency medical service departments to provide for the expedited training and licensing of veterans with prior medical training; H.R. 3200 America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, a bill to provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending; H.R. 3217 Health Care Choice Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for cooperative governing of individual health insurance coverage offered in interstate commerce; H.R. 3218 Improving Health Care for All Americans Act, a bill to provide a refundable tax credit for medical costs, to expand access to health insurance coverage through individual membership associations (IMAs), and to assist in the establishment of high risk pools; H.R.3234 Community-Based Health Care Retraining Act, a bill to establish a demonstration project to train unemployed workers for employment as health care professionals; H.R. 3242 Women's Health Office Act of 2009, a bill to improve the health of women through the establishment of Offices of Women's Health within the Department of Health and Human Services; S.1459 Health Care Choice Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for cooperative governing of individual health insurance coverage offered in interstate commerce; S. 1479 NO TITLE, a bill to provide for the treatment of certain hospitals; H.R. 3391 NO TITLE, a bill to allow for the continuation of critical access hospital designation for certain hospitals in geographic areas experiencing population growth; H.R. 3400 Empowering Patients First Act, a bill to provide for incentives to encourage health insurance coverage; H.R.3421 Medical Debt Relief Act of 2009, a bill to exclude from consumer credit reports medical debt that has been in collection and has been fully paid or settled; HR 3472 a bill to provide for health insurance coverage premium discounts for healthy behavior and improvements toward healthy behavior; HR 3483 Steps Toward Access and Reform (STAR) Act of 2009, a bill to reform the medical liability system, improve access to health care for rural and indigent patients, enhance access to affordable prescription drugs, and for other purposes S 1572, a bill to provide for a point of order against any legislation that eliminates or reduces the ability of Americans to keep their health plan or their choice of doctor or that decreases the number of Americans enrolled in private health insurance, while increasing the number of Americans enrolled in government-managed health care; S 1679 Affordable Health Choices Act, an original bill to make quality, affordable health care available to all Americans, reduce costs, improve health care quality, enhance disease prevention, and strengthen the health care workforce; HR 3652 Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility, and Excellence in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act and title XVIII of the Social Security Act to make the provision of technical services for medical imaging examinations and radiation therapy treatments safer, more accurate, and less costly; S 1720 Health Professions and Primary Care Reinvestment Act, a bill to amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to provide improved training and primary care; HR 3664 Healthcare Innovation Zone Pilot Act of 2009, a bill to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a Healthcare Innovation Zone pilot program; S 1730 Fairness in Health Insurance Act, a bill to provide for minimum loss ratios for health insurance coverage; S 1734 Medical Liability Reform Act of 2009, a bill to reduce the cost of health care and ensure patient access to doctors by ending excessive malpractice verdicts through common-sense lawsuit reform; Senate Finance Committee Americas Healthy Future Act of 2009, Senate Finance Committee health reform bill with provisions on coverage, disease prevention and wellness, delivery system reform, health care quality and efficiency, transparency and program integrity, and financing; Meeting with FTC, senate congressional staff re barriers to clinical integration; HR 3590 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the merged product of the health reform bills from the Senate Finance and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) committees; HR 3962 Affordable Health Care for America Act, a bill to provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes; HR 3700 Health Care Bill of Rights Act, a bill to establish requirements for any health reform legislation enacted by the Congress or the President during the 111th Congress; HR 3713 American Health Care Solutions Act of 2009, a bill to provide bipartisan solutions to lower health costs, increase access to affordable coverage, and give patients more choices and control; S 1742 Women's Hospitals Education Equity Act, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide assistance for graduate medical education funding for women's hospitals; Comments to CMS proposed rule defining meaningful use of electronic Health Records concern that the rules will severely limit hospitals' ability to access federal financing for health information technology and put many hospitals at risk for Medicare payment penalties beginning in 2015; FDA Grants Hospitals 18 Months to Replace Steris System 1 Processor; HR 4626 Health Insurance Industry Fair Competition Act, to restore the application of the Federal antitrust laws to the business of health insurance to protect competition and consumers; HR 4851 Continuing Extension Act of 2010, to provide a temporary extension of certain programs; Meetings with CMS and HHS to encourage reimbursement under the National Disaster Medical System for hospitals that provided services to victims of the Haitian earthquake.
Client expense: $3,730,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), SENATE, White House Office
2010 · first_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
Medicare and Medicaid Issues: Advocacy regarding meaningful use criteria, eligible hospitals, hospital-based eligible professionals, Medicaid incentive program, and regulatory impact analysis. Medicare and Medicaid DHS payments - Advocated in support of continued Medicare and Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments. Medicare issues - Advocacy regarding physician supervision for outpatient therapeutic services; readmissions proposals, bundling of provider payments; quality improvements for pay-for-performance. Medicaid issues - Advocacy regarding expanding eligibility levels, auto enrollment and presumptive eligibility, and limited co-pays. S. 683- Community Choice Act - A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide individuals with disabilities and older Americans with equal access to community-based attendant services and supports, and for other purposes.
Client expense: $280,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), SENATE, White House Office
2010 · first_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
HR 2718/S 1110 - MedPAC Reform Act of 2009 HR 2307/S 1004 - Reaching Elders with Assessment and Chronic Care Management and Coordination Act Under Line 17: We would like to include the Dept of Health and Human Services' Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) and the Office of Inspector General (OIG) S 1634 - The Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement Act of 2009 S 266 - Medicare Prescription Drug Gap Reduction Act of 2009 HR 203 - Medicare Fraud Prevention Act of 2009 HR 27 - Medicare Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Act of 2009 HR 616/S 511 - Access to Durable Medical Equipment Act HR 574/S 254 - Medicare Home Infusion Therapy Coverage Act of 2009 HR 2560/S 1131 - Independence At Home Act HR 1970/S 956 - Preserve Patient Access to the Reputable DMEPOS Providers Act of 2009 HR 3700/S 1951 - Fair Medicaid Drug Payment Act (From 110th Congress)/Concept to Include Medicaid Average Manufacturers Price Reimbursement Formula in Health Care Reform HR 3108 - Medication Therapy Management Benefits Act of 2009/Concept to Include Medication Therapy Management Provisions in Health Care Reform S 683 - Community Choice Act of 2009 HR 1392/S 1221 - Amends the Social Security Act to ensure more appropriate payment amounts for drugs and biologicals under Part B of the Medicare Program by excluding customary prompt pay discounts extended to wholesalers from the manufacturer's average sales price S AMDT 3320 to the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 (H.R.2847) [Section on the treatment of pharmacies under durable medical equipment accreditation requirements] (Public Law 110-275) Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 sections on Medicare DMEPOS (Docket Number CMS-4085-P) Medicare Program; Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage and the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Programs (Docket Number: CMS1561IFC) Medicare Program; Changes to the Competitive Acquisition of Certain Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) by Certain Provisions of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA) (Docket Number: CMS-1540-F) Medicare Program; Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Prospective Payment System for Federal Fiscal Year 2007; Certain Provisions Concerning Competitive Acquisition for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS); Accreditation of DMEPOS Suppliers (Docket Number: CMS-6006-F) Medicare Program: Surety Bond Requirement for Suppliers of Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) (Docket Number: CMS-0033-P) Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Electronic Health Record Incentive Program; Proposed Rule (Docket Number: RIN 0991-AB58) Health Information Technology: Initial Set of Standards, Implementation Specifications, and Certification Criteria for Electronic Health Record Technology (Docket Number: RIN 0991AB59) Proposed Establishment of Certification Programs for Health Information Technology (74 FR 28937) ONC Draft Recommendations for the Term "Meaningful Use" of Electronic Health Records CMS August 2009 Memo: Fraud, Waste and Abuse (FWA) Training Clarification (regarding changes to 42 C.F.R. 422.503(b)(4)(vi) and 42 C.F.R. 423.504 (b)(4)(vi)) Final 2010 Medicare Part D Call Letter on NDC Non-Matched List 2011 Preliminary Advanced Notice with Draft Call Letter to Medicare Plans 2011 Preliminary Advanced Notice with Final Call Letter to Medicare Plans Draft Medicare Part D Model Notices for Beneficiaries: Mail-Order and Excluded Provider GAO Report on Medicaid Outpatient Prescription Drugs: Second Quarter 2008 Federal Upper Limits for Reimbursement Compared with Average Retail Pharmacy Acquisition Costs OIG Report on A Comparison of Medicaid Federal Upper Limit Amounts to Acquisition Costs, Medicare Payment Amounts, and Retail Prices
Client expense: $149,615 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Government Accountability Office (GAO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), SENATE, White House Office
2010 · first_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
S. 683 and H.R. 1670, Community Choice Act, provisions providing independence for individuals with disabilities, and the Community First Choice Option proposal for Medicaid. P.L. 109-171, implementation of the Deficit ReductionAct, provisions dealing with Medicaid. H.R. 868, Direct Support Professionals Fairness and Security Act. Implementation of Medicaid Section 1917 (d) regarding trusts and transfer of asset rules. The Empowered at Home Act of 2009, H.R. 2688 and S. 434, to amend the Medicaid Section 1915 (i) Home and Community Based Services Option. Implementation of the Olmstead decision regarding community integration. Health Care Reform, including numerous long term services and supports provisions. Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP increase. S. 493 and H.R. 1205, Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2009. Home and Community Based Services Waiver (Section 1915(c)) and Option (Section 1915 (i)).
Client expense: $30,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Education, Dept of, Election Assistance Commission (EAC), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Government Accountability Office (GAO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), President of the U.S., SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA), Treasury, Dept of, White House Office
S.330/H.R.684, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act of 2009 - Discussed legislation which would create a government-operated Medicare prescription drug plan. Provided information on the need for nursing education capacity and the retention of newer and older nurses in the workplace (no bill). S.683/H.R.1670, Community Choice Act - Supported Community First Choice Option version of this legislation in health care reform. S.245/H.R. 468/S.434/H.R.2688, Retooling the Health Care Workforce for an Aging America Act and possible amendments, in healthcare reform, including Family Caregiving provisions. S.113/H.R.2560, Empowered at Home Act and the Independence at Home Act - Discussed long-term care and chronic care legislation that AARP endorsed and provisions included in health reform legislation. S.631/H.R.2223, Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act - Support for legislation in healthcare reform on criminal background checks for employees of long-term care providers and specific bill provisions. S. 697/H.R.1721, Class Act - Discussed provisions of CLASS in House and Senate health reform bills and urged inclusion of CLASS in Senate and House HCR legislation. S.1131/H.R.2560 Independence at Home Act - Discussed AARP's support for this Medicare care coordination bill; and it's inclusion in health reform legislation. Discussed healthcare coverage for the 50-64 year old population, age rating, and closing the doughnut hole. S.1133/H.R. 2580, Empowering Medicare Patient Choices Act - Discussed legislation that would promote patient decision aids to help people make informed, evidence-based decisions about health care treatment options. H.R. 2773/S 1295, Medicare Transitional Care Act of 2009 - Discussed legislation that would reduce unnecessary hospital readmissions, improve quality for Medicare beneficiaries, and reduce wasteful spending in Medicare; worked to incorporate bill and its elements into health reform legislation. S. 960, Medicare Early Access Act of 2009 - Support for legislation to let Americans aged 55-64 who are otherwise without access to group or public coverage buy into Medicare. H.R. 2700, Prescription Coverage Now Act of 2009 - Discussed legislation that would assist low-invome individuals in obtaining subsidized prescription drug coverage under the Medicare prescription drug program by expediting the application and qualification process and by revising the resource standards used to determine eligibility for such subsidies, and for other purposes. S. 1185, Medicare Financial Stability for Beneficiaries Act of 2009 - Discussed legislation that would ensure that low-income beneficiaries have improved access to health care under the Medicare and Medicaid programs. H.R. 2716, Medicare Savings Program Improvement Act of 2009 - Discussed legislation that would provide financial stability for older Americans and people with disabilities through improvements in the Medicare Savings Program. Advocated for modernizing Medicare funding so that nursing education funds are directed to advanced nurse practice programs to help produce more highly-skilled nurses to care for the Medicare population (no bill). S.750 Caring for an Aging America Act - Discussed as possible amendment to health reform bill. S.1257/H.R.2852 Project 2020: Building the Promise of Home and Community Based Services Act - Lobbied in support of legislation. Discussed ideas to improve medicare for medicare beneficiaries. (no bill) Discussed Medicare physician payment issues and SGR. (no bill) S. 2128, Prevent Healthcare Fraud Act - Discussed Medicare Fraud. Discussed idea of an annual physical for Medicare beneficiaries (no bill). S.1009 Medicare Care Transitions Program Act - Discussed provisions of Medicare Care Transitions Program Act. S.975 Seniors and Taxpayers Obligation and Protection Act - Lobbied in support of legislation. S.1256 Home and Community Balanced Incentives Act - Discussed inclusion of this legislation in health reform legislation and advocated for amendment in Senate healthcare reform legislation. H.R. 3631, Medicare Premium Fairness Act - Lobbied to pass legislation to allow premiums for Medicare Part B to remain at 2009 levels for all beneficiaries. S. 2926, the Economic Fairness for Seniors Act - Discussed the implications of legislation to provide $250 in economic relief to seniors, veterans and the disabled in response to the lack of a COLA in 2010; allow Medicare Part B premiums to remain at 2009 levels for all beneficiaries and to study the use of a new Consumer Price Index for use in calculating future Social Security COLAs. H.R. 3590, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - Lobbied in support of health care legislation that would reform the health care system to provide affordable quality health care, reduce drug costs and expand access to long-term services and supports. H.R. 4872, Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act - Lobbied in support of health care legislation to make improvements in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. H.R. 3200 America's Affordable Health Choices Act/S. 1679, Americas Health Choices Act/ S.1796, America's Healthy Future Act - Discussed need for affordable quality healthcare, delivery system reform, ending age discrimination in the health insurance industry, "ending rating by health condition or any proxy," closing the doughnut hole, creating a pathway for generic biologics, allowing and funding states to provide home and community based services, creating a transitional benefit in medicare and expanding the asset limit to qualify for low-income programs in medicare, and modifying medicare advantage. House Amendment to Senate Amendment to H.R. 2847 "Jobs for Main Street Act" - Discussed redirection of some TARP funds to extend unemployment insurance and COBRA eligibility and FMAP assistance to state governments.
Client expense: $3,970,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Administration on Aging, Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Energy, Dept of, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Government Accountability Office (GAO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Office of the Vice President of the United States, SENATE, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Social Security Administration (SSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), Treasury, Dept of, White House Office
S.330/H.R.684, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act of 2009 - Discussed legislation which would create a government-operated Medicare prescription drug plan. Provided information on the need for nursing education capacity and the retention of newer and older nurses in the workplace (no bill). S.683/H.R.1670, Community Choice Act - Supported Community First Choice Option version of this legislation in health care reform. S.245/H.R. 468/S.434/H.R.2688, Retooling the Health Care Workforce for an Aging America Act and possible amendments, in healthcare reform, including Family Caregiving provisions. S.113/H.R.2560, Empowered at Home Act and the Independence at Home Act - Discussed long-term care and chronic care legislation that AARP endorsed and provisions included in health reform legislation. S.631/H.R.2223, Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act - Support for legislation in healthcare reform on criminal background checks for employees of long-term care providers and specific bill provisions. S. 697/H.R.1721, Class Act - Discussed provisions of CLASS in House and Senate health reform bills and urged inclusion of CLASS in Senate and House HCR legislation. S.1131/H.R.2560 Independence at Home Act - Discussed AARP's support for this Medicare care coordination bill; and it's inclusion in health reform legislation. Discussed healthcare coverage for the 50-64 year old population, age rating, and closing the doughnut hole. S.1133/H.R. 2580, Empowering Medicare Patient Choices Act - Discussed legislation that would promote patient decision aids to help people make informed, evidence-based decisions about health care treatment options. H.R. 2773/S 1295, Medicare Transitional Care Act of 2009 - Discussed legislation that would reduce unnecessary hospital readmissions, improve quality for Medicare beneficiaries, and reduce wasteful spending in Medicare; worked to incorporate bill and its elements into health reform legislation. S. 960, Medicare Early Access Act of 2009 - Support for legislation to let Americans aged 55-64 who are otherwise without access to group or public coverage buy into Medicare. H.R. 2700, Prescription Coverage Now Act of 2009 - Discussed legislation that would assist low-invome individuals in obtaining subsidized prescription drug coverage under the Medicare prescription drug program by expediting the application and qualification process and by revising the resource standards used to determine eligibility for such subsidies, and for other purposes. S. 1185, Medicare Financial Stability for Beneficiaries Act of 2009 - Discussed legislation that would ensure that low-income beneficiaries have improved access to health care under the Medicare and Medicaid programs. H.R. 2716, Medicare Savings Program Improvement Act of 2009 - Discussed legislation that would provide financial stability for older Americans and people with disabilities through improvements in the Medicare Savings Program. Advocated for modernizing Medicare funding so that nursing education funds are directed to advanced nurse practice programs to help produce more highly-skilled nurses to care for the Medicare population (no bill). S.750 Caring for an Aging America Act - Discussed as possible amendment to health reform bill. S.1257/H.R.2852 Project 2020: Building the Promise of Home and Community Based Services Act - Lobbied in support of legislation. Discussed ideas to improve medicare for medicare beneficiaries. (no bill) Discussed Medicare physician payment issues and SGR. (no bill) S. 2128, Prevent Healthcare Fraud Act - Discussed Medicare Fraud. Discussed idea of an annual physical for Medicare beneficiaries (no bill). S.1009 Medicare Care Transitions Program Act - Discussed provisions of Medicare Care Transitions Program Act. S.975 Seniors and Taxpayers Obligation and Protection Act - Lobbied in support of legislation. S.1256 Home and Community Balanced Incentives Act - Discussed inclusion of this legislation in health reform legislation and advocated for amendment in Senate healthcare reform legislation. H.R. 3631, Medicare Premium Fairness Act - Lobbied to pass legislation to allow premiums for Medicare Part B to remain at 2009 levels for all beneficiaries. S. 2926, the Economic Fairness for Seniors Act - Discussed the implications of legislation to provide $250 in economic relief to seniors, veterans and the disabled in response to the lack of a COLA in 2010; allow Medicare Part B premiums to remain at 2009 levels for all beneficiaries and to study the use of a new Consumer Price Index for use in calculating future Social Security COLAs. H.R. 3590, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - Lobbied in support of health care legislation that would reform the health care system to provide affordable quality health care, reduce drug costs and expand access to long-term services and supports. H.R. 4872, Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act - Lobbied in support of health care legislation to make improvements in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. H.R. 3200 America's Affordable Health Choices Act/S. 1679, Americas Health Choices Act/ S.1796, America's Healthy Future Act - Discussed need for affordable quality healthcare, delivery system reform, ending age discrimination in the health insurance industry, "ending rating by health condition or any proxy," closing the doughnut hole, creating a pathway for generic biologics, allowing and funding states to provide home and community based services, creating a transitional benefit in medicare and expanding the asset limit to qualify for low-income programs in medicare, and modifying medicare advantage. House Amendment to Senate Amendment to H.R. 2847 "Jobs for Main Street Act" - Discussed redirection of some TARP funds to extend unemployment insurance and COBRA eligibility and FMAP assistance to state governments.
Client expense: $3,970,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Administration on Aging, Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Energy, Dept of, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Government Accountability Office (GAO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Office of the Vice President of the United States, SENATE, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Social Security Administration (SSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), Treasury, Dept of, White House Office
2010 · first_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
H.R. 3590: the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act H.R. 4872: the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 S. 534: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to reduce cost-sharing under part D of such title for certain non-institutional full-benefit dual eligible individuals. S. 647: A bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to improve the transparency of information on skilled nursing facilities and nursing facilities and to clarify and improve the trageting of the enforcement of requirements with respect to such facilities. S.1110: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to create a sensible infrastructure ofr delivery system reform by renaming the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, making the Commission an executive branch agency, and providing the Commission new resources and authority to implement Medicare payment policy. S. 683: A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide individuals with disabilities and older American with equal access to community-based attendant services and supports, and for other purposes. S. 46: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to repeal the Medicare outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps. S. 750: A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to attract and retain trained health care professionals and direct care workers dedicated to providing quality care to the growing population of older Americans. H.R. 2006: To amend the Social Security Act to enhance the social security of the Nation by ensuing adequate public-private infrastructure and to resolve to prevent, detect, treat, intervene in, and prosecute edler abuse, neglect and exploitation, and for other purposes. H.R. 43: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to repeal the Medicare outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps. H.R. 448: Elder Abuse Victims Act of 2009. H.R. 3200: America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009. To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes. H.R. 1407: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to reduce cost-sharing under Part D of such title of certain non-instutional full-benefit dual eligible individuals. S. 702: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow long-term care insurance to be offered under Cafeteria plans and flexible spending arrangements and to provide additional consumer protections for long-term care insurance. H.R. 1255: To protect the interests of each resident of intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded in class action lawsuits on behalf of such resident. H.R. 1457: To amend the Public Health Service Act to deem certain geriatric health training to be obligated service for purposes of the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program, and for other purposes. H.R. 3962: To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes. S. 1679: An original bill to make quality, affordable health care available to all Americans, reduce costs, improve health care quality, enhance disease prevention, and strengthen the health care workforce. H.R. 2223: To provide for nationwide expansion of the pilot program for national and State background checks on direct patient access employees of long-term care facilities or providers. S. 1131: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide certain high cost Medicare beneficiaries suffering from multiple chronic conditions with access to coordinated, primary care medical services in lower cost treatment settings, such as their residences, under a plan of care developed by a team of qualified and experiences health care professionals. S.1004: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide Medicare beneficiaries with access to geriatric assessments and chronic care management and coordination services, and for other purposes. H.R. 2: To amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to extend and improve the Children's Health Insurance Program, and for other purposes. S. 795: A bill to amend the Social Security Act to enhance the social security of the Nation by ensuring adequate public-private infrastructure and to resolve to prevent, detect, treat, intervene in, and prosecute elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, and for other purposes. S.631: A bill to provide for nationwide expansion of the pilot program for national and State background checks on direct patient access employees of long-term care facilities or providers. S. 458: A bill to amend the False Claims Act. H.R. 2043: To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize capitation grants to increase the number of nursing faculty and students, and for other purposes. H.R. 1642: To provide loans and grants for fire sprinkler retrofitting in nursing facilities. H.R. 1494: To ensure that a private for-profit nursing home affected by a major disaster receives the same rreimbursement as a public nursing home affected by a major disaster. H.R. 448: To protect seniors in the United States from elder abuse by establishing specialized elder abuse prosecution and research programs and activities to aid victims of elder abuse, to provide training to prosecutors and other law enforcement related to elder abuse prevention and protection, to establish programs that provide for emergency crisis response teams to combat elder abuse, and for other purposes. H.R. 3191: To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for integration of mental health services and mental health treatment outreach teams, and for other purposes. S. 386: A bill to improve enforcement of mortgage fraud, securities fraud, financial institutional fraud, and other frauds related to federal assistance and relief programs, for the recovery of funds lost to these frauds, and for other purposes.
Client expense: $460,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), SENATE
2010 · first_quarter · Health Issues
S. 610/ HR 1260 - Patient Reform Act of 2009 Long-Term Care S. 683/ H.R. 1670 - The Community Choice Act of 2009 H.R. 2516 - Medical Rights Act H.R. 2520 - Patients' Choice Act H.R. 463/ S. 21 - Prevention First Act of 2009 S.1150 - Advance Planning and Compassionate Care Act of 2009 S. 8 - Returning Government to the American People Act
Client expense: $51,000 · 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), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA), State, Dept of (DOS), White House Office
2010 · first_quarter · Insurance
Patients' Rights Legislation; PL 110-343: Mental Health Parity; PL 108-173: Medicare Prescription Drug and Mondernization Act of 2003; HR 1721: Comunity Living Assistance Services and Supports Act; HR 1670/S 683: Community Choice Act; HR 3043: Medicare Adult Day Services Act of 2009; HR 3590: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; HR 3962: Affordable Health Care for America Act; HR 4872: Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.
Client expense: $46,308 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Education, Dept of, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Council on Disability, SENATE, Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Architectural & Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (ACCESS), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), White House Office
2010 · first_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
Medicare Advantage, Part D, special needs plans, medicare cost plans, medicaid issues including MCO provider taxes, eligibility expansion and prescription drug pricing, Medigap changes, Medicare FFS payment reform - HR 3962, America's Affordable Health Choices Act. Medicare Advantage, Part D, special needs plans, Medicare cost plans, Medicaid issues including eligibility expansion and prescription drug pricing, Medigap changes, Medicare FFS payment reform - HR 3590, An act entitled The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Changes to Medicare Advantage funding, Medicare Part D coverage gap, Medicaid funding - HR 4872, Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. *Medicare Advantage, Part D, special needs plans, Medicare cost plans, Medicaid issues including MCO provider taxes, eligibility expansion, Medigap open enrollment, Medicare FFS payment reform - HR 3200, To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes; proposed legislation re this issue; HR 3590, An act entitled The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. *Part D reforms - HR 684, To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to deliver a meaningful benefit and lower prescription drug prices under the Medicare Program; HR 1832, To amend part D of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to limit the increase in premium costs for beneficiaries under the Medicare prescription drug program to no more than the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment, and to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate lower prescription drug prices on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries; S 75, A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require the use of generic drugs under the Medicare part D prescription drug program when available unless the brand name drug is determined to be medically necessary; S 266, A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to reduce the coverage gap in prescription drug coverage under part D of such title based on savings to the Medicare program resulting from the negotiation of prescription drug prices; S 330, A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to deliver a meaningful benefit and lower prescription drug prices under the Medicare program; S 534, A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to reduce cost-sharing under part D of such title for certain non-institutionalized full-benefit dual eligible individuals; HR 2860, To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for a Medicare operated prescription drug plan option to deliver a meaningful drug benefit and lower prescription drug prices under the Medicare Program. *Medicaid drug costs - HR 904, To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to reduce the costs of prescription drugs for enrollees of Medicaid managed care organizations by extending the discounts offered under fee-for-service Medicaid to such organizations; S 547, A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to reduce the costs of prescription drugs for enrollees of Medicaid managed care organizations by extending the discounts offered under fee-for-service Medicaid to such organizations. *Part D cost sharing - HR 1407, To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to reduce cost-sharing under part D of such title for certain non-institutionalized full-benefit dual eligible individuals. *Medicare Advantage, Part D, special needs plans, Medicare cost plans, Medicaid issues including MCO provider taxes and eligibility expansion, Medigap open enrollment, Medicare FFS payment reform - HR 3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act. *Medicare physician payments - HR 3961, Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009; HR 4691, Temporary Extension Act of 2010; HR 4851, Continuing Extension Act of 2010; S 3153, Continuing Extension Act of 2010. *MA special needs plans, cost plans, Medicare physician payments, Medicaid FMAP - HR 4213, American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010. *Medicaid FMAP extension - HR 4263, State Medicaid Assistance Extension Act of 2009; S 3000, A bill to extend the increase in the FMAP provided in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for an additional 6 months. *Medicaid coverage - HR 1670, To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide individuals with disabilities and older Americans with equal access to community-based attendant services and supports, and for other purposes; S 683, A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide individuals with disabilities and older Americans with equal access to community-based attendant services and supports, and for other purposes. *Means-testing Part D premiums - S 677, A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require wealthy beneficiaries to pay a greater share of their premiums under the Medicare prescription drug program. *Medicare cost plans - HR 2501, To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to extend reasonable cost contracts under Medicare; S 1079, A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to extend reasonable cost contracts under the Medicare program. *Medicare Advantage benchmark adjustments - HR 2686, To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for a Medicare Advantage benchmark adjustment for certain local areas with VA medical centers and for certain contiguous areas. *Low-income assistance under Medicare Part D - HR 2700, To amend part D of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to assist low-income individuals in obtaining subsidized prescription drug coverage under the Medicare prescription drug program by expediting the application and qualification process and by revising the resource standards used to determine eligibility for such subsidies, and for other purposes. *Implementation of Medicare payment policies - HR 2718, To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to create a sensible infrastructure for delivery system reform by renaming the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, making the Commission an executive branch agency, and providing the Commission new resources and authority to implement Medicare payment policy.; S 1380, A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to create a sensible infrastructure for delivery system reform by renaming the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, making the commission an executive branch agency, and providing the Commission new resources and authority to implement Medicare payment policy. *Medicare Advantage special needs plans - HR 2758, To amend part C of title XVIII of the Social Security Act with respect to Medicare special needs plans and the alignment of Medicare and Medicaid for dually eligible individuals, and for other purposes; S 1307, A bill to amend part C of title XVIII of the Social Security Act with respect to Medicare special needs plans and the alignment of Medicare and Medicaid for dually eligible individuals, and for other purposes. *Home and community-based services under Medicaid - HR 2688, To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to improve the State plan amendment option for providing home and community-based services under the Medicaid Program, and for other purposes. *Part D enrollment - HR 3152, To amend titles XVIII of the Social Security Act to ensure that low-income beneficiaries have improved access to prescription drugs under the Medicare and Medicaid programs. *Part D exceptions process, HR 3418, To amend part D of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to apply the exceptions process for tiered formulary drugs to specialty tier drugs. *Part B premiums - HR 3631, To amend title XVIII to provide for the application of a consistent Medicare part B premium for all Medicare beneficiaries in a budget neutral manner for 2010. *Government-operated Part D plan, dual eligibles - S 1634, A bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to protect and improve the benefits provided to dual eligible individuals under the Medicare and Medicaid programs. *Guaranteed-issue MediGap, Medicare Advantage enrollment - S 1669, A bill to provide all Medicare beneficiaries with the right to guaranteed issue of a Medicare supplemental policy. *Medicaid FMAP - HR 2847, Making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, and Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes. *Medicare physician payments - S 1776, A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for the update under the Medicare physician fee schedule for years beginning with 2010 and to sunset the application of the sustainable growth rate formula, and for other purposes. *Medicare Advantage, Part D, special needs plans, Medicare cost plans, Medicaid issues including eligibility expansion and prescription drug rebates, Medigap restrictions, Medicare FFS payment reform - S 1796, An original bill to provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes. *HHS Secretary's role in negotiating Part D drug prices - HR 4752, Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act of 2010. *Medicare Part D formulary changes - HR 4917, To amend part D of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to prohibit mid-year changes in the formularies of Medicare Part D plans. *Medicare physician payment, pay-as-you-go budget rules - HJRes 45, Increasing the statutory limit on the public debt. *Medicaid QI Program funding - S 2949, Emergency Aid to American Survivors of the Haiti Earthquake Act.
Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $100,000
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), SENATE
2010 · first_quarter · Medicare/Medicaid
H.R. 1670/S. 683, the "Community Choice Act" H.R. 1708/S.700, the "Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period Act of 2009" The "Benefits Rating Acceleration for Veterans Entitlement Act (BRAVE) " (Providing for expediting disability ratings for Social Security Disability Insurance
Client expense: $131,076 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), SENATE, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)
2010 · first_quarter · Health Issues
S. 683/H.R. 1670, Community Choice Act of 2009, provisions related to Developmental Disabilities H.R.1721/S.697, The Community Living Assistance Services & Supports Act (CLASS Act), provisions related to Developmental Disabilities H.R.2413/S.819, Autism Treatment Acceleration Act, provisions related to Developmental Disabilities H.R.3184/S.1186, Medicare Independent Living Act of 2009, provisions related to Developmental Disabilities America's Healthy Futures Act of 2009, provisions related to Developmental Disabilities H.R.3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, provisions related to Developmental Disabilities S.1679, Affordable Health Choices Act, provisions related to Developmental Disabilities H.R.3962, Affordable Health Care for America Act, provisions related to Developmental Disabilities Public Law 111-148, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, provisions related to Developmental Disabilities
Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $10,000
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), SENATE