Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act of 2016

S.9, Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act of 2016 - Sent endorsement letter. Discussed potential repeal of the Affordable Care Act (P.L.111-148, P.L.111-152). Discussed MACRA implementation. Discussed changes to the Medicare benefit design, such as: copays, premiums, and deductibles. Discussed health care quality and measurement. Discussed AARP opposition to Medicaid block grants and per capita caps. H.R. 1017/S. 479, Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act - Sent a letter of endorsement. Discussed concerns with/opposition to potential changes to Medicaid (includes letter to House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee). Discussed Medicaid home and community-based services. Discussed Medicare code relating to family caregivers. H.R. 1421/S.568, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act - Discussed reintroduction of and our support for bill. Responded to question regarding H.R. 181 (regarding annuities for community spouse of an institutionalized spouse and Medicaid spousal impoverishment provisions) and Prioritizing the Most Vulnerable Over Lottery Winners Act of 2017 (H.R. 829). Discussed possible repeal of final federal regulations regarding conditions of participation for long-term care facilities and our comments on the proposed rule. Responded to inquiry regarding nursing home abuses. Responded to inquiry regarding the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Restoration Act (no bill number). H.R. 1628, American Health Care Act - Discussed health care reform and opposition to the bill including because of age tax and changes to Medicaid. Discussed priorities for older adults in health care reform legislation including Medicare, private health insurance/age tax, Medicaid, and prescription drugs. S. 191, Patient Freedom Act of 2017 - Discussed bill. Discussed health care reform generally. H.R. 2028 (Public Law 114-254) - Further Continuing and Security Assistance Appropriations Act, 2017 - Lobbied in support of increased funding for CMS' state survey and certification program and opposition to hostile policy riders re Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Discussed possible Medicaid hearing questions.

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

Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Labor, Dept of (DOL), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT)

S. 3040, H.R. 5926, H.R. 5325, H.R. 2028, Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations bill, FY2017 - Lobbied in support of increased funding for CMS' state survey and certification program. Discussed Medicaid per capita caps and block grants. Discussed DOJ investigation regarding findings of Olmstead and ADA violations by South Dakota. Discussed Olmstead and older adults roundtable and next steps (Administration for Community Living). Discussed arbitration provision in long-term care facility requirements final rule and related issues (no bill, Senate) and discussed final rule in general (CMS webinar). Provided information regarding Medicaid managed long-term services and supports and discussed family caregiver assessment in Medicaid home and community-based services. Discussed impending nursing home closure and resident relocation in the Virgin Islands and related issues. Discussed extension of the Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration Program. Discussed long-term services and supports financing, Social Security Caregiver Credit Act of 2015 (H.R. 3377), and family caregiving. S. 3504, Creating High-Quality Results and Outcomes Necessary to Improve Chronic (CHRONIC) Care Act - Discussed and provided feedback on draft bill. PL 113-185, Participated in CMS call on the Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation (IMPACT) Act of 2014. Discussed caregiver-focused health risk assessment in Medicare physician fee schedule final rule. Discussed AARP statement on Medicare physician fee schedule. S. 843, H.R. 1571, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2015 - Discussed bill. Discussed health care quality and measurement. Discussed changes to the Medicare benefit design, such as copays, premiums, and deductibles. Discussed MACRA implementation. P.L. 111-148, P.L. 111-152 - Discussed potential repeal of Affordable Care Act. S. 9 - Sent endorsement letter for the Over the Counter Hearing Aid Act of 2016.

Client expense: $2,530,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), SENATE, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), Treasury, Dept of, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), White House Office

Hearing Aid Tax Credit: S.315 & H.R.1882 PCAST/IOM Reports on Hearing Aid Accessibility Over the Counter Hearing Aid Act S. 9

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $10,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE