Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2020

Discussions on drug pricing, 340b, and price transparency policies, as well as the International Pricing Index ANPRM; Discussions about the work of Aligning for Health to address social determinants of health; Support HR 1041 / S 586,Critical Access Hospital Relief Act of 2019, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to remove the 96-hour physician certification requirement for inpatient critical access hospital services; Support S 895, Rural Hospital Regulatory Relief Act of 2019, a bill to provide for a permanent extension of the enforcement instruction on supervision requirements for outpatient therapeutic services in critical access and small rural hospitals; Support S 948,Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act, a bill to provide incentives to physicians to practice in rural and medically underserved communities, and for other purposes; Discussions in support of the Rural Emergency Medical Center Act (REACH) Act; Support for extension of the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program; Support for extension of the Frontier Community Health Integration Project Demonstration program; Discuss changes with House and Senate committees to Section 8122 of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act; Letter of support to Energy and Commerce Committee for the hearing on legislation to strengthen our health care system and ACA market stability; Support HR 1781/ S 801, Payment Commission Data Act of 2019, a bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to provide the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission and the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission with access to certain drug payment information, including certain rebate information; Support S 551 Recovering Excessive Funds for Unused and Needless Drugs Act of 2019 or the REFUND Act of 2019, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require manufacturers of certain single-dose vial drugs payable under part B of the Medicare program to provide rebates with respect to amounts of such drugs discarded, and for other purposes; Support S 824/ HR 1767, Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Expansion Act, a bill to increase the number of States that may conduct Medicaid demonstration programs to improve access to community mental health services; Statement submitted to Senate Finance Committee on the implementation of the Quality Payment Program (QPP) created by the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA); Support HR 2552Protecting Local Access to Care for Everyone Act of 2019 or the PLACE Act of 2019, a bill to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to prevent certain payment reductions for clinic visit services furnished at excepted off-campus outpatient departments of a provider under the Medicare program; Support HR 3022, Patient Access Protection Act, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to repeal the reductions in Medicaid DSH allotments, and for other purposes; Letter of support to the Ways and Means Committee in support of legislation to improve the quality of an access to services for Medicare beneficiaries, help train the physician workforce and reduce administrative burden on rural hospitals; Support HR 3431, HEARTS and Rural Relief Act, a bill to provide for the extension of the enforcement instruction on supervision requirements for outpatient therapeutic services in critical access and small rural hospitals through 2021; Support HR 3417,Beneficiary Education Tools, Telehealth, and Extenders Reauthorization Act of 2019 or the BETTER Act of 2019, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient improvements and rural and quality improvements under the Medicare program; Oppose HR 1384, Medicare for All Act of 2019, a bill to establish an improved Medicare for All national health insurance program; Oppose S 1129, Medicare for All Act of 2019, a bill to establish a Medicare-for-all national health insurance program; Letter to House Committee on Ways and Means for the hearing on Pathways to Universal Health Coverage addressing concerns with Medicare for All and believe that the variety of proposals that often are used interchangeably under that name are not the solution; Oppose HR 2452, Medicare for America Act of 2019, a bill to amend the Social Security Act to establish a Medicare for America health program to provide for comprehensive health coverage for all Americans; Letter to House Committee on Budget for the hearing on the Congressional Budget Offices (CBO) Key Design Components and Considerations for Establishing a Single-Payer Health Care System addressing concerns with Medicare for All; Oppose S 1261/ HR 2463, Choose Medicare Act, a bill to provide for the establishment of Medicare part E public health plans, and for other purposes; Oppose S 981/ HR 2000Medicare-X Choice Act of 2019A bill to establish a public health plan; Oppose S 1033/ HR 2085, CHOICE Act, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a public health insurance option, and for other purposes; Oppose S 470, Medicare at 50 Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for an option for any citizen or permanent resident of the United States age 50 to 64 to buy into Medicare; Oppose HR 1346, Medicare Buy-In and Health Care Stabilization Act of 2019, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for an option for individuals who are ages 50 to 64 to buy into Medicare, to provide for health insurance market stabilization, and for other purposes; Submitted Statement to the House Committee on Rules for the Hearing Medicare for All Act of 2019; Comment on provisions of HR 2328,Reauthorizing and Extending Americas Community Health (REACH) Act, support for the Medicaid disproportionate share hospital(DSH) program provisions included in Title III; comments on Title IV, which contains provisions of the No Surprises Act and concern with the legislations approach to determining reimbursement for out-of-network providers; Support HR 3107 Seniors Timely Access to Care Act of 2019, this legislation would establish requirements for the use of prior authorization under Medicare Advantage plans; Meeting with the Senate finance committee to discuss changes to drug bill; Meeting with CMS to discuss changes to prior authorization; Meeting with Department of Labor to discuss issues with ERISA health plans; Met with CMS staff on rural hospital issues; Regulatory burden related to new CMS guidance on documenting Crossover bad debt; Sent a Comment letter to CMS on a final rule on program integrity enhancements to the provider enrollment process for Medicare, Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Programs; Oppose S. 2860 Patient Access to Higher Quality Health Care Act of 2019, a bill to repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals, and for other purposes; Support HR 4996, Helping MOMS Act of 2019, a bill amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for a State option under the Medicaid program to provide for and extend continuous coverage for certain individuals, and for other purposes; Addressing hospital concerns about HR 3 Lower Drug Costs Now Act, a bill to establish a fair price negotiation program, protect the Medicare program from excessive price increases, and establish an out-of-pocket maximum for Medicare part D enrollees, and for other purposes; Sent comment letter requesting that CMS withdraw the proposed regulation related to Medicaid Program: Medicaid Fiscal Accountability Regulation ( MFAR) financing and supplemental payments. Given that the proposal would severely curtail the availability of health care services to millions of individuals and because many of its provisions are not legally permissible; Discussion with CMS for rural hospitals and critical access hospitals about the Medicare accelerated payment program, which is intended to provide necessary funds to providers, including rural hospitals and critical access hospitals, when there is a disruption in claims submission and/or claims processing; Submitted comments on CMSs proposed rule on Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug program for Contract Years 2021 and 2022. The letter focuses on several proposals addressing network adequacy; Letter sent to HHS, CDC, CMS, and SAMHSA requesting specialized guidance and assistance for providers who care for patients with behavioral health disorders; Support resetting the Improving Medicare Post- Acute Care Transformation (IMPACT) Act of 2014 in the next COVID-19 relief package. The IMPACT Acts implementation is behind schedule and does not take into account extensive payment reforms already underway in each post-acute care setting; Letter urging HHS to release substantial additional emergency funds to all hospitals in an expedited manner. This second wave of funding to all hospitals, targeted relief is necessary for hospitals in hot spots, hospitals with a high percentage of payments under Medicare Advantage, hospitals caring for high numbers of Medicaid patients, and rural hospitals; Support HR 6693 Critical Access Hospital Expansion Act of 2020, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to allow States to certify certain hospitals as necessary providers for purposes of designating such hospitals as critical access hospitals under the Medicare program; Support HR 6753/ S 3615 Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Extension Act of 2020, a bill to amend the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to extend the rural community hospital demonstration program; Letter urging CMS to use its authority to extend to LTCHs the existing 20% hospital add-on payment for Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed with COVID-19; Letter to CMS urging the agency to temporarily extend certain waivers and make others permanent beyond the COVID-19 public health emergency to allow hospitals to provide better and more cost effective care to their patients and communities; Sent comment letter to CMS about our concerns with the timeline proposed for implementation as well as the potential for penalties for noncompliance within this timeline on the Medicare Program: Electronic Prescribing of Controlled Substances; Sent comment letter on the FY 2021 Inpatient PPS proposed rule addressing CMS proposals related to payer-specific negotiated rate data collection, Medicare DSH payments, CAR T, bad debt, MS-DRG classifications, and quality programs, among other topics. Letter requesting that the CMS delay the implementation of the Appropriate Use Criteria for Advanced Diagnostic Imaging Services program to allow providers the opportunity to implement and test operational changes and acquire the education necessary to achieve compliance with the program; Sent comments to the CMS on the agencys long-term care hospital prospective payment system proposed policy changes and fiscal year 2021 rates; Letter to CMS asking for a delay in the start of repayments associated with the Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payment (AAP) Programs; Letter urging the CMS to continue its suspension of medical review activities throughout the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency; Letter urging CMS to allow periodic interim payment (PIP) hospitals to carry out their accelerated payment repayment at cost settlement, as was initially communicated by the agency and also request that the agency make alternative repayment approaches available, such as direct payments to the Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC), for all hospitals; Comment letter on CY 2021 Home Health Prospective Payment System Rate Update proposed rule. While we continue to support the PDGM objective of increasing HH PPS payment accuracy, we remain concerned that CY 2020s large behavioral offset, 4.36%, was implemented on a prospective basis; Letter urging the CMS to withdraw the condition of participation (CoP) that hospitals report daily COVID-19 data and request that CMS immediately release detailed interpretive guidance so hospitals can take the necessary steps to come into compliance; Urged CMS to withdraw its Medicaid fiscal accountability proposed rule from its regulatory agenda because it would "severely curtail the availability of health care services to millions of individuals" and "many of its provisions are not legally permissible;" Submitted comment letter that disagree with CMS interim APC assignments of COVID-19 vaccine administration services to these New Technology APCs because they are inconsistent with longstanding CMS policy; Submitted comments responding to a CMS request for information on regulatory relief to support economic recovery urging the agency to take additional action to remove certain regulatory barriers standing in the way of efficiency and innovation, thus allowing hospitals to provide better and more cost-effective care to our patients and communities. In order to achieve these objectives, we ask the agency to temporarily extend certain waivers and make others permanent beyond the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency; Urged a delay implementation of CMS price transparency rule and also asked the Biden Transition team for enforcement discretion with the rule; Letter urging Congress to include in the year-end legislation an extension of the congressionally-enacted moratorium on the application of the Medicare sequester cuts into 2021 and through the duration of the public health emergency (PHE); Letter urging Congress to continue to support the movement to value by ensuring that clinicians in advanced alternative payment models (APMs) continue to receive incentives established under the bipartisan Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA); Support S 5044, The Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act of 2020, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish requirements with respect to the use of prior authorization under Medicare Advantage plans; Submitted a comment letter, urging CMS not to finalize proposals that would allow states to create a new type of direct enrollment marketplace in lieu of Healthcare.gov or a state-based marketplace. In addition, we do not support the codification in regulation of previous Section 1332 guidance that could allow states to pursue alternative approaches to coverage that would result in coverage losses; Support efforts to protect patients from surprise medical bills by including the No Surprises Act as part of the year-end legislative package; Submitted COVID-19 snapshot report for Congress to better understand the needs of hospitals and health systems during the public health emergency, which combines important data points with news articles and testimonials from the field to reiterate the dire circumstances hospitals and health systems face, and highlight why additional relief is necessary; Submitted comments in response to HRSAs proposal to include additional counties as eligible to receive Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) grants, encouraged the agency to use a definition of rural that is inclusive and flexible, in order to broaden opportunities for providers in rural communities and urged HRSA to increase rural grant opportunities.

Client expense: $4,460,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), SENATE, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), White House Office

H.R. 3107 - Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act of 2019 - DelBene - prior authorization in Medicare Advantage H.R. 3925 - Reducing Barriers to Substance Use Treatment Act - Tonko - Opioids H.R. 3935 - Protecting Patients Transportation to Care Act - Carter - Medicaid coverage for transportation H.R. 4453 - Protecting Seniors from Health Care Fraud Act of 2019 - Ruiz -Distributing information to Medicare beneficiaries to prevent fraud H.R. 4529 - Promoting Access to Broadband Act of 2019 - Maloney - Medicaid H.R. 4583 - Medicare Extra Rx Higher Eligibility Limits in Part D Act of 2019 - Schneider - prescription drug affordability H.R. 4620 - More Help for Seniors Act of 2019 - Rose - expand eligibility for low-income subsidies under part D of the Medicare program H.R. 4621 - Collecting and Analyzing Resources Integral and Necessary for Guidance for Social Determinants Act of 2019 - Blunt Rochester - best practices re social determinants of health H.R. 4629 - Star Rating for Biosimilars Act - Tonko - biosimilars H.R. 4632 - Better Transparency in Information for Medicare Beneficiaries Act of 2019 - Kind - provides consumers information regarding premiums under LIS benchmark plans H.R. 4671 - Helping Seniors Afford Health Care Act - Kim - Medicare affordability and low income beneficiaries H.R. 4996 - Helping Medicaid Offer Maternity Services Act of 2020 - Kelly - extend Medicaid coverage post-partum H.R. 5006 - Expanding Access to Inpatient Mental Health Act - Emmer - Medicaid coverage for SUD/mental health for institutionalized H.R. 5201 - Telemental Health Expansion Act of 2019 - Matsui - Medicare coverage of mental telehealth H.R. 5232 - Road to Recovery Act - Fitzpatrick - Medicaid and CHIP SUD treatment H.R. 5693 - Primary Health Services Enhancement Act - Kind - Medicare rural health H.R. 5808 - Save Rural Communities Act of 2020 - Arrington - rural emergency medical access services under Medicare H.R. 5833 - To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to permit the use of certain psychological evaluation via telehealth for Medicare coverage of neurostimulation services for the treatment of chronic pain - Latta - Medicare coverage in telehealth H.R. 5882 - GENE Therapy Payment Act - Schrader - value based care H.R. 6098 - To amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to allow States to expand income eligibility standards under the Children's Health Insurance Program -Barragan - CHIP eligibility H.R. 6151 - CARING for Kids Act - Fineknauer - CHIP H.R. 6179 - Increasing Access to Biosimilars Act of 2020 - Cardenas - payments to providers of biosimilars under Medicare H.R. 6209 - Reducing Unnecessary Senior Hospitalizations Act of 2020 or the RUSH Act of 2020 -Kuster - Medicare coverage for certain services in hospital emergency departments H.R. 6244 - To amend titles XVIII and XIX to provide for coverage at no cost sharing of COVID-19 testing under the Medicaid program and Children's Health Insurance Program - Kelly - Medicaid coverage of COVID-19 related visits and testing H.R. 6263 - To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to waive cost sharing under the Medicare program for certain visits relating to testing for COVID-19 -Sarbanes - Medicare coverage of COVID-19 related visits and testing H.R. 6273 - Protecting Vulnerable Americans in Times of Crisis Act of 2020 - Butterfield - FMAP H.R. 6311 - Care for COVID-19 Act - Ruiz - COVID-19 cost sharing H.R. 6336 - Increasing Hospital Capacity to Fight the Coronavirus Act of 2020 - Bishop - Medicare and Medicaid payments during COVID-19 emergency H.R. 6462 - Emergency Medicaid for Coronavirus Treatment Act - Gallego - Medicaid coverage H.R. 6511 - Ensuring Vaccination and Treatment Affordability Act - Pappas - COVID H.R. 6521 - To prohibit the Secretary of Health and Human Services from taking certain actions with respect to Medicaid supplemental payments reporting requirements, and for other purposes - Diaz Barragan - Medicaid, delays implementation of MFAR H.R. 6538 - Modernized Medicine Act - Kennedy - Medicaid, Telehealth H.R. 6539 - Coronavirus Medicaid Response Act - Lee - FMAP H.R. 6572 - To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to carry out a national campaign to increase awareness and knowledge of COVID-19. -Bilirakis - COVID H.R. 6583 - To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a risk corridor program for Medicare Advantage plans during the COVID-19 emergency, and for other purposes. - Houlahan - COVID H.R. 6616 - Stronger Medicaid Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic Act -Cardenas - COVID H.R. 6640 - Medicare Advantage COVID Treatment Act - Mucarsel-Powell - COVID H.R. 6658 - Insular Area Medicaid Coronavirus Recovery Act - Sablan - FMAP H.R. 6727 - To hold Medicare beneficiaries harmless for specified COVID-19 treatment services furnished under part A or part B of the Medicare program - Schrier - COVID H.R. 6744 - Computer and Internet Equity Act - Davis - internet access for Lifeline program H.R. 6753 - Save Rural Hospitals Act of 2020 - Finkenauer - Medicare hospital payments H.R. 6792 - Improving Telehealth for Underserved Communities Act of 2020 - Smith - telehealth H.R. 6797 - CHIPPER Act - Wild - CHIP, COVID H.R. 6837 - Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payments Improvement Act of 2020 -Schneider - COVID H.R. 7154 - Outpatient Therapy Modernization and Stabilization Act -Boyle - outpatient therapy services H.R. 7187 - HEALTH Act of 2020 -Thompson -Smith - telehealth H.R. 7292 - To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for forgiveness of certain accelerated and advance payments under parts A and B of the Medicare program. - Kaptur - advance payments H.R. 7338 - To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to permit the Secretary of Health and Human Services to waive requirements relating to the furnishing of telehealth services under the Medicare program, and for other purposes. - Cheney - Telehealth H.R. 7391 - To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to remove certain geographic and originating site restrictions on the furnishing of telehealth services under the Medicare program - Sherrill- Telehealth H.R. 7606 - MFAR Transparency Act - Williams - report on impact of MFAR to Congress H.R. 7627 - MORE Savings Act - Dean - Medicare access to opioid treatment and MAT H.R. 7663 - Protecting Access to Post-COVID-19 Telehealth Act of 2020 - Thompson - waive or modify application of Medicare requirements with respect to telehealth during PHE H.R. 7791 - Value in Health Care Act of 2020 - Welch - Medicare shared savings program and alternative payment arrangements H.R. 7877 - Lowering Drug Costs for Seniors Act of 2020 - Katko - Medicare Part D costs H.R. 7892 - Medicaid Expansion During Crisis Act - Coleman - extend eligibility period for Medicaid enrollment application H.R. 8177 - Renal Anemia Innovation Support and Expansion Act - OHalleran - Medicare prescription drug coverage for chronic kidney disease H.R. 8218 - Rural Ambulance Reimbursement Fairness Act - Gianforte - Medicare payment for rural ambulance services H.R. 8254 - Bringing Enhanced Treatments and Therapies to ESRD Recipients Kidney Care Act - Blumenauer - integrated care for Medicare beneficiaries with ESRD H.R. 8427 - To provide for certain reports on enrollment in the Lifeline program, and for other purposes - Luria - Lifeline program H.R. 8476 - TIKES Act -Blunt Rochester - telehealth coverage in Medicaid H.R. 8505 - To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for a one-year waiver of budget neutrality adjustments under the Medicare physician fee schedule - Burgess - Medicare physician fee schedule H.R. 8525 - Expanded Genetic Screening Act of 2020 - Speier - Medicaid coverage of non-invasive prenatal genetic screening H.R. 8529 - Protecting Access to Affordable Medicines Act of 2020 - Butterfield - rebates under the Medicaid program for certain noninnovator multiple source drugs H.R. 8546 - Fair Drug Prices for Kids Act -Wild - Medicaid drug rebate program in CHIP H.R. 8558 - Comprehensive Breast Reconstruction Act of 2020 - Hastings - extends coverage of certain breast reconstructive services following mastectomy under the Medicare and Medicaid programs H.R. 8561 - Restoring Fairness to Medicaid Reimbursement Act of 2020 - Johnson - FMAP H.R. 8574 - PROTECT Long Term Care Facilities Act -Sherrill - long term care in COVID-19 H.R. 8586 - Medicaid Coverage for Addiction Recovery Expansion Act -Foster - Substance Use Disorder H.R. 8623 - SAVE for Seniors Act - Spanberger - Medicare coverage of COVID-19 vaccines H.R. 8624 - Protecting Access to Innovation During COVID-19 Act - Wenstrup - extension of pass-through status under the Medicare program H.R. 8702 - Holding Providers Harmless From Medicare Cuts During COVID-19 Act of 2020 -Bera - part B Medicare payments during COVID H.R. 8725 - HAPI Act - Soto - Medicaid Coverage of adult vaccines H.R. 8727 - Telehealth Modernization Act - Carter - Medicare telehealth payments H.R. 8755 - Expanded Telehealth Access Act -Sherrill - Medicare telehealth coverage H.R. 8756 - COVID Health Care Provider Assurance Act of 2020 - Riggleman - Medicare Part B payments during COVID-19 H.R. 8826 - The Resetting the Impact Act (TRIA) of 2020 - Sewell - amends the IMPACT Act of 2014 H.R. 8840 - Medicare Sequester COVID Moratorium Act - Schneider - extend temporary Medicare sequestration H.R. 8871 - COVID HCBS Relief Act of 2020 - Dingell - funding for state Medicaid programs HCBS H.R. 8934 - Community Integration Act of 2020 - Cartwright - Medicaid HCBS H.R. 8958 - Supporting Best Practices for Healthy Moms Act - Kelly - guidance for state Medicaid programs on maternal health H.R. 9002 - To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide States an option to cover a children's program of all-inclusive coordinated care (ChiPACC) under Medicaid program - DeGette - Childrens health under Medicaid H.R. 9006 - To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage under the Medicaid program under such title of routine patient costs associated with participation in certain clinical trials - Garcia - Medicaid coverage of clinical trials H.R. 9035 - Permanency for Audio-Only Telehealth Act - Smith - Audio only telehealth in Medicare S. 2846 - Protecting Patients Transportation to Care Act - Isakson - Medicaid coverage of transportation S. 2911 - Seniors Prescription Drug Relief Act of 2019 - Cassidy - Part D smoothing S. 3013 - Encouraging Innovative Benefit Design to Lower Costs for Seniors Act - Crapo - offer additional prescription drugs under Part D S. 3220 - Ensuring Access to Direct Support Professionals Act - Portman - Medicaid coverage in acute care hospitals S. 3238 - Preventive Home Visit Act - King - preventative home visits S. 3277 - HCBS Infrastructure Improvement Act - Casey - access to community based services S. 3353 - Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act of 2020 - Cassidy - Medicare coverage of kidney transplant services S. 3384 - Lowering Prescription Drug Prices for America's Seniors and Families Act of 2020 - McSally - Medicare Part D drug pricing negotiation S. 3399 - FCHIP Extension Act - Tester - rural health S. 3442 - Care for COVID-19 Act - Booker - COVID-19 cost sharing S. 3443 - Improving Coverage and Care for Mothers Act - Casey - Medicaid coverage for all pregnant and postpartum women S. 3447 - RUSH Act of 2020 - Thune - Medicare coverage for certain services in hospital emergency departments S. 3466 - ACCESS for Biosimilars Act of 2020 - McSally - eliminates cost sharing for biosimilar biological products furnished under part B of the Medicare program S. 3615 - Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Extension Act of 2020 - Murkowski - rural community hospital demonstration program S. 3665 - Save Rural Hospitals Act of 2020 - Alexander - Medicare hospital payments S. 3750 - Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payments Improvement Act of 2020 - Shaheen - COVID S. 3881 - CHIPPER Act - Casey - CHIP, COVID S. 3998 - HEALTH Act of 2020 - Hyde-Smith - telehealth S. 3999 - Mental and Behavioral Health Connectivity Act - King - Mental Health S. 4108 - A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to increase Federal support to State Medicaid programs during economic downturns - Casey - FMAP S. 4151 - SOS: Sustaining Outpatient Services Act - Hoeven - Medicare OPPS coverage S. 4230 - Telehealth Expansion Act of 2020 - Wyden - Telehealth mental health services in Medicare S. 4274 - Legalizing Drug Discounts for Seniors Act of 2020 - Paul - exclude discounts for covered part D drugs from the anti-kickback prohibition S. 4295 - Public Health Emergency Pass-Through Payment Fairness Act of 2020 - Paul - access to drugs and devices under Medicare S. 4358 - Stronger Medicaid Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic Act - Bennet - Medicaid coverage for vaccines and treatment for COVID-19 for uninsured without cost-sharing S. 4375 - Telehealth Modernization Act - Alexander - make permanent Medicare telehealth flexibilities S. 4423 - COVID-19 Hospice Respite Care Relief Act of 2020 - Brown - Medicare hospice care S. 4448- Fair Drug Prices for Kids Act - Warner - extend Medicaid drug rebate program to CHIP S. 4574 - Bringing Enhanced Treatments and Therapies to ESRD Recipients Kidney Care Act - Young - integrated care for Medicare beneficiaries with ESRD S. 4690 - Maternal Immunization Enhancement Act - Hassan - Medicaid and maternal health S. 4705 - Maternal Immunization Coverage Act - Cassidy - Medicaid coverage S. 4717 - Accelerating Kids Access to Care Act - Grassley - Medicaid enrollment S. 4742 - CLINICAL TREATMENT Act - Burr - Medicaid coverage S. 4825 - Ensuring Access to COVID-19 Vaccines for Seniors Act - Reed - Medicare coverage of COVID-19 vaccines S. 4840 - Ensuring Parity in MA for Audio-Only Telehealth Act of 2020 -Roberts - audio-only risk adjustment in Medicare Advantage S. 4859 - Connected MOM Act - Cassidy - expanded coverage of remote physiologic devices and related services under Medicaid S. 4864 - HAPI Act - Brown - Medicaid coverage of adult vaccines S. 4944 - Equality in Medicare and Medicaid Treatment Act of 2020 - Booker - CMMI models for SDOH in Medicare/Medicaid S. 4949 - Supporting Best Practices for Healthy Moms Act - Toomey - guidance for state Medicaid programs on maternal health S. 4957 - COVID HCBS Relief Act of 2020 - Casey - funding for state Medicaid programs HCBS S. 5007 - Holding Providers Harmless From Medicare Cuts During COVID-19 Act of 2020 - Boozman - increase in Medicare part B payment S. 5044 - Bill to amend title XVIII of the SSA to establish requirement with respect to the use of prior authorization under the Medicare Advantage plans - Brown - Prior authorization S. 5077 - A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to adjust the limitations on Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments - Cornyn - Medicaid DSH payments Regulatory Issues: Ongoing implementation issues for the Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Part D prescription drug programs, including risk adjustment methodology, network adequacy and provider directories, encounter data and other data-related issues, and risk adjustment data validation (RADV) audit issues including proposed RADV regulation for MA; bidding and payment issues (including MA rate assumptions, MA coding intensity, MA Secondary Payer issues, Part D reinsurance, Part D low income subsidies, Part D direct and indirect remuneration (DIR), and audits); calendar year 2021 policy and technical regulation for MA and Part D; MA and Part D proposed rule on drug pricing changes for 2020; Part D reform, out of pocket limits; issues related to Medicare for All, Medicare buy-in and public option; CMSs price transparency proposal for direct-to-consumer advertisements; issues relating to 2022 Rate Notice; Executive Orders relating to international pricing, Part D rebates, insulin costs, and importation; issues related to MLTSS; issues related to removal of safe harbor protection for rebates; issues relating to COVID-19, including testing; issues related to audio-only telehealth; issues related to addressing the social determinants of health, including housing, transportation, nutrition, and educational opportunities; issues related to Medicaid presumptive eligibility and continuous eligibility; issues relating to Medicaid best price; in-home health risk assessments; Medicare Medical Loss Ratio issues; issues related to changes to prior authorization regulations, electronic documentation, and related issues; issues relating to sequestration under the Medicare Advantage and Part D programs; issues related to health insurance tax for MA and Part D plans; implications of physician fee schedule on MA; application process, audits to evaluate compliance with MA and Part D program rules, benefit design rules, enrollment rules, requirements for notice and denial forms, 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, fraud and abuse compliance including training; contracting issues for Dual Eligible 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, Part D coverage gap discount program, including employer group waiver plan (EGWP) issues, and other operational issues; issues raised by Part D coverage of new specialty drugs, the Part D non-interference policy and related issues (e.g., preferred pharmacy and any willing pharmacy requirements, standards for network pharmacy reimbursement, and policies regarding sponsor negotiation of pharmacy price concessions); issues related to the international price index; issues related to child and maternal health; issues related to Medicaid supplemental and disproportionate share hospital (DSH) funding; issues related to Medicaid funding for territories; issues related to medical management; issues relating to MA supplemental benefits; Medication Therapy Management Program requirements and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) Demonstration; MA EGWP issues; CMMI's health plan models; Part D requirements for offering basic and enhanced alternative plans; MA and Part D systems issues affecting enrollment and disenrollment processing and payment and other operational issues; issues relating to MA and Part D Star Rating system including measures, the methodology for calculating ratings, and the role of the ratings for payment purposes; implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 changes to the Part D coverage gap; functionality of the Medicare Personal Plan Finder and Drug Plan Finder; National Medicare Education Program; Medicare demonstration program on performance-based payments for physician groups; physician quality reporting initiative; issues relating to Medicare coverage policy and national coverage decisions; new payment system for physicians under MACRA, including implications for MA and Part D plans; Medicare clinical trials; Medicare/Medicaid integration for dual eligibles, including implementation of the Capitated Financial Alignment Demonstration and related issues (e.g., quality ratings); Medicaid managed care regulations and policies, including CMS's substantial revisions to the managed care regulations, mental health parity rules, the Medicaid managed care actuarial soundness standard, quality oversight, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), grievance and appeals processes, fraud and abuse compliance, beneficiary information requirements, treatment of Medicaid health plan member hospital days in the upper payment limit calculation; policies affecting State Medicaid funding, including block grants, the calculation of the federal medical assistance (federal matching) percentage (FMAP), and intergovernmental transfers (IGTs); coordination of benefits with state Medicaid programs; Medicaid prescription drug cost issues affecting Medicaid health plans including issues raised by Medicaid coverage of new specialty drugs; health plan-related Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) issues, including eligibility and outreach issues and CHIP reauthorization; implementation of Medicaid changes made in Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, including Medicaid managed care organization provider tax issues; standards for electronic prescribing; implementation of Medicaid changes of interest to Medicaid health plans made in the ACA including Medicaid expansion, the managed care organization (MCO) prescription drug rebate provisions, minimum payments to primary care providers (PCPs), interactions between the Medicaid program and health insurance exchanges, and Medicaid and CHIP maintenance of effort (MOE) requirements; implications of the health insurer fee for Medicaid health plans; issues related to Medicaid Managed long-term care including home and community-based waiver services (HCBS); expanding the availability of Medicare Advantage and Medicaid health plan telemedicine programs; implications of the new non-discrimination rules for health plans participating in public programs; issues related to Medigap coverage; issues related to business continuity in relation to pandemics or natural events (e.g., hurricane, tornado, etc.); cybersecurity; provider directories; value-based insurance design models; issues relating to prescription drug price blueprint; Part D prescriber enrollment requirements; Part D recovery audit contractor programs; issues relating to enrollment of beneficiaries with ESRD into MA plans; issues related to health homes for children with medically complex conditions; socioeconomic status impacts on star ratings related to MA and Part D programs; and other issues relating to health care reform implementation.

H.R. 8840, Medicare Sequester COVID Moratorium Act, all provisions H.R. 8702, Holding Providers Harmless From Medicare Cuts During COVID-19 Act of 2020, all provisions S. 5007, Holding Providers Harmless From Medicare Cuts During COVID-19 Act of 2020, all provisions H.R. 7154, Outpatient Therapy Modernization and Stabilization Act, all provisions H.R. 3107, Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act of 2019, all provisions S. 5044, Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act of 2020y, all provisions H.R. 8727, Telehealth Modernization Act, all provisions S. 4375, Telehealth Modernization Act, all provisions H.R. 7663, Protecting Access to Post-COVID-19 Telehealth Act of 2020, all provisions H.R. 7391, Protect Telehealth Access Act of 2020, all provisions H.R. 1301, Mental Health Telemedicine Expansion Act, all provisions H.R. 3417, Beneficiary Education Tools, Telehealth, and Extenders Reauthorization (BETTER) Act of 2019, all provisions H.R. 5201, Telemental Health Expansion Act of 2020, provisions relating to 1834(m) of the Social Security Act; geographic and originating sites H.R. 7233, Knowing the Efficiency and Efficacy of Permanent (KEEP) Telehealth Options Act of 2020, all provisions H.R. 5172, Non-Opioids Prevent Addiction In the Nation (NOPAIN) Act, All provisions S. 3067, Non-Opioids Prevent Addiction In the Nation (NOPAIN) Act, All provisions H.R. 3414, Opioid Workforce Act of 2019, all provisions H.R. 7791, Value in Health Care Act of 2020, provisions relating to qualifying APM physician thresholds H.R. 6837, Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payments Improvement Act of 2020, all provisions S. 3750, Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payments Improvement Act, all provisions H.R. 8505, To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for a one-year waiver of budget neutrality adjustments under the Medicare physician fee schedule, and for other purposes, all provisions H.R. 884, Medicare Mental Health Access Act, all provisions H.R. 945, Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2019, all provisions H.R. 6744, Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meals Demonstration Pilot Act of 2020, all provisions H.R. 4004, Social Determinants Accelerator Act of 2019, all provisions H.R. 4932, Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act of 2019, all provisions S. 2741, Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act of 2019, all provisions H.R. 5534, Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act of 2020, all provisions S. 3353, Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act of 2020, all provisions H.R. 3, Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, provisions related to PBM and prescription drug price transparency H.R. 19, Lower Costs, More Cures Act of 2019, provisions related to PBM and prescription drug price transparency H.R. 4996, Helping Medicaid Offer Maternity Services (MOMS) Act of 2020, all provisions H.R. 6090, Physician Shortage GME Cap Flex Act of 2020, all provisions H.R. 6142, Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2020, all provisions Medicare program: P.L. 114-10 Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) implementation/Accountable Care Organizations/APM thresholds Medicare program: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)/Prior authorization provider and patient burdens/patient electronic access to health information Medicare program: P.L. 113-93 Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA)/Imaging appropriate use criteria/Radiation Oncology APM Medicare program: FY 2021 Inpatient Rehab Facility Prospective Payment System (IRF PPS)/scope of practice issues Medicare program: CY 2021 physician fee schedule/E&M services/Budget neutrality/Part B/Sequester Medicare program: Alternative payment models (APMs) Medicare program: Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS)/cost/quality/interoperability/hardship exemption Medicare program: Regulatory relief/Advanced APMs, prior authorization, and utilization management Medicare program: Shared Savings Program Medicare program: Quality Payment Program/prior authorization/electronic funds transfer Medicare program: Surprise medical billing Medicare program: Medicare-For-All Medicare program: Electronic Health Records (EHR) Certification Medicare program: 21st Century Cures Act Medicare program: Quality payment program/physician burdens Medicare program: National Coverage determination/validated home blood pressure monitors Medicare program: Health IT/physician burden Medicare program: Drug pricing Medicare program: Most favored nation drug pricing Medicare program: Provider compliance/regulatory relief Medicare program: Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership (PECOS) enrollment/revalidation Medicare and Medicaid programs: 21st Century Cures Act/health data and privacy Medicaid program: CMS proposed regulation Medicaid Program Medicaid program: FMAP increases Medicaid program: Interoperability

S. 3988: The Enhancing Preparedness Through Telehealth Act; all provisions. S. 2741/ H.R. 4932: CONNECT for Health Act; all provisions. S. 5007/ H.R. 8702: The Holding Providers Harmless From Medicare Cuts During COVID-19 Act of 2020 S. 5044/ H.R. 3107: Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act; all provisions. H.R. 133: The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Division CC Health Care Extenders. H.R. 7391, The Protect Telehealth Access Act; all provisions. H.R. 7663: Protecting Access to Post-COVID-19 Telehealth Act; all provisions. H.R. 8505: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for a one-year waiver of budget neutrality adjustments under the Medicare physician fee schedule, and for other purposes; all provisions. Supporting the implementation of CMSs final rule on Evaluation and Management (E/M) billing codes. Supporting policies to address the COVID-19 pandemic, including expanding telemedicine, support for physician practices, and regulatory relief. Supporting a permanent expansion of telehealth in Medicare, including eliminating on originating site and geographic restrictions. Supporting policies to address prescription drug costs, including supporting direct negotiation in Medicare, improving drug pricing transparency, extending negotiated Rx discounts to be passed through to patients cost-sharing requirements, and capping beneficiary out-of-pocket costs in Medicare Part D. Issues associated with Qualified Clinical Data Registry implementation, measures, and interoperability. Improvements to the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) of 2015. Medicare coverage of oxygen therapy for cluster headaches. Advocating for reform to stark and anti-kickback laws to promote value-based payment arrangements. Opposing Most Favored Nation Model for Medicare Part B Drugs and Biologicals. Supporting extending moratorium on Medicare sequestration cuts.