Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2022

Telehealth; COVID-19; Health Equity Issues; Mental Health Parity; Affordability; Coverage of COVID-19 Tests, Vaccines, and Treatments; Inflation Reduction Act; No Surprises Act; COVID-19 Transition; End of Public Health Emergency; Qualifying Payment Amount; Section 204 Reporting HR 432 (117th Congress), Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2021, by Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA). To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for the coverage of marriage and family therapist services and mental health counselor services under part B of the Medicare program. HR 959 (117th Congress), Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021, by Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL). To end preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity in the United States and close disparities in maternal health outcomes, and for other purposes. HR 7585 (117th Congress), Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2022, by Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL). To improve the health of minority individuals. HR 7666 (117th Congress), Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022, by Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ). Amends the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize certain programs relating to mental health and substance use disorders. HR 7740 (117th Congress), Employee and Retiree Access to Justice Act of 2022, by Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA). To amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to provide that any mandatory pre-dispute or coerced post-dispute arbitration clause, class action waiver, representation waiver, or discretionary clause with respect to a plan is unenforceable, to prohibit any such clause or waiver from being included in a plan document or other agreement with plan participants, and for other purposes. HR 7767 (117th Congress), Strengthening Behavioral Health Benefits Act, by Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT). To amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to provide for the enforcement of mental health and substance abuse disorder parity requirements, and for other purposes. HR 7780 (117th Congress), Mental Health Matters Act, by Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA). To support the behavioral needs of students and youth, invest in the school-based behavioral health workforce, and ensure access to mental health and substance use disorder benefits. S 346 (117th Congress), Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021, by Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ). A bill to end preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity in the United States and close disparities in maternal health outcomes, and for other purposes. S 828 (117th Congress), Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2021, by Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY). To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for the coverage of marriage and family therapist services and mental health counselor services under part B of the Medicare program. S 4486 (117th Congress), Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2022, by Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ). To improve the health of minority individuals.

Client expense: $160,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: 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), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), SENATE, White House Office

Issue: Educate Congress and the administration on academic medicines missions, including education, research, patient care, GME, workforce, and physician shortages in rural and urban communities. Draft Graduate Medical Education Reform Act Issue: Support increased funding for the National Health Service Corps, Teaching Health Center GME, and National Disaster Medical Service (NDMS) demonstration pilot. Support increased Medicare support for Graduate Medical Education/physician training. Issues: Educate Congress and the administration about the role of academic medicine in the provision of mental and behavioral health care, including initiatives to respond to the opioid epidemic. Support measures to expand access to mental health care and substance use disorder treatment, including funding for training on substance use disorders, pain management, and safe prescribing practices, enhance enforcement of mental health parity laws, increased financial support for integrated behavioral health models, and the removal of regulatory barriers to telehealth-enabled mental health care, including electronic interprofessional consults (eConsults). Support Senate Finance Committee proposal to provide 400 additional Medicare-supported graduate medical education slots for psychiatry and psychiatry sub-specialties. H.R. 1384/ S.445 Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act of 2021 Issue: Support suspension of waiver requirement for certain providers to prescribe buprenorphine. H.R. 2067 Medication Access and Training Expansion Act of 2021 Issue: Oppose legislative mandates dictating medical education curriculum on pain management and addiction. H.R. 7236 Strengthen Kids Mental Health Now Act Issue: Support increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates for pediatric mental health services through a 100% federal match. P.L. 116-22, Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2019 Issues: Support the Hospital Preparedness Program and the reauthorization of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act. Support increased funding authorization levels. Issue: Educate Congress on how the 340B Drug Pricing Program helps safety-net providers to fulfill their missions and care for patients and communities. Support measures to preserve and strengthen the 340B Drug Pricing Program and oppose efforts to reduce the scope of the program, including not providing 340B discounts on covered drugs purchased at community pharmacies. H.R. 4390 Preserving Rules Ordered for the Entities Covered Through 340B Act of 2021 (PROTECT 340B Act) Issue: Support measures to prevent pharmacy benefit managers and commercial insurers from discriminating against 340B covered entities. H.R. 3203/S. 773 Issue: Support policy to allow 340B DSH hospitals to remain eligible to participate in the program throughout the current public health emergency even if their DSH adjustment falls below the current threshold due to changes in payor mix as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Issue: Oppose insurance plans that do not meet Affordable Care Act requirements. Issue: Support increased interoperability and exchange of electronic health information and delayed enforcement of information blocking rule until comprehensive guidance is issued. Issue: Support the ongoing refinement of the two new mandatory alternative payment models, the Radiation Oncology Model and End-stage Renal Disease Treatment Choices Model, to better incentivize high-quality care for all patients. H.R. 4128/ S. 2209 Verifying Accurate Leading-edge IVCT Development (VALID) Act of 2021 S. 4348, Food and Drug Administration Safety and Landmark Advancements (FDASLA) Act of 2022 Issue: Educate Congress on development of Laboratory Developed Tests at academic medical centers and oppose policies that would increase burdensome regulations and negatively impact patients access to care by allowing Food and Drug Administration regulation of the development of Laboratory Developed Tests at academic medical centers. S. 4348, Food and Drug Administration Safety and Landmark Advancements (FDASLA) Act of 2022 H.R. 7667, Food and Drug Amendments of 2022 (FDA22) Issue: Support promotion of data sharing and clinical trials results reporting. Support increased clinical trials diversity. Issue: Development of Enhanced Primary Care Pilot Act proposal Issue: Support initiatives of hospitals to promote affordable housing in local communities and eliminate other social determinants of health to improve health equity. H.R. 2503 Social Determinants Accelerator Act of 2021 Issue: Support grants to address social determinants of health H.R. 7585 / S. 4486, Health Equity and Accountability Act Issue: Support programs to improve health equity and address social determinants of health. Issue: Support incentives to encourage the inclusion of implicit bias training in medical education and residency training. Issue: Support congressional investment in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) models to reduce maternal mortality and improve maternal health. Issue: Support maternal health initiatives to expand coverage for postpartum women and expand demonstration project grants. H.R. 959 Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021 S. 1695 / H.R. 4387 Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act S. 1491/ H.R. 769 Rural MOMs Act H.R. 4387 Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act of 2021 H.R. 5376, Build Back Better Act H.R. 925 / S. 347 Data to Save Moms Act Issue: Support legislative efforts to improve maternal health and reduce rates of maternal mortality, including the Momnibus. Support legislative initiatives to improve data collection to improve maternal health equity. P.L. 117-159, Bipartisan Safer Communities Act Issue: Support policies to promote firearm safety, universal background checks, violence prevention programs, extreme risk protection orders, child access safety laws, reinstating assault weapons ban, data infrastructure, hospital based and community violence intervention programs, and programs to address mental and behavioral health impact of gun violence. Issue: Support funding for Community Violence Interventions/ Hospital Based Violence Intervention Programs P.L. 117-105, Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act Issue: Support grants directed at improving clinician burnout and well-being. Issue: Provide feedback on implementation of the Provider Relief Fund. Support extension for use of PRF funds. Issue: Support improvements to the Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payment Programs, including delaying recoupment of MAAP loans. Issue: Support extension of public health emergency declaration. Issue: Provide feedback on COVID-19 and pandemic response. Provide feedback on monkeypox response including testing. S. 3799, PREVENT Pandemics Act Issue: Provide feedback on pandemic preparedness legislation, urge inclusion of provisions to support academic medical centers preparedness activities. Issue: Support establishment of regional pandemic response centers, stronger linkages between public health and academic medicine, and the role of medical students and academic medical centers in administering COVID vaccines. H.R. 8131 Increasing Competition for Medical Residency Act Issue: Educate Congress on the medical education and training continuum, the annual residency Match, and the role of the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) in medical education and residency. Issue: Support efforts of academic medical centers to respond to public health threats such as monkeypox and COVID-19. Urge establishment and implementation of robust national testing strategy; functional, redundant, and transparent supply chain; improved federal coordination; investments in public health and health care human and other resources; data modernization initiatives; and other actions to improve current and future pandemic response. H.R. 708, S. 168, Temporary Reciprocity to Ensure Access to Treatment (TREAT) Act Issue: Support for a temporary uniform licensing standard for all practitioners in all states throughout the COVID-19 public health emergency S. 674 Public Health Infrastructure Saves Lives Act Issue: Support investments in core public health infrastructure. Issue: Support ensuring patients are put first, that conscience protections align with medical professionalism standards, and oppose interference in the patient-physician relationship. Issue: Support increased interoperability and exchange of electronic health information. Support delay of enforcement beyond April 2021. H.R. 6000, Cures 2.0 Act Issue: Provide feedback on provisions related to public health, patients and caregivers, FDA, CMS, and research, and ARPA-H. Issue: Promote strategies to strengthen the health, public health, and research workforces. H.R. 3671, Doctors of Community Act Issue: Discuss authorization of the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program. Issue: Provide guidance on the implementation of the No Surprises Act. Issue: Provide feedback on proposed modifications to the HIPAA privacy rule. H.R. 5035, S. 2982 Child Suicide Prevention and Lethal Means Safety Act Issue: Support legislation to provide grants to improve suicide prevention and lethal means safety. Issue: Inform Congress and Administration about medical education on caring for older adults, nutrition, climate change, stigma around addiction, reproductive health, and accelerated medical education training programs. Issue: Provide feedback on efforts of the academic medicine community to address climate change and decarbonization. H.R. 7152/ S.3534, The Tracking Pathogens Act Issue: Support expansion of CDC activities related to genomic sequencing of pathogens. Issue: Support reignition of Cancer Moonshot. H.R. 7961 - Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act Issue: Support statutory protections against violence and intimidation for healthcare workers and provide grants for hospital programs aimed at preventing violence in healthcare settings. Issue: Support a one-year pause in military medical billet reductions in the Military Health System.

Client expense: $912,077 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Executive Office of the President (EOP), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Natl Drug Control Policy (NDCP), Office of the Vice President of the United States, SENATE, Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), White House Office