HOPE GARRIS

Support for increased National Institutes of Health appropriations during the upcoming consideration of appropriations for the NIH; Support for H.R. 315 / S. 748; legislation to extend the suspension of Medicare budget sequestration cuts for the duration of the Covid 19 Public Health Emergency

Support for H.R. 8702,Holding Providers Harmless from Medicare Cuts During COVID-19 Act of 2020, to provide a two year halt to provider payment cuts under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule

Support for H.R. 8702,Holding Providers Harmless from Medicare Cuts During COVID-19 Act of 2020, to provide a two year halt to provider payment cuts under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule; Support for audiologists to be able to bill certain G codes (functional reporting codes) under Medicare.

Support for H.R. 8702, the Holding Providers Harmless from Medicare Cuts During COVID-19 Act of 2020," to provide a reprieve from physician payment cuts for two years.

Support for H.R. 4056, the Medicare Audiologist Access and Services Act, to allow Medicare beneficiaries to receive direct access to diagnostic and therapeutic services of audiologists. Request to CMS to encourage use of regulatory flexibility to recognize audiologists as eligible providers of telehealth services.

Support for H.R. 4056, the Medicare Audiologist Access and Services Act, to allow Medicare beneficiaries to receive direct access to diagnostic and therapeutic services of audiologists. Support for revision of evaluation and management code structure changes to minimize impact of code changes on providers, like audiologists, who cannot bill evaluation and management codes. Support for Relative Value Update Committee relative value unit (RVUs) recommendations for audiology codes including aural rehabilitation and computerized dynamic posturography.

Support for H.R. 4056, the Medicare Audiologist Access and Services Act, to allow Medicare beneficiaries to receive direct access to diagnostic and therapeutic services of audiologists.

Discussions with CMS about physician work values for new myocardial strain code, concerns about the proposed restructuring of evaluation and management services, and accreditation of advanced diagnostic imaging services.

Input to CMS regarding inappropriate proposed reimbursement cuts for computerized dynamic posturography codes; dialogue with CMS to urge the Agency to allow audiologists to bill for online digital evaluation services

Support for increased NIH appropriations (draft FY 2020 Labor/HHS/Education appropriations bill - not numbered as of this filing).

Communication with CMS to raise concerns about CMS process for identifying potentially misvalued codes under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.

Concerns about cardiology specific impact under CMS's proposed revision of evaluation and management services structure and documentation revisions

fair and adequate Medicare physician payment for echocardiography services, placement of echocardiography codes in the hospital outpatient prospective payment system ambulatory payment classification groups, site of service payment differentials for echocardiography services

Medicare reimbursement for imaging services

Payment for imaging services

health care access for minorities Stark in office ancillary services exception imaging policy physician payment policy

Medicare physician payment, sequestration cuts to physicians

Medicare payment reform, budget sequestration cuts to physicians

coverage of microvolt t wave alternana

coverage of microvolt T-wave alternans (one contact made - client terminated)

Medicare physician payment (SGR) cuts, Medicare reform, medical imaging reimbursement cuts, incentives under Medicare to reduce health care disparities, self referral issues for advanced diagnostic imaging services

Medicare physician reimbursement (SGR), Medicare reimbursement for advanced diagnostic imaging services

Medicare physician payment cuts (SGR) and imaging reimbursement

Medicare physician payment reform (SGR), reimbursement for imaging services, Medicare payment incentives to address disparities in health care

Medicare physician payment, imaging payment cuts (multiple procedure payment reduction policy)

Medicare payment reform, physician payment cuts under sequestration, imaging payment cuts (multiple procedure payment reduction policy)

Medicare physician payment (imaging payment cuts - multiple procedure payment reduction)

Medicare physician payment reform (SGR), physician payment cuts under sequestration, payment for imaging services (multiple procedure payment reductions)

scientific evidence supporting appropriate use of cardiovascular magnetic resonance

Disparities in care, access to care for minorities, health equity and accountability act, domestic production of medical isotopes, regulation of cigars, Medicaid funding, sponsored congressional briefing on health equity, support for inclusion of minority populations in research, medical research funding, support for prevention.

Submission of nomination for the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission

Submission of MedPAC nomination

Medicare physician payment, Sustainable Growth Rate formula repeal; 5010 compliance standards for Medicare claims submission; Repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board, Domestic production of medical isotopes; Re-introduction of Cardio-Gen 82; Scheduled meeting with MedPAC commissioner re nuclear cardiology, MedCAC nomination submission

Medicare physician payment, repeal of Sustainable Growth Rate formula Submitted nominations to CMS (MedCAC open slot ) and FDA (medical imaging drugs panel open slot)

Medicare physician payment - support for elimination of the Sustainable Growth Rate formula, support for no reductions in imaging payment Submitted nomination letters to CMS and FDA for federal advisory panel open slots (MedCAC and FDA Medical Imaging Drugs)

Medicare physician payment - repeal of the Sustainable Growth Rate formula

support for passage of the Health Equity Accountability Act support for health care research and prevention to address disparities/health inequities funding for the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Medicare reimbursement, advanced diagnostic imaging reimbursement, medical isotope shortages, training requirements for technologists

Medicare physician payment reform - repeal of SGR and halt to reimbursement cuts for Medicare physicians, halt to imaging cuts Health Equity and Accountability Act Atrial fibrillation awareness - H.Res. 295 H.R. 1639 - cigar manufacturing

Medicare physician payment reform - repeal of SGR, halt to Medicare payment cuts Halt to additional Medicare reimbursement cuts for advanced diagnostic imaging services H.R. 3269, legislation to repeal the multiple procedure payment reduction for the professional component of imaging services

coverage and reimbursement for cardiac rhythm monitoring placement of new heart rhythm monitoring CPT codes in ambulatory payment classification groups

Medicare physician payment reform - repeal of SGR, halt to Medicare payment cuts Halt to additional Medicare reimbursement cuts for advanced diagnostic imaging services H.R. 3269, legislation to repeal the multiple procedure payment reduction for the professional component of imaging services Hospital Outpatient Payment for Cardiac CT services

coverage and reimbursement for cardiac rhythm monitoring placement of new heart rhythm monitoring CPT codes in ambulatory payment classification groups

coverage and reimbursement for advanced diagnostic imaging services; prior authorization policies for Medicare imaging services; Medicare physician payment reform (SGR)

coverage and reimbursement for advanced diagnostic imaging services; prior authorization policies for advanced diagnostic imaging services

access to health care; opposition to de-funding health care reform; tobacco policy; Medicare physician payment reform; medical imaging reimbursement; H.Con.Res 295, supporting increased awareness of atrial fibrillation; opposition to the Independent Payment Advisory Board

Coverage and reimbursement policy for heart rhythm monitoring devices; suggested reimbursement levels

Medicare coverage and payment for cardiac rhythm/event monitoring

reimbursement for heart rhythm monitoring services

health care access for racial and ethnic minorities, imaging cuts, Medicare physician payment, atrial fibrillation awareness, health equity and accountability act, federal budget cuts for minority health

reimbursement cuts in medical imaging, equipment utilization rate assumption, Medicare physician reimbursement, reimbursement for cardiac computed tomography services

imaging reimbursement cuts, equipment utilization rate assumption, Medicare physician payment

No activity to report

coverage and reimbursement for heart rhythm monitoring services

in office ancillary services exception, Stark law health care disparities and health care workforce improvements/incentives atrial fibrillation awareness health care budget cuts under FY 2011 Continuing Budget Resolution

minority health care workforce improvements/incentives health care disparities health care budget cuts under FY 2011 Continuing Budget Resolution atrial fibrillation awareness

Coverage of cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging/cardiovascular magnetic resonance angiography

Ambulatory Payment Classification issues - cardiac computed tomography Medicare physician payment

Medicare physician payment (H.R. 4994) and hospital outpatient prospective payment system reimbursement for cardiovascular computed tomography services

Medicare physician payment/H.R. 4994, coverage of magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography

medicare physician payment - H.R. 4994

Medicare Physician Payment - H.R. 4994

Medicare physician payment (SGR fix), H.R. 4371 (to mitigate cuts to cardiology payment), imaging payment policy (self referral, prior authorization, payment cuts for advanced imaging services, effects of payment policy on health care disparities)

imaging payment policy, Medicare imaging demonstration grant support letter, Medicare physician payment (SGR fix), gadolinium based contrast agent regulation

Medicare physician payment (SGR patch), H.R. 4371 (correct cardiology payment cuts), imaging paymnet policy, imaging demo grant support letter

physician payment, halt to SGR cuts

Medicare physician payment - halt to SGR cuts

reimbursement for imaging services, specifically cardiovascular computed tomography physician payment reform, halt to SGR cut

coverage policy for cardiovascular magnetic resonance

health care disparities production of medical isotopes

H.R. 4872 and H.R. 3590, health care reform bills, imaging equipment utilization rate assumption, Medicare physician payment reform/halt to cuts to cardiology and radiology

health care reform bill H.R. 3590, H.R. 4872; minority health care disparities, comparative effectiveness research, physician workforce, Medicare physician payment reform/halt to cuts, H.R. 4371, halt to cardiology cuts

H.R. 3590 and H.R. 4872 - health care reform, imaging equipment utilization rate, physician payment reform/halt to payment cuts to cardiology, coverage of cardiovascular magnetic resonance

health care reform bill H.R. 3590, H.R. 4872; minority health care disparities, comparative effectiveness research, physician workforce, Medicare physician payment reform/halt to cuts

H.R. 3961 - physician payment reform; H.R. 3962, health care disparities, minority health care, comparative effectiveness research, health care financing

Health Care Disparities / Research Physician Reimbursement Financing Health Care Reform

H.R. 3962, Affordable Health Care for America Act; imaging policy - equipment utilization rate assumption Overall Medicare physician reimbursement policy (halt to SGR cut) and imaging specific reimbursement

H.R. 3962, Affordable Health Care for America Act, equipment utilization; Reimbursement for cardiac MRI with blood flow Accreditation quality standards for imagers

equipment utilization rate assumption, imaging policy and appropriate use, imaging and Stark self referral policy, radiology benefits management, HR 3200 imaging reimbursement cuts

Equipment utilization rate assumption, imaging and appropriateness, imaging and self referral policies, HR 3200 Imaging reimbursement cuts, Senate Coverage of blood flow under Medicare MRA coverage policy

imaging policy, equipment utilization, radiology benefits managers, health quality initiatives, physician reimbursement, imaging reimbursement, coding and coverage of coronary computed tomography angiography

imaging policy, physician reimbursement, coverage of blood flow for cardiac mri, equipment utilization, radiology benefits management companies, health quality initiatives

Coding, coverage and reimbursement of cardiovascular magnetic resonance

Coverage of coronary computed tomography angiography Comparative effectiveness research funding Imaging growth/utilization

Medicare coverage and payment for cardiac rhythm/event monitoring

coding and reimbursement, electrophysiology placed inquiries with FDA re advisory panel vacancies

coverage and reimbursement of cardiovascular computed tomography angiography

coverage of blood flow in cardiovascular magnetic resonance reimbursement

Medicare physician payment, imaging policy, self referral policy

Medicare reform, Medicare physician reimbursement, coverage and reimbursement of coronary computed tomography angiography, imaging policy, self referral policy, research priorities

physician payment, self referral policy

Medicare reform, physician reimbursement, obtain appropriate coverage and reimbursement for magnetic resonance ocular blood flow

Medicare reform, prevention of Medicare physician payment cuts Coverage of coronary computed tomography angiography imaging and self referral

Medicare reform, prevention of cuts in Medicare physician payment Reimbursement for cardiac magnetic resonance flow codes

coverage of cardiac computed tomography angiography

coding/coverage/reimbursement modifications for cardiovascular magnetic resonance