LORI SCHOR

HR 452 Medicare Decisions Accountability Act of 2011, to repeal the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act providing for the Independent Payment Advisory Board; HR 541 Pay for all your Undocumented Procedures (PAY UP!) Act of 2011, amends the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to make permanent the program of federal reimbursement of emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens. Requires a re-allotment of unspent program funds in a fiscal year among eligible providers in full expenditure states according to a specified ratio. Requires addition of such funds to the aggregate amount available for allotment for the succeeding fiscal year in the event there is no full expenditure state; HR 876 and S 58 The Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by establishing safe nurse staffing levels at certain Medicare providers; HR 1159, to repeal certain provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act relating to the limitation on the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals and to transparency reports and reporting of physician ownership or investment interests; HR 1186, a bill to repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals; S 374 Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services under the Medicare program; HR 1398 Rural Hospital Protection Act, lgislation which would amend the Social Security Act to ensure that the full cost of certain provider taxes are considered allowable costs for purposes of Medicare reimbursements to CAHs; Urging congress to establish patient and facility criteria to distinguish LTACHs from other care settings; Raising concerns about CMS flawed methodology that overstate the effect of the documentation and coding changes to PPS payments, ensuring that CMS does not go beyond its charge of ensuring budget-neutral implementation of MS-DRGs; Working with CMS to clarify requirements and ensure that the systems to register for the meaningful use incentives and attest to meeting the requirements are useable, including ensuring that hospitals can, with permission, help their physicians sign up for the program and attest to meeting the requirements; Worked with ONC to modify the certification requirements for EHRs to allow the flexibility promised in the rules for meaningful use; Worked to get legislative fix introduced for ACA provision related to readmission policy to eliminate a computation error and ensure that unrelated and planned readmissions are excluded from the policy; Worked to improve the regulation to implement ACOs; Urging CMS to update, streamline, and modernize the Medicare conditions of participation; Sessions Crowley and Stabenow Murkowski IPPS letter requesting fixes to the coding offset circulated for signature; HR 1852/ S 950 Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2011, the current CHGME authorization expires in September, and the bills would reauthorize the CHGME program for an additional five years, through fiscal year (FY) 2016, at the current authorization level of up to $330 million a year; HR 1683/ S 868 Medicaid MOE, strikes provisions of ACA related to maintaining Medicaid eligibility levels; HR 1543 Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to count a period of receipt of outpatient observation services in a hospital toward satisfying the 3-day inpatient hospital requirement for coverage of skilled nursing facility services under Medicare; Worked on legislation related to HIT payments for hospitals in multi-campus systems.

HR 452 Medicare Decisions Accountability Act of 2011, to repeal the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act providing for the Independent Payment Advisory Board; HR 541 Pay for all your Undocumented Procedures (PAY UP!) Act of 2011, amends the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to make permanent the program of federal reimbursement of emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens. Requires a re-allotment of unspent program funds in a fiscal year among eligible providers in full expenditure states according to a specified ratio. Requires addition of such funds to the aggregate amount available for allotment for the succeeding fiscal year in the event there is no full expenditure state; HR 876 and S 58 The Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by establishing safe nurse staffing levels at certain Medicare providers; HR 1159, to repeal certain provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act relating to the limitation on the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals and to transparency reports and reporting of physician ownership or investment interests; HR 1186, a bill to repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals; S 374 Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services under the Medicare program; HR 1398 Rural Hospital Protection Act, lgislation which would amend the Social Security Act to ensure that the full cost of certain provider taxes are considered allowable costs for purposes of Medicare reimbursements to CAHs; Urging congress to establish patient and facility criteria to distinguish LTACHs from other care settings; Raising concerns about CMS flawed methodology that overstate the effect of the documentation and coding changes to PPS payments, ensuring that CMS does not go beyond its charge of ensuring budget-neutral implementation of MS-DRGs; Working with CMS to clarify requirements and ensure that the systems to register for the meaningful use incentives and attest to meeting the requirements are useable, including ensuring that hospitals can, with permission, help their physicians sign up for the program and attest to meeting the requirements; Worked with ONC to modify the certification requirements for EHRs to allow the flexibility promised in the rules for meaningful use; Worked to get legislative fix introduced for ACA provision related to readmission policy to eliminate a computation error and ensure that unrelated and planned readmissions are excluded from the policy; Worked to improve the regulation to implement ACOs; Urging CMS to update, streamline, and modernize the Medicare conditions of participation; Sessions Crowley and Stabenow Murkowski IPPS letter requesting fixes to the coding offset circulated for signature; HR 1852/ S 950 Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2011, the current CHGME authorization expires in September, and the bills would reauthorize the CHGME program for an additional five years, through fiscal year (FY) 2016, at the current authorization level of up to $330 million a year; HR 1683/ S 868 Medicaid MOE, strikes provisions of ACA related to maintaining Medicaid eligibility levels; HR 1543 Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to count a period of receipt of outpatient observation services in a hospital toward satisfying the 3-day inpatient hospital requirement for coverage of skilled nursing facility services under Medicare; Worked on legislation related to HIT payments for hospitals in multi-campus systems.

HR 452 Medicare Decisions Accountability Act of 2011, to repeal the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act providing for the Independent Payment Advisory Board; HR 541 Pay for all your Undocumented Procedures (PAY UP!) Act of 2011, amends the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to make permanent the program of federal reimbursement of emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens. Requires a re-allotment of unspent program funds in a fiscal year among eligible providers in full expenditure states according to a specified ratio. Requires addition of such funds to the aggregate amount available for allotment for the succeeding fiscal year in the event there is no full expenditure state; HR 876 and S 58 The Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by establishing safe nurse staffing levels at certain Medicare providers; HR 1159, to repeal certain provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act relating to the limitation on the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals and to transparency reports and reporting of physician ownership or investment interests; HR 1186, a bill to repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals; S 374 and HR 2783 Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services under the Medicare program; HR 1398 Rural Hospital Protection Act, legislation which would amend the Social Security Act to ensure that the full cost of certain provider taxes are considered allowable costs for purposes of Medicare reimbursements to CAHs; S 1486 Long-Term Care Hospital Improvement Act of 201, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to clarify and expand on criteria applicable to patient admission to and care furnished in long-term care hospitals participating in the Medicare program; Raising concerns about CMS flawed methodology that overstate the effect of the documentation and coding changes to PPS payments, ensuring that CMS does not go beyond its charge of ensuring budget-neutral implementation of MS-DRGs; Working with CMS to clarify requirements and ensure that the systems to register for the meaningful use incentives and attest to meeting the requirements are useable, including ensuring that hospitals can, with permission, help their physicians sign up for the program and attest to meeting the requirements; Worked with ONC to modify the certification requirements for EHRs to allow the flexibility promised in the rules for meaningful use; Worked to get legislative fix introduced for ACA provision related to readmission policy to eliminate a computation error and ensure that unrelated and planned readmissions are excluded from the policy; Worked to improve the regulation to implement ACOs; Urging CMS to update, streamline, and modernize the Medicare conditions of participation; Sessions Crowley and Stabenow-Murkowski IPPS letter requesting fixes to the coding offset circulated for signature; HR 1852/ S 950 Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2011, the current CHGME authorization expires in September, and the bills would reauthorize the CHGME program for an additional five years, through fiscal year (FY) 2016, at the current authorization level of up to $330 million a year; HR 1683/ S 868 Medicaid MOE, strikes provisions of ACA related to maintaining Medicaid eligibility levels; HR 1543 Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to count a period of receipt of outpatient observation services in a hospital toward satisfying the 3-day inpatient hospital requirement for coverage of skilled nursing facility services under Medicare; S 1251Medicare and Medicaid FAST Act, a bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to curb waste, fraud, and abuse in the Medicare and Medicaid programs; HR 2500 Equal Access and Parity for Multi-Campus Hospitals Act, a bill 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 2674 340B Program Improvement Act, a bill to amend section 340B of the Public Health Service Act to improve the provision of discounts on drug purchases for certain safety net providers.

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Maintain the Medicaid maintenance of effort (MOE) provisions; HR 452 Medicare Decisions Accountability Act of 2011, to repeal the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act providing for the Independent Payment Advisory Board; HR 541 Pay for all your Undocumented Procedures (PAY UP!) Act of 2011, amends the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to make permanent the program of federal reimbursement of emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens. Requires a re-allotment of unspent program funds in a fiscal year among eligible providers in full expenditure states according to a specified ratio. Requires addition of such funds to the aggregate amount available for allotment for the succeeding fiscal year in the event there is no full expenditure state; HR 876 and S 58 The Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by establishing safe nurse staffing levels at certain Medicare providers; HR 1159, to repeal certain provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act relating to the limitation on the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals and to transparency reports and reporting of physician ownership or investment interests; HR 1186, a bill to repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals; S 374 Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services under the Medicare program; Legislation which would amend the Social Security Act to ensure that the full cost of certain provider taxes are considered allowable costs for purposes of Medicare reimbursements to CAHs; Urging congress to establish patient and facility criteria to distinguish LTACHs from other care settings; Raising concerns about CMS flawed methodology that overstate the effect of the documentation and coding changes to PPS payments, ensuring that CMS does not go beyond its charge of ensuring budget-neutral implementation of MS-DRGs; Working with CMS to clarify requirements and ensure that the systems to register for the meaningful use incentives and attest to meeting the requirements are useable, including ensuring that hospitals can, with permission, help their physicians sign up for the program and attest to meeting the requirements; Worked with ONC to modify the certification requirements for EHRs to allow the flexibility promised in the rules for meaningful use; Worked to get legislative fix introduced for ACA provision related to readmission policy to eliminate a computation error and ensure that unrelated and planned readmissions are excluded from the policy; Worked to structure the development of the regulation to implement ACOs prior to release of the proposed rule; Obtaining change in language for Medicare conditions of participation related to governing board requirements to eliminate an unnecessary requirement for separate boards or separate meetings of the board for individual hospitals that are part of a system; Urging CMS not to adopt a burdensome notice requirement in the Medicare conditions of participation related to the grievance process; Urging CMS to update, streamline, and modernize the Medicare conditions of participation.

HR 1 Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act 2011, making appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011; HR 2 Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act, to repeal the job-killing health care law and health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010; HR 4 Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011, offsets the cost of 1099 repeal by increasing the maximum amount of tax subsidy to be repaid if a persons (or familys) income exceeds 400% of poverty; HR 5 and S 218 Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act, 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; Reauthorization of the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) P.L. 109-417, Emergency Preparedness; HRes 9 Instructing four committees to produce legislation to replace the health reform law and to include a permanent fix to the SGR; S 296 Preserving Access to Life-Saving Medications Act, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide the Food and Drug Administration with improved capacity to prevent drug shortages; HR 705 The Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the expansion of information reporting requirements to payments made to corporations, payments for property and other gross proceeds, and rental property expense payments; HR 1213 To repeal mandatory funding provided to States in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to establish American Health Benefit Exchanges; HR 1217 To repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund; S 539 Behavioral Health Information Technology Act of 2011, a bill to amend the Public Health Services Act and the Social Security Act to extend health information technology assistance eligibility to behavioral health, mental health, and substance abuse professionals and facilities; S 668 Health Care Bureaucrats Elimination Act, a bill to remove unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats from seniors' personal health decisions by repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Allow hospitals to claim the full cost of provider taxes as allowable costs; Ensure CAHs are paid at least 101 percent of costs by Medicare Advantage plans; Ensure that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) appropriately addresses the issue of direct supervision for outpatient therapeutic services for rural hospitals and CAHs; Ensure rural hospitals and CAHs have adequate reimbursement for certified registered nurse anesthetist and stand-by services; Exempt CAHs from the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Extend expiring provisions; Provide small, rural hospitals with cost-based reimbursement for outpatient laboratory services and ambulance services; Provide CAHs bed size flexibility; Reinstate CAH necessary provider status; Remove unreasonable restrictions on CAHs ability to rebuild; Discussions on a bill to credit some observation status days to 3 day inpatient hospital stays; Worked with HHS on establishing the Partnership for Patients Program to improve patient safety activities in hospitals.

HR 1 Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act 2011, making appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011; HR 2 Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act, to repeal the job-killing health care law and health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010; HR 4 Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011, offsets the cost of 1099 repeal by increasing the maximum amount of tax subsidy to be repaid if a persons (or familys) income exceeds 400% of poverty; HR 5, S 218, HR 105 and S 1099 Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act, 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; Reauthorization of the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) P.L. 109-417, Emergency Preparedness; HRes 9 Instructing four committees to produce legislation to replace the health reform law and to include a permanent fix to the SGR; S 296 and HR 2245 Preserving Access to Life-Saving Medications Act of 2011, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide the Food and Drug Administration with improved capacity to prevent drug shortages; HR 705 The Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the expansion of information reporting requirements to payments made to corporations, payments for property and other gross proceeds, and rental property expense payments; HR 1213 To repeal mandatory funding provided to States in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to establish American Health Benefit Exchanges; HR 1217 to repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund; S 539 Behavioral Health Information Technology Act of 2011, a bill to amend the Public Health Services Act and the Social Security Act to extend health information technology assistance eligibility to behavioral health, mental health, and substance abuse professionals and facilities; S 668 Health Care Bureaucrats Elimination Act, a bill to remove unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats from seniors' personal health decisions by repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Allow hospitals to claim the full cost of provider taxes as allowable costs; Ensure CAHs are paid at least 101 percent of costs by Medicare Advantage plans; Ensure that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) appropriately addresses the issue of direct supervision for outpatient therapeutic services for rural hospitals and CAHs; Ensure rural hospitals and CAHs have adequate reimbursement for certified registered nurse anesthetist and stand-by services; Exempt CAHs from the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Extend expiring provisions; Provide small, rural hospitals with cost-based reimbursement for outpatient laboratory services and ambulance services; Provide CAHs bed size flexibility; Reinstate CAH necessary provider status; Remove unreasonable restrictions on CAHs ability to rebuild; Discussions on a bill to credit some observation status days to 3 day inpatient hospital stays; Worked with HHS on establishing the Partnership for Patients Program to improve patient safety activities in hospitals; HR 1929 Emergency Nursing Relief Act, provides for 20,000 additional immigrant visas (green cards) for Registered Nurses, and their immediate family members. Visas issued to the family members would not count against the 20,000 quota. The Secretary of State would not be permitted to issue more visas than this set quota. Employers are charged $1,500 for these visas which would support funding US nursing programs; HR 1933, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to modify the requirements for admission of nonimmigrant nurses in health professional shortage areas and calls for a limited revival of the H-1C program; S 778 Protecting Access to Rural Therapy Services (PARTS) Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act with respect to physician supervision of therapeutic hospital outpatient services; HR 1363 Department of Defense and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011; Letter to oppose Cuts to the funding of the Hospital Preparedness Program; HR 1214 a bill to repeal mandatory funding for school-based health center construction, it amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to repeal the program requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants to school-based health centers or their sponsoring facilities to support the operation of such health centers. Rescinds unobligated appropriations for the program. Urging that final Accounting of Disclosures rule not include the proposal to require provision of an access report to patients; S 365 and S 627 Budget Control Act of 2011, Established by Joint Select Comm on Deficit Reduction.

HR 1 Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act 2011, making appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011; HR 2 Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act, to repeal the job-killing health care law and health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010; HR 4 Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011, offsets the cost of 1099 repeal by increasing the maximum amount of tax subsidy to be repaid if a persons (or familys) income exceeds 400% of poverty; HR 5, S 218, HR 105 and S 1099 Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act, 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; Reauthorization of the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) P.L. 109-417, Emergency Preparedness; HRes 9 Instructing four committees to produce legislation to replace the health reform law and to include a permanent fix to the SGR; S 296 Preserving Access to Life-Saving Medications Act, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide the Food and Drug Administration with improved capacity to prevent drug shortages; HR 705 The Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the expansion of information reporting requirements to payments made to corporations, payments for property and other gross proceeds, and rental property expense payments; HR 1213 To repeal mandatory funding provided to States in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to establish American Health Benefit Exchanges; HR 1217 To repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund; S 539 Behavioral Health Information Technology Act of 2011, a bill to amend the Public Health Services Act and the Social Security Act to extend health information technology assistance eligibility to behavioral health, mental health, and substance abuse professionals and facilities; S 668 Health Care Bureaucrats Elimination Act, a bill to remove unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats from seniors' personal health decisions by repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Allow hospitals to claim the full cost of provider taxes as allowable costs; Ensure CAHs are paid at least 101 percent of costs by Medicare Advantage plans; Ensure that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) appropriately addresses the issue of direct supervision for outpatient therapeutic services for rural hospitals and CAHs; Ensure rural hospitals and CAHs have adequate reimbursement for certified registered nurse anesthetist and stand-by services; Exempt CAHs from the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Extend expiring provisions; Provide small, rural hospitals with cost-based reimbursement for outpatient laboratory services and ambulance services; Provide CAHs bed size flexibility; Reinstate CAH necessary provider status; Remove unreasonable restrictions on CAHs ability to rebuild; Discussions on a bill to credit some observation status days to 3 day inpatient hospital stays; Worked with HHS on establishing the Partnership for Patients Program to improve patient safety activities in hospitals; HR 1929 Emergency Nursing Relief Act, provides for 20,000 additional immigrant visas (green cards) for Registered Nurses, and their immediate family members. Visas issued to the family members would not count against the 20,000 quota. The Secretary of State would not be permitted to issue more visas than this set quota. Employers are charged $1,500 for these visas which would support funding US nursing programs; HR 1933, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to modify the requirements for admission of nonimmigrant nurses in health professional shortage areas and calls for a limited revival of the H-1C program; S 778 Protecting Access to Rural Therapy Services (PARTS) Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act with respect to physician supervision of therapeutic hospital outpatient services; HR 1363 Department of Defense and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011; Letter to oppose Cuts to the funding of the Hospital Preparedness Program.

HR 1 Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act 2011, making appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011; HR 2 Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act, to repeal the job-killing health care law and health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010; HR 4 Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011, offsets the cost of 1099 repeal by increasing the maximum amount of tax subsidy to be repaid if a persons (or familys) income exceeds 400% of poverty; HR 5, S 218, HR 105 and S 1099 Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act, 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; Reauthorization of the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) P.L. 109-417, Emergency Preparedness; HRes 9 Instructing four committees to produce legislation to replace the health reform law and to include a permanent fix to the SGR; S 296 and HR 2245 Preserving Access to Life-Saving Medications Act of 2011, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide the Food and Drug Administration with improved capacity to prevent drug shortages; HR 705 The Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the expansion of information reporting requirements to payments made to corporations, payments for property and other gross proceeds, and rental property expense payments; HR 1213 To repeal mandatory funding provided to States in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to establish American Health Benefit Exchanges; HR 1217 to repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund; S 539 Behavioral Health Information Technology Act of 2011, a bill to amend the Public Health Services Act and the Social Security Act to extend health information technology assistance eligibility to behavioral health, mental health, and substance abuse professionals and facilities; S 668 Health Care Bureaucrats Elimination Act, a bill to remove unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats from seniors' personal health decisions by repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Allow hospitals to claim the full cost of provider taxes as allowable costs; Ensure CAHs are paid at least 101 percent of costs by Medicare Advantage plans; Ensure that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) appropriately addresses the issue of direct supervision for outpatient therapeutic services for rural hospitals and CAHs; Ensure rural hospitals and CAHs have adequate reimbursement for certified registered nurse anesthetist and stand-by services; Exempt CAHs from the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Extend expiring provisions; Provide small, rural hospitals with cost-based reimbursement for outpatient laboratory services and ambulance services; Provide CAHs bed size flexibility; Reinstate CAH necessary provider status; Remove unreasonable restrictions on CAHs ability to rebuild; Discussions on a bill to credit some observation status days to 3 day inpatient hospital stays; Worked with HHS on establishing the Partnership for Patients Program to improve patient safety activities in hospitals; HR 1929 Emergency Nursing Relief Act, provides for 20,000 additional immigrant visas (green cards) for Registered Nurses, and their immediate family members. Visas issued to the family members would not count against the 20,000 quota. The Secretary of State would not be permitted to issue more visas than this set quota. Employers are charged $1,500 for these visas which would support funding US nursing programs; HR 1933, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to modify the requirements for admission of nonimmigrant nurses in health professional shortage areas and calls for a limited revival of the H-1C program; S 778 Protecting Access to Rural Therapy Services (PARTS) Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act with respect to physician supervision of therapeutic hospital outpatient services; HR 1363 Department of Defense and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011; Letter to oppose Cuts to the funding of the Hospital Preparedness Program; HR 1214 a bill to repeal mandatory funding for school-based health center construction, it amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to repeal the program requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants to school-based health centers or their sponsoring facilities to support the operation of such health centers. Rescinds unobligated appropriations for the program. Urging that final Accounting of Disclosures rule not include the proposal to require provision of an access report to patients; S 365 and S 627 Budget Control Act of 2011, Established by Joint Select Comm on Deficit Reduction.

HR 1 Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act 2011, making appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011; HR 2 Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act, to repeal the job-killing health care law and health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010; HR 4 Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011, offsets the cost of 1099 repeal by increasing the maximum amount of tax subsidy to be repaid if a persons (or familys) income exceeds 400% of poverty; HR 5, S 218, HR 105 and S 1099 Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act, 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; Reauthorization of the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) P.L. 109-417, Emergency Preparedness; HRes 9 Instructing four committees to produce legislation to replace the health reform law and to include a permanent fix to the SGR; S 296 Preserving Access to Life-Saving Medications Act, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide the Food and Drug Administration with improved capacity to prevent drug shortages; HR 705 The Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the expansion of information reporting requirements to payments made to corporations, payments for property and other gross proceeds, and rental property expense payments; HR 1213 To repeal mandatory funding provided to States in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to establish American Health Benefit Exchanges; HR 1217 To repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund; S 539 Behavioral Health Information Technology Act of 2011, a bill to amend the Public Health Services Act and the Social Security Act to extend health information technology assistance eligibility to behavioral health, mental health, and substance abuse professionals and facilities; S 668 Health Care Bureaucrats Elimination Act, a bill to remove unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats from seniors' personal health decisions by repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Allow hospitals to claim the full cost of provider taxes as allowable costs; Ensure CAHs are paid at least 101 percent of costs by Medicare Advantage plans; Ensure that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) appropriately addresses the issue of direct supervision for outpatient therapeutic services for rural hospitals and CAHs; Ensure rural hospitals and CAHs have adequate reimbursement for certified registered nurse anesthetist and stand-by services; Exempt CAHs from the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Extend expiring provisions; Provide small, rural hospitals with cost-based reimbursement for outpatient laboratory services and ambulance services; Provide CAHs bed size flexibility; Reinstate CAH necessary provider status; Remove unreasonable restrictions on CAHs ability to rebuild; Discussions on a bill to credit some observation status days to 3 day inpatient hospital stays; Worked with HHS on establishing the Partnership for Patients Program to improve patient safety activities in hospitals; HR 1929 Emergency Nursing Relief Act, provides for 20,000 additional immigrant visas (green cards) for Registered Nurses, and their immediate family members. Visas issued to the family members would not count against the 20,000 quota. The Secretary of State would not be permitted to issue more visas than this set quota. Employers are charged $1,500 for these visas which would support funding US nursing programs; HR 1933, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to modify the requirements for admission of nonimmigrant nurses in health professional shortage areas and calls for a limited revival of the H-1C program; S 778 Protecting Access to Rural Therapy Services (PARTS) Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act with respect to physician supervision of therapeutic hospital outpatient services; HR 1363 Department of Defense and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011; Letter to oppose Cuts to the funding of the Hospital Preparedness Program.

HR 1 Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act 2011, making appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011; HR 2 Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act, to repeal the job-killing health care law and health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010; HR 4 Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011, offsets the cost of 1099 repeal by increasing the maximum amount of tax subsidy to be repaid if a persons (or familys) income exceeds 400% of poverty; HR 5, S 218, HR 105 and S 1099 Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act, 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; Reauthorization of the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) P.L. 109-417, Emergency Preparedness; HRes 9 Instructing four committees to produce legislation to replace the health reform law and to include a permanent fix to the SGR; S 296 and HR 2245 Preserving Access to Life-Saving Medications Act of 2011, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide the Food and Drug Administration with improved capacity to prevent drug shortages; HR 705 The Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the expansion of information reporting requirements to payments made to corporations, payments for property and other gross proceeds, and rental property expense payments; HR 1213 To repeal mandatory funding provided to States in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to establish American Health Benefit Exchanges; HR 1217 to repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund; S 539 Behavioral Health Information Technology Act of 2011, a bill to amend the Public Health Services Act and the Social Security Act to extend health information technology assistance eligibility to behavioral health, mental health, and substance abuse professionals and facilities; S 668 Health Care Bureaucrats Elimination Act, a bill to remove unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats from seniors' personal health decisions by repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Allow hospitals to claim the full cost of provider taxes as allowable costs; Ensure CAHs are paid at least 101 percent of costs by Medicare Advantage plans; Ensure that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) appropriately addresses the issue of direct supervision for outpatient therapeutic services for rural hospitals and CAHs; Ensure rural hospitals and CAHs have adequate reimbursement for certified registered nurse anesthetist and stand-by services; Exempt CAHs from the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Extend expiring provisions; Provide small, rural hospitals with cost-based reimbursement for outpatient laboratory services and ambulance services; Provide CAHs bed size flexibility; Reinstate CAH necessary provider status; Remove unreasonable restrictions on CAHs ability to rebuild; Discussions on a bill to credit some observation status days to 3 day inpatient hospital stays; Worked with HHS on establishing the Partnership for Patients Program to improve patient safety activities in hospitals; HR 1929 Emergency Nursing Relief Act, provides for 20,000 additional immigrant visas (green cards) for Registered Nurses, and their immediate family members. Visas issued to the family members would not count against the 20,000 quota. The Secretary of State would not be permitted to issue more visas than this set quota. Employers are charged $1,500 for these visas which would support funding US nursing programs; HR 1933, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to modify the requirements for admission of nonimmigrant nurses in health professional shortage areas and calls for a limited revival of the H-1C program; S 778 Protecting Access to Rural Therapy Services (PARTS) Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act with respect to physician supervision of therapeutic hospital outpatient services; HR 1363 Department of Defense and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011; Letter to oppose Cuts to the funding of the Hospital Preparedness Program; HR 1214 a bill to repeal mandatory funding for school-based health center construction, it amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to repeal the program requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants to school-based health centers or their sponsoring facilities to support the operation of such health centers. Rescinds unobligated appropriations for the program. Urging that final Accounting of Disclosures rule not include the proposal to require provision of an access report to patients; S 365 and S 627 Budget Control Act of 2011, Established by Joint Select Comm on Deficit Reduction.

HR 1 Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act 2011, making appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011; HR 2 Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act, to repeal the job-killing health care law and health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010; HR 4 Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011, offsets the cost of 1099 repeal by increasing the maximum amount of tax subsidy to be repaid if a persons (or familys) income exceeds 400% of poverty; HR 5 and S 218 Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act, 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; Reauthorization of the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) P.L. 109-417, Emergency Preparedness; HRes 9 Instructing four committees to produce legislation to replace the health reform law and to include a permanent fix to the SGR; S 296 Preserving Access to Life-Saving Medications Act, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide the Food and Drug Administration with improved capacity to prevent drug shortages; HR 705 The Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the expansion of information reporting requirements to payments made to corporations, payments for property and other gross proceeds, and rental property expense payments; HR 1213 To repeal mandatory funding provided to States in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to establish American Health Benefit Exchanges; HR 1217 To repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund; S 539 Behavioral Health Information Technology Act of 2011, a bill to amend the Public Health Services Act and the Social Security Act to extend health information technology assistance eligibility to behavioral health, mental health, and substance abuse professionals and facilities; S 668 Health Care Bureaucrats Elimination Act, a bill to remove unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats from seniors' personal health decisions by repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Allow hospitals to claim the full cost of provider taxes as allowable costs; Ensure CAHs are paid at least 101 percent of costs by Medicare Advantage plans; Ensure that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) appropriately addresses the issue of direct supervision for outpatient therapeutic services for rural hospitals and CAHs; Ensure rural hospitals and CAHs have adequate reimbursement for certified registered nurse anesthetist and stand-by services; Exempt CAHs from the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Extend expiring provisions; Provide small, rural hospitals with cost-based reimbursement for outpatient laboratory services and ambulance services; Provide CAHs bed size flexibility; Reinstate CAH necessary provider status; Remove unreasonable restrictions on CAHs ability to rebuild; Discussions on a bill to credit some observation status days to 3 day inpatient hospital stays; Worked with HHS on establishing the Partnership for Patients Program to improve patient safety activities in hospitals.

HR 1, HJ Res 44, and HJRes 48 Budget, additional 2011 Appropriations Amendments; HR1255 Government Shutdown Prevention Act of 2011, to prevent a shutdown of the government of the United States; Maintain funding the Childrens Hospitals Graduate Medical Education program.

HR 1, HJ Res 44, and HJRes 48 Budget, additional 2011 Appropriations Amendments; HR1255 Government Shutdown Prevention Act of 2011, to prevent a shutdown of the government of the United States; Maintain funding the Childrens Hospitals Graduate Medical Education program.H. Con. Res. 34 Ryan Budget, establishing the budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2012 and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal year 2013 through 2021

HR 1, HJ Res 44, and HJRes 48 Budget, additional 2011 Appropriations Amendments; HR1255 Government Shutdown Prevention Act of 2011, to prevent a shutdown of the government of the United States; Maintain funding the Childrens Hospitals Graduate Medical Education program.H. Con. Res. 34Ryan BudgetEstablishing the budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2012 and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal year 2013 through 2021

HR 1 Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act 2011, making appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011; HR 2 Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act, to repeal the job-killing health care law and health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010; HR 4 Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011, offsets the cost of 1099 repeal by increasing the maximum amount of tax subsidy to be repaid if a persons (or familys) income exceeds 400% of poverty; HR 5, S 218, HR 105 and S 1099 Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act, 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; Reauthorization of the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) P.L. 109-417, Emergency Preparedness; HRes 9 Instructing four committees to produce legislation to replace the health reform law and to include a permanent fix to the SGR; S 296 Preserving Access to Life-Saving Medications Act, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide the Food and Drug Administration with improved capacity to prevent drug shortages; HR 705 The Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the expansion of information reporting requirements to payments made to corporations, payments for property and other gross proceeds, and rental property expense payments; HR 1213 To repeal mandatory funding provided to States in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to establish American Health Benefit Exchanges; HR 1217 To repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund; S 539 Behavioral Health Information Technology Act of 2011, a bill to amend the Public Health Services Act and the Social Security Act to extend health information technology assistance eligibility to behavioral health, mental health, and substance abuse professionals and facilities; S 668 Health Care Bureaucrats Elimination Act, a bill to remove unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats from seniors' personal health decisions by repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Allow hospitals to claim the full cost of provider taxes as allowable costs; Ensure CAHs are paid at least 101 percent of costs by Medicare Advantage plans; Ensure that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) appropriately addresses the issue of direct supervision for outpatient therapeutic services for rural hospitals and CAHs; Ensure rural hospitals and CAHs have adequate reimbursement for certified registered nurse anesthetist and stand-by services; Exempt CAHs from the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Extend expiring provisions; Provide small, rural hospitals with cost-based reimbursement for outpatient laboratory services and ambulance services; Provide CAHs bed size flexibility; Reinstate CAH necessary provider status; Remove unreasonable restrictions on CAHs ability to rebuild; Discussions on a bill to credit some observation status days to 3 day inpatient hospital stays; Worked with HHS on establishing the Partnership for Patients Program to improve patient safety activities in hospitals; HR 1929 Emergency Nursing Relief Act, provides for 20,000 additional immigrant visas (green cards) for Registered Nurses, and their immediate family members. Visas issued to the family members would not count against the 20,000 quota. The Secretary of State would not be permitted to issue more visas than this set quota. Employers are charged $1,500 for these visas which would support funding US nursing programs; HR 1933, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to modify the requirements for admission of nonimmigrant nurses in health professional shortage areas and calls for a limited revival of the H-1C program; S 778 Protecting Access to Rural Therapy Services (PARTS) Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act with respect to physician supervision of therapeutic hospital outpatient services; HR 1363 Department of Defense and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011; Letter to oppose Cuts to the funding of the Hospital Preparedness Program.

HR 1 Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act 2011, making appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011; HR 2 Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act, to repeal the job-killing health care law and health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010; HR 4 Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011, offsets the cost of 1099 repeal by increasing the maximum amount of tax subsidy to be repaid if a persons (or familys) income exceeds 400% of poverty; HR 5, S 218, HR 105 and S 1099 Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act, 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; Reauthorization of the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) P.L. 109-417, Emergency Preparedness; HRes 9 Instructing four committees to produce legislation to replace the health reform law and to include a permanent fix to the SGR; S 296 and HR 2245 Preserving Access to Life-Saving Medications Act of 2011, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide the Food and Drug Administration with improved capacity to prevent drug shortages; HR 705 The Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the expansion of information reporting requirements to payments made to corporations, payments for property and other gross proceeds, and rental property expense payments; HR 1213 To repeal mandatory funding provided to States in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to establish American Health Benefit Exchanges; HR 1217 to repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund; S 539 Behavioral Health Information Technology Act of 2011, a bill to amend the Public Health Services Act and the Social Security Act to extend health information technology assistance eligibility to behavioral health, mental health, and substance abuse professionals and facilities; S 668 Health Care Bureaucrats Elimination Act, a bill to remove unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats from seniors' personal health decisions by repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Allow hospitals to claim the full cost of provider taxes as allowable costs; Ensure CAHs are paid at least 101 percent of costs by Medicare Advantage plans; Ensure that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) appropriately addresses the issue of direct supervision for outpatient therapeutic services for rural hospitals and CAHs; Ensure rural hospitals and CAHs have adequate reimbursement for certified registered nurse anesthetist and stand-by services; Exempt CAHs from the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Extend expiring provisions; Provide small, rural hospitals with cost-based reimbursement for outpatient laboratory services and ambulance services; Provide CAHs bed size flexibility; Reinstate CAH necessary provider status; Remove unreasonable restrictions on CAHs ability to rebuild; Discussions on a bill to credit some observation status days to 3 day inpatient hospital stays; Worked with HHS on establishing the Partnership for Patients Program to improve patient safety activities in hospitals; HR 1929 Emergency Nursing Relief Act, provides for 20,000 additional immigrant visas (green cards) for Registered Nurses, and their immediate family members. Visas issued to the family members would not count against the 20,000 quota. The Secretary of State would not be permitted to issue more visas than this set quota. Employers are charged $1,500 for these visas which would support funding US nursing programs; HR 1933, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to modify the requirements for admission of nonimmigrant nurses in health professional shortage areas and calls for a limited revival of the H-1C program; S 778 Protecting Access to Rural Therapy Services (PARTS) Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act with respect to physician supervision of therapeutic hospital outpatient services; HR 1363 Department of Defense and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011; Letter to oppose Cuts to the funding of the Hospital Preparedness Program; HR 1214 a bill to repeal mandatory funding for school-based health center construction, it amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to repeal the program requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants to school-based health centers or their sponsoring facilities to support the operation of such health centers. Rescinds unobligated appropriations for the program. Urging that final Accounting of Disclosures rule not include the proposal to require provision of an access report to patients; S 365 and S 627 Budget Control Act of 2011, Established by Joint Select Comm on Deficit Reduction.

HR 452 Medicare Decisions Accountability Act of 2011, to repeal the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act providing for the Independent Payment Advisory Board; HR 541 Pay for all your Undocumented Procedures (PAY UP!) Act of 2011, amends the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to make permanent the program of federal reimbursement of emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens. Requires a re-allotment of unspent program funds in a fiscal year among eligible providers in full expenditure states according to a specified ratio. Requires addition of such funds to the aggregate amount available for allotment for the succeeding fiscal year in the event there is no full expenditure state; HR 876 and S 58 The Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by establishing safe nurse staffing levels at certain Medicare providers; HR 1159, to repeal certain provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act relating to the limitation on the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals and to transparency reports and reporting of physician ownership or investment interests; HR 1186, a bill to repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals; S 374 and HR 2783 Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services under the Medicare program; HR 1398 Rural Hospital Protection Act, legislation which would amend the Social Security Act to ensure that the full cost of certain provider taxes are considered allowable costs for purposes of Medicare reimbursements to CAHs; S 1486 Long-Term Care Hospital Improvement Act of 201, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to clarify and expand on criteria applicable to patient admission to and care furnished in long-term care hospitals participating in the Medicare program; Raising concerns about CMS flawed methodology that overstate the effect of the documentation and coding changes to PPS payments, ensuring that CMS does not go beyond its charge of ensuring budget-neutral implementation of MS-DRGs; Working with CMS to clarify requirements and ensure that the systems to register for the meaningful use incentives and attest to meeting the requirements are useable, including ensuring that hospitals can, with permission, help their physicians sign up for the program and attest to meeting the requirements; Worked with ONC to modify the certification requirements for EHRs to allow the flexibility promised in the rules for meaningful use; Worked to get legislative fix introduced for ACA provision related to readmission policy to eliminate a computation error and ensure that unrelated and planned readmissions are excluded from the policy; Worked to improve the regulation to implement ACOs; Urging CMS to update, streamline, and modernize the Medicare conditions of participation; Sessions Crowley and Stabenow-Murkowski IPPS letter requesting fixes to the coding offset circulated for signature; HR 1852/ S 950 Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2011, the current CHGME authorization expires in September, and the bills would reauthorize the CHGME program for an additional five years, through fiscal year (FY) 2016, at the current authorization level of up to $330 million a year; HR 1683/ S 868 Medicaid MOE, strikes provisions of ACA related to maintaining Medicaid eligibility levels; HR 1543 Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to count a period of receipt of outpatient observation services in a hospital toward satisfying the 3-day inpatient hospital requirement for coverage of skilled nursing facility services under Medicare; S 1251Medicare and Medicaid FAST Act, a bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to curb waste, fraud, and abuse in the Medicare and Medicaid programs; HR 2500 Equal Access and Parity for Multi-Campus Hospitals Act, a bill 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 2674 340B Program Improvement Act, a bill to amend section 340B of the Public Health Service Act to improve the provision of discounts on drug purchases for certain safety net providers.

HR 452 Medicare Decisions Accountability Act of 2011, to repeal the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act providing for the Independent Payment Advisory Board; HR 541 Pay for all your Undocumented Procedures (PAY UP!) Act of 2011, amends the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to make permanent the program of federal reimbursement of emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens. Requires a re-allotment of unspent program funds in a fiscal year among eligible providers in full expenditure states according to a specified ratio. Requires addition of such funds to the aggregate amount available for allotment for the succeeding fiscal year in the event there is no full expenditure state; HR 876 and S 58 The Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by establishing safe nurse staffing levels at certain Medicare providers; HR 1159, to repeal certain provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act relating to the limitation on the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals and to transparency reports and reporting of physician ownership or investment interests; HR 1186, a bill to repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals; S 374 Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services under the Medicare program; HR 1398 Rural Hospital Protection Act, lgislation which would amend the Social Security Act to ensure that the full cost of certain provider taxes are considered allowable costs for purposes of Medicare reimbursements to CAHs; Urging congress to establish patient and facility criteria to distinguish LTACHs from other care settings; Raising concerns about CMS flawed methodology that overstate the effect of the documentation and coding changes to PPS payments, ensuring that CMS does not go beyond its charge of ensuring budget-neutral implementation of MS-DRGs; Working with CMS to clarify requirements and ensure that the systems to register for the meaningful use incentives and attest to meeting the requirements are useable, including ensuring that hospitals can, with permission, help their physicians sign up for the program and attest to meeting the requirements; Worked with ONC to modify the certification requirements for EHRs to allow the flexibility promised in the rules for meaningful use; Worked to get legislative fix introduced for ACA provision related to readmission policy to eliminate a computation error and ensure that unrelated and planned readmissions are excluded from the policy; Worked to improve the regulation to implement ACOs; Urging CMS to update, streamline, and modernize the Medicare conditions of participation; Sessions Crowley and Stabenow Murkowski IPPS letter requesting fixes to the coding offset circulated for signature; HR 1852/ S 950 Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2011, the current CHGME authorization expires in September, and the bills would reauthorize the CHGME program for an additional five years, through fiscal year (FY) 2016, at the current authorization level of up to $330 million a year; HR 1683/ S 868 Medicaid MOE, strikes provisions of ACA related to maintaining Medicaid eligibility levels; HR 1543 Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to count a period of receipt of outpatient observation services in a hospital toward satisfying the 3-day inpatient hospital requirement for coverage of skilled nursing facility services under Medicare; Worked on legislation related to HIT payments for hospitals in multi-campus systems.

HR 452 Medicare Decisions Accountability Act of 2011, to repeal the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act providing for the Independent Payment Advisory Board; HR 541 Pay for all your Undocumented Procedures (PAY UP!) Act of 2011, amends the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to make permanent the program of federal reimbursement of emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens. Requires a re-allotment of unspent program funds in a fiscal year among eligible providers in full expenditure states according to a specified ratio. Requires addition of such funds to the aggregate amount available for allotment for the succeeding fiscal year in the event there is no full expenditure state; HR 876 and S 58 The Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by establishing safe nurse staffing levels at certain Medicare providers; HR 1159, to repeal certain provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act relating to the limitation on the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals and to transparency reports and reporting of physician ownership or investment interests; HR 1186, a bill to repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals; S 374 Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services under the Medicare program; HR 1398 Rural Hospital Protection Act, lgislation which would amend the Social Security Act to ensure that the full cost of certain provider taxes are considered allowable costs for purposes of Medicare reimbursements to CAHs; Urging congress to establish patient and facility criteria to distinguish LTACHs from other care settings; Raising concerns about CMS flawed methodology that overstate the effect of the documentation and coding changes to PPS payments, ensuring that CMS does not go beyond its charge of ensuring budget-neutral implementation of MS-DRGs; Working with CMS to clarify requirements and ensure that the systems to register for the meaningful use incentives and attest to meeting the requirements are useable, including ensuring that hospitals can, with permission, help their physicians sign up for the program and attest to meeting the requirements; Worked with ONC to modify the certification requirements for EHRs to allow the flexibility promised in the rules for meaningful use; Worked to get legislative fix introduced for ACA provision related to readmission policy to eliminate a computation error and ensure that unrelated and planned readmissions are excluded from the policy; Worked to improve the regulation to implement ACOs; Urging CMS to update, streamline, and modernize the Medicare conditions of participation; Sessions Crowley and Stabenow Murkowski IPPS letter requesting fixes to the coding offset circulated for signature; HR 1852/ S 950 Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2011, the current CHGME authorization expires in September, and the bills would reauthorize the CHGME program for an additional five years, through fiscal year (FY) 2016, at the current authorization level of up to $330 million a year; HR 1683/ S 868 Medicaid MOE, strikes provisions of ACA related to maintaining Medicaid eligibility levels; HR 1543 Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to count a period of receipt of outpatient observation services in a hospital toward satisfying the 3-day inpatient hospital requirement for coverage of skilled nursing facility services under Medicare; Worked on legislation related to HIT payments for hospitals in multi-campus systems.

HR 452 Medicare Decisions Accountability Act of 2011, to repeal the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act providing for the Independent Payment Advisory Board; HR 541 Pay for all your Undocumented Procedures (PAY UP!) Act of 2011, amends the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to make permanent the program of federal reimbursement of emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens. Requires a re-allotment of unspent program funds in a fiscal year among eligible providers in full expenditure states according to a specified ratio. Requires addition of such funds to the aggregate amount available for allotment for the succeeding fiscal year in the event there is no full expenditure state; HR 876 and S 58 The Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by establishing safe nurse staffing levels at certain Medicare providers; HR 1159, to repeal certain provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act relating to the limitation on the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals and to transparency reports and reporting of physician ownership or investment interests; HR 1186, a bill to repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals; S 374 and HR 2783 Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services under the Medicare program; HR 1398 Rural Hospital Protection Act, legislation which would amend the Social Security Act to ensure that the full cost of certain provider taxes are considered allowable costs for purposes of Medicare reimbursements to CAHs; S 1486 Long-Term Care Hospital Improvement Act of 201, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to clarify and expand on criteria applicable to patient admission to and care furnished in long-term care hospitals participating in the Medicare program; Raising concerns about CMS flawed methodology that overstate the effect of the documentation and coding changes to PPS payments, ensuring that CMS does not go beyond its charge of ensuring budget-neutral implementation of MS-DRGs; Working with CMS to clarify requirements and ensure that the systems to register for the meaningful use incentives and attest to meeting the requirements are useable, including ensuring that hospitals can, with permission, help their physicians sign up for the program and attest to meeting the requirements; Worked with ONC to modify the certification requirements for EHRs to allow the flexibility promised in the rules for meaningful use; Worked to get legislative fix introduced for ACA provision related to readmission policy to eliminate a computation error and ensure that unrelated and planned readmissions are excluded from the policy; Worked to improve the regulation to implement ACOs; Urging CMS to update, streamline, and modernize the Medicare conditions of participation; Sessions Crowley and Stabenow-Murkowski IPPS letter requesting fixes to the coding offset circulated for signature; HR 1852/ S 950 Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2011, the current CHGME authorization expires in September, and the bills would reauthorize the CHGME program for an additional five years, through fiscal year (FY) 2016, at the current authorization level of up to $330 million a year; HR 1683/ S 868 Medicaid MOE, strikes provisions of ACA related to maintaining Medicaid eligibility levels; HR 1543 Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to count a period of receipt of outpatient observation services in a hospital toward satisfying the 3-day inpatient hospital requirement for coverage of skilled nursing facility services under Medicare; S 1251Medicare and Medicaid FAST Act, a bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to curb waste, fraud, and abuse in the Medicare and Medicaid programs; HR 2500 Equal Access and Parity for Multi-Campus Hospitals Act, a bill 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 2674 340B Program Improvement Act, a bill to amend section 340B of the Public Health Service Act to improve the provision of discounts on drug purchases for certain safety net providers.

HR 452 Medicare Decisions Accountability Act of 2011, to repeal the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act providing for the Independent Payment Advisory Board; HR 541 Pay for all your Undocumented Procedures (PAY UP!) Act of 2011, amends the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to make permanent the program of federal reimbursement of emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens. Requires a re-allotment of unspent program funds in a fiscal year among eligible providers in full expenditure states according to a specified ratio. Requires addition of such funds to the aggregate amount available for allotment for the succeeding fiscal year in the event there is no full expenditure state; HR 876 and S 58 The Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by establishing safe nurse staffing levels at certain Medicare providers; HR 1159, to repeal certain provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act relating to the limitation on the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals and to transparency reports and reporting of physician ownership or investment interests; HR 1186, a bill to repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals; S 374 Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services under the Medicare program; HR 1398 Rural Hospital Protection Act, lgislation which would amend the Social Security Act to ensure that the full cost of certain provider taxes are considered allowable costs for purposes of Medicare reimbursements to CAHs; Urging congress to establish patient and facility criteria to distinguish LTACHs from other care settings; Raising concerns about CMS flawed methodology that overstate the effect of the documentation and coding changes to PPS payments, ensuring that CMS does not go beyond its charge of ensuring budget-neutral implementation of MS-DRGs; Working with CMS to clarify requirements and ensure that the systems to register for the meaningful use incentives and attest to meeting the requirements are useable, including ensuring that hospitals can, with permission, help their physicians sign up for the program and attest to meeting the requirements; Worked with ONC to modify the certification requirements for EHRs to allow the flexibility promised in the rules for meaningful use; Worked to get legislative fix introduced for ACA provision related to readmission policy to eliminate a computation error and ensure that unrelated and planned readmissions are excluded from the policy; Worked to improve the regulation to implement ACOs; Urging CMS to update, streamline, and modernize the Medicare conditions of participation; Sessions Crowley and Stabenow Murkowski IPPS letter requesting fixes to the coding offset circulated for signature; HR 1852/ S 950 Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2011, the current CHGME authorization expires in September, and the bills would reauthorize the CHGME program for an additional five years, through fiscal year (FY) 2016, at the current authorization level of up to $330 million a year; HR 1683/ S 868 Medicaid MOE, strikes provisions of ACA related to maintaining Medicaid eligibility levels; HR 1543 Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to count a period of receipt of outpatient observation services in a hospital toward satisfying the 3-day inpatient hospital requirement for coverage of skilled nursing facility services under Medicare; Worked on legislation related to HIT payments for hospitals in multi-campus systems.

HR 452 Medicare Decisions Accountability Act of 2011, to repeal the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act providing for the Independent Payment Advisory Board; HR 541 Pay for all your Undocumented Procedures (PAY UP!) Act of 2011, amends the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to make permanent the program of federal reimbursement of emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens. Requires a re-allotment of unspent program funds in a fiscal year among eligible providers in full expenditure states according to a specified ratio. Requires addition of such funds to the aggregate amount available for allotment for the succeeding fiscal year in the event there is no full expenditure state; HR 876 and S 58 The Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by establishing safe nurse staffing levels at certain Medicare providers; HR 1159, to repeal certain provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act relating to the limitation on the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals and to transparency reports and reporting of physician ownership or investment interests; HR 1186, a bill to repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals; S 374 and HR 2783 Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services under the Medicare program; HR 1398 Rural Hospital Protection Act, legislation which would amend the Social Security Act to ensure that the full cost of certain provider taxes are considered allowable costs for purposes of Medicare reimbursements to CAHs; S 1486 Long-Term Care Hospital Improvement Act of 201, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to clarify and expand on criteria applicable to patient admission to and care furnished in long-term care hospitals participating in the Medicare program; Raising concerns about CMS flawed methodology that overstate the effect of the documentation and coding changes to PPS payments, ensuring that CMS does not go beyond its charge of ensuring budget-neutral implementation of MS-DRGs; Working with CMS to clarify requirements and ensure that the systems to register for the meaningful use incentives and attest to meeting the requirements are useable, including ensuring that hospitals can, with permission, help their physicians sign up for the program and attest to meeting the requirements; Worked with ONC to modify the certification requirements for EHRs to allow the flexibility promised in the rules for meaningful use; Worked to get legislative fix introduced for ACA provision related to readmission policy to eliminate a computation error and ensure that unrelated and planned readmissions are excluded from the policy; Worked to improve the regulation to implement ACOs; Urging CMS to update, streamline, and modernize the Medicare conditions of participation; Sessions Crowley and Stabenow-Murkowski IPPS letter requesting fixes to the coding offset circulated for signature; HR 1852/ S 950 Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2011, the current CHGME authorization expires in September, and the bills would reauthorize the CHGME program for an additional five years, through fiscal year (FY) 2016, at the current authorization level of up to $330 million a year; HR 1683/ S 868 Medicaid MOE, strikes provisions of ACA related to maintaining Medicaid eligibility levels; HR 1543 Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to count a period of receipt of outpatient observation services in a hospital toward satisfying the 3-day inpatient hospital requirement for coverage of skilled nursing facility services under Medicare; S 1251Medicare and Medicaid FAST Act, a bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to curb waste, fraud, and abuse in the Medicare and Medicaid programs; HR 2500 Equal Access and Parity for Multi-Campus Hospitals Act, a bill 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 2674 340B Program Improvement Act, a bill to amend section 340B of the Public Health Service Act to improve the provision of discounts on drug purchases for certain safety net providers.

HR 452 Medicare Decisions Accountability Act of 2011, to repeal the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act providing for the Independent Payment Advisory Board; HR 541 Pay for all your Undocumented Procedures (PAY UP!) Act of 2011, amends the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to make permanent the program of federal reimbursement of emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens. Requires a re-allotment of unspent program funds in a fiscal year among eligible providers in full expenditure states according to a specified ratio. Requires addition of such funds to the aggregate amount available for allotment for the succeeding fiscal year in the event there is no full expenditure state; HR 876 and S 58 The Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by establishing safe nurse staffing levels at certain Medicare providers; HR 1159, to repeal certain provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act relating to the limitation on the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals and to transparency reports and reporting of physician ownership or investment interests; HR 1186, a bill to repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals; S 374 Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services under the Medicare program; HR 1398 Rural Hospital Protection Act, lgislation which would amend the Social Security Act to ensure that the full cost of certain provider taxes are considered allowable costs for purposes of Medicare reimbursements to CAHs; Urging congress to establish patient and facility criteria to distinguish LTACHs from other care settings; Raising concerns about CMS flawed methodology that overstate the effect of the documentation and coding changes to PPS payments, ensuring that CMS does not go beyond its charge of ensuring budget-neutral implementation of MS-DRGs; Working with CMS to clarify requirements and ensure that the systems to register for the meaningful use incentives and attest to meeting the requirements are useable, including ensuring that hospitals can, with permission, help their physicians sign up for the program and attest to meeting the requirements; Worked with ONC to modify the certification requirements for EHRs to allow the flexibility promised in the rules for meaningful use; Worked to get legislative fix introduced for ACA provision related to readmission policy to eliminate a computation error and ensure that unrelated and planned readmissions are excluded from the policy; Worked to improve the regulation to implement ACOs; Urging CMS to update, streamline, and modernize the Medicare conditions of participation; Sessions Crowley and Stabenow Murkowski IPPS letter requesting fixes to the coding offset circulated for signature; HR 1852/ S 950 Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2011, the current CHGME authorization expires in September, and the bills would reauthorize the CHGME program for an additional five years, through fiscal year (FY) 2016, at the current authorization level of up to $330 million a year; HR 1683/ S 868 Medicaid MOE, strikes provisions of ACA related to maintaining Medicaid eligibility levels; HR 1543 Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to count a period of receipt of outpatient observation services in a hospital toward satisfying the 3-day inpatient hospital requirement for coverage of skilled nursing facility services under Medicare; Worked on legislation related to HIT payments for hospitals in multi-campus systems.

HR 452 Medicare Decisions Accountability Act of 2011, to repeal the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act providing for the Independent Payment Advisory Board; HR 541 Pay for all your Undocumented Procedures (PAY UP!) Act of 2011, amends the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to make permanent the program of federal reimbursement of emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens. Requires a re-allotment of unspent program funds in a fiscal year among eligible providers in full expenditure states according to a specified ratio. Requires addition of such funds to the aggregate amount available for allotment for the succeeding fiscal year in the event there is no full expenditure state; HR 876 and S 58 The Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by establishing safe nurse staffing levels at certain Medicare providers; HR 1159, to repeal certain provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act relating to the limitation on the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals and to transparency reports and reporting of physician ownership or investment interests; HR 1186, a bill to repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals; S 374 and HR 2783 Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services under the Medicare program; HR 1398 Rural Hospital Protection Act, legislation which would amend the Social Security Act to ensure that the full cost of certain provider taxes are considered allowable costs for purposes of Medicare reimbursements to CAHs; S 1486 Long-Term Care Hospital Improvement Act of 201, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to clarify and expand on criteria applicable to patient admission to and care furnished in long-term care hospitals participating in the Medicare program; Raising concerns about CMS flawed methodology that overstate the effect of the documentation and coding changes to PPS payments, ensuring that CMS does not go beyond its charge of ensuring budget-neutral implementation of MS-DRGs; Working with CMS to clarify requirements and ensure that the systems to register for the meaningful use incentives and attest to meeting the requirements are useable, including ensuring that hospitals can, with permission, help their physicians sign up for the program and attest to meeting the requirements; Worked with ONC to modify the certification requirements for EHRs to allow the flexibility promised in the rules for meaningful use; Worked to get legislative fix introduced for ACA provision related to readmission policy to eliminate a computation error and ensure that unrelated and planned readmissions are excluded from the policy; Worked to improve the regulation to implement ACOs; Urging CMS to update, streamline, and modernize the Medicare conditions of participation; Sessions Crowley and Stabenow-Murkowski IPPS letter requesting fixes to the coding offset circulated for signature; HR 1852/ S 950 Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2011, the current CHGME authorization expires in September, and the bills would reauthorize the CHGME program for an additional five years, through fiscal year (FY) 2016, at the current authorization level of up to $330 million a year; HR 1683/ S 868 Medicaid MOE, strikes provisions of ACA related to maintaining Medicaid eligibility levels; HR 1543 Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to count a period of receipt of outpatient observation services in a hospital toward satisfying the 3-day inpatient hospital requirement for coverage of skilled nursing facility services under Medicare; S 1251Medicare and Medicaid FAST Act, a bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to curb waste, fraud, and abuse in the Medicare and Medicaid programs; HR 2500 Equal Access and Parity for Multi-Campus Hospitals Act, a bill 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 2674 340B Program Improvement Act, a bill to amend section 340B of the Public Health Service Act to improve the provision of discounts on drug purchases for certain safety net providers.

HR 1 Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act 2011, making appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011; HR 2 Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act, to repeal the job-killing health care law and health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010; HR 4 Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011, offsets the cost of 1099 repeal by increasing the maximum amount of tax subsidy to be repaid if a persons (or familys) income exceeds 400% of poverty; HR 5, S 218, HR 105 and S 1099 Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act, 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; Reauthorization of the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) P.L. 109-417, Emergency Preparedness; HRes 9 Instructing four committees to produce legislation to replace the health reform law and to include a permanent fix to the SGR; S 296 Preserving Access to Life-Saving Medications Act, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide the Food and Drug Administration with improved capacity to prevent drug shortages; HR 705 The Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the expansion of information reporting requirements to payments made to corporations, payments for property and other gross proceeds, and rental property expense payments; HR 1213 To repeal mandatory funding provided to States in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to establish American Health Benefit Exchanges; HR 1217 To repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund; S 539 Behavioral Health Information Technology Act of 2011, a bill to amend the Public Health Services Act and the Social Security Act to extend health information technology assistance eligibility to behavioral health, mental health, and substance abuse professionals and facilities; S 668 Health Care Bureaucrats Elimination Act, a bill to remove unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats from seniors' personal health decisions by repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Allow hospitals to claim the full cost of provider taxes as allowable costs; Ensure CAHs are paid at least 101 percent of costs by Medicare Advantage plans; Ensure that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) appropriately addresses the issue of direct supervision for outpatient therapeutic services for rural hospitals and CAHs; Ensure rural hospitals and CAHs have adequate reimbursement for certified registered nurse anesthetist and stand-by services; Exempt CAHs from the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Extend expiring provisions; Provide small, rural hospitals with cost-based reimbursement for outpatient laboratory services and ambulance services; Provide CAHs bed size flexibility; Reinstate CAH necessary provider status; Remove unreasonable restrictions on CAHs ability to rebuild; Discussions on a bill to credit some observation status days to 3 day inpatient hospital stays; Worked with HHS on establishing the Partnership for Patients Program to improve patient safety activities in hospitals; HR 1929 Emergency Nursing Relief Act, provides for 20,000 additional immigrant visas (green cards) for Registered Nurses, and their immediate family members. Visas issued to the family members would not count against the 20,000 quota. The Secretary of State would not be permitted to issue more visas than this set quota. Employers are charged $1,500 for these visas which would support funding US nursing programs; HR 1933, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to modify the requirements for admission of nonimmigrant nurses in health professional shortage areas and calls for a limited revival of the H-1C program; S 778 Protecting Access to Rural Therapy Services (PARTS) Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act with respect to physician supervision of therapeutic hospital outpatient services; HR 1363 Department of Defense and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011; Letter to oppose Cuts to the funding of the Hospital Preparedness Program.

HR 1 Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act 2011, making appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011; HR 2 Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act, to repeal the job-killing health care law and health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010; HR 4 Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011, offsets the cost of 1099 repeal by increasing the maximum amount of tax subsidy to be repaid if a persons (or familys) income exceeds 400% of poverty; HR 5, S 218, HR 105 and S 1099 Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act, 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; Reauthorization of the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) P.L. 109-417, Emergency Preparedness; HRes 9 Instructing four committees to produce legislation to replace the health reform law and to include a permanent fix to the SGR; S 296 and HR 2245 Preserving Access to Life-Saving Medications Act of 2011, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide the Food and Drug Administration with improved capacity to prevent drug shortages; HR 705 The Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the expansion of information reporting requirements to payments made to corporations, payments for property and other gross proceeds, and rental property expense payments; HR 1213 To repeal mandatory funding provided to States in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to establish American Health Benefit Exchanges; HR 1217 to repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund; S 539 Behavioral Health Information Technology Act of 2011, a bill to amend the Public Health Services Act and the Social Security Act to extend health information technology assistance eligibility to behavioral health, mental health, and substance abuse professionals and facilities; S 668 Health Care Bureaucrats Elimination Act, a bill to remove unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats from seniors' personal health decisions by repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Allow hospitals to claim the full cost of provider taxes as allowable costs; Ensure CAHs are paid at least 101 percent of costs by Medicare Advantage plans; Ensure that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) appropriately addresses the issue of direct supervision for outpatient therapeutic services for rural hospitals and CAHs; Ensure rural hospitals and CAHs have adequate reimbursement for certified registered nurse anesthetist and stand-by services; Exempt CAHs from the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Extend expiring provisions; Provide small, rural hospitals with cost-based reimbursement for outpatient laboratory services and ambulance services; Provide CAHs bed size flexibility; Reinstate CAH necessary provider status; Remove unreasonable restrictions on CAHs ability to rebuild; Discussions on a bill to credit some observation status days to 3 day inpatient hospital stays; Worked with HHS on establishing the Partnership for Patients Program to improve patient safety activities in hospitals; HR 1929 Emergency Nursing Relief Act, provides for 20,000 additional immigrant visas (green cards) for Registered Nurses, and their immediate family members. Visas issued to the family members would not count against the 20,000 quota. The Secretary of State would not be permitted to issue more visas than this set quota. Employers are charged $1,500 for these visas which would support funding US nursing programs; HR 1933, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to modify the requirements for admission of nonimmigrant nurses in health professional shortage areas and calls for a limited revival of the H-1C program; S 778 Protecting Access to Rural Therapy Services (PARTS) Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act with respect to physician supervision of therapeutic hospital outpatient services; HR 1363 Department of Defense and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011; Letter to oppose Cuts to the funding of the Hospital Preparedness Program; HR 1214 a bill to repeal mandatory funding for school-based health center construction, it amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to repeal the program requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants to school-based health centers or their sponsoring facilities to support the operation of such health centers. Rescinds unobligated appropriations for the program. Urging that final Accounting of Disclosures rule not include the proposal to require provision of an access report to patients; S 365 and S 627 Budget Control Act of 2011, Established by Joint Select Comm on Deficit Reduction.

HR 1 Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act 2011, making appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011; HR 2 Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act, to repeal the job-killing health care law and health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010; HR 4 Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011, offsets the cost of 1099 repeal by increasing the maximum amount of tax subsidy to be repaid if a persons (or familys) income exceeds 400% of poverty; HR 5, S 218, HR 105 and S 1099 Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act, 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; Reauthorization of the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) P.L. 109-417, Emergency Preparedness; HRes 9 Instructing four committees to produce legislation to replace the health reform law and to include a permanent fix to the SGR; S 296 Preserving Access to Life-Saving Medications Act, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide the Food and Drug Administration with improved capacity to prevent drug shortages; HR 705 The Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the expansion of information reporting requirements to payments made to corporations, payments for property and other gross proceeds, and rental property expense payments; HR 1213 To repeal mandatory funding provided to States in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to establish American Health Benefit Exchanges; HR 1217 To repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund; S 539 Behavioral Health Information Technology Act of 2011, a bill to amend the Public Health Services Act and the Social Security Act to extend health information technology assistance eligibility to behavioral health, mental health, and substance abuse professionals and facilities; S 668 Health Care Bureaucrats Elimination Act, a bill to remove unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats from seniors' personal health decisions by repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Allow hospitals to claim the full cost of provider taxes as allowable costs; Ensure CAHs are paid at least 101 percent of costs by Medicare Advantage plans; Ensure that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) appropriately addresses the issue of direct supervision for outpatient therapeutic services for rural hospitals and CAHs; Ensure rural hospitals and CAHs have adequate reimbursement for certified registered nurse anesthetist and stand-by services; Exempt CAHs from the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Extend expiring provisions; Provide small, rural hospitals with cost-based reimbursement for outpatient laboratory services and ambulance services; Provide CAHs bed size flexibility; Reinstate CAH necessary provider status; Remove unreasonable restrictions on CAHs ability to rebuild; Discussions on a bill to credit some observation status days to 3 day inpatient hospital stays; Worked with HHS on establishing the Partnership for Patients Program to improve patient safety activities in hospitals; HR 1929 Emergency Nursing Relief Act, provides for 20,000 additional immigrant visas (green cards) for Registered Nurses, and their immediate family members. Visas issued to the family members would not count against the 20,000 quota. The Secretary of State would not be permitted to issue more visas than this set quota. Employers are charged $1,500 for these visas which would support funding US nursing programs; HR 1933, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to modify the requirements for admission of nonimmigrant nurses in health professional shortage areas and calls for a limited revival of the H-1C program; S 778 Protecting Access to Rural Therapy Services (PARTS) Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act with respect to physician supervision of therapeutic hospital outpatient services; HR 1363 Department of Defense and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011; Letter to oppose Cuts to the funding of the Hospital Preparedness Program.

HR 1 Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act 2011, making appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011; HR 2 Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act, to repeal the job-killing health care law and health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010; HR 4 Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011, offsets the cost of 1099 repeal by increasing the maximum amount of tax subsidy to be repaid if a persons (or familys) income exceeds 400% of poverty; HR 5, S 218, HR 105 and S 1099 Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act, 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; Reauthorization of the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) P.L. 109-417, Emergency Preparedness; HRes 9 Instructing four committees to produce legislation to replace the health reform law and to include a permanent fix to the SGR; S 296 and HR 2245 Preserving Access to Life-Saving Medications Act of 2011, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide the Food and Drug Administration with improved capacity to prevent drug shortages; HR 705 The Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the expansion of information reporting requirements to payments made to corporations, payments for property and other gross proceeds, and rental property expense payments; HR 1213 To repeal mandatory funding provided to States in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to establish American Health Benefit Exchanges; HR 1217 to repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund; S 539 Behavioral Health Information Technology Act of 2011, a bill to amend the Public Health Services Act and the Social Security Act to extend health information technology assistance eligibility to behavioral health, mental health, and substance abuse professionals and facilities; S 668 Health Care Bureaucrats Elimination Act, a bill to remove unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats from seniors' personal health decisions by repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Allow hospitals to claim the full cost of provider taxes as allowable costs; Ensure CAHs are paid at least 101 percent of costs by Medicare Advantage plans; Ensure that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) appropriately addresses the issue of direct supervision for outpatient therapeutic services for rural hospitals and CAHs; Ensure rural hospitals and CAHs have adequate reimbursement for certified registered nurse anesthetist and stand-by services; Exempt CAHs from the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Extend expiring provisions; Provide small, rural hospitals with cost-based reimbursement for outpatient laboratory services and ambulance services; Provide CAHs bed size flexibility; Reinstate CAH necessary provider status; Remove unreasonable restrictions on CAHs ability to rebuild; Discussions on a bill to credit some observation status days to 3 day inpatient hospital stays; Worked with HHS on establishing the Partnership for Patients Program to improve patient safety activities in hospitals; HR 1929 Emergency Nursing Relief Act, provides for 20,000 additional immigrant visas (green cards) for Registered Nurses, and their immediate family members. Visas issued to the family members would not count against the 20,000 quota. The Secretary of State would not be permitted to issue more visas than this set quota. Employers are charged $1,500 for these visas which would support funding US nursing programs; HR 1933, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to modify the requirements for admission of nonimmigrant nurses in health professional shortage areas and calls for a limited revival of the H-1C program; S 778 Protecting Access to Rural Therapy Services (PARTS) Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act with respect to physician supervision of therapeutic hospital outpatient services; HR 1363 Department of Defense and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011; Letter to oppose Cuts to the funding of the Hospital Preparedness Program; HR 1214 a bill to repeal mandatory funding for school-based health center construction, it amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to repeal the program requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants to school-based health centers or their sponsoring facilities to support the operation of such health centers. Rescinds unobligated appropriations for the program. Urging that final Accounting of Disclosures rule not include the proposal to require provision of an access report to patients; S 365 and S 627 Budget Control Act of 2011, Established by Joint Select Comm on Deficit Reduction.

HR 1 Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act 2011, making appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011; HR 2 Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act, to repeal the job-killing health care law and health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010; HR 4 Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011, offsets the cost of 1099 repeal by increasing the maximum amount of tax subsidy to be repaid if a persons (or familys) income exceeds 400% of poverty; HR 5, S 218, HR 105 and S 1099 Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act, 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; Reauthorization of the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) P.L. 109-417, Emergency Preparedness; HRes 9 Instructing four committees to produce legislation to replace the health reform law and to include a permanent fix to the SGR; S 296 and HR 2245 Preserving Access to Life-Saving Medications Act of 2011, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide the Food and Drug Administration with improved capacity to prevent drug shortages; HR 705 The Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the expansion of information reporting requirements to payments made to corporations, payments for property and other gross proceeds, and rental property expense payments; HR 1213 To repeal mandatory funding provided to States in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to establish American Health Benefit Exchanges; HR 1217 to repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund; S 539 Behavioral Health Information Technology Act of 2011, a bill to amend the Public Health Services Act and the Social Security Act to extend health information technology assistance eligibility to behavioral health, mental health, and substance abuse professionals and facilities; S 668 Health Care Bureaucrats Elimination Act, a bill to remove unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats from seniors' personal health decisions by repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Allow hospitals to claim the full cost of provider taxes as allowable costs; Ensure CAHs are paid at least 101 percent of costs by Medicare Advantage plans; Ensure that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) appropriately addresses the issue of direct supervision for outpatient therapeutic services for rural hospitals and CAHs; Ensure rural hospitals and CAHs have adequate reimbursement for certified registered nurse anesthetist and stand-by services; Exempt CAHs from the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Extend expiring provisions; Provide small, rural hospitals with cost-based reimbursement for outpatient laboratory services and ambulance services; Provide CAHs bed size flexibility; Reinstate CAH necessary provider status; Remove unreasonable restrictions on CAHs ability to rebuild; Discussions on a bill to credit some observation status days to 3 day inpatient hospital stays; Worked with HHS on establishing the Partnership for Patients Program to improve patient safety activities in hospitals; HR 1929 Emergency Nursing Relief Act, provides for 20,000 additional immigrant visas (green cards) for Registered Nurses, and their immediate family members. Visas issued to the family members would not count against the 20,000 quota. The Secretary of State would not be permitted to issue more visas than this set quota. Employers are charged $1,500 for these visas which would support funding US nursing programs; HR 1933, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to modify the requirements for admission of nonimmigrant nurses in health professional shortage areas and calls for a limited revival of the H-1C program; S 778 Protecting Access to Rural Therapy Services (PARTS) Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act with respect to physician supervision of therapeutic hospital outpatient services; HR 1363 Department of Defense and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011; Letter to oppose Cuts to the funding of the Hospital Preparedness Program; HR 1214 a bill to repeal mandatory funding for school-based health center construction, it amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to repeal the program requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants to school-based health centers or their sponsoring facilities to support the operation of such health centers. Rescinds unobligated appropriations for the program. Urging that final Accounting of Disclosures rule not include the proposal to require provision of an access report to patients; S 365 and S 627 Budget Control Act of 2011, Established by Joint Select Comm on Deficit Reduction.

HR 452 Medicare Decisions Accountability Act of 2011, to repeal the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act providing for the Independent Payment Advisory Board; HR 541 Pay for all your Undocumented Procedures (PAY UP!) Act of 2011, amends the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to make permanent the program of federal reimbursement of emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens. Requires a re-allotment of unspent program funds in a fiscal year among eligible providers in full expenditure states according to a specified ratio. Requires addition of such funds to the aggregate amount available for allotment for the succeeding fiscal year in the event there is no full expenditure state; HR 876 and S 58 The Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by establishing safe nurse staffing levels at certain Medicare providers; HR 1159, to repeal certain provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act relating to the limitation on the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals and to transparency reports and reporting of physician ownership or investment interests; HR 1186, a bill to repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals; S 374 and HR 2783 Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services under the Medicare program; HR 1398 Rural Hospital Protection Act, legislation which would amend the Social Security Act to ensure that the full cost of certain provider taxes are considered allowable costs for purposes of Medicare reimbursements to CAHs; S 1486 Long-Term Care Hospital Improvement Act of 201, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to clarify and expand on criteria applicable to patient admission to and care furnished in long-term care hospitals participating in the Medicare program; Raising concerns about CMS flawed methodology that overstate the effect of the documentation and coding changes to PPS payments, ensuring that CMS does not go beyond its charge of ensuring budget-neutral implementation of MS-DRGs; Working with CMS to clarify requirements and ensure that the systems to register for the meaningful use incentives and attest to meeting the requirements are useable, including ensuring that hospitals can, with permission, help their physicians sign up for the program and attest to meeting the requirements; Worked with ONC to modify the certification requirements for EHRs to allow the flexibility promised in the rules for meaningful use; Worked to get legislative fix introduced for ACA provision related to readmission policy to eliminate a computation error and ensure that unrelated and planned readmissions are excluded from the policy; Worked to improve the regulation to implement ACOs; Urging CMS to update, streamline, and modernize the Medicare conditions of participation; Sessions Crowley and Stabenow-Murkowski IPPS letter requesting fixes to the coding offset circulated for signature; HR 1852/ S 950 Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2011, the current CHGME authorization expires in September, and the bills would reauthorize the CHGME program for an additional five years, through fiscal year (FY) 2016, at the current authorization level of up to $330 million a year; HR 1683/ S 868 Medicaid MOE, strikes provisions of ACA related to maintaining Medicaid eligibility levels; HR 1543 Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to count a period of receipt of outpatient observation services in a hospital toward satisfying the 3-day inpatient hospital requirement for coverage of skilled nursing facility services under Medicare; S 1251Medicare and Medicaid FAST Act, a bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to curb waste, fraud, and abuse in the Medicare and Medicaid programs; HR 2500 Equal Access and Parity for Multi-Campus Hospitals Act, a bill 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 2674 340B Program Improvement Act, a bill to amend section 340B of the Public Health Service Act to improve the provision of discounts on drug purchases for certain safety net providers.

S 217, HR 972 The Secret Ballot Protection Act, makes it an unfair labor practice under the NLRA for an employer to recognize a union that has not been selected via secret ballot and unlawful for a union that has not been chosen as the employees' exclusive representative in a secret ballot election conducted by the NLRB to cause or attempt to cause an employer to recognize or bargain with it; Urged Rep. Ruppersberger office to request of OFCCP further information about the expanded jurisdiction claimed by the Office over hospitals that participate as in-network providers in TRICARE, FEHBP as federal subcontractors; S. 1253 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 Supporting provision establishing exemption for TRICARE providers from designation as federal contractors subject to OFCCPs regulations and oversight; encouraging that final bill include this exemption.; HR 2573 and S 1431 Rural Health Care Capital Access Reauthorization Act of 2011, a bill to amend section 242 of the National Housing Act to extend the sunset provisions for the exemption for critical access hospitals under the FHA programs of mortgage insurance for hospitals.

HR 452 Medicare Decisions Accountability Act of 2011, to repeal the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act providing for the Independent Payment Advisory Board; HR 541 Pay for all your Undocumented Procedures (PAY UP!) Act of 2011, amends the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to make permanent the program of federal reimbursement of emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens. Requires a re-allotment of unspent program funds in a fiscal year among eligible providers in full expenditure states according to a specified ratio. Requires addition of such funds to the aggregate amount available for allotment for the succeeding fiscal year in the event there is no full expenditure state; HR 876 and S 58 The Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by establishing safe nurse staffing levels at certain Medicare providers; HR 1159, to repeal certain provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act relating to the limitation on the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals and to transparency reports and reporting of physician ownership or investment interests; HR 1186, a bill to repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals; S 374 and HR 2783 Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services under the Medicare program; HR 1398 Rural Hospital Protection Act, legislation which would amend the Social Security Act to ensure that the full cost of certain provider taxes are considered allowable costs for purposes of Medicare reimbursements to CAHs; S 1486 Long-Term Care Hospital Improvement Act of 201, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to clarify and expand on criteria applicable to patient admission to and care furnished in long-term care hospitals participating in the Medicare program; Raising concerns about CMS flawed methodology that overstate the effect of the documentation and coding changes to PPS payments, ensuring that CMS does not go beyond its charge of ensuring budget-neutral implementation of MS-DRGs; Working with CMS to clarify requirements and ensure that the systems to register for the meaningful use incentives and attest to meeting the requirements are useable, including ensuring that hospitals can, with permission, help their physicians sign up for the program and attest to meeting the requirements; Worked with ONC to modify the certification requirements for EHRs to allow the flexibility promised in the rules for meaningful use; Worked to get legislative fix introduced for ACA provision related to readmission policy to eliminate a computation error and ensure that unrelated and planned readmissions are excluded from the policy; Worked to improve the regulation to implement ACOs; Urging CMS to update, streamline, and modernize the Medicare conditions of participation; Sessions Crowley and Stabenow-Murkowski IPPS letter requesting fixes to the coding offset circulated for signature; HR 1852/ S 950 Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2011, the current CHGME authorization expires in September, and the bills would reauthorize the CHGME program for an additional five years, through fiscal year (FY) 2016, at the current authorization level of up to $330 million a year; HR 1683/ S 868 Medicaid MOE, strikes provisions of ACA related to maintaining Medicaid eligibility levels; HR 1543 Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to count a period of receipt of outpatient observation services in a hospital toward satisfying the 3-day inpatient hospital requirement for coverage of skilled nursing facility services under Medicare; S 1251Medicare and Medicaid FAST Act, a bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to curb waste, fraud, and abuse in the Medicare and Medicaid programs; HR 2500 Equal Access and Parity for Multi-Campus Hospitals Act, a bill 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 2674 340B Program Improvement Act, a bill to amend section 340B of the Public Health Service Act to improve the provision of discounts on drug purchases for certain safety net providers.

HR 452 Medicare Decisions Accountability Act of 2011, to repeal the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act providing for the Independent Payment Advisory Board; HR 541 Pay for all your Undocumented Procedures (PAY UP!) Act of 2011, amends the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to make permanent the program of federal reimbursement of emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens. Requires a re-allotment of unspent program funds in a fiscal year among eligible providers in full expenditure states according to a specified ratio. Requires addition of such funds to the aggregate amount available for allotment for the succeeding fiscal year in the event there is no full expenditure state; HR 876 and S 58 The Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by establishing safe nurse staffing levels at certain Medicare providers; HR 1159, to repeal certain provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act relating to the limitation on the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals and to transparency reports and reporting of physician ownership or investment interests; HR 1186, a bill to repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals; S 374 and HR 2783 Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services under the Medicare program; HR 1398 Rural Hospital Protection Act, legislation which would amend the Social Security Act to ensure that the full cost of certain provider taxes are considered allowable costs for purposes of Medicare reimbursements to CAHs; S 1486 Long-Term Care Hospital Improvement Act of 201, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to clarify and expand on criteria applicable to patient admission to and care furnished in long-term care hospitals participating in the Medicare program; Raising concerns about CMS flawed methodology that overstate the effect of the documentation and coding changes to PPS payments, ensuring that CMS does not go beyond its charge of ensuring budget-neutral implementation of MS-DRGs; Working with CMS to clarify requirements and ensure that the systems to register for the meaningful use incentives and attest to meeting the requirements are useable, including ensuring that hospitals can, with permission, help their physicians sign up for the program and attest to meeting the requirements; Worked with ONC to modify the certification requirements for EHRs to allow the flexibility promised in the rules for meaningful use; Worked to get legislative fix introduced for ACA provision related to readmission policy to eliminate a computation error and ensure that unrelated and planned readmissions are excluded from the policy; Worked to improve the regulation to implement ACOs; Urging CMS to update, streamline, and modernize the Medicare conditions of participation; Sessions Crowley and Stabenow-Murkowski IPPS letter requesting fixes to the coding offset circulated for signature; HR 1852/ S 950 Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2011, the current CHGME authorization expires in September, and the bills would reauthorize the CHGME program for an additional five years, through fiscal year (FY) 2016, at the current authorization level of up to $330 million a year; HR 1683/ S 868 Medicaid MOE, strikes provisions of ACA related to maintaining Medicaid eligibility levels; HR 1543 Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to count a period of receipt of outpatient observation services in a hospital toward satisfying the 3-day inpatient hospital requirement for coverage of skilled nursing facility services under Medicare; S 1251Medicare and Medicaid FAST Act, a bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to curb waste, fraud, and abuse in the Medicare and Medicaid programs; HR 2500 Equal Access and Parity for Multi-Campus Hospitals Act, a bill 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 2674 340B Program Improvement Act, a bill to amend section 340B of the Public Health Service Act to improve the provision of discounts on drug purchases for certain safety net providers.

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Maintain the Medicaid maintenance of effort (MOE) provisions; HR 452 Medicare Decisions Accountability Act of 2011, to repeal the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act providing for the Independent Payment Advisory Board; HR 541 Pay for all your Undocumented Procedures (PAY UP!) Act of 2011, amends the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to make permanent the program of federal reimbursement of emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens. Requires a re-allotment of unspent program funds in a fiscal year among eligible providers in full expenditure states according to a specified ratio. Requires addition of such funds to the aggregate amount available for allotment for the succeeding fiscal year in the event there is no full expenditure state; HR 876 and S 58 The Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by establishing safe nurse staffing levels at certain Medicare providers; HR 1159, to repeal certain provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act relating to the limitation on the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals and to transparency reports and reporting of physician ownership or investment interests; HR 1186, a bill to repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals; S 374 Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services under the Medicare program; Legislation which would amend the Social Security Act to ensure that the full cost of certain provider taxes are considered allowable costs for purposes of Medicare reimbursements to CAHs; Urging congress to establish patient and facility criteria to distinguish LTACHs from other care settings; Raising concerns about CMS flawed methodology that overstate the effect of the documentation and coding changes to PPS payments, ensuring that CMS does not go beyond its charge of ensuring budget-neutral implementation of MS-DRGs; Working with CMS to clarify requirements and ensure that the systems to register for the meaningful use incentives and attest to meeting the requirements are useable, including ensuring that hospitals can, with permission, help their physicians sign up for the program and attest to meeting the requirements; Worked with ONC to modify the certification requirements for EHRs to allow the flexibility promised in the rules for meaningful use; Worked to get legislative fix introduced for ACA provision related to readmission policy to eliminate a computation error and ensure that unrelated and planned readmissions are excluded from the policy; Worked to structure the development of the regulation to implement ACOs prior to release of the proposed rule; Obtaining change in language for Medicare conditions of participation related to governing board requirements to eliminate an unnecessary requirement for separate boards or separate meetings of the board for individual hospitals that are part of a system; Urging CMS not to adopt a burdensome notice requirement in the Medicare conditions of participation related to the grievance process; Urging CMS to update, streamline, and modernize the Medicare conditions of participation.

HR 452 Medicare Decisions Accountability Act of 2011, to repeal the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act providing for the Independent Payment Advisory Board; HR 541 Pay for all your Undocumented Procedures (PAY UP!) Act of 2011, amends the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to make permanent the program of federal reimbursement of emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens. Requires a re-allotment of unspent program funds in a fiscal year among eligible providers in full expenditure states according to a specified ratio. Requires addition of such funds to the aggregate amount available for allotment for the succeeding fiscal year in the event there is no full expenditure state; HR 876 and S 58 The Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by establishing safe nurse staffing levels at certain Medicare providers; HR 1159, to repeal certain provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act relating to the limitation on the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals and to transparency reports and reporting of physician ownership or investment interests; HR 1186, a bill to repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals; S 374 Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services under the Medicare program; HR 1398 Rural Hospital Protection Act, lgislation which would amend the Social Security Act to ensure that the full cost of certain provider taxes are considered allowable costs for purposes of Medicare reimbursements to CAHs; Urging congress to establish patient and facility criteria to distinguish LTACHs from other care settings; Raising concerns about CMS flawed methodology that overstate the effect of the documentation and coding changes to PPS payments, ensuring that CMS does not go beyond its charge of ensuring budget-neutral implementation of MS-DRGs; Working with CMS to clarify requirements and ensure that the systems to register for the meaningful use incentives and attest to meeting the requirements are useable, including ensuring that hospitals can, with permission, help their physicians sign up for the program and attest to meeting the requirements; Worked with ONC to modify the certification requirements for EHRs to allow the flexibility promised in the rules for meaningful use; Worked to get legislative fix introduced for ACA provision related to readmission policy to eliminate a computation error and ensure that unrelated and planned readmissions are excluded from the policy; Worked to improve the regulation to implement ACOs; Urging CMS to update, streamline, and modernize the Medicare conditions of participation; Sessions Crowley and Stabenow Murkowski IPPS letter requesting fixes to the coding offset circulated for signature; HR 1852/ S 950 Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2011, the current CHGME authorization expires in September, and the bills would reauthorize the CHGME program for an additional five years, through fiscal year (FY) 2016, at the current authorization level of up to $330 million a year; HR 1683/ S 868 Medicaid MOE, strikes provisions of ACA related to maintaining Medicaid eligibility levels; HR 1543 Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to count a period of receipt of outpatient observation services in a hospital toward satisfying the 3-day inpatient hospital requirement for coverage of skilled nursing facility services under Medicare; Worked on legislation related to HIT payments for hospitals in multi-campus systems.

HR 452 Medicare Decisions Accountability Act of 2011, to repeal the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act providing for the Independent Payment Advisory Board; HR 541 Pay for all your Undocumented Procedures (PAY UP!) Act of 2011, amends the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to make permanent the program of federal reimbursement of emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens. Requires a re-allotment of unspent program funds in a fiscal year among eligible providers in full expenditure states according to a specified ratio. Requires addition of such funds to the aggregate amount available for allotment for the succeeding fiscal year in the event there is no full expenditure state; HR 876 and S 58 The Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by establishing safe nurse staffing levels at certain Medicare providers; HR 1159, to repeal certain provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act relating to the limitation on the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals and to transparency reports and reporting of physician ownership or investment interests; HR 1186, a bill to repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals; S 374 and HR 2783 Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services under the Medicare program; HR 1398 Rural Hospital Protection Act, legislation which would amend the Social Security Act to ensure that the full cost of certain provider taxes are considered allowable costs for purposes of Medicare reimbursements to CAHs; S 1486 Long-Term Care Hospital Improvement Act of 201, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to clarify and expand on criteria applicable to patient admission to and care furnished in long-term care hospitals participating in the Medicare program; Raising concerns about CMS flawed methodology that overstate the effect of the documentation and coding changes to PPS payments, ensuring that CMS does not go beyond its charge of ensuring budget-neutral implementation of MS-DRGs; Working with CMS to clarify requirements and ensure that the systems to register for the meaningful use incentives and attest to meeting the requirements are useable, including ensuring that hospitals can, with permission, help their physicians sign up for the program and attest to meeting the requirements; Worked with ONC to modify the certification requirements for EHRs to allow the flexibility promised in the rules for meaningful use; Worked to get legislative fix introduced for ACA provision related to readmission policy to eliminate a computation error and ensure that unrelated and planned readmissions are excluded from the policy; Worked to improve the regulation to implement ACOs; Urging CMS to update, streamline, and modernize the Medicare conditions of participation; Sessions Crowley and Stabenow-Murkowski IPPS letter requesting fixes to the coding offset circulated for signature; HR 1852/ S 950 Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2011, the current CHGME authorization expires in September, and the bills would reauthorize the CHGME program for an additional five years, through fiscal year (FY) 2016, at the current authorization level of up to $330 million a year; HR 1683/ S 868 Medicaid MOE, strikes provisions of ACA related to maintaining Medicaid eligibility levels; HR 1543 Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to count a period of receipt of outpatient observation services in a hospital toward satisfying the 3-day inpatient hospital requirement for coverage of skilled nursing facility services under Medicare; S 1251Medicare and Medicaid FAST Act, a bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to curb waste, fraud, and abuse in the Medicare and Medicaid programs; HR 2500 Equal Access and Parity for Multi-Campus Hospitals Act, a bill 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 2674 340B Program Improvement Act, a bill to amend section 340B of the Public Health Service Act to improve the provision of discounts on drug purchases for certain safety net providers.

HR 452 Medicare Decisions Accountability Act of 2011, to repeal the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act providing for the Independent Payment Advisory Board; HR 541 Pay for all your Undocumented Procedures (PAY UP!) Act of 2011, amends the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to make permanent the program of federal reimbursement of emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens. Requires a re-allotment of unspent program funds in a fiscal year among eligible providers in full expenditure states according to a specified ratio. Requires addition of such funds to the aggregate amount available for allotment for the succeeding fiscal year in the event there is no full expenditure state; HR 876 and S 58 The Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by establishing safe nurse staffing levels at certain Medicare providers; HR 1159, to repeal certain provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act relating to the limitation on the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals and to transparency reports and reporting of physician ownership or investment interests; HR 1186, a bill to repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals; S 374 Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services under the Medicare program; HR 1398 Rural Hospital Protection Act, lgislation which would amend the Social Security Act to ensure that the full cost of certain provider taxes are considered allowable costs for purposes of Medicare reimbursements to CAHs; Urging congress to establish patient and facility criteria to distinguish LTACHs from other care settings; Raising concerns about CMS flawed methodology that overstate the effect of the documentation and coding changes to PPS payments, ensuring that CMS does not go beyond its charge of ensuring budget-neutral implementation of MS-DRGs; Working with CMS to clarify requirements and ensure that the systems to register for the meaningful use incentives and attest to meeting the requirements are useable, including ensuring that hospitals can, with permission, help their physicians sign up for the program and attest to meeting the requirements; Worked with ONC to modify the certification requirements for EHRs to allow the flexibility promised in the rules for meaningful use; Worked to get legislative fix introduced for ACA provision related to readmission policy to eliminate a computation error and ensure that unrelated and planned readmissions are excluded from the policy; Worked to improve the regulation to implement ACOs; Urging CMS to update, streamline, and modernize the Medicare conditions of participation; Sessions Crowley and Stabenow Murkowski IPPS letter requesting fixes to the coding offset circulated for signature; HR 1852/ S 950 Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2011, the current CHGME authorization expires in September, and the bills would reauthorize the CHGME program for an additional five years, through fiscal year (FY) 2016, at the current authorization level of up to $330 million a year; HR 1683/ S 868 Medicaid MOE, strikes provisions of ACA related to maintaining Medicaid eligibility levels; HR 1543 Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to count a period of receipt of outpatient observation services in a hospital toward satisfying the 3-day inpatient hospital requirement for coverage of skilled nursing facility services under Medicare; Worked on legislation related to HIT payments for hospitals in multi-campus systems.

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Maintain the Medicaid maintenance of effort (MOE) provisions; HR 452 Medicare Decisions Accountability Act of 2011, to repeal the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act providing for the Independent Payment Advisory Board; HR 541 Pay for all your Undocumented Procedures (PAY UP!) Act of 2011, amends the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to make permanent the program of federal reimbursement of emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens. Requires a re-allotment of unspent program funds in a fiscal year among eligible providers in full expenditure states according to a specified ratio. Requires addition of such funds to the aggregate amount available for allotment for the succeeding fiscal year in the event there is no full expenditure state; HR 876 and S 58 The Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by establishing safe nurse staffing levels at certain Medicare providers; HR 1159, to repeal certain provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act relating to the limitation on the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals and to transparency reports and reporting of physician ownership or investment interests; HR 1186, a bill to repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals; S 374 Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services under the Medicare program; Legislation which would amend the Social Security Act to ensure that the full cost of certain provider taxes are considered allowable costs for purposes of Medicare reimbursements to CAHs; Urging congress to establish patient and facility criteria to distinguish LTACHs from other care settings; Raising concerns about CMS flawed methodology that overstate the effect of the documentation and coding changes to PPS payments, ensuring that CMS does not go beyond its charge of ensuring budget-neutral implementation of MS-DRGs; Working with CMS to clarify requirements and ensure that the systems to register for the meaningful use incentives and attest to meeting the requirements are useable, including ensuring that hospitals can, with permission, help their physicians sign up for the program and attest to meeting the requirements; Worked with ONC to modify the certification requirements for EHRs to allow the flexibility promised in the rules for meaningful use; Worked to get legislative fix introduced for ACA provision related to readmission policy to eliminate a computation error and ensure that unrelated and planned readmissions are excluded from the policy; Worked to structure the development of the regulation to implement ACOs prior to release of the proposed rule; Obtaining change in language for Medicare conditions of participation related to governing board requirements to eliminate an unnecessary requirement for separate boards or separate meetings of the board for individual hospitals that are part of a system; Urging CMS not to adopt a burdensome notice requirement in the Medicare conditions of participation related to the grievance process; Urging CMS to update, streamline, and modernize the Medicare conditions of participation.

HR 452 Medicare Decisions Accountability Act of 2011, to repeal the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act providing for the Independent Payment Advisory Board; HR 541 Pay for all your Undocumented Procedures (PAY UP!) Act of 2011, amends the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to make permanent the program of federal reimbursement of emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens. Requires a re-allotment of unspent program funds in a fiscal year among eligible providers in full expenditure states according to a specified ratio. Requires addition of such funds to the aggregate amount available for allotment for the succeeding fiscal year in the event there is no full expenditure state; HR 876 and S 58 The Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by establishing safe nurse staffing levels at certain Medicare providers; HR 1159, to repeal certain provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act relating to the limitation on the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals and to transparency reports and reporting of physician ownership or investment interests; HR 1186, a bill to repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals; S 374 and HR 2783 Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services under the Medicare program; HR 1398 Rural Hospital Protection Act, legislation which would amend the Social Security Act to ensure that the full cost of certain provider taxes are considered allowable costs for purposes of Medicare reimbursements to CAHs; S 1486 Long-Term Care Hospital Improvement Act of 201, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to clarify and expand on criteria applicable to patient admission to and care furnished in long-term care hospitals participating in the Medicare program; Raising concerns about CMS flawed methodology that overstate the effect of the documentation and coding changes to PPS payments, ensuring that CMS does not go beyond its charge of ensuring budget-neutral implementation of MS-DRGs; Working with CMS to clarify requirements and ensure that the systems to register for the meaningful use incentives and attest to meeting the requirements are useable, including ensuring that hospitals can, with permission, help their physicians sign up for the program and attest to meeting the requirements; Worked with ONC to modify the certification requirements for EHRs to allow the flexibility promised in the rules for meaningful use; Worked to get legislative fix introduced for ACA provision related to readmission policy to eliminate a computation error and ensure that unrelated and planned readmissions are excluded from the policy; Worked to improve the regulation to implement ACOs; Urging CMS to update, streamline, and modernize the Medicare conditions of participation; Sessions Crowley and Stabenow-Murkowski IPPS letter requesting fixes to the coding offset circulated for signature; HR 1852/ S 950 Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2011, the current CHGME authorization expires in September, and the bills would reauthorize the CHGME program for an additional five years, through fiscal year (FY) 2016, at the current authorization level of up to $330 million a year; HR 1683/ S 868 Medicaid MOE, strikes provisions of ACA related to maintaining Medicaid eligibility levels; HR 1543 Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to count a period of receipt of outpatient observation services in a hospital toward satisfying the 3-day inpatient hospital requirement for coverage of skilled nursing facility services under Medicare; S 1251Medicare and Medicaid FAST Act, a bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to curb waste, fraud, and abuse in the Medicare and Medicaid programs; HR 2500 Equal Access and Parity for Multi-Campus Hospitals Act, a bill 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 2674 340B Program Improvement Act, a bill to amend section 340B of the Public Health Service Act to improve the provision of discounts on drug purchases for certain safety net providers.

HR 1 Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act 2011, making appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011; HR 2 Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act, to repeal the job-killing health care law and health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010; HR 4 Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011, offsets the cost of 1099 repeal by increasing the maximum amount of tax subsidy to be repaid if a persons (or familys) income exceeds 400% of poverty; HR 5, S 218, HR 105 and S 1099 Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act, 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; Reauthorization of the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) P.L. 109-417, Emergency Preparedness; HRes 9 Instructing four committees to produce legislation to replace the health reform law and to include a permanent fix to the SGR; S 296 and HR 2245 Preserving Access to Life-Saving Medications Act of 2011, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide the Food and Drug Administration with improved capacity to prevent drug shortages; HR 705 The Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the expansion of information reporting requirements to payments made to corporations, payments for property and other gross proceeds, and rental property expense payments; HR 1213 To repeal mandatory funding provided to States in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to establish American Health Benefit Exchanges; HR 1217 to repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund; S 539 Behavioral Health Information Technology Act of 2011, a bill to amend the Public Health Services Act and the Social Security Act to extend health information technology assistance eligibility to behavioral health, mental health, and substance abuse professionals and facilities; S 668 Health Care Bureaucrats Elimination Act, a bill to remove unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats from seniors' personal health decisions by repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Allow hospitals to claim the full cost of provider taxes as allowable costs; Ensure CAHs are paid at least 101 percent of costs by Medicare Advantage plans; Ensure that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) appropriately addresses the issue of direct supervision for outpatient therapeutic services for rural hospitals and CAHs; Ensure rural hospitals and CAHs have adequate reimbursement for certified registered nurse anesthetist and stand-by services; Exempt CAHs from the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Extend expiring provisions; Provide small, rural hospitals with cost-based reimbursement for outpatient laboratory services and ambulance services; Provide CAHs bed size flexibility; Reinstate CAH necessary provider status; Remove unreasonable restrictions on CAHs ability to rebuild; Discussions on a bill to credit some observation status days to 3 day inpatient hospital stays; Worked with HHS on establishing the Partnership for Patients Program to improve patient safety activities in hospitals; HR 1929 Emergency Nursing Relief Act, provides for 20,000 additional immigrant visas (green cards) for Registered Nurses, and their immediate family members. Visas issued to the family members would not count against the 20,000 quota. The Secretary of State would not be permitted to issue more visas than this set quota. Employers are charged $1,500 for these visas which would support funding US nursing programs; HR 1933, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to modify the requirements for admission of nonimmigrant nurses in health professional shortage areas and calls for a limited revival of the H-1C program; S 778 Protecting Access to Rural Therapy Services (PARTS) Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act with respect to physician supervision of therapeutic hospital outpatient services; HR 1363 Department of Defense and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011; Letter to oppose Cuts to the funding of the Hospital Preparedness Program; HR 1214 a bill to repeal mandatory funding for school-based health center construction, it amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to repeal the program requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants to school-based health centers or their sponsoring facilities to support the operation of such health centers. Rescinds unobligated appropriations for the program. Urging that final Accounting of Disclosures rule not include the proposal to require provision of an access report to patients; S 365 and S 627 Budget Control Act of 2011, Established by Joint Select Comm on Deficit Reduction.

HR 1 Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act 2011, making appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011; HR 2 Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act, to repeal the job-killing health care law and health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010; HR 4 Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011, offsets the cost of 1099 repeal by increasing the maximum amount of tax subsidy to be repaid if a persons (or familys) income exceeds 400% of poverty; HR 5 and S 218 Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act, 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; Reauthorization of the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) P.L. 109-417, Emergency Preparedness; HRes 9 Instructing four committees to produce legislation to replace the health reform law and to include a permanent fix to the SGR; S 296 Preserving Access to Life-Saving Medications Act, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide the Food and Drug Administration with improved capacity to prevent drug shortages; HR 705 The Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the expansion of information reporting requirements to payments made to corporations, payments for property and other gross proceeds, and rental property expense payments; HR 1213 To repeal mandatory funding provided to States in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to establish American Health Benefit Exchanges; HR 1217 To repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund; S 539 Behavioral Health Information Technology Act of 2011, a bill to amend the Public Health Services Act and the Social Security Act to extend health information technology assistance eligibility to behavioral health, mental health, and substance abuse professionals and facilities; S 668 Health Care Bureaucrats Elimination Act, a bill to remove unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats from seniors' personal health decisions by repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Allow hospitals to claim the full cost of provider taxes as allowable costs; Ensure CAHs are paid at least 101 percent of costs by Medicare Advantage plans; Ensure that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) appropriately addresses the issue of direct supervision for outpatient therapeutic services for rural hospitals and CAHs; Ensure rural hospitals and CAHs have adequate reimbursement for certified registered nurse anesthetist and stand-by services; Exempt CAHs from the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Extend expiring provisions; Provide small, rural hospitals with cost-based reimbursement for outpatient laboratory services and ambulance services; Provide CAHs bed size flexibility; Reinstate CAH necessary provider status; Remove unreasonable restrictions on CAHs ability to rebuild; Discussions on a bill to credit some observation status days to 3 day inpatient hospital stays; Worked with HHS on establishing the Partnership for Patients Program to improve patient safety activities in hospitals.

HR 1 Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act 2011, making appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011; HR 2 Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act, to repeal the job-killing health care law and health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010; HR 4 Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011, offsets the cost of 1099 repeal by increasing the maximum amount of tax subsidy to be repaid if a persons (or familys) income exceeds 400% of poverty; HR 5, S 218, HR 105 and S 1099 Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act, 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; Reauthorization of the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) P.L. 109-417, Emergency Preparedness; HRes 9 Instructing four committees to produce legislation to replace the health reform law and to include a permanent fix to the SGR; S 296 Preserving Access to Life-Saving Medications Act, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide the Food and Drug Administration with improved capacity to prevent drug shortages; HR 705 The Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the expansion of information reporting requirements to payments made to corporations, payments for property and other gross proceeds, and rental property expense payments; HR 1213 To repeal mandatory funding provided to States in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to establish American Health Benefit Exchanges; HR 1217 To repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund; S 539 Behavioral Health Information Technology Act of 2011, a bill to amend the Public Health Services Act and the Social Security Act to extend health information technology assistance eligibility to behavioral health, mental health, and substance abuse professionals and facilities; S 668 Health Care Bureaucrats Elimination Act, a bill to remove unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats from seniors' personal health decisions by repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Allow hospitals to claim the full cost of provider taxes as allowable costs; Ensure CAHs are paid at least 101 percent of costs by Medicare Advantage plans; Ensure that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) appropriately addresses the issue of direct supervision for outpatient therapeutic services for rural hospitals and CAHs; Ensure rural hospitals and CAHs have adequate reimbursement for certified registered nurse anesthetist and stand-by services; Exempt CAHs from the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Extend expiring provisions; Provide small, rural hospitals with cost-based reimbursement for outpatient laboratory services and ambulance services; Provide CAHs bed size flexibility; Reinstate CAH necessary provider status; Remove unreasonable restrictions on CAHs ability to rebuild; Discussions on a bill to credit some observation status days to 3 day inpatient hospital stays; Worked with HHS on establishing the Partnership for Patients Program to improve patient safety activities in hospitals; HR 1929 Emergency Nursing Relief Act, provides for 20,000 additional immigrant visas (green cards) for Registered Nurses, and their immediate family members. Visas issued to the family members would not count against the 20,000 quota. The Secretary of State would not be permitted to issue more visas than this set quota. Employers are charged $1,500 for these visas which would support funding US nursing programs; HR 1933, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to modify the requirements for admission of nonimmigrant nurses in health professional shortage areas and calls for a limited revival of the H-1C program; S 778 Protecting Access to Rural Therapy Services (PARTS) Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act with respect to physician supervision of therapeutic hospital outpatient services; HR 1363 Department of Defense and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011; Letter to oppose Cuts to the funding of the Hospital Preparedness Program.

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Maintain the Medicaid maintenance of effort (MOE) provisions; HR 452 Medicare Decisions Accountability Act of 2011, to repeal the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act providing for the Independent Payment Advisory Board; HR 541 Pay for all your Undocumented Procedures (PAY UP!) Act of 2011, amends the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to make permanent the program of federal reimbursement of emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens. Requires a re-allotment of unspent program funds in a fiscal year among eligible providers in full expenditure states according to a specified ratio. Requires addition of such funds to the aggregate amount available for allotment for the succeeding fiscal year in the event there is no full expenditure state; HR 876 and S 58 The Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by establishing safe nurse staffing levels at certain Medicare providers; HR 1159, to repeal certain provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act relating to the limitation on the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals and to transparency reports and reporting of physician ownership or investment interests; HR 1186, a bill to repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals; S 374 Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services under the Medicare program; Legislation which would amend the Social Security Act to ensure that the full cost of certain provider taxes are considered allowable costs for purposes of Medicare reimbursements to CAHs; Urging congress to establish patient and facility criteria to distinguish LTACHs from other care settings; Raising concerns about CMS flawed methodology that overstate the effect of the documentation and coding changes to PPS payments, ensuring that CMS does not go beyond its charge of ensuring budget-neutral implementation of MS-DRGs; Working with CMS to clarify requirements and ensure that the systems to register for the meaningful use incentives and attest to meeting the requirements are useable, including ensuring that hospitals can, with permission, help their physicians sign up for the program and attest to meeting the requirements; Worked with ONC to modify the certification requirements for EHRs to allow the flexibility promised in the rules for meaningful use; Worked to get legislative fix introduced for ACA provision related to readmission policy to eliminate a computation error and ensure that unrelated and planned readmissions are excluded from the policy; Worked to structure the development of the regulation to implement ACOs prior to release of the proposed rule; Obtaining change in language for Medicare conditions of participation related to governing board requirements to eliminate an unnecessary requirement for separate boards or separate meetings of the board for individual hospitals that are part of a system; Urging CMS not to adopt a burdensome notice requirement in the Medicare conditions of participation related to the grievance process; Urging CMS to update, streamline, and modernize the Medicare conditions of participation.

HR 452 Medicare Decisions Accountability Act of 2011, to repeal the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act providing for the Independent Payment Advisory Board; HR 541 Pay for all your Undocumented Procedures (PAY UP!) Act of 2011, amends the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to make permanent the program of federal reimbursement of emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens. Requires a re-allotment of unspent program funds in a fiscal year among eligible providers in full expenditure states according to a specified ratio. Requires addition of such funds to the aggregate amount available for allotment for the succeeding fiscal year in the event there is no full expenditure state; HR 876 and S 58 The Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by establishing safe nurse staffing levels at certain Medicare providers; HR 1159, to repeal certain provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act relating to the limitation on the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals and to transparency reports and reporting of physician ownership or investment interests; HR 1186, a bill to repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals; S 374 and HR 2783 Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services under the Medicare program; HR 1398 Rural Hospital Protection Act, legislation which would amend the Social Security Act to ensure that the full cost of certain provider taxes are considered allowable costs for purposes of Medicare reimbursements to CAHs; S 1486 Long-Term Care Hospital Improvement Act of 201, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to clarify and expand on criteria applicable to patient admission to and care furnished in long-term care hospitals participating in the Medicare program; Raising concerns about CMS flawed methodology that overstate the effect of the documentation and coding changes to PPS payments, ensuring that CMS does not go beyond its charge of ensuring budget-neutral implementation of MS-DRGs; Working with CMS to clarify requirements and ensure that the systems to register for the meaningful use incentives and attest to meeting the requirements are useable, including ensuring that hospitals can, with permission, help their physicians sign up for the program and attest to meeting the requirements; Worked with ONC to modify the certification requirements for EHRs to allow the flexibility promised in the rules for meaningful use; Worked to get legislative fix introduced for ACA provision related to readmission policy to eliminate a computation error and ensure that unrelated and planned readmissions are excluded from the policy; Worked to improve the regulation to implement ACOs; Urging CMS to update, streamline, and modernize the Medicare conditions of participation; Sessions Crowley and Stabenow-Murkowski IPPS letter requesting fixes to the coding offset circulated for signature; HR 1852/ S 950 Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2011, the current CHGME authorization expires in September, and the bills would reauthorize the CHGME program for an additional five years, through fiscal year (FY) 2016, at the current authorization level of up to $330 million a year; HR 1683/ S 868 Medicaid MOE, strikes provisions of ACA related to maintaining Medicaid eligibility levels; HR 1543 Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to count a period of receipt of outpatient observation services in a hospital toward satisfying the 3-day inpatient hospital requirement for coverage of skilled nursing facility services under Medicare; S 1251Medicare and Medicaid FAST Act, a bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to curb waste, fraud, and abuse in the Medicare and Medicaid programs; HR 2500 Equal Access and Parity for Multi-Campus Hospitals Act, a bill 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 2674 340B Program Improvement Act, a bill to amend section 340B of the Public Health Service Act to improve the provision of discounts on drug purchases for certain safety net providers.

HR 452 Medicare Decisions Accountability Act of 2011, to repeal the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act providing for the Independent Payment Advisory Board; HR 541 Pay for all your Undocumented Procedures (PAY UP!) Act of 2011, amends the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to make permanent the program of federal reimbursement of emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens. Requires a re-allotment of unspent program funds in a fiscal year among eligible providers in full expenditure states according to a specified ratio. Requires addition of such funds to the aggregate amount available for allotment for the succeeding fiscal year in the event there is no full expenditure state; HR 876 and S 58 The Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by establishing safe nurse staffing levels at certain Medicare providers; HR 1159, to repeal certain provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act relating to the limitation on the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals and to transparency reports and reporting of physician ownership or investment interests; HR 1186, a bill to repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals; S 374 Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services under the Medicare program; HR 1398 Rural Hospital Protection Act, lgislation which would amend the Social Security Act to ensure that the full cost of certain provider taxes are considered allowable costs for purposes of Medicare reimbursements to CAHs; Urging congress to establish patient and facility criteria to distinguish LTACHs from other care settings; Raising concerns about CMS flawed methodology that overstate the effect of the documentation and coding changes to PPS payments, ensuring that CMS does not go beyond its charge of ensuring budget-neutral implementation of MS-DRGs; Working with CMS to clarify requirements and ensure that the systems to register for the meaningful use incentives and attest to meeting the requirements are useable, including ensuring that hospitals can, with permission, help their physicians sign up for the program and attest to meeting the requirements; Worked with ONC to modify the certification requirements for EHRs to allow the flexibility promised in the rules for meaningful use; Worked to get legislative fix introduced for ACA provision related to readmission policy to eliminate a computation error and ensure that unrelated and planned readmissions are excluded from the policy; Worked to improve the regulation to implement ACOs; Urging CMS to update, streamline, and modernize the Medicare conditions of participation; Sessions Crowley and Stabenow Murkowski IPPS letter requesting fixes to the coding offset circulated for signature; HR 1852/ S 950 Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2011, the current CHGME authorization expires in September, and the bills would reauthorize the CHGME program for an additional five years, through fiscal year (FY) 2016, at the current authorization level of up to $330 million a year; HR 1683/ S 868 Medicaid MOE, strikes provisions of ACA related to maintaining Medicaid eligibility levels; HR 1543 Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2011, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to count a period of receipt of outpatient observation services in a hospital toward satisfying the 3-day inpatient hospital requirement for coverage of skilled nursing facility services under Medicare; Worked on legislation related to HIT payments for hospitals in multi-campus systems.

S 217, HR 972 The Secret Ballot Protection Act, makes it an unfair labor practice under the NLRA for an employer to recognize a union that has not been selected via secret ballot and unlawful for a union that has not been chosen as the employees' exclusive rep-resentative in a secret ballot election conducted by the NLRB to cause or attempt to cause an employer to recognize or bargain with it; Urged Rep. Ruppersberger office to request of OFCCP further information about the expanded jurisdiction claimed by the Office over hospitals that participate as in-network providers in TRICARE, FEHBP as federal subcontractors; S. 1253 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012Supporting provision establishing exemption for TRICARE providers from designation as federal contractors subject to OFCCPs regulations and oversight; encouraging that final bill include this exemption.

S 217, HR 972 The Secret Ballot Protection Act, makes it an unfair labor practice under the NLRA for an employer to recognize a union that has not been selected via secret ballot and unlawful for a union that has not been chosen as the employees' exclusive representative in a secret ballot election conducted by the NLRB to cause or attempt to cause an employer to recognize or bargain with it; Urged Rep. Ruppersberger office to request of OFCCP further information about the expanded jurisdiction claimed by the Office over hospitals that participate as in-network providers in TRICARE, FEHBP as federal subcontractors; S. 1253 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 Supporting provision establishing exemption for TRICARE providers from designation as federal contractors subject to OFCCPs regulations and oversight; encouraging that final bill include this exemption.; HR 2573 and S 1431 Rural Health Care Capital Access Reauthorization Act of 2011, a bill to amend section 242 of the National Housing Act to extend the sunset provisions for the exemption for critical access hospitals under the FHA programs of mortgage insurance for hospitals.

S 217, HR 972 The Secret Ballot Protection Act, makes it an unfair labor practice under the NLRA for an employer to recognize a union that has not been selected via secret ballot and unlawful for a union that has not been chosen as the employees' exclusive rep-resentative in a secret ballot election conducted by the NLRB to cause or attempt to cause an employer to recognize or bargain with it; OFCCPs regulatory reach to cover hospitals that participate in TRICARE FEHBP as in-network providers as federal subcontractor

HR 1 Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act 2011, making appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011; HR 2 Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act, to repeal the job-killing health care law and health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010; HR 4 Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011, offsets the cost of 1099 repeal by increasing the maximum amount of tax subsidy to be repaid if a persons (or familys) income exceeds 400% of poverty; HR 5, S 218, HR 105 and S 1099 Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act, 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; Reauthorization of the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) P.L. 109-417, Emergency Preparedness; HRes 9 Instructing four committees to produce legislation to replace the health reform law and to include a permanent fix to the SGR; S 296 and HR 2245 Preserving Access to Life-Saving Medications Act of 2011, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide the Food and Drug Administration with improved capacity to prevent drug shortages; HR 705 The Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the expansion of information reporting requirements to payments made to corporations, payments for property and other gross proceeds, and rental property expense payments; HR 1213 To repeal mandatory funding provided to States in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to establish American Health Benefit Exchanges; HR 1217 to repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund; S 539 Behavioral Health Information Technology Act of 2011, a bill to amend the Public Health Services Act and the Social Security Act to extend health information technology assistance eligibility to behavioral health, mental health, and substance abuse professionals and facilities; S 668 Health Care Bureaucrats Elimination Act, a bill to remove unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats from seniors' personal health decisions by repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Allow hospitals to claim the full cost of provider taxes as allowable costs; Ensure CAHs are paid at least 101 percent of costs by Medicare Advantage plans; Ensure that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) appropriately addresses the issue of direct supervision for outpatient therapeutic services for rural hospitals and CAHs; Ensure rural hospitals and CAHs have adequate reimbursement for certified registered nurse anesthetist and stand-by services; Exempt CAHs from the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Extend expiring provisions; Provide small, rural hospitals with cost-based reimbursement for outpatient laboratory services and ambulance services; Provide CAHs bed size flexibility; Reinstate CAH necessary provider status; Remove unreasonable restrictions on CAHs ability to rebuild; Discussions on a bill to credit some observation status days to 3 day inpatient hospital stays; Worked with HHS on establishing the Partnership for Patients Program to improve patient safety activities in hospitals; HR 1929 Emergency Nursing Relief Act, provides for 20,000 additional immigrant visas (green cards) for Registered Nurses, and their immediate family members. Visas issued to the family members would not count against the 20,000 quota. The Secretary of State would not be permitted to issue more visas than this set quota. Employers are charged $1,500 for these visas which would support funding US nursing programs; HR 1933, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to modify the requirements for admission of nonimmigrant nurses in health professional shortage areas and calls for a limited revival of the H-1C program; S 778 Protecting Access to Rural Therapy Services (PARTS) Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act with respect to physician supervision of therapeutic hospital outpatient services; HR 1363 Department of Defense and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011; Letter to oppose Cuts to the funding of the Hospital Preparedness Program; HR 1214 a bill to repeal mandatory funding for school-based health center construction, it amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to repeal the program requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants to school-based health centers or their sponsoring facilities to support the operation of such health centers. Rescinds unobligated appropriations for the program. Urging that final Accounting of Disclosures rule not include the proposal to require provision of an access report to patients; S 365 and S 627 Budget Control Act of 2011, Established by Joint Select Comm on Deficit Reduction.

HR 1 Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act 2011, making appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011; HR 2 Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act, to repeal the job-killing health care law and health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010; HR 4 Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011, offsets the cost of 1099 repeal by increasing the maximum amount of tax subsidy to be repaid if a persons (or familys) income exceeds 400% of poverty; HR 5, S 218, HR 105 and S 1099 Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act, 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; Reauthorization of the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) P.L. 109-417, Emergency Preparedness; HRes 9 Instructing four committees to produce legislation to replace the health reform law and to include a permanent fix to the SGR; S 296 Preserving Access to Life-Saving Medications Act, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide the Food and Drug Administration with improved capacity to prevent drug shortages; HR 705 The Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the expansion of information reporting requirements to payments made to corporations, payments for property and other gross proceeds, and rental property expense payments; HR 1213 To repeal mandatory funding provided to States in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to establish American Health Benefit Exchanges; HR 1217 To repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund; S 539 Behavioral Health Information Technology Act of 2011, a bill to amend the Public Health Services Act and the Social Security Act to extend health information technology assistance eligibility to behavioral health, mental health, and substance abuse professionals and facilities; S 668 Health Care Bureaucrats Elimination Act, a bill to remove unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats from seniors' personal health decisions by repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Allow hospitals to claim the full cost of provider taxes as allowable costs; Ensure CAHs are paid at least 101 percent of costs by Medicare Advantage plans; Ensure that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) appropriately addresses the issue of direct supervision for outpatient therapeutic services for rural hospitals and CAHs; Ensure rural hospitals and CAHs have adequate reimbursement for certified registered nurse anesthetist and stand-by services; Exempt CAHs from the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Extend expiring provisions; Provide small, rural hospitals with cost-based reimbursement for outpatient laboratory services and ambulance services; Provide CAHs bed size flexibility; Reinstate CAH necessary provider status; Remove unreasonable restrictions on CAHs ability to rebuild; Discussions on a bill to credit some observation status days to 3 day inpatient hospital stays; Worked with HHS on establishing the Partnership for Patients Program to improve patient safety activities in hospitals; HR 1929 Emergency Nursing Relief Act, provides for 20,000 additional immigrant visas (green cards) for Registered Nurses, and their immediate family members. Visas issued to the family members would not count against the 20,000 quota. The Secretary of State would not be permitted to issue more visas than this set quota. Employers are charged $1,500 for these visas which would support funding US nursing programs; HR 1933, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to modify the requirements for admission of nonimmigrant nurses in health professional shortage areas and calls for a limited revival of the H-1C program; S 778 Protecting Access to Rural Therapy Services (PARTS) Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act with respect to physician supervision of therapeutic hospital outpatient services; HR 1363 Department of Defense and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011; Letter to oppose Cuts to the funding of the Hospital Preparedness Program.

HR 1 Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act 2011, making appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011; HR 2 Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act, to repeal the job-killing health care law and health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010; HR 4 Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011, offsets the cost of 1099 repeal by increasing the maximum amount of tax subsidy to be repaid if a persons (or familys) income exceeds 400% of poverty; HR 5 and S 218 Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act, 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; Reauthorization of the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) P.L. 109-417, Emergency Preparedness; HRes 9 Instructing four committees to produce legislation to replace the health reform law and to include a permanent fix to the SGR; S 296 Preserving Access to Life-Saving Medications Act, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide the Food and Drug Administration with improved capacity to prevent drug shortages; HR 705 The Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the expansion of information reporting requirements to payments made to corporations, payments for property and other gross proceeds, and rental property expense payments; HR 1213 To repeal mandatory funding provided to States in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to establish American Health Benefit Exchanges; HR 1217 To repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund; S 539 Behavioral Health Information Technology Act of 2011, a bill to amend the Public Health Services Act and the Social Security Act to extend health information technology assistance eligibility to behavioral health, mental health, and substance abuse professionals and facilities; S 668 Health Care Bureaucrats Elimination Act, a bill to remove unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats from seniors' personal health decisions by repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Allow hospitals to claim the full cost of provider taxes as allowable costs; Ensure CAHs are paid at least 101 percent of costs by Medicare Advantage plans; Ensure that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) appropriately addresses the issue of direct supervision for outpatient therapeutic services for rural hospitals and CAHs; Ensure rural hospitals and CAHs have adequate reimbursement for certified registered nurse anesthetist and stand-by services; Exempt CAHs from the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Extend expiring provisions; Provide small, rural hospitals with cost-based reimbursement for outpatient laboratory services and ambulance services; Provide CAHs bed size flexibility; Reinstate CAH necessary provider status; Remove unreasonable restrictions on CAHs ability to rebuild; Discussions on a bill to credit some observation status days to 3 day inpatient hospital stays; Worked with HHS on establishing the Partnership for Patients Program to improve patient safety activities in hospitals.

HR 1 Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act 2011, making appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011; HR 2 Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act, to repeal the job-killing health care law and health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010; HR 4 Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011, offsets the cost of 1099 repeal by increasing the maximum amount of tax subsidy to be repaid if a persons (or familys) income exceeds 400% of poverty; HR 5, S 218, HR 105 and S 1099 Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act, 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; Reauthorization of the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) P.L. 109-417, Emergency Preparedness; HRes 9 Instructing four committees to produce legislation to replace the health reform law and to include a permanent fix to the SGR; S 296 and HR 2245 Preserving Access to Life-Saving Medications Act of 2011, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide the Food and Drug Administration with improved capacity to prevent drug shortages; HR 705 The Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the expansion of information reporting requirements to payments made to corporations, payments for property and other gross proceeds, and rental property expense payments; HR 1213 To repeal mandatory funding provided to States in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to establish American Health Benefit Exchanges; HR 1217 to repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund; S 539 Behavioral Health Information Technology Act of 2011, a bill to amend the Public Health Services Act and the Social Security Act to extend health information technology assistance eligibility to behavioral health, mental health, and substance abuse professionals and facilities; S 668 Health Care Bureaucrats Elimination Act, a bill to remove unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats from seniors' personal health decisions by repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Allow hospitals to claim the full cost of provider taxes as allowable costs; Ensure CAHs are paid at least 101 percent of costs by Medicare Advantage plans; Ensure that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) appropriately addresses the issue of direct supervision for outpatient therapeutic services for rural hospitals and CAHs; Ensure rural hospitals and CAHs have adequate reimbursement for certified registered nurse anesthetist and stand-by services; Exempt CAHs from the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Extend expiring provisions; Provide small, rural hospitals with cost-based reimbursement for outpatient laboratory services and ambulance services; Provide CAHs bed size flexibility; Reinstate CAH necessary provider status; Remove unreasonable restrictions on CAHs ability to rebuild; Discussions on a bill to credit some observation status days to 3 day inpatient hospital stays; Worked with HHS on establishing the Partnership for Patients Program to improve patient safety activities in hospitals; HR 1929 Emergency Nursing Relief Act, provides for 20,000 additional immigrant visas (green cards) for Registered Nurses, and their immediate family members. Visas issued to the family members would not count against the 20,000 quota. The Secretary of State would not be permitted to issue more visas than this set quota. Employers are charged $1,500 for these visas which would support funding US nursing programs; HR 1933, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to modify the requirements for admission of nonimmigrant nurses in health professional shortage areas and calls for a limited revival of the H-1C program; S 778 Protecting Access to Rural Therapy Services (PARTS) Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act with respect to physician supervision of therapeutic hospital outpatient services; HR 1363 Department of Defense and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011; Letter to oppose Cuts to the funding of the Hospital Preparedness Program; HR 1214 a bill to repeal mandatory funding for school-based health center construction, it amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to repeal the program requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants to school-based health centers or their sponsoring facilities to support the operation of such health centers. Rescinds unobligated appropriations for the program. Urging that final Accounting of Disclosures rule not include the proposal to require provision of an access report to patients; S 365 and S 627 Budget Control Act of 2011, Established by Joint Select Comm on Deficit Reduction.

HR 1 Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act 2011, making appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011; HR 2 Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act, to repeal the job-killing health care law and health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010; HR 4 Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011, offsets the cost of 1099 repeal by increasing the maximum amount of tax subsidy to be repaid if a persons (or familys) income exceeds 400% of poverty; HR 5, S 218, HR 105 and S 1099 Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act, 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; Reauthorization of the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) P.L. 109-417, Emergency Preparedness; HRes 9 Instructing four committees to produce legislation to replace the health reform law and to include a permanent fix to the SGR; S 296 Preserving Access to Life-Saving Medications Act, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide the Food and Drug Administration with improved capacity to prevent drug shortages; HR 705 The Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the expansion of information reporting requirements to payments made to corporations, payments for property and other gross proceeds, and rental property expense payments; HR 1213 To repeal mandatory funding provided to States in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to establish American Health Benefit Exchanges; HR 1217 To repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund; S 539 Behavioral Health Information Technology Act of 2011, a bill to amend the Public Health Services Act and the Social Security Act to extend health information technology assistance eligibility to behavioral health, mental health, and substance abuse professionals and facilities; S 668 Health Care Bureaucrats Elimination Act, a bill to remove unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats from seniors' personal health decisions by repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Allow hospitals to claim the full cost of provider taxes as allowable costs; Ensure CAHs are paid at least 101 percent of costs by Medicare Advantage plans; Ensure that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) appropriately addresses the issue of direct supervision for outpatient therapeutic services for rural hospitals and CAHs; Ensure rural hospitals and CAHs have adequate reimbursement for certified registered nurse anesthetist and stand-by services; Exempt CAHs from the Independent Payment Advisory Board; Extend expiring provisions; Provide small, rural hospitals with cost-based reimbursement for outpatient laboratory services and ambulance services; Provide CAHs bed size flexibility; Reinstate CAH necessary provider status; Remove unreasonable restrictions on CAHs ability to rebuild; Discussions on a bill to credit some observation status days to 3 day inpatient hospital stays; Worked with HHS on establishing the Partnership for Patients Program to improve patient safety activities in hospitals; HR 1929 Emergency Nursing Relief Act, provides for 20,000 additional immigrant visas (green cards) for Registered Nurses, and their immediate family members. Visas issued to the family members would not count against the 20,000 quota. The Secretary of State would not be permitted to issue more visas than this set quota. Employers are charged $1,500 for these visas which would support funding US nursing programs; HR 1933, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to modify the requirements for admission of nonimmigrant nurses in health professional shortage areas and calls for a limited revival of the H-1C program; S 778 Protecting Access to Rural Therapy Services (PARTS) Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act with respect to physician supervision of therapeutic hospital outpatient services; HR 1363 Department of Defense and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011; Letter to oppose Cuts to the funding of the Hospital Preparedness Program.

HR 1105 Omnibus Spending bill for FY 2009, provides $66.3 billion in discretionary funding for HHS programs, a 3% increase from the current level; H Con Res 85 and S Con Res 132010 budget resolution, setting forth the congressional budget for the US Government for fiscal year 2010 and including the appropriate budgetery levels for fiscal years thru 2014; HR 3293 Department of Education Appropriations Act, 2010, Department of Health and Human Services Appropriations Act, 2010, Department of Labor Appropriations Act, 2010, Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010, Making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010; 2011Y Presidents Budget, HEALTH: The Presidents budget includes a placeholder for healthcare reform instead of specific proposals. His health insurance reform allowance reflects a $127 billion net deficit decrease over five years and $150 billion net deficit decrease over ten years, which is described as the average budget impacts of the House- and Senate-passed health care reform bills, extrapolated to 2020 and adjusted to remove the effects of provisions explicitly listed elsewhere in the budget; .

HR 1105 Omnibus Spending bill for FY 2009, provides $66.3 billion in discretionary funding for HHS programs, a 3% increase from the current level; H Con Res 85 and S Con Res 132010 budget resolution, setting forth the congressional budget for the US Government for fiscal year 2010 and including the appropriate budgetery levels for fiscal years thru 2014; HR 3293 Department of Education Appropriations Act, 2010, Department of Health and Human Services Appropriations Act, 2010, Department of Labor Appropriations Act, 2010, Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010, Making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010; 2011Y Presidents Budget, HEALTH: The Presidents budget includes a placeholder for healthcare reform instead of specific proposals. His health insurance reform allowance reflects a $127 billion net deficit decrease over five years and $150 billion net deficit decrease over ten years, which is described as the average budget impacts of the House- and Senate-passed health care reform bills, extrapolated to 2020 and adjusted to remove the effects of provisions explicitly listed elsewhere in the budget; .

HR 1105 Omnibus Spending bill for FY 2009, provides $66.3 billion in discretionary funding for HHS programs, a 3% increase from the current level; H Con Res 85 and S Con Res 132010 budget resolution, setting forth the congressional budget for the US Government for fiscal year 2010 and including the appropriate budgetery levels for fiscal years thru 2014; HR 3293 Department of Education Appropriations Act, 2010, Department of Health and Human Services Appropriations Act, 2010, Department of Labor Appropriations Act, 2010, Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010, Making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010; 2011Y Presidents Budget, HEALTH: The Presidents budget includes a placeholder for healthcare reform instead of specific proposals.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

IRS Discussion about the treatment of hospital foundations in terms of 990, Schedule H; HR 3478 Patient-Controlled Healthcare Protection Act of 2009, bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify rules relating to health savings accounts, to provide payments for a health savings account and for a high deductible health plan instead of entitlement to benefits under Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP, to give more control and coverage to patients, to lower health care costs through increased price transparency and to require immigrants to have a health savings account and high deductible health coverage at time of admission; HR 1087 ADOPT HIT Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the deduction under section 179 for the purchase of qualified health care information technology by medical care providers, and for other purposes; HR 1495 Comprehensive Health Care Reform Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make health care coverage more accessible and affordable; HR 1496 Child Health Care Affordability Act, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals a credit against income tax for medical expenses for dependents; HR 1497 Treat Physicians Fairly Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow medical care providers a credit against income tax for uncompensated emergency medical care and to allow hospitals a deduction for such care; S 860 Health Professionals State Loan Repayment Tax Relief Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a Federal income tax exclusion for assistance provided to participants in State student loan programs for certain health professionals; HR 2292 Healthy Kids for Healthy Futures Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Public Health Service Act, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require coverage of preventive care for children; H.R. 3205 Health Insurance Company Advertising Deduction Denial Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to deny any deduction for advertising health insurance; HR 3610 Health Savings and Affordability Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to improve access to health care by allowing a deduction for the health insurance costs of individuals, expanding health savings accounts; Letter to IRS urging the Internal Revenue Service to improve its new Schedule H to better reflect the benefits non-profit hospitals systems provide to their communities.

IRS Discussion about the treatment of hospital foundations in terms of 990, Schedule H; HR 3478 Patient-Controlled Healthcare Protection Act of 2009, bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify rules relating to health savings accounts, to provide payments for a health savings account and for a high deductible health plan instead of entitlement to benefits under Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP, to give more control and coverage to patients, to lower health care costs through increased price transparency and to require immigrants to have a health savings account and high deductible health coverage at time of admission; HR 1087 ADOPT HIT Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the deduction under section 179 for the purchase of qualified health care information technology by medical care providers, and for other purposes; HR 1495 Comprehensive Health Care Reform Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make health care coverage more accessible and affordable; HR 1496 Child Health Care Affordability Act, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals a credit against income tax for medical expenses for dependents; HR 1497 Treat Physicians Fairly Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow medical care providers a credit against income tax for uncompensated emergency medical care and to allow hospitals a deduction for such care; S 860 Health Professionals State Loan Repayment Tax Relief Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a Federal income tax exclusion for assistance provided to participants in State student loan programs for certain health professionals; HR 2292 Healthy Kids for Healthy Futures Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Public Health Service Act, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require coverage of preventive care for children; H.R. 3205 Health Insurance Company Advertising Deduction Denial Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to deny any deduction for advertising health insurance; HR 3610 Health Savings and Affordability Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to improve access to health care by allowing a deduction for the health insurance costs of individuals, expanding health savings accounts; Letter to IRS urging the Internal Revenue Service to improve its new Schedule H to better reflect the benefits non-profit hospitals systems provide to their communities; Meetings with IRS re implementation of the provisions of IRC 501(r) enacted as part of the PPACA and Schedule H reporting by hospitals that are part of health care systems.

IRS Discussion about the treatment of hospital foundations in terms of 990, Schedule H; HR 3478 Patient-Controlled Healthcare Protection Act of 2009, bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify rules relating to health savings accounts, to provide payments for a health savings account and for a high deductible health plan instead of entitlement to benefits under Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP, to give more control and coverage to patients, to lower health care costs through increased price transparency and to require immigrants to have a health savings account and high deductible health coverage at time of admission; HR 1087 ADOPT HIT Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the deduction under section 179 for the purchase of qualified health care information technology by medical care providers, and for other purposes; HR 1495 Comprehensive Health Care Reform Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make health care coverage more accessible and affordable; HR 1496 Child Health Care Affordability Act, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals a credit against income tax for medical expenses for dependents; HR 1497 Treat Physicians Fairly Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow medical care providers a credit against income tax for uncompensated emergency medical care and to allow hospitals a deduction for such care; S 860 Health Professionals State Loan Repayment Tax Relief Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a Federal income tax exclusion for assistance provided to participants in State student loan programs for certain health professionals; HR 2292 Healthy Kids for Healthy Futures Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Public Health Service Act, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require coverage of preventive care for children; H.R. 3205 Health Insurance Company Advertising Deduction Denial Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to deny any deduction for advertising health insurance; HR 3610 Health Savings and Affordability Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to improve access to health care by allowing a deduction for the health insurance costs of individuals, expanding health savings accounts; Letter to IRS urging the Internal Revenue Service to improve its new Schedule H to better reflect the benefits non-profit hospitals provide to their communities.

HR 3478 Patient-Controlled Healthcare Protection Act of 2009, bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify rules relating to health savings accounts, to provide payments for a health savings account and for a high deductible health plan instead of entitlement to benefits under Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP, to give more control and coverage to patients, to lower health care costs through increased price transparency and to require immigrants to have a health savings account and high deductible health coverage at time of admission; HR 1087 ADOPT HIT Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the deduction under section 179 for the purchase of qualified health care information technology by medical care providers, and for other purposes; HR 1496 Child Health Care Affordability Act, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals a credit against income tax for medical expenses for dependents; HR 1497 Treat Physicians Fairly Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow medical care providers a credit against income tax for uncompensated emergency medical care and to allow hospitals a deduction for such care; S 860 Health Professionals State Loan Repayment Tax Relief Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a Federal income tax exclusion for assistance provided to participants in State student loan programs for certain health professionals; HR 2292 Healthy Kids for Healthy Futures Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Public Health Service Act, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require coverage of preventive care for children; H.R. 3205 Health Insurance Company Advertising Deduction Denial Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to deny any deduction for advertising health insurance; HR 3610 Health Savings and Affordability Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to improve access to health care by allowing a deduction for the health insurance costs of individuals, expanding health savings accounts; Meetings with IRS re implementation of the provisions of IRC 501(r) enacted as part of the PPACA and Schedule H reporting by hospitals that are part of health care systems.

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.

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

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.

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 27 Medicare Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish additional provisions to combat waste, fraud, and abuse within the Medicare Program, and for other purposes; HR 43 and S 46, Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to repeal the Medicare outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps; S 54 Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by establishing minimum nurse staffing ratios at certain Medicare providers, and for other purposes; HR 319 Legal Immigrant Children's Health Improvement Act of 2009, a bill to amend titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act to permit States the option of coverage of legal immigrants under the Medicaid Program and the State children's health insurance program (SCHIP); S 214 Children's Health Equity Technical Amendments Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to permit qualifying States to use their allotments under the SCHIP for any fiscal year for certain Medicaid expenditures; HR 362 and S 318 Medicare Rural Health Access Improvement Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve access to health care under the Medicare program for beneficiaries residing in rural areas; HR 465 a bill to amend titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act to permit States to ensure coverage without a 5-year delay of certain children and pregnant women under the Medicaid program and SCHIP; HR 487, a bill to waive the 35-mile requirement for designation of a critical access hospital under the Medicare program; HR 592 and S 264 E-Centives Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to encourage the use of certified health information technology by providers in the Medicaid Program and the Children's Health Insurance Program, and for other purposes; HR 619 a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to remove the exclusion from medical assistance under the Medicaid Program of items and services for patients in an institution for mental diseases; S 295 Medicare Quality and Payment Reform Act of 2009, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the quality and efficiency of the Medicare program through measurement of readmission rates and resource use and to develop a pilot program to provide episodic payments to organized groups of multispecialty and multilevel providers of services and suppliers for hospitalization episodes associated with select, high cost diagnoses; HR 668 and S 307 Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide flexibility in the manner in which beds are counted for purposes of determining whether a hospital may be designated as a critical access hospital under the Medicare program and to exempt from the critical access hospital inpatient bed limitation the number of beds provided for certain veterans; HR 902 and S. 382 MediFair Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the provision of items and services provided to Medicare beneficiaries residing in States with more cost-effective health care delivery systems; S 434 Empowered at Home Act of 2009, a bill 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; S 438 Improved Medical Decision Incentive Act of 2009, a bill to provide for the voluntary development by States of qualifying best practices for health care and to encourage such voluntary development by amending titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to provide differential rates of payment favoring treatment provided consistent with qualifying best practices under the Medicare and Medicaid programs, and for other purposes; HR 1117 Medically Fragile Children's Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to establish a State plan option under Medicaid to provide an all-inclusive program of care for children who are medically fragile or have one or more chronic conditions that impede their ability to function; HR 1188 and S 468 Access to Emergency Medical Services Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve access to emergency medical services and the quality and efficiency of care furnished in emergency departments of hospitals and critical access hospitals by establishing a bipartisan commission to examine factors that affect the effective delivery of such services, by providing for additional payments for certain physician services furnished in such emergency departments, and by establishing a CMS Working Group, and for other purposes; S 712 Rural Medicare Equity Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the Medicare program for beneficiaries residing in rural areas; HR 1776 Quality FIRST (From Incentives, Reporting, Standards, and Technology) Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand the development of quality measures for inpatient hospital services, to implement a performance-based payment methodology for the provision of such services under the Medicare Program; Letter to CMS asking to eliminate the state-specific budget neutrality policy for the rural and imputed rural floor indices in the upcoming FY2010 Inpatient Prospective Payment System Rule (IPPS); Working on legislation to amend the Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor Program; S 852 a bill to apply an alternative payment amount under the Medicare program for certain graduate medical education programs established to train residents displaced by natural disasters; HR 2068 Medicare Telehealth Enhancement Act of 2009, a bill to improve the provision of telehealth services under the Medicare Program; HR 2094 Physician Training Promotion Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to increase the per resident payment floor for direct graduate medical education payments under the Medicare Program; HR 2124 Medicare Long-Term Care Hospital Improvement Act of 2009, a bill to extend subsections (c) and(d) of section 114 of the Medicare, Medicaid, & SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-173) to provide for regulatory stability during the development of facility and patient criteria for long-term care hospitals under the Medicare program; HR 2204 Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide payment under part A of the Medicare Program on a reasonable cost basis for anesthesia services furnished by an anesthesiologist in certain rural hospitals in the same manner as payments are provided for anesthesia services furnished by anesthesiologist assistants and certified registered nurse anesthetists in such hospitals; S 935 Medicare Long-Term Care Hospital Improvement Act of 2009, a bill to extend subsections (c) and (d) of section 114 of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-173) to provide for regulatory stability during the development of facility and patient criteria for long-term care hospitals under the Medicare program; HR 2443 Medicare Ambulance Access Preservation Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to preserve access to ambulance services under the Medicare Program; S 1079 Medicare Cost Contract Extension and Refinement Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to extend reasonable cost contracts under the Medicare program; HR 2525 Safeguarding Our Hospitals' Futures Act of 2009, a bill to require application of budget neutrality on a national basis in the calculation of the Medicare hospital wage index floor for each all-urban and rural State; HR 2534 Physician Pathology Services Continuity Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for the treatment of certain physician pathology services under the Medicare Program; S 1108 Safeguarding Our Hospitals' Futures Act of 2009, a bill to require application of budget neutrality on a national basis in the calculation of the Medicare hospital wage index floor for each all-urban and rural State; S 1110 Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) Reform Act of 2009, 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 1114 Medical Homes Act of 2009, a bill to establish a demonstration project to provide for patient-centered medical homes to improve the effectiveness and efficiency in providing medical assistance under the Medicaid program and child health assistance under the State Children's Health Insurance Program; Letters and further discussions to CMS, Physician Supervision for Outpatient Service, resend policy changes requiring direct physician supervision for all PSO therapeutic Outpatient Service provided in and on hospital campus under Medicare, and withdraw change to minimize legal risk for years 2001-2009; HR 2688 Empowered at Home Act of 2009, a bill 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; HR 2692 and S 1171CAH Designation Waiver Authority Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to restore State authority to waive the 35-mile rule for designating critical access hospitals under the Medicare Program; HR 2718 Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) Reform Act of 2009, 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 1185 Medicare Financial Stability for Beneficiaries Act of 2009, a bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to ensure that low-income beneficiaries have improved access to health care under the Medicare and Medicaid programs; S 1181 Healthy Living and Health Aging Demonstration Project Act of 2009, a bill to provide for a demonstration project to examine whether community-level public health interventions can result in lower rates of chronic disease for individuals entering the Medicare program; HR 2753 a bill to delay the implementation of new Medicare hospital geographic wage reclassification criteria until the Secretary of Health and Human Services issues a proposal to revise the hospital wage index classification system that addresses certain considerations; HR 2758 Medicare Specialty Care Improvement and Protection Act of 2009, 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; HR 2773 Medicare Transitional Care Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to cover transitional care services to improve the quality and cost effectiveness of care under the Medicare Program; S 1218 Urban Medicare-Dependent Hospitals Preservation Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to preserve access to urban Medicare-dependent hospitals; HR 2784 Partnership to Improve Seniors Access to Medicare Act, a bill to establish a loan repayment program for qualifying physicians and nurse practitioners participating in the Medicare Program; HR 2805 Ensuring Continuous Medicaid Coverage for Children Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require 12-month continuous coverage for children under Medicaid; HR 2844 Medicare Payment Improvement Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to create a value indexing mechanism for the physician work component of the Medicare physician fee schedule; HR 2859 Strengthening Medicaid for America's Children Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for application of an enhanced Federal matching rate for children under the Medicaid Program if certain conditions are met; S 1262 Medical Efficiency and Delivery Improvement of Care Act (MEDIC) of 2009, a bill to amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act and titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to provide additional resources for primary care services, to create new payment models for services under Medicare, to expand provision of non-institutionally-based long-term services, and for other purposes; S 1263 Senior Navigation and Planning Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for advanced illness care management services for Medicare beneficiaries, and for other purposes; HR 2919 Medicare Efficiency Incentive Act of 2009, a bill to amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide Medicare physician incentive payments for efficient areas; HR 2921a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for an annual review by the MedPAC on geographic access to services; S 1279 TARP Recipient Ownership Trust Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to extend the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program; HR 2959 Accountable Care Promotion Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish an accountable care organization pilot program to reduce the growth of expenditures and improve health outcomes under the Medicare Program; S 1300 Community and Rural Medical Residency Preservation Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to clarify intent regarding the counting of residents in a nonhospital setting under the Medicare program; S 1380 MedPAC Reform Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to create a sensible infrastructure for delivery system reform by renaming the MedPAC, making the commission an executive branch agency, and providing the Commission new resources and authority to implement Medicare payment policy; H.R. 3138 Physician Payments Sunshine Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XI of the Social Security Act to provide for transparency in the relationship between physicians and manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologicals, or medical supplies for which payment is made under Medicare, Medicaid, or SCHIP; HR 3141 Strengthening the Health Care Safety Net Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for a DSH redistribution pool from unexpended Medicaid DSH allotments in order to increase Medicaid DSH allotments for low DSH States and to provide grants for health access networks serving the uninsured; H.R. 3152 Helping Seniors Choose their Medicare Drug Plan Act, a bill 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; S. 1423 Medicaid Birth Center Reimbursement Act, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require coverage under the Medicaid Program for freestanding birth center services; S. 1427 Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital Quality Report Card Act of 2009, a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative to report on health care quality in Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, and for other purposes; H.R. 3172 Senior Navigation and Planning Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for advanced illness care management services for Medicare beneficiaries, and for other purposes; H.R. 3184 Medicare Independent Living Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the in the home restriction for Medicare coverage of mobility devices for individuals with expected long-term needs; H.R. 3256 Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Extension Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to extend the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program; H.R. 3356 Medicare Beneficiary Freedom to Choose Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to clarify the use of private contracts by Medicare beneficiaries for professional services and to allow individuals to choose to opt out of the Medicare part A benefits; H.R. 3361 Medicare Patient Safeguards Act of 2009, a bill to provide a process for public comment and Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee review of certain Medicare national coverage determinations, and for other purposes; HR 3369 and S.1521 Improve Act of 2009, a bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to require provider payments under Medicare and Medicaid to be made through direct deposit or electronic funds transfer (EFT) at insured depository institutions; S.1522 Outpatient Mental Health Modernization Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to stabilize and modernize the provision of partial hospitalization services under the Medicare program; H.R. 3374 Medicare and Medicaid Access Project through Information Technology (MAP IT) Act, a bill to provide for a demonstration project relating to the impact of health information technology on chronic disease management under the Medicare and Medicaid programs; H.R. 3422 Medicare Support for Rural Hospitals Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to make temporary improvements to the Medicare inpatient payment adjustment for low-volume hospitals; H.R. 3430 DSH Collaborative Care Network Pilot Program Act of 2009, a bill to establish a Medicare DSH pilot program under which participants shall establish collaborative care networks to reduce the use of emergency departments, inpatient and other expensive resources of hospitals and other providers and provide more comprehensive and coordinated care to low-income individuals, including those without health insurance coverage, and to establish a Collaborative Care Network Center; Neal Letter to Pelosi, Opposition to the Independent Medicare Advisory Council (IMAC) and MedPAC Reform Act (HR 2718, S1110, S 1380); HR 3556 NO TITLE, a bill to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a self-referral disclosure protocol under the Medicare Program to enable health care providers of services and suppliers to disclose violations of section 1877 of the Social Security Act; S 1669 Equal Access to Medicare Options Act of 2009, a bill to provide all Medicare beneficiaries with the right to guaranteed issue of a Medicare supplemental policy; HR 3631 Medicare Premium Fairness Act, a bill 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; HR 3653 Medicare Card Security Act of 2009, a bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to prohibit the display of Social Security account numbers on Medicare cards; HR 3663 NO TITLE, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to delay the date on which the accreditation requirement under the Medicare Program applies to suppliers of durable medical equipment that are pharmacies; HR 3665 Ryan White Grantee Medicaid Payment Equity Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for payment for Medicaid services furnished by Ryan White part C grantees under a cost-based prospective payment system; HR 3675 National Quality Cancer Care Demonstration Project Act of 2009, a bill to improve the quality and cost effectiveness of cancer care to Medicare beneficiaries by establishing a national demonstration project; HR 2962 Integrity in Medicare Advanced Diagnostic Imaging Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to exclude certain advanced diagnostic imaging services from the in-office ancillary services exception to the prohibition on physician self-referral; Meeting with CMS re implementation of new requirements for insurance providers to report payment responsibility for Medicare Secondary Payer program; HR 3693 Ensuring the Future Physician Workforce Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to modify Medicare physician reimbursement policies to ensure a future physician workforce; HR 3961, HR 4154, S 1600 and Reid amendment 3305 Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009 and Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to reform the Medicare SGR payment system for physicians and to reinstitute and update the Pay-As-You-Go requirement of budget neutrality on new tax and mandatory spending legislation, enforced by the threat of annual, automatic sequestration; HR 4250 Medicaid DSH Integrity Act, a bill to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to revise regulations implementing the statutory reporting and auditing requirements for the Medicaid disproportionate share hospital ("DSH") payment program to be consistent with the scope of the statutory provisions and avoid substantive changes to preexisting DSH policy; S 1776 Medicare Physician Fairness Act of 2009, 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; discussion with the HHS Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology of hospital concerns around development of requirements for meaningful use of Electronic Health Records (EHR) to qualify for Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments for EHR development; 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; HR 4213 American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010 a bill that includes an extension of the Recovery Acts increased Federal match for state Medicaid programs. The passed bill extends the increased FMAP through June 30, 2011, which is estimated to provide states with an additional $25.5 billion in FMAP; Letter to Pelosi and Reid expressing opposition to establishment of an Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB); Medicaid FMAP ARRA Extension Letter to Senator Reid to include an extension of federal Medicaid assistance to states in legislative proposals to increase employment and rebuild the nations economy; Space, Burgess, Stearns and Engel House Health IT letter and Klobuchar and Hatch Senate Health IT letter to CMS urging a modification of CMS proposed definition of and requirements for hospitals to become qualified as meaningful users of certified electronic health record (EHR) technology; S 3028 Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services under the Medicare program; HR 4872 The Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010, to provide for reconciliation pursuant to section 202 of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2010; Meetings with CMS to urge a different interpretation of the Medicare conditions of participation interpretive guidelines, as currently interpreted guidelines would require accreditation of each hospital as a standalone entity and require them to each have a separate governing body, medical staff, etc. in order to be accredited by the joint commission; Crowley- Sessions Letter to CMS urging reevaluation of the IPPS regulation that would apply a 2.9 percent cut to hospital payments in FY 2011.

HR 27 Medicare Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish additional provisions to combat waste, fraud, and abuse within the Medicare Program, and for other purposes; HR 43 and S 46, Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to repeal the Medicare outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps; S 54 Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by establishing minimum nurse staffing ratios at certain Medicare providers, and for other purposes; HR 319 Legal Immigrant Children's Health Improvement Act of 2009, a bill to amend titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act to permit States the option of coverage of legal immigrants under the Medicaid Program and the State children's health insurance program (SCHIP); S 214 Children's Health Equity Technical Amendments Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to permit qualifying States to use their allotments under the SCHIP for any fiscal year for certain Medicaid expenditures; HR 362 and S 318 Medicare Rural Health Access Improvement Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve access to health care under the Medicare program for beneficiaries residing in rural areas; HR 465 a bill to amend titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act to permit States to ensure coverage without a 5-year delay of certain children and pregnant women under the Medicaid program and SCHIP; HR 487, a bill to waive the 35-mile requirement for designation of a critical access hospital under the Medicare program; HR 592 and S 264 E-Centives Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to encourage the use of certified health information technology by providers in the Medicaid Program and the Children's Health Insurance Program, and for other purposes; HR 619 a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to remove the exclusion from medical assistance under the Medicaid Program of items and services for patients in an institution for mental diseases; S 295 Medicare Quality and Payment Reform Act of 2009, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the quality and efficiency of the Medicare program through measurement of readmission rates and resource use and to develop a pilot program to provide episodic payments to organized groups of multispecialty and multilevel providers of services and suppliers for hospitalization episodes associated with select, high cost diagnoses; HR 668 and S 307 Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide flexibility in the manner in which beds are counted for purposes of determining whether a hospital may be designated as a critical access hospital under the Medicare program and to exempt from the critical access hospital inpatient bed limitation the number of beds provided for certain veterans; HR 902 and S. 382 MediFair Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the provision of items and services provided to Medicare beneficiaries residing in States with more cost-effective health care delivery systems; S 434 Empowered at Home Act of 2009, a bill 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; S 438 Improved Medical Decision Incentive Act of 2009, a bill to provide for the voluntary development by States of qualifying best practices for health care and to encourage such voluntary development by amending titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to provide differential rates of payment favoring treatment provided consistent with qualifying best practices under the Medicare and Medicaid programs, and for other purposes; HR 1117 Medically Fragile Children's Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to establish a State plan option under Medicaid to provide an all-inclusive program of care for children who are medically fragile or have one or more chronic conditions that impede their ability to function; HR 1188 and S 468 Access to Emergency Medical Services Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve access to emergency medical services and the quality and efficiency of care furnished in emergency departments of hospitals and critical access hospitals by establishing a bipartisan commission to examine factors that affect the effective delivery of such services, by providing for additional payments for certain physician services furnished in such emergency departments, and by establishing a CMS Working Group, and for other purposes; S 712 Rural Medicare Equity Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the Medicare program for beneficiaries residing in rural areas; HR 1776 Quality FIRST (From Incentives, Reporting, Standards, and Technology) Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand the development of quality measures for inpatient hospital services, to implement a performance-based payment methodology for the provision of such services under the Medicare Program; Letter to CMS asking to eliminate the state-specific budget neutrality policy for the rural and imputed rural floor indices in the upcoming FY2010 Inpatient Prospective Payment System Rule (IPPS); Working on legislation to amend the Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor Program; S 852 a bill to apply an alternative payment amount under the Medicare program for certain graduate medical education programs established to train residents displaced by natural disasters; HR 2068 Medicare Telehealth Enhancement Act of 2009, a bill to improve the provision of telehealth services under the Medicare Program; HR 2094 Physician Training Promotion Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to increase the per resident payment floor for direct graduate medical education payments under the Medicare Program; HR 2124 Medicare Long-Term Care Hospital Improvement Act of 2009, a bill to extend subsections (c) and(d) of section 114 of the Medicare, Medicaid, & SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-173) to provide for regulatory stability during the development of facility and patient criteria for long-term care hospitals under the Medicare program; HR 2204 Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide payment under part A of the Medicare Program on a reasonable cost basis for anesthesia services furnished by an anesthesiologist in certain rural hospitals in the same manner as payments are provided for anesthesia services furnished by anesthesiologist assistants and certified registered nurse anesthetists in such hospitals; S 935 Medicare Long-Term Care Hospital Improvement Act of 2009, a bill to extend subsections (c) and (d) of section 114 of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-173) to provide for regulatory stability during the development of facility and patient criteria for long-term care hospitals under the Medicare program; HR 2443 Medicare Ambulance Access Preservation Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to preserve access to ambulance services under the Medicare Program; S 1079 Medicare Cost Contract Extension and Refinement Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to extend reasonable cost contracts under the Medicare program; HR 2525 Safeguarding Our Hospitals' Futures Act of 2009, a bill to require application of budget neutrality on a national basis in the calculation of the Medicare hospital wage index floor for each all-urban and rural State; HR 2534 Physician Pathology Services Continuity Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for the treatment of certain physician pathology services under the Medicare Program; S 1108 Safeguarding Our Hospitals' Futures Act of 2009, a bill to require application of budget neutrality on a national basis in the calculation of the Medicare hospital wage index floor for each all-urban and rural State; S 1110 Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) Reform Act of 2009, 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 1114 Medical Homes Act of 2009, a bill to establish a demonstration project to provide for patient-centered medical homes to improve the effectiveness and efficiency in providing medical assistance under the Medicaid program and child health assistance under the State Children's Health Insurance Program; Letters and further discussions to CMS, Physician Supervision for Outpatient Service, resend policy changes requiring direct physician supervision for all PSO therapeutic Outpatient Service provided in and on hospital campus under Medicare, and withdraw change to minimize legal risk for years 2001-2009; HR 2688 Empowered at Home Act of 2009, a bill 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; HR 2692 and S 1171CAH Designation Waiver Authority Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to restore State authority to waive the 35-mile rule for designating critical access hospitals under the Medicare Program; HR 2718 Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) Reform Act of 2009, 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 1185 Medicare Financial Stability for Beneficiaries Act of 2009, a bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to ensure that low-income beneficiaries have improved access to health care under the Medicare and Medicaid programs; S 1181 Healthy Living and Health Aging Demonstration Project Act of 2009, a bill to provide for a demonstration project to examine whether community-level public health interventions can result in lower rates of chronic disease for individuals entering the Medicare program; HR 2753 a bill to delay the implementation of new Medicare hospital geographic wage reclassification criteria until the Secretary of Health and Human Services issues a proposal to revise the hospital wage index classification system that addresses certain considerations; HR 2758 Medicare Specialty Care Improvement and Protection Act of 2009, 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; HR 2773 Medicare Transitional Care Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to cover transitional care services to improve the quality and cost effectiveness of care under the Medicare Program; S 1218 Urban Medicare-Dependent Hospitals Preservation Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to preserve access to urban Medicare-dependent hospitals; HR 2784 Partnership to Improve Seniors Access to Medicare Act, a bill to establish a loan repayment program for qualifying physicians and nurse practitioners participating in the Medicare Program; HR 2805 Ensuring Continuous Medicaid Coverage for Children Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require 12-month continuous coverage for children under Medicaid; HR 2844 Medicare Payment Improvement Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to create a value indexing mechanism for the physician work component of the Medicare physician fee schedule; HR 2859 Strengthening Medicaid for America's Children Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for application of an enhanced Federal matching rate for children under the Medicaid Program if certain conditions are met; S 1262 Medical Efficiency and Delivery Improvement of Care Act (MEDIC) of 2009, a bill to amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act and titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to provide additional resources for primary care services, to create new payment models for services under Medicare, to expand provision of non-institutionally-based long-term services, and for other purposes; S 1263 Senior Navigation and Planning Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for advanced illness care management services for Medicare beneficiaries, and for other purposes; HR 2919 Medicare Efficiency Incentive Act of 2009, a bill to amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide Medicare physician incentive payments for efficient areas; HR 2921a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for an annual review by the MedPAC on geographic access to services; S 1279 TARP Recipient Ownership Trust Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to extend the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program; HR 2959 Accountable Care Promotion Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish an accountable care organization pilot program to reduce the growth of expenditures and improve health outcomes under the Medicare Program; S 1300 Community and Rural Medical Residency Preservation Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to clarify intent regarding the counting of residents in a nonhospital setting under the Medicare program; S 1380 MedPAC Reform Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to create a sensible infrastructure for delivery system reform by renaming the MedPAC, making the commission an executive branch agency, and providing the Commission new resources and authority to implement Medicare payment policy; H.R. 3138 Physician Payments Sunshine Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XI of the Social Security Act to provide for transparency in the relationship between physicians and manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologicals, or medical supplies for which payment is made under Medicare, Medicaid, or SCHIP; HR 3141 Strengthening the Health Care Safety Net Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for a DSH redistribution pool from unexpended Medicaid DSH allotments in order to increase Medicaid DSH allotments for low DSH States and to provide grants for health access networks serving the uninsured; H.R. 3152 Helping Seniors Choose their Medicare Drug Plan Act, a bill 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; S. 1423 Medicaid Birth Center Reimbursement Act, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require coverage under the Medicaid Program for freestanding birth center services; S. 1427 Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital Quality Report Card Act of 2009, a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative to report on health care quality in Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, and for other purposes; H.R. 3172 Senior Navigation and Planning Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for advanced illness care management services for Medicare beneficiaries, and for other purposes; H.R. 3184 Medicare Independent Living Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the in the home restriction for Medicare coverage of mobility devices for individuals with expected long-term needs; H.R. 3256 Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Extension Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to extend the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program; H.R. 3356 Medicare Beneficiary Freedom to Choose Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to clarify the use of private contracts by Medicare beneficiaries for professional services and to allow individuals to choose to opt out of the Medicare part A benefits; H.R. 3361 Medicare Patient Safeguards Act of 2009, a bill to provide a process for public comment and Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee review of certain Medicare national coverage determinations, and for other purposes; HR 3369 and S.1521 Improve Act of 2009, a bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to require provider payments under Medicare and Medicaid to be made through direct deposit or electronic funds transfer (EFT) at insured depository institutions; S.1522 Outpatient Mental Health Modernization Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to stabilize and modernize the provision of partial hospitalization services under the Medicare program; H.R. 3374 Medicare and Medicaid Access Project through Information Technology (MAP IT) Act, a bill to provide for a demonstration project relating to the impact of health information technology on chronic disease management under the Medicare and Medicaid programs; H.R. 3422 Medicare Support for Rural Hospitals Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to make temporary improvements to the Medicare inpatient payment adjustment for low-volume hospitals; H.R. 3430 DSH Collaborative Care Network Pilot Program Act of 2009, a bill to establish a Medicare DSH pilot program under which participants shall establish collaborative care networks to reduce the use of emergency departments, inpatient and other expensive resources of hospitals and other providers and provide more comprehensive and coordinated care to low-income individuals, including those without health insurance coverage, and to establish a Collaborative Care Network Center; Neal Letter to Pelosi, Opposition to the Independent Medicare Advisory Council (IMAC) and MedPAC Reform Act (HR 2718, S1110, S 1380); HR 3556 NO TITLE, a bill to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a self-referral disclosure protocol under the Medicare Program to enable health care providers of services and suppliers to disclose violations of section 1877 of the Social Security Act; S 1669 Equal Access to Medicare Options Act of 2009, a bill to provide all Medicare beneficiaries with the right to guaranteed issue of a Medicare supplemental policy; HR 3631 Medicare Premium Fairness Act, a bill 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; HR 3653 Medicare Card Security Act of 2009, a bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to prohibit the display of Social Security account numbers on Medicare cards; HR 3663 NO TITLE, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to delay the date on which the accreditation requirement under the Medicare Program applies to suppliers of durable medical equipment that are pharmacies; HR 3665 Ryan White Grantee Medicaid Payment Equity Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for payment for Medicaid services furnished by Ryan White part C grantees under a cost-based prospective payment system; HR 3675 National Quality Cancer Care Demonstration Project Act of 2009, a bill to improve the quality and cost effectiveness of cancer care to Medicare beneficiaries by establishing a national demonstration project; HR 2962 Integrity in Medicare Advanced Diagnostic Imaging Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to exclude certain advanced diagnostic imaging services from the in-office ancillary services exception to the prohibition on physician self-referral; Meeting with CMS re implementation of new requirements for insurance providers to report payment responsibility for Medicare Secondary Payer program; HR 3693 Ensuring the Future Physician Workforce Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to modify Medicare physician reimbursement policies to ensure a future physician workforce; HR 3961, HR 4154, S 1600 and Reid amendment 3305 Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009 and Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to reform the Medicare SGR payment system for physicians and to reinstitute and update the Pay-As-You-Go requirement of budget neutrality on new tax and mandatory spending legislation, enforced by the threat of annual, automatic sequestration; HR 4250 Medicaid DSH Integrity Act, a bill to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to revise regulations implementing the statutory reporting and auditing requirements for the Medicaid disproportionate share hospital ("DSH") payment program to be consistent with the scope of the statutory provisions and avoid substantive changes to preexisting DSH policy; S 1776 Medicare Physician Fairness Act of 2009, 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; discussion with the HHS Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology of hospital concerns around development of requirements for meaningful use of Electronic Health Records (EHR) to qualify for Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments for EHR development; 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; HR 4213 American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010 a bill that includes an extension of the Recovery Acts increased Federal match for state Medicaid programs. The passed bill extends the increased FMAP through June 30, 2011, which is estimated to provide states with an additional $25.5 billion in FMAP; Letter to Pelosi and Reid expressing opposition to establishment of an Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB); Medicaid FMAP ARRA Extension Letter to Senator Reid to include an extension of federal Medicaid assistance to states in legislative proposals to increase employment and rebuild the nations economy; Space, Burgess, Stearns and Engel House Health IT letter and Klobuchar and Hatch Senate Health IT letter to CMS urging a modification of CMS proposed definition of and requirements for hospitals to become qualified as meaningful users of certified electronic health record (EHR) technology; S 3028 Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services under the Medicare program; HR 4872 The Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010, to provide for reconciliation pursuant to section 202 of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2010; Meetings with CMS to urge a different interpretation of the Medicare conditions of participation interpretive guidelines, as currently interpreted guidelines would require accreditation of each hospital as a standalone entity and require them to each have a separate governing body, medical staff, etc. in order to be accredited by the joint commission; Crowley- Sessions Letter to CMS urging reevaluation of the IPPS regulation that would apply a 2.9 percent cut to hospital payments in FY 2011; Letter to CMS re development of the Self-referral disclosure protocol that is authorized by the PPACA; HR 5712 Veterans, Seniors, and Childrens Health Technical Corrections Act of 2010 to provide for certain clarifications and extensions under Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program; HR 6005 Ensuring Equality for Early EHR Adoption Act of 2010, to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for the temporary treatment of certain electronic health records as certified EHR technology for purposes of health information technology payment incentives under the Medicare and Medicaid Programs. Sen. Stabenow and Sen. Murkoswki, Rep. Crowley and Rep. Sessions letter to CMS asking to reevaluate the proposed IPPS regulations that will hit hospital payments in FY 2011; Pomeroy, Moran letter to CMS, regarding concersn of the proposed Medicare OPPS regulation for FY 2011 does not show continued access to full range of outpatient therapeutic services for small, rural & CAH hospitals.

HR 27 Medicare Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish additional provisions to combat waste, fraud, and abuse within the Medicare Program, and for other purposes; HR 43 and S 46, Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to repeal the Medicare outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps; S 54 Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by establishing minimum nurse staffing ratios at certain Medicare providers, and for other purposes; HR 319 Legal Immigrant Children's Health Improvement Act of 2009, a bill to amend titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act to permit States the option of coverage of legal immigrants under the Medicaid Program and the State children's health insurance program (SCHIP); S 214 Children's Health Equity Technical Amendments Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to permit qualifying States to use their allotments under the SCHIP for any fiscal year for certain Medicaid expenditures; HR 362 and S 318 Medicare Rural Health Access Improvement Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve access to health care under the Medicare program for beneficiaries residing in rural areas; HR 465 a bill to amend titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act to permit States to ensure coverage without a 5-year delay of certain children and pregnant women under the Medicaid program and SCHIP; HR 487, a bill to waive the 35-mile requirement for designation of a critical access hospital under the Medicare program; HR 592 and S 264 E-Centives Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to encourage the use of certified health information technology by providers in the Medicaid Program and the Children's Health Insurance Program, and for other purposes; HR 619 a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to remove the exclusion from medical assistance under the Medicaid Program of items and services for patients in an institution for mental diseases; S 295 Medicare Quality and Payment Reform Act of 2009, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the quality and efficiency of the Medicare program through measurement of readmission rates and resource use and to develop a pilot program to provide episodic payments to organized groups of multispecialty and multilevel providers of services and suppliers for hospitalization episodes associated with select, high cost diagnoses; HR 668 and S 307 Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide flexibility in the manner in which beds are counted for purposes of determining whether a hospital may be designated as a critical access hospital under the Medicare program and to exempt from the critical access hospital inpatient bed limitation the number of beds provided for certain veterans; HR 902 and S. 382 MediFair Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the provision of items and services provided to Medicare beneficiaries residing in States with more cost-effective health care delivery systems; S 434 Empowered at Home Act of 2009, a bill 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; S 438 Improved Medical Decision Incentive Act of 2009, a bill to provide for the voluntary development by States of qualifying best practices for health care and to encourage such voluntary development by amending titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to provide differential rates of payment favoring treatment provided consistent with qualifying best practices under the Medicare and Medicaid programs, and for other purposes; HR 1117 Medically Fragile Children's Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to establish a State plan option under Medicaid to provide an all-inclusive program of care for children who are medically fragile or have one or more chronic conditions that impede their ability to function; HR 1188 and S 468 Access to Emergency Medical Services Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve access to emergency medical services and the quality and efficiency of care furnished in emergency departments of hospitals and critical access hospitals by establishing a bipartisan commission to examine factors that affect the effective delivery of such services, by providing for additional payments for certain physician services furnished in such emergency departments, and by establishing a CMS Working Group, and for other purposes; S 712 Rural Medicare Equity Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the Medicare program for beneficiaries residing in rural areas; HR 1776 Quality FIRST (From Incentives, Reporting, Standards, and Technology) Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand the development of quality measures for inpatient hospital services, to implement a performance-based payment methodology for the provision of such services under the Medicare Program; Letter to CMS asking to eliminate the state-specific budget neutrality policy for the rural and imputed rural floor indices in the upcoming FY2010 Inpatient Prospective Payment System Rule (IPPS); Working on legislation to amend the Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor Program; S 852 a bill to apply an alternative payment amount under the Medicare program for certain graduate medical education programs established to train residents displaced by natural disasters; HR 2068 Medicare Telehealth Enhancement Act of 2009, a bill to improve the provision of telehealth services under the Medicare Program; HR 2094 Physician Training Promotion Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to increase the per resident payment floor for direct graduate medical education payments under the Medicare Program; HR 2124 Medicare Long-Term Care Hospital Improvement Act of 2009, a bill to extend subsections (c) and(d) of section 114 of the Medicare, Medicaid, & SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-173) to provide for regulatory stability during the development of facility and patient criteria for long-term care hospitals under the Medicare program; HR 2204 Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide payment under part A of the Medicare Program on a reasonable cost basis for anesthesia services furnished by an anesthesiologist in certain rural hospitals in the same manner as payments are provided for anesthesia services furnished by anesthesiologist assistants and certified registered nurse anesthetists in such hospitals; S 935 Medicare Long-Term Care Hospital Improvement Act of 2009, a bill to extend subsections (c) and (d) of section 114 of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-173) to provide for regulatory stability during the development of facility and patient criteria for long-term care hospitals under the Medicare program; HR 2443 Medicare Ambulance Access Preservation Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to preserve access to ambulance services under the Medicare Program; S 1079 Medicare Cost Contract Extension and Refinement Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to extend reasonable cost contracts under the Medicare program; HR 2525 Safeguarding Our Hospitals' Futures Act of 2009, a bill to require application of budget neutrality on a national basis in the calculation of the Medicare hospital wage index floor for each all-urban and rural State; HR 2534 Physician Pathology Services Continuity Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for the treatment of certain physician pathology services under the Medicare Program; S 1108 Safeguarding Our Hospitals' Futures Act of 2009, a bill to require application of budget neutrality on a national basis in the calculation of the Medicare hospital wage index floor for each all-urban and rural State; S 1110 Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) Reform Act of 2009, 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 1114 Medical Homes Act of 2009, a bill to establish a demonstration project to provide for patient-centered medical homes to improve the effectiveness and efficiency in providing medical assistance under the Medicaid program and child health assistance under the State Children's Health Insurance Program; Letters and further discussions to CMS, Physician Supervision for Outpatient Service, resend policy changes requiring direct physician supervision for all PSO therapeutic Outpatient Service provided in and on hospital campus under Medicare, and withdraw change to minimize legal risk for years 2001-2009; HR 2688 Empowered at Home Act of 2009, a bill 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; HR 2692 and S 1171CAH Designation Waiver Authority Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to restore State authority to waive the 35-mile rule for designating critical access hospitals under the Medicare Program; HR 2718 Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) Reform Act of 2009, 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 1185 Medicare Financial Stability for Beneficiaries Act of 2009, a bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to ensure that low-income beneficiaries have improved access to health care under the Medicare and Medicaid programs; S 1181 Healthy Living and Health Aging Demonstration Project Act of 2009, a bill to provide for a demonstration project to examine whether community-level public health interventions can result in lower rates of chronic disease for individuals entering the Medicare program; HR 2753 a bill to delay the implementation of new Medicare hospital geographic wage reclassification criteria until the Secretary of Health and Human Services issues a proposal to revise the hospital wage index classification system that addresses certain considerations; HR 2758 Medicare Specialty Care Improvement and Protection Act of 2009, 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; HR 2773 Medicare Transitional Care Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to cover transitional care services to improve the quality and cost effectiveness of care under the Medicare Program; S 1218 Urban Medicare-Dependent Hospitals Preservation Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to preserve access to urban Medicare-dependent hospitals; HR 2784 Partnership to Improve Seniors Access to Medicare Act, a bill to establish a loan repayment program for qualifying physicians and nurse practitioners participating in the Medicare Program; HR 2805 Ensuring Continuous Medicaid Coverage for Children Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require 12-month continuous coverage for children under Medicaid; HR 2844 Medicare Payment Improvement Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to create a value indexing mechanism for the physician work component of the Medicare physician fee schedule; HR 2859 Strengthening Medicaid for America's Children Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for application of an enhanced Federal matching rate for children under the Medicaid Program if certain conditions are met; S 1262 Medical Efficiency and Delivery Improvement of Care Act (MEDIC) of 2009, a bill to amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act and titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to provide additional resources for primary care services, to create new payment models for services under Medicare, to expand provision of non-institutionally-based long-term services, and for other purposes; S 1263 Senior Navigation and Planning Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for advanced illness care management services for Medicare beneficiaries, and for other purposes; HR 2919 Medicare Efficiency Incentive Act of 2009, a bill to amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide Medicare physician incentive payments for efficient areas; HR 2921a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for an annual review by the MedPAC on geographic access to services; S 1279 TARP Recipient Ownership Trust Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to extend the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program; HR 2959 Accountable Care Promotion Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish an accountable care organization pilot program to reduce the growth of expenditures and improve health outcomes under the Medicare Program; S 1300 Community and Rural Medical Residency Preservation Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to clarify intent regarding the counting of residents in a nonhospital setting under the Medicare program; S 1380 MedPAC Reform Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to create a sensible infrastructure for delivery system reform by renaming the MedPAC, making the commission an executive branch agency, and providing the Commission new resources and authority to implement Medicare payment policy; H.R. 3138 Physician Payments Sunshine Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XI of the Social Security Act to provide for transparency in the relationship between physicians and manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologicals, or medical supplies for which payment is made under Medicare, Medicaid, or SCHIP; HR 3141 Strengthening the Health Care Safety Net Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for a DSH redistribution pool from unexpended Medicaid DSH allotments in order to increase Medicaid DSH allotments for low DSH States and to provide grants for health access networks serving the uninsured; H.R. 3152 Helping Seniors Choose their Medicare Drug Plan Act, a bill 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; S. 1423 Medicaid Birth Center Reimbursement Act, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require coverage under the Medicaid Program for freestanding birth center services; S. 1427 Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital Quality Report Card Act of 2009, a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative to report on health care quality in Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, and for other purposes; H.R. 3172 Senior Navigation and Planning Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for advanced illness care management services for Medicare beneficiaries, and for other purposes; H.R. 3184 Medicare Independent Living Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the in the home restriction for Medicare coverage of mobility devices for individuals with expected long-term needs; H.R. 3256 Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Extension Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to extend the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program; H.R. 3356 Medicare Beneficiary Freedom to Choose Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to clarify the use of private contracts by Medicare beneficiaries for professional services and to allow individuals to choose to opt out of the Medicare part A benefits; H.R. 3361 Medicare Patient Safeguards Act of 2009, a bill to provide a process for public comment and Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee review of certain Medicare national coverage determinations, and for other purposes; HR 3369 and S.1521 Improve Act of 2009, a bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to require provider payments under Medicare and Medicaid to be made through direct deposit or electronic funds transfer (EFT) at insured depository institutions; S.1522 Outpatient Mental Health Modernization Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to stabilize and modernize the provision of partial hospitalization services under the Medicare program; H.R. 3374 Medicare and Medicaid Access Project through Information Technology (MAP IT) Act, a bill to provide for a demonstration project relating to the impact of health information technology on chronic disease management under the Medicare and Medicaid programs; H.R. 3422 Medicare Support for Rural Hospitals Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to make temporary improvements to the Medicare inpatient payment adjustment for low-volume hospitals; H.R. 3430 DSH Collaborative Care Network Pilot Program Act of 2009, a bill to establish a Medicare DSH pilot program under which participants shall establish collaborative care networks to reduce the use of emergency departments, inpatient and other expensive resources of hospitals and other providers and provide more comprehensive and coordinated care to low-income individuals, including those without health insurance coverage, and to establish a Collaborative Care Network Center; Neal Letter to Pelosi, Opposition to the Independent Medicare Advisory Council (IMAC) and MedPAC Reform Act (HR 2718, S1110, S 1380); HR 3556 NO TITLE, a bill to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a self-referral disclosure protocol under the Medicare Program to enable health care providers of services and suppliers to disclose violations of section 1877 of the Social Security Act; S 1669 Equal Access to Medicare Options Act of 2009, a bill to provide all Medicare beneficiaries with the right to guaranteed issue of a Medicare supplemental policy; HR 3631 Medicare Premium Fairness Act, a bill 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; HR 3653 Medicare Card Security Act of 2009, a bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to prohibit the display of Social Security account numbers on Medicare cards; HR 3663 NO TITLE, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to delay the date on which the accreditation requirement under the Medicare Program applies to suppliers of durable medical equipment that are pharmacies; HR 3665 Ryan White Grantee Medicaid Payment Equity Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for payment for Medicaid services furnished by Ryan White part C grantees under a cost-based prospective payment system; HR 3675 National Quality Cancer Care Demonstration Project Act of 2009, a bill to improve the quality and cost effectiveness of cancer care to Medicare beneficiaries by establishing a national demonstration project; HR 2962 Integrity in Medicare Advanced Diagnostic Imaging Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to exclude certain advanced diagnostic imaging services from the in-office ancillary services exception to the prohibition on physician self-referral; Meeting with CMS re implementation of new requirements for insurance providers to report payment responsibility for Medicare Secondary Payer program; HR 3693 Ensuring the Future Physician Workforce Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to modify Medicare physician reimbursement policies to ensure a future physician workforce; HR 3961, HR 4154, S 1600 and Reid amendment 3305 Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009 and Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to reform the Medicare SGR payment system for physicians and to reinstitute and update the Pay-As-You-Go requirement of budget neutrality on new tax and mandatory spending legislation, enforced by the threat of annual, automatic sequestration; HR 4250 Medicaid DSH Integrity Act, a bill to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to revise regulations implementing the statutory reporting and auditing requirements for the Medicaid disproportionate share hospital ("DSH") payment program to be consistent with the scope of the statutory provisions and avoid substantive changes to preexisting DSH policy; S 1776 Medicare Physician Fairness Act of 2009, 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; discussion with the HHS Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology of hospital concerns around development of requirements for meaningful use of Electronic Health Records (EHR) to qualify for Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments for EHR development; 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; HR 4213 American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010 a bill that includes an extension of the Recovery Acts increased Federal match for state Medicaid programs. The passed bill extends the increased FMAP through June 30, 2011, which is estimated to provide states with an additional $25.5 billion in FMAP; Letter to Pelosi and Reid expressing opposition to establishment of an Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB); Medicaid FMAP ARRA Extension Letter to Senator Reid to include an extension of federal Medicaid assistance to states in legislative proposals to increase employment and rebuild the nations economy; Space, Burgess, Stearns and Engel House Health IT letter and Klobuchar and Hatch Senate Health IT letter to CMS urging a modification of CMS proposed definition of and requirements for hospitals to become qualified as meaningful users of certified electronic health record (EHR) technology; S 3028 Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services under the Medicare program; HR 4872 The Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010, to provide for reconciliation pursuant to section 202 of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2010; Meetings with CMS to urge a different interpretation of the Medicare conditions of participation interpretive guidelines, as currently interpreted guidelines would require accreditation of each hospital as a standalone entity and require them to each have a separate governing body, medical staff, etc. in order to be accredited by the joint commission.

HR 27 Medicare Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish additional provisions to combat waste, fraud, and abuse within the Medicare Program, and for other purposes; HR 43 and S 46, Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to repeal the Medicare outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps; S 54 Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by establishing minimum nurse staffing ratios at certain Medicare providers, and for other purposes; HR 319 Legal Immigrant Children's Health Improvement Act of 2009, a bill to amend titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act to permit States the option of coverage of legal immigrants under the Medicaid Program and the State children's health insurance program (SCHIP); S 214 Children's Health Equity Technical Amendments Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to permit qualifying States to use their allotments under the SCHIP for any fiscal year for certain Medicaid expenditures; HR 465 a bill to amend titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act to permit States to ensure coverage without a 5-year delay of certain children and pregnant women under the Medicaid program and SCHIP; HR 487, a bill to waive the 35-mile requirement for designation of a critical access hospital under the Medicare program; HR 592 and S 264 E-Centives Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to encourage the use of certified health information technology by providers in the Medicaid Program and the Children's Health Insurance Program, and for other purposes; S 295 Medicare Quality and Payment Reform Act of 2009, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the quality and efficiency of the Medicare program through measurement of readmission rates and resource use and to develop a pilot program to provide episodic payments to organized groups of multispecialty and multilevel providers of services and suppliers for hospitalization episodes associated with select, high cost diagnoses; HR 668 and S 307 Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide flexibility in the manner in which beds are counted for purposes of determining whether a hospital may be designated as a critical access hospital under the Medicare program and to exempt from the critical access hospital inpatient bed limitation the number of beds provided for certain veterans; HR 902 and S. 382 MediFair Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the provision of items and services provided to Medicare beneficiaries residing in States with more cost-effective health care delivery systems; S 434 Empowered at Home Act of 2009, a bill 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; S 438 Improved Medical Decision Incentive Act of 2009, a bill to provide for the voluntary development by States of qualifying best practices for health care and to encourage such voluntary development by amending titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to provide differential rates of payment favoring treatment provided consistent with qualifying best practices under the Medicare and Medicaid programs, and for other purposes; HR 1117 Medically Fragile Children's Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to establish a State plan option under Medicaid to provide an all-inclusive program of care for children who are medically fragile or have one or more chronic conditions that impede their ability to function; S 712 Rural Medicare Equity Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the Medicare program for beneficiaries residing in rural areas; HR 1776 Quality FIRST (From Incentives, Reporting, Standards, and Technology) Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand the development of quality measures for inpatient hospital services, to implement a performance-based payment methodology for the provision of such services under the Medicare Program; S 852 a bill to apply an alternative payment amount under the Medicare program for certain graduate medical education programs established to train residents displaced by natural disasters; HR 2068 Medicare Telehealth Enhancement Act of 2009, a bill to improve the provision of telehealth services under the Medicare Program; HR 2094 Physician Training Promotion Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to increase the per resident payment floor for direct graduate medical education payments under the Medicare Program; HR 2204 Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide payment under part A of the Medicare Program on a reasonable cost basis for anesthesia services furnished by an anesthesiologist in certain rural hospitals in the same manner as payments are provided for anesthesia services furnished by anesthesiologist assistants and certified registered nurse anesthetists in such hospitals; HR 2443 Medicare Ambulance Access Preservation Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to preserve access to ambulance services under the Medicare Program; S 1079 Medicare Cost Contract Extension and Refinement Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to extend reasonable cost contracts under the Medicare program; HR 2534 Physician Pathology Services Continuity Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for the treatment of certain physician pathology services under the Medicare Program; S 1110 Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) Reform Act of 2009, 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 1114 Medical Homes Act of 2009, a bill to establish a demonstration project to provide for patient-centered medical homes to improve the effectiveness and efficiency in providing medical assistance under the Medicaid program and child health assistance under the State Children's Health Insurance Program; HR 2688 Empowered at Home Act of 2009, a bill 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; HR 2692 and S 1171CAH Designation Waiver Authority Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to restore State authority to waive the 35-mile rule for designating critical access hospitals under the Medicare Program; HR 2718 Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) Reform Act of 2009, 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 1185 Medicare Financial Stability for Beneficiaries Act of 2009, a bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to ensure that low-income beneficiaries have improved access to health care under the Medicare and Medicaid programs; S 1181 Healthy Living and Health Aging Demonstration Project Act of 2009, a bill to provide for a demonstration project to examine whether community-level public health interventions can result in lower rates of chronic disease for individuals entering the Medicare program; HR 2758 Medicare Specialty Care Improvement and Protection Act of 2009, 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; HR 2773 Medicare Transitional Care Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to cover transitional care services to improve the quality and cost effectiveness of care under the Medicare Program; S 1218 Urban Medicare-Dependent Hospitals Preservation Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to preserve access to urban Medicare-dependent hospitals; HR 2784 Partnership to Improve Seniors Access to Medicare Act, a bill to establish a loan repayment program for qualifying physicians and nurse practitioners participating in the Medicare Program; HR 2805 Ensuring Continuous Medicaid Coverage for Children Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require 12-month continuous coverage for children under Medicaid; HR 2859 Strengthening Medicaid for America's Children Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for application of an enhanced Federal matching rate for children under the Medicaid Program if certain conditions are met; S 1262 Medical Efficiency and Delivery Improvement of Care Act (MEDIC) of 2009, a bill to amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act and titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to provide additional resources for primary care services, to create new payment models for services under Medicare, to expand provision of non-institutionally-based long-term services, and for other purposes; S 1263 Senior Navigation and Planning Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for advanced illness care management services for Medicare beneficiaries, and for other purposes; HR 2921a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for an annual review by the MedPAC on geographic access to services; S 1279 TARP Recipient Ownership Trust Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to extend the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program; S 1300 Community and Rural Medical Residency Preservation Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to clarify intent regarding the counting of residents in a nonhospital setting under the Medicare program; S 1380 MedPAC Reform Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to create a sensible infrastructure for delivery system reform by renaming the MedPAC, making the commission an executive branch agency, and providing the Commission new resources and authority to implement Medicare payment policy; H.R. 3138 Physician Payments Sunshine Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XI of the Social Security Act to provide for transparency in the relationship between physicians and manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologicals, or medical supplies for which payment is made under Medicare, Medicaid, or SCHIP; HR 3141 Strengthening the Health Care Safety Net Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for a DSH redistribution pool from unexpended Medicaid DSH allotments in order to increase Medicaid DSH allotments for low DSH States and to provide grants for health access networks serving the uninsured; H.R. 3152 Helping Seniors Choose their Medicare Drug Plan Act, a bill 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; S. 1423 Medicaid Birth Center Reimbursement Act, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require coverage under the Medicaid Program for freestanding birth center services;. 1427 Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital Quality Report Card Act of 2009, a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative to report on health care quality in Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, and for other purposes; H.R. 3172 Senior Navigation and Planning Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for advanced illness care management services for Medicare beneficiaries, and for other purposes; H.R. 3184 Medicare Independent Living Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the in the home restriction for Medicare coverage of mobility devices for individuals with expected long-term needs; H.R. 3356 Medicare Beneficiary Freedom to Choose Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to clarify the use of private contracts by Medicare beneficiaries for professional services and to allow individuals to choose to opt out of the Medicare part A benefits; H.R. 3361 Medicare Patient Safeguards Act of 2009, a bill to provide a process for public comment and Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee review of certain Medicare national coverage determinations; HR 3369 and S.1521 Improve Act of 2009, a bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to require provider payments under Medicare and Medicaid to be made through direct deposit or electronic funds transfer (EFT) at insured depository institutions; S.1522 Outpatient Mental Health Modernization Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to stabilize and modernize the provision of partial hospitalization services under the Medicare program; H.R. 3374 Medicare and Medicaid Access Project through Information Technology (MAP IT) Act, a bill to provide for a demonstration project relating to the impact of health information technology on chronic disease management under the Medicare and Medicaid programs; H.R. 3430 DSH Collaborative Care Network Pilot Program Act of 2009, a bill to establish a Medicare DSH pilot program under which participants shall establish collaborative care networks to reduce the use of emergency departments, inpatient and other expensive resources of hospitals and other providers and provide more comprehensive and coordinated care to low-income individuals, including those without health insurance coverage, and to establish a Collaborative Care Network Center; Neal Letter to Pelosi, Opposition to the Independent Medicare Advisory Council (IMAC) and MedPAC Reform Act (HR 2718, S1110, S 1380); HR 3556 NO TITLE, a bill to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a self-referral disclosure protocol under the Medicare Program to enable health care providers of services and suppliers to disclose violations of section 1877 of the Social Security Act; S 1669 Equal Access to Medicare Options Act of 2009, a bill to provide all Medicare beneficiaries with the right to guaranteed issue of a Medicare supplemental policy; HR 3631 Medicare Premium Fairness Act, a bill 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; HR 3653 Medicare Card Security Act of 2009, a bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to prohibit the display of Social Security account numbers on Medicare cards; HR 3663 NO TITLE, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to delay the date on which the accreditation requirement under the Medicare Program applies to suppliers of durable medical equipment that are pharmacies; HR 3665 Ryan White Grantee Medicaid Payment Equity Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for payment for Medicaid services furnished by Ryan White part C grantees under a cost-based prospective payment system; HR 3675 National Quality Cancer Care Demonstration Project Act of 2009, a bill to improve the quality and cost effectiveness of cancer care to Medicare beneficiaries by establishing a national demonstration project; HR 2962 Integrity in Medicare Advanced Diagnostic Imaging Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to exclude certain advanced diagnostic imaging services from the in-office ancillary services exception to the prohibition on physician self-referral; HR 3693 Ensuring the Future Physician Workforce Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to modify Medicare physician reimbursement policies to ensure a future physician workforce; HR 3961, HR 4154, S 1600 and Reid amendment 3305 Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009 and Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to reform the Medicare SGR payment system for physicians and to reinstitute and update the Pay-As-You-Go requirement of budget neutrality on new tax and mandatory spending legislation, enforced by the threat of annual, automatic sequestration; HR 4250 Medicaid DSH Integrity Act, a bill to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to revise regulations implementing the statutory reporting and auditing requirements for the Medicaid disproportionate share hospital ("DSH") payment program to be consistent with the scope of the statutory provisions and avoid substantive changes to preexisting DSH policy; S 1776 Medicare Physician Fairness Act of 2009, 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; 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; HR 4213 American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010 a bill that includes an extension of the Recovery Acts increased Federal match for state Medicaid programs. The passed bill extends the increased FMAP through June 30, 2011, which is estimated to provide states with an additional $25.5 billion in FMAP; Letter to Pelosi and Reid expressing opposition to establishment of an Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB); Medicaid FMAP ARRA Extension Letter to Senator Reid to include an extension of federal Medicaid assistance to states in legislative proposals to increase employment and rebuild the nations economy; Space, Burgess, Stearns and Engel House Health IT letter and Klobuchar and Hatch Senate Health IT letter to CMS urging a modification of CMS proposed definition of and requirements for hospitals to become qualified as meaningful users of certified electronic health record (EHR) technology; S 3028 Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services under the Medicare program; HR 4872 The Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010, to provide for reconciliation pursuant to section 202 of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2010; Meetings with CMS to urge a different interpretation of the Medicare conditions of participation interpretive guidelines on governance which were intepreted to require that each organization with a CCN have a separate governing body, medical staff, etc. in order to be accredited ; HR 5712 Veterans, Seniors, and Childrens Health Technical Corrections Act of 2010 to provide for certain clarifications and extensions under Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program; HR 6005 Ensuring Equality for Early EHR Adoption Act of 2010, to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for the temporary treatment of certain electronic health records as certified EHR technology for purposes of health information technology payment incentives under the Medicare and Medicaid Programs. Sen. Stabenow and Sen. Murkoswki, Rep. Crowley and Rep. Sessions letter to CMS asking to reevaluate the proposed IPPS regulations that will hit hospital payments in FY 2011; Rep. Pomeroy and Rep. Moran letter to CMS, regarding concerns of the proposed Medicare OPPS regulation for FY 2011 does not show continued access to full range of outpatient therapeutic services for small, rural & CAH hospitals; Discussion with CMS about implementation of the self-referral disclosure protocol; HR 5712 Veterans, Seniors, and Childrens Health Technical Corrections Act of 2010 or Physician Payment and Therapy Relief Act of 2010, to provide for certain clarifications and extensions under Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program; HR 6005 Ensuring Equality for Early EHR Adoption Act of 2010, to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for the temporary treatment of certain electronic health records as certified EHR technology for purposes of health information technology payment incentives under the Medicare and Medicaid Programs.

HR 1409 and S 560 Employee Free Choice Act , all provisions to amend the National Labor Relations Act to establish an efficient system to enable employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to provide for mandatory injunctions for unfair labor practices during organizing efforts, and for other purposes; RESPECT Act, all provisions to amend the National Labor Relations Act to clarify the definition of `supervisor' for purposes of such Act; HR 1355 National Labor Relations Modernization Act, provisions related to interest arbitration for first contracts; enhanced employer penalties for certain NLRA violations or alleged violations; and a provision designed to give unions greater access to employees at the employers property; HR 1493 Quality Health Care Coalition Act of 2009, a bill to ensure and foster continued patient safety and quality of care by exempting health care professionals from the Federal antitrust laws in their negotiations with health plans and health insurance issuers; HR 1176 and S 478 The Secret Ballot Protection Act, to amend the National Labor Relations Act to ensure the right of employees to a secret-ballot election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board; Discussion with DOJ about AHA white paper on Clinical Integration and antitrust barriers to clinical integration; Discussions with DOJ about the implications for hospitals of insurance industry mergers; S 1681 and HR 3596 Health Insurance Industry Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2009, a bill to ensure that health insurance issuers and medical malpractice insurance issuers cannot engage in price fixing, bid rigging, or market allocations to the detriment of competition and consumers; S. 1788 and HR 2381 Nurse and Health Care Worker Protection Act of 2009, the bill requires the Secretary of Labor to propose a standard on safe patient handling and injury prevention to prevent musculoskeletal disorders for direct-care registered nurses and all other health care workers that requires the use of engineering controls to lift patients and the elimination of manual lifting of patients through the use of mechanical devices, except where patient care may be compromised.

HR 1409 and S 560 Employee Free Choice Act , all provisions to amend the National Labor Relations Act to establish an efficient system to enable employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to provide for mandatory injunctions for unfair labor practices during organizing efforts, and for other purposes; RESPECT Act, all provisions to amend the National Labor Relations Act to clarify the definition of `supervisor' for purposes of such Act; HR 1355 National Labor Relations Modernization Act, provisions related to interest arbitration for first contracts; enhanced employer penalties for certain NLRA violations or alleged violations; and a provision designed to give unions greater access to employees at the employers property; HR 1493 Quality Health Care Coalition Act of 2009, a bill to ensure and foster continued patient safety and quality of care by exempting health care professionals from the Federal antitrust laws in their negotiations with health plans and health insurance issuers; HR 1176 and S 478 The Secret Ballot Protection Act, to amend the National Labor Relations Act to ensure the right of employees to a secret-ballot election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board; Discussion with DOJ about AHA white paper on Clinical Integration and antitrust barriers to clinical integration; Discussions with DOJ about the implications for hospitals of insurance industry mergers; S 1681 and HR 3596 Health Insurance Industry Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2009, a bill to ensure that health insurance issuers and medical malpractice insurance issuers cannot engage in price fixing, bid rigging, or market allocations to the detriment of competition and consumers; S. 1788 and HR 2381 Nurse and Health Care Worker Protection Act of 2009, the bill requires the Secretary of Labor to propose a standard on safe patient handling and injury prevention to prevent musculoskeletal disorders for direct-care registered nurses and all other health care workers that requires the use of engineering controls to lift patients and the elimination of manual lifting of patients through the use of mechanical devices, except where patient care may be compromised.

HR 1409 and S 560 Employee Free Choice Act , all provisions to amend the National Labor Relations Act to establish an efficient system to enable employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to provide for mandatory injunctions for unfair labor practices during organizing efforts, and for other purposes; RESPECT Act, all provisions to amend the National Labor Relations Act to clarify the definition of `supervisor' for purposes of such Act; HR 1355 National Labor Relations Modernization Act, provisions related to interest arbitration for first contracts; enhanced employer penalties for certain NLRA violations or alleged violations; and a provision designed to give unions greater access to employees at the employers property; HR 1493 Quality Health Care Coalition Act of 2009, a bill to ensure and foster continued patient safety and quality of care by exempting health care professionals from the Federal antitrust laws in their negotiations with health plans and health insurance issuers; HR 1176 and S 478 The Secret Ballot Protection Act, to amend the National Labor Relations Act to ensure the right of employees to a secret-ballot election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board; Discussion with DOJ about AHA white paper on Clinical Integration and antitrust barriers to clinical integration; Discussions with DOJ about the implications for hospitals of insurance industry mergers; S 1681 and HR 3596 Health Insurance Industry Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2009, a bill to ensure that health insurance issuers and medical malpractice insurance issuers cannot engage in price fixing, bid rigging, or market allocations to the detriment of competition and consumers; S. 1788 and HR 2381 Nurse and Health Care Worker Protection Act of 2009, the bill requires the Secretary of Labor to propose a standard on safe patient handling and injury prevention to prevent musculoskeletal disorders for direct-care registered nurses and all other health care workers that requires the use of engineering controls to lift patients and the elimination of manual lifting of patients through the use of mechanical devices, except where patient care may be compromised; HR 5687Underserved Area Nursing Relief Restoration Act of 2010, to extend changes to requirements for admission of nonimmigrant nurses in health professional shortage areas made by the Nursing Relief for Disadvantaged Areas Act of 1999.

HR 1409 and S 560 Employee Free Choice Act , all provisions to amend the National Labor Relations Act to establish an efficient system to enable employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to provide for mandatory injunctions for unfair labor practices during organizing efforts, and for other purposes; RESPECT Act, all provisions to amend the National Labor Relations Act to clarify the definition of `supervisor' for purposes of such Act; HR 1355 National Labor Relations Modernization Act, provisions related to interest arbitration for first contracts; enhanced employer penalties for certain NLRA violations or alleged violations; and a provision designed to give unions greater access to employees at the employers property; HR 1493 Quality Health Care Coalition Act of 2009, a bill to ensure and foster continued patient safety and quality of care by exempting health care professionals from the Federal antitrust laws in their negotiations with health plans and health insurance issuers; HR 1176 and S 478 The Secret Ballot Protection Act, to amend the National Labor Relations Act to ensure the right of employees to a secret-ballot election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board; S 1681 and HR 3596 Health Insurance Industry Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2009, a bill to ensure that health insurance issuers and medical malpractice insurance issuers cannot engage in price fixing, bid rigging, or market allocations to the detriment of competition and consumers; S. 1788 and HR 2381 Nurse and Health Care Worker Protection Act of 2009, the bill requires the Secretary of Labor to propose a standard on safe patient handling and injury prevention to prevent musculoskeletal disorders for direct-care registered nurses and all other health care workers that requires the use of engineering controls to lift patients and the elimination of manual lifting of patients through the use of mechanical devices, except where patient care may be compromised; HR 5687 Underserved Area Nursing Relief Restoration Act of 2010, to extend changes to requirements for admission of nonimmigrant nurses in health professional shortage areas made by the Nursing Relief for Disadvantaged Areas Act of 1999.

HR 27 Medicare Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish additional provisions to combat waste, fraud, and abuse within the Medicare Program, and for other purposes; HR 43 and S 46, Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to repeal the Medicare outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps; S 54 Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by establishing minimum nurse staffing ratios at certain Medicare providers, and for other purposes; HR 319 Legal Immigrant Children's Health Improvement Act of 2009, a bill to amend titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act to permit States the option of coverage of legal immigrants under the Medicaid Program and the State children's health insurance program (SCHIP); S 214 Children's Health Equity Technical Amendments Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to permit qualifying States to use their allotments under the SCHIP for any fiscal year for certain Medicaid expenditures; HR 362 and S 318 Medicare Rural Health Access Improvement Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve access to health care under the Medicare program for beneficiaries residing in rural areas; HR 465 a bill to amend titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act to permit States to ensure coverage without a 5-year delay of certain children and pregnant women under the Medicaid program and SCHIP; HR 487, a bill to waive the 35-mile requirement for designation of a critical access hospital under the Medicare program; HR 592 and S 264 E-Centives Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to encourage the use of certified health information technology by providers in the Medicaid Program and the Children's Health Insurance Program, and for other purposes; HR 619 a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to remove the exclusion from medical assistance under the Medicaid Program of items and services for patients in an institution for mental diseases; S 295 Medicare Quality and Payment Reform Act of 2009, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the quality and efficiency of the Medicare program through measurement of readmission rates and resource use and to develop a pilot program to provide episodic payments to organized groups of multispecialty and multilevel providers of services and suppliers for hospitalization episodes associated with select, high cost diagnoses; HR 668 and S 307 Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide flexibility in the manner in which beds are counted for purposes of determining whether a hospital may be designated as a critical access hospital under the Medicare program and to exempt from the critical access hospital inpatient bed limitation the number of beds provided for certain veterans; HR 902 and S. 382 MediFair Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the provision of items and services provided to Medicare beneficiaries residing in States with more cost-effective health care delivery systems; S 434 Empowered at Home Act of 2009, a bill 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; S 438 Improved Medical Decision Incentive Act of 2009, a bill to provide for the voluntary development by States of qualifying best practices for health care and to encourage such voluntary development by amending titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to provide differential rates of payment favoring treatment provided consistent with qualifying best practices under the Medicare and Medicaid programs, and for other purposes; HR 1117 Medically Fragile Children's Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to establish a State plan option under Medicaid to provide an all-inclusive program of care for children who are medically fragile or have one or more chronic conditions that impede their ability to function; HR 1188 and S 468 Access to Emergency Medical Services Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve access to emergency medical services and the quality and efficiency of care furnished in emergency departments of hospitals and critical access hospitals by establishing a bipartisan commission to examine factors that affect the effective delivery of such services, by providing for additional payments for certain physician services furnished in such emergency departments, and by establishing a CMS Working Group, and for other purposes; S 712 Rural Medicare Equity Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the Medicare program for beneficiaries residing in rural areas; HR 1776 Quality FIRST (From Incentives, Reporting, Standards, and Technology) Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand the development of quality measures for inpatient hospital services, to implement a performance-based payment methodology for the provision of such services under the Medicare Program; Letter to CMS asking to eliminate the state-specific budget neutrality policy for the rural and imputed rural floor indices in the upcoming FY2010 Inpatient Prospective Payment System Rule (IPPS); Working on legislation to amend the Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor Program; S 852 a bill to apply an alternative payment amount under the Medicare program for certain graduate medical education programs established to train residents displaced by natural disasters; HR 2068 Medicare Telehealth Enhancement Act of 2009, a bill to improve the provision of telehealth services under the Medicare Program; HR 2094 Physician Training Promotion Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to increase the per resident payment floor for direct graduate medical education payments under the Medicare Program; HR 2124 Medicare Long-Term Care Hospital Improvement Act of 2009, a bill to extend subsections (c) and(d) of section 114 of the Medicare, Medicaid, & SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-173) to provide for regulatory stability during the development of facility and patient criteria for long-term care hospitals under the Medicare program; HR 2204 Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide payment under part A of the Medicare Program on a reasonable cost basis for anesthesia services furnished by an anesthesiologist in certain rural hospitals in the same manner as payments are provided for anesthesia services furnished by anesthesiologist assistants and certified registered nurse anesthetists in such hospitals; S 935 Medicare Long-Term Care Hospital Improvement Act of 2009, a bill to extend subsections (c) and (d) of section 114 of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-173) to provide for regulatory stability during the development of facility and patient criteria for long-term care hospitals under the Medicare program; HR 2443 Medicare Ambulance Access Preservation Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to preserve access to ambulance services under the Medicare Program; S 1079 Medicare Cost Contract Extension and Refinement Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to extend reasonable cost contracts under the Medicare program; HR 2525 Safeguarding Our Hospitals' Futures Act of 2009, a bill to require application of budget neutrality on a national basis in the calculation of the Medicare hospital wage index floor for each all-urban and rural State; HR 2534 Physician Pathology Services Continuity Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for the treatment of certain physician pathology services under the Medicare Program; S 1108 Safeguarding Our Hospitals' Futures Act of 2009, a bill to require application of budget neutrality on a national basis in the calculation of the Medicare hospital wage index floor for each all-urban and rural State; S 1110 Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) Reform Act of 2009, 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 1114 Medical Homes Act of 2009, a bill to establish a demonstration project to provide for patient-centered medical homes to improve the effectiveness and efficiency in providing medical assistance under the Medicaid program and child health assistance under the State Children's Health Insurance Program; Letters and further discussions to CMS, Physician Supervision for Outpatient Service, resend policy changes requiring direct physician supervision for all PSO therapeutic Outpatient Service provided in and on hospital campus under Medicare, and withdraw change to minimize legal risk for years 2001-2009; HR 2688 Empowered at Home Act of 2009, a bill 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; HR 2692 and S 1171CAH Designation Waiver Authority Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to restore State authority to waive the 35-mile rule for designating critical access hospitals under the Medicare Program; HR 2718 Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) Reform Act of 2009, 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 1185 Medicare Financial Stability for Beneficiaries Act of 2009, a bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to ensure that low-income beneficiaries have improved access to health care under the Medicare and Medicaid programs; S 1181 Healthy Living and Health Aging Demonstration Project Act of 2009, a bill to provide for a demonstration project to examine whether community-level public health interventions can result in lower rates of chronic disease for individuals entering the Medicare program; HR 2753 a bill to delay the implementation of new Medicare hospital geographic wage reclassification criteria until the Secretary of Health and Human Services issues a proposal to revise the hospital wage index classification system that addresses certain considerations; HR 2758 Medicare Specialty Care Improvement and Protection Act of 2009, 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; HR 2773 Medicare Transitional Care Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to cover transitional care services to improve the quality and cost effectiveness of care under the Medicare Program; S 1218 Urban Medicare-Dependent Hospitals Preservation Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to preserve access to urban Medicare-dependent hospitals; HR 2784 Partnership to Improve Seniors Access to Medicare Act, a bill to establish a loan repayment program for qualifying physicians and nurse practitioners participating in the Medicare Program; HR 2805 Ensuring Continuous Medicaid Coverage for Children Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require 12-month continuous coverage for children under Medicaid; HR 2844 Medicare Payment Improvement Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to create a value indexing mechanism for the physician work component of the Medicare physician fee schedule; HR 2859 Strengthening Medicaid for America's Children Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for application of an enhanced Federal matching rate for children under the Medicaid Program if certain conditions are met; S 1262 Medical Efficiency and Delivery Improvement of Care Act (MEDIC) of 2009, a bill to amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act and titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to provide additional resources for primary care services, to create new payment models for services under Medicare, to expand provision of non-institutionally-based long-term services, and for other purposes; S 1263 Senior Navigation and Planning Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for advanced illness care management services for Medicare beneficiaries, and for other purposes; HR 2919 Medicare Efficiency Incentive Act of 2009, a bill to amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide Medicare physician incentive payments for efficient areas; HR 2921a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for an annual review by the MedPAC on geographic access to services; S 1279 TARP Recipient Ownership Trust Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to extend the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program; HR 2959 Accountable Care Promotion Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish an accountable care organization pilot program to reduce the growth of expenditures and improve health outcomes under the Medicare Program; S 1300 Community and Rural Medical Residency Preservation Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to clarify intent regarding the counting of residents in a nonhospital setting under the Medicare program; S 1380 MedPAC Reform Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to create a sensible infrastructure for delivery system reform by renaming the MedPAC, making the commission an executive branch agency, and providing the Commission new resources and authority to implement Medicare payment policy; H.R. 3138 Physician Payments Sunshine Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XI of the Social Security Act to provide for transparency in the relationship between physicians and manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologicals, or medical supplies for which payment is made under Medicare, Medicaid, or SCHIP; HR 3141 Strengthening the Health Care Safety Net Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for a DSH redistribution pool from unexpended Medicaid DSH allotments in order to increase Medicaid DSH allotments for low DSH States and to provide grants for health access networks serving the uninsured; H.R. 3152 Helping Seniors Choose their Medicare Drug Plan Act, a bill 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; S. 1423 Medicaid Birth Center Reimbursement Act, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require coverage under the Medicaid Program for freestanding birth center services; S. 1427 Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital Quality Report Card Act of 2009, a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative to report on health care quality in Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, and for other purposes; H.R. 3172 Senior Navigation and Planning Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for advanced illness care management services for Medicare beneficiaries, and for other purposes; H.R. 3184 Medicare Independent Living Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the in the home restriction for Medicare coverage of mobility devices for individuals with expected long-term needs; H.R. 3256 Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Extension Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to extend the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program; H.R. 3356 Medicare Beneficiary Freedom to Choose Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to clarify the use of private contracts by Medicare beneficiaries for professional services and to allow individuals to choose to opt out of the Medicare part A benefits; H.R. 3361 Medicare Patient Safeguards Act of 2009, a bill to provide a process for public comment and Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee review of certain Medicare national coverage determinations, and for other purposes; HR 3369 and S.1521 Improve Act of 2009, a bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to require provider payments under Medicare and Medicaid to be made through direct deposit or electronic funds transfer (EFT) at insured depository institutions; S.1522 Outpatient Mental Health Modernization Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to stabilize and modernize the provision of partial hospitalization services under the Medicare program; H.R. 3374 Medicare and Medicaid Access Project through Information Technology (MAP IT) Act, a bill to provide for a demonstration project relating to the impact of health information technology on chronic disease management under the Medicare and Medicaid programs; H.R. 3422 Medicare Support for Rural Hospitals Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to make temporary improvements to the Medicare inpatient payment adjustment for low-volume hospitals; H.R. 3430 DSH Collaborative Care Network Pilot Program Act of 2009, a bill to establish a Medicare DSH pilot program under which participants shall establish collaborative care networks to reduce the use of emergency departments, inpatient and other expensive resources of hospitals and other providers and provide more comprehensive and coordinated care to low-income individuals, including those without health insurance coverage, and to establish a Collaborative Care Network Center; Neal Letter to Pelosi, Opposition to the Independent Medicare Advisory Council (IMAC) and MedPAC Reform Act (HR 2718, S1110, S 1380); HR 3556 NO TITLE, a bill to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a self-referral disclosure protocol under the Medicare Program to enable health care providers of services and suppliers to disclose violations of section 1877 of the Social Security Act; S 1669 Equal Access to Medicare Options Act of 2009, a bill to provide all Medicare beneficiaries with the right to guaranteed issue of a Medicare supplemental policy; HR 3631 Medicare Premium Fairness Act, a bill 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; HR 3653 Medicare Card Security Act of 2009, a bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to prohibit the display of Social Security account numbers on Medicare cards; HR 3663 NO TITLE, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to delay the date on which the accreditation requirement under the Medicare Program applies to suppliers of durable medical equipment that are pharmacies; HR 3665 Ryan White Grantee Medicaid Payment Equity Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for payment for Medicaid services furnished by Ryan White part C grantees under a cost-based prospective payment system; HR 3675 National Quality Cancer Care Demonstration Project Act of 2009, a bill to improve the quality and cost effectiveness of cancer care to Medicare beneficiaries by establishing a national demonstration project; HR 2962 Integrity in Medicare Advanced Diagnostic Imaging Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to exclude certain advanced diagnostic imaging services from the in-office ancillary services exception to the prohibition on physician self-referral; Meeting with CMS re implementation of new requirements for insurance providers to report payment responsibility for Medicare Secondary Payer program; HR 3693 Ensuring the Future Physician Workforce Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to modify Medicare physician reimbursement policies to ensure a future physician workforce; HR 3961, HR 4154, S 1600 and Reid amendment 3305 Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009 and Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to reform the Medicare SGR payment system for physicians and to reinstitute and update the Pay-As-You-Go requirement of budget neutrality on new tax and mandatory spending legislation, enforced by the threat of annual, automatic sequestration; HR 4250 Medicaid DSH Integrity Act, a bill to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to revise regulations implementing the statutory reporting and auditing requirements for the Medicaid disproportionate share hospital ("DSH") payment program to be consistent with the scope of the statutory provisions and avoid substantive changes to preexisting DSH policy; S 1776 Medicare Physician Fairness Act of 2009, 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; discussion with the HHS Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology of hospital concerns around development of requirements for meaningful use of Electronic Health Records (EHR) to qualify for Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments for EHR development; 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; HR 4213 American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010 a bill that includes an extension of the Recovery Acts increased Federal match for state Medicaid programs. The passed bill extends the increased FMAP through June 30, 2011, which is estimated to provide states with an additional $25.5 billion in FMAP; Letter to Pelosi and Reid expressing opposition to establishment of an Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB); Medicaid FMAP ARRA Extension Letter to Senator Reid to include an extension of federal Medicaid assistance to states in legislative proposals to increase employment and rebuild the nations economy; Space, Burgess, Stearns and Engel House Health IT letter and Klobuchar and Hatch Senate Health IT letter to CMS urging a modification of CMS proposed definition of and requirements for hospitals to become qualified as meaningful users of certified electronic health record (EHR) technology; S 3028 Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services under the Medicare program; HR 4872 The Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010, to provide for reconciliation pursuant to section 202 of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2010; Meetings with CMS to urge a different interpretation of the Medicare conditions of participation interpretive guidelines, as currently interpreted guidelines would require accreditation of each hospital as a standalone entity and require them to each have a separate governing body, medical staff, etc. in order to be accredited by the joint commission; Crowley- Sessions Letter to CMS urging reevaluation of the IPPS regulation that would apply a 2.9 percent cut to hospital payments in FY 2011.

HR 27 Medicare Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish additional provisions to combat waste, fraud, and abuse within the Medicare Program, and for other purposes; HR 43 and S 46, Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to repeal the Medicare outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps; S 54 Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by establishing minimum nurse staffing ratios at certain Medicare providers, and for other purposes; HR 319 Legal Immigrant Children's Health Improvement Act of 2009, a bill to amend titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act to permit States the option of coverage of legal immigrants under the Medicaid Program and the State children's health insurance program (SCHIP); S 214 Children's Health Equity Technical Amendments Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to permit qualifying States to use their allotments under the SCHIP for any fiscal year for certain Medicaid expenditures; HR 362 and S 318 Medicare Rural Health Access Improvement Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve access to health care under the Medicare program for beneficiaries residing in rural areas; HR 465 a bill to amend titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act to permit States to ensure coverage without a 5-year delay of certain children and pregnant women under the Medicaid program and SCHIP; HR 487, a bill to waive the 35-mile requirement for designation of a critical access hospital under the Medicare program; HR 592 and S 264 E-Centives Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to encourage the use of certified health information technology by providers in the Medicaid Program and the Children's Health Insurance Program, and for other purposes; HR 619 a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to remove the exclusion from medical assistance under the Medicaid Program of items and services for patients in an institution for mental diseases; S 295 Medicare Quality and Payment Reform Act of 2009, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the quality and efficiency of the Medicare program through measurement of readmission rates and resource use and to develop a pilot program to provide episodic payments to organized groups of multispecialty and multilevel providers of services and suppliers for hospitalization episodes associated with select, high cost diagnoses; HR 668 and S 307 Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide flexibility in the manner in which beds are counted for purposes of determining whether a hospital may be designated as a critical access hospital under the Medicare program and to exempt from the critical access hospital inpatient bed limitation the number of beds provided for certain veterans; HR 902 and S. 382 MediFair Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the provision of items and services provided to Medicare beneficiaries residing in States with more cost-effective health care delivery systems; S 434 Empowered at Home Act of 2009, a bill 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; S 438 Improved Medical Decision Incentive Act of 2009, a bill to provide for the voluntary development by States of qualifying best practices for health care and to encourage such voluntary development by amending titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to provide differential rates of payment favoring treatment provided consistent with qualifying best practices under the Medicare and Medicaid programs, and for other purposes; HR 1117 Medically Fragile Children's Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to establish a State plan option under Medicaid to provide an all-inclusive program of care for children who are medically fragile or have one or more chronic conditions that impede their ability to function; HR 1188 and S 468 Access to Emergency Medical Services Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve access to emergency medical services and the quality and efficiency of care furnished in emergency departments of hospitals and critical access hospitals by establishing a bipartisan commission to examine factors that affect the effective delivery of such services, by providing for additional payments for certain physician services furnished in such emergency departments, and by establishing a CMS Working Group, and for other purposes; S 712 Rural Medicare Equity Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the Medicare program for beneficiaries residing in rural areas; HR 1776 Quality FIRST (From Incentives, Reporting, Standards, and Technology) Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand the development of quality measures for inpatient hospital services, to implement a performance-based payment methodology for the provision of such services under the Medicare Program; Letter to CMS asking to eliminate the state-specific budget neutrality policy for the rural and imputed rural floor indices in the upcoming FY2010 Inpatient Prospective Payment System Rule (IPPS); Working on legislation to amend the Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor Program; S 852 a bill to apply an alternative payment amount under the Medicare program for certain graduate medical education programs established to train residents displaced by natural disasters; HR 2068 Medicare Telehealth Enhancement Act of 2009, a bill to improve the provision of telehealth services under the Medicare Program; HR 2094 Physician Training Promotion Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to increase the per resident payment floor for direct graduate medical education payments under the Medicare Program; HR 2124 Medicare Long-Term Care Hospital Improvement Act of 2009, a bill to extend subsections (c) and(d) of section 114 of the Medicare, Medicaid, & SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-173) to provide for regulatory stability during the development of facility and patient criteria for long-term care hospitals under the Medicare program; HR 2204 Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide payment under part A of the Medicare Program on a reasonable cost basis for anesthesia services furnished by an anesthesiologist in certain rural hospitals in the same manner as payments are provided for anesthesia services furnished by anesthesiologist assistants and certified registered nurse anesthetists in such hospitals; S 935 Medicare Long-Term Care Hospital Improvement Act of 2009, a bill to extend subsections (c) and (d) of section 114 of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-173) to provide for regulatory stability during the development of facility and patient criteria for long-term care hospitals under the Medicare program; HR 2443 Medicare Ambulance Access Preservation Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to preserve access to ambulance services under the Medicare Program; S 1079 Medicare Cost Contract Extension and Refinement Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to extend reasonable cost contracts under the Medicare program; HR 2525 Safeguarding Our Hospitals' Futures Act of 2009, a bill to require application of budget neutrality on a national basis in the calculation of the Medicare hospital wage index floor for each all-urban and rural State; HR 2534 Physician Pathology Services Continuity Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for the treatment of certain physician pathology services under the Medicare Program; S 1108 Safeguarding Our Hospitals' Futures Act of 2009, a bill to require application of budget neutrality on a national basis in the calculation of the Medicare hospital wage index floor for each all-urban and rural State; S 1110 Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) Reform Act of 2009, 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 1114 Medical Homes Act of 2009, a bill to establish a demonstration project to provide for patient-centered medical homes to improve the effectiveness and efficiency in providing medical assistance under the Medicaid program and child health assistance under the State Children's Health Insurance Program; Letters and further discussions to CMS, Physician Supervision for Outpatient Service, resend policy changes requiring direct physician supervision for all PSO therapeutic Outpatient Service provided in and on hospital campus under Medicare, and withdraw change to minimize legal risk for years 2001-2009; HR 2688 Empowered at Home Act of 2009, a bill 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; HR 2692 and S 1171CAH Designation Waiver Authority Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to restore State authority to waive the 35-mile rule for designating critical access hospitals under the Medicare Program; HR 2718 Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) Reform Act of 2009, 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 1185 Medicare Financial Stability for Beneficiaries Act of 2009, a bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to ensure that low-income beneficiaries have improved access to health care under the Medicare and Medicaid programs; S 1181 Healthy Living and Health Aging Demonstration Project Act of 2009, a bill to provide for a demonstration project to examine whether community-level public health interventions can result in lower rates of chronic disease for individuals entering the Medicare program; HR 2753 a bill to delay the implementation of new Medicare hospital geographic wage reclassification criteria until the Secretary of Health and Human Services issues a proposal to revise the hospital wage index classification system that addresses certain considerations; HR 2758 Medicare Specialty Care Improvement and Protection Act of 2009, 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; HR 2773 Medicare Transitional Care Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to cover transitional care services to improve the quality and cost effectiveness of care under the Medicare Program; S 1218 Urban Medicare-Dependent Hospitals Preservation Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to preserve access to urban Medicare-dependent hospitals; HR 2784 Partnership to Improve Seniors Access to Medicare Act, a bill to establish a loan repayment program for qualifying physicians and nurse practitioners participating in the Medicare Program; HR 2805 Ensuring Continuous Medicaid Coverage for Children Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require 12-month continuous coverage for children under Medicaid; HR 2844 Medicare Payment Improvement Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to create a value indexing mechanism for the physician work component of the Medicare physician fee schedule; HR 2859 Strengthening Medicaid for America's Children Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for application of an enhanced Federal matching rate for children under the Medicaid Program if certain conditions are met; S 1262 Medical Efficiency and Delivery Improvement of Care Act (MEDIC) of 2009, a bill to amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act and titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to provide additional resources for primary care services, to create new payment models for services under Medicare, to expand provision of non-institutionally-based long-term services, and for other purposes; S 1263 Senior Navigation and Planning Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for advanced illness care management services for Medicare beneficiaries, and for other purposes; HR 2919 Medicare Efficiency Incentive Act of 2009, a bill to amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide Medicare physician incentive payments for efficient areas; HR 2921a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for an annual review by the MedPAC on geographic access to services; S 1279 TARP Recipient Ownership Trust Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to extend the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program; HR 2959 Accountable Care Promotion Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish an accountable care organization pilot program to reduce the growth of expenditures and improve health outcomes under the Medicare Program; S 1300 Community and Rural Medical Residency Preservation Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to clarify intent regarding the counting of residents in a nonhospital setting under the Medicare program; S 1380 MedPAC Reform Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to create a sensible infrastructure for delivery system reform by renaming the MedPAC, making the commission an executive branch agency, and providing the Commission new resources and authority to implement Medicare payment policy; H.R. 3138 Physician Payments Sunshine Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XI of the Social Security Act to provide for transparency in the relationship between physicians and manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologicals, or medical supplies for which payment is made under Medicare, Medicaid, or SCHIP; HR 3141 Strengthening the Health Care Safety Net Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for a DSH redistribution pool from unexpended Medicaid DSH allotments in order to increase Medicaid DSH allotments for low DSH States and to provide grants for health access networks serving the uninsured; H.R. 3152 Helping Seniors Choose their Medicare Drug Plan Act, a bill 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; S. 1423 Medicaid Birth Center Reimbursement Act, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require coverage under the Medicaid Program for freestanding birth center services; S. 1427 Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital Quality Report Card Act of 2009, a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative to report on health care quality in Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, and for other purposes; H.R. 3172 Senior Navigation and Planning Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for advanced illness care management services for Medicare beneficiaries, and for other purposes; H.R. 3184 Medicare Independent Living Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the in the home restriction for Medicare coverage of mobility devices for individuals with expected long-term needs; H.R. 3256 Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Extension Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to extend the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program; H.R. 3356 Medicare Beneficiary Freedom to Choose Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to clarify the use of private contracts by Medicare beneficiaries for professional services and to allow individuals to choose to opt out of the Medicare part A benefits; H.R. 3361 Medicare Patient Safeguards Act of 2009, a bill to provide a process for public comment and Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee review of certain Medicare national coverage determinations, and for other purposes; HR 3369 and S.1521 Improve Act of 2009, a bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to require provider payments under Medicare and Medicaid to be made through direct deposit or electronic funds transfer (EFT) at insured depository institutions; S.1522 Outpatient Mental Health Modernization Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to stabilize and modernize the provision of partial hospitalization services under the Medicare program; H.R. 3374 Medicare and Medicaid Access Project through Information Technology (MAP IT) Act, a bill to provide for a demonstration project relating to the impact of health information technology on chronic disease management under the Medicare and Medicaid programs; H.R. 3422 Medicare Support for Rural Hospitals Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to make temporary improvements to the Medicare inpatient payment adjustment for low-volume hospitals; H.R. 3430 DSH Collaborative Care Network Pilot Program Act of 2009, a bill to establish a Medicare DSH pilot program under which participants shall establish collaborative care networks to reduce the use of emergency departments, inpatient and other expensive resources of hospitals and other providers and provide more comprehensive and coordinated care to low-income individuals, including those without health insurance coverage, and to establish a Collaborative Care Network Center; Neal Letter to Pelosi, Opposition to the Independent Medicare Advisory Council (IMAC) and MedPAC Reform Act (HR 2718, S1110, S 1380); HR 3556 NO TITLE, a bill to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a self-referral disclosure protocol under the Medicare Program to enable health care providers of services and suppliers to disclose violations of section 1877 of the Social Security Act; S 1669 Equal Access to Medicare Options Act of 2009, a bill to provide all Medicare beneficiaries with the right to guaranteed issue of a Medicare supplemental policy; HR 3631 Medicare Premium Fairness Act, a bill 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; HR 3653 Medicare Card Security Act of 2009, a bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to prohibit the display of Social Security account numbers on Medicare cards; HR 3663 NO TITLE, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to delay the date on which the accreditation requirement under the Medicare Program applies to suppliers of durable medical equipment that are pharmacies; HR 3665 Ryan White Grantee Medicaid Payment Equity Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for payment for Medicaid services furnished by Ryan White part C grantees under a cost-based prospective payment system; HR 3675 National Quality Cancer Care Demonstration Project Act of 2009, a bill to improve the quality and cost effectiveness of cancer care to Medicare beneficiaries by establishing a national demonstration project; HR 2962 Integrity in Medicare Advanced Diagnostic Imaging Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to exclude certain advanced diagnostic imaging services from the in-office ancillary services exception to the prohibition on physician self-referral; Meeting with CMS re implementation of new requirements for insurance providers to report payment responsibility for Medicare Secondary Payer program; HR 3693 Ensuring the Future Physician Workforce Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to modify Medicare physician reimbursement policies to ensure a future physician workforce; HR 3961, HR 4154, S 1600 and Reid amendment 3305 Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009 and Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to reform the Medicare SGR payment system for physicians and to reinstitute and update the Pay-As-You-Go requirement of budget neutrality on new tax and mandatory spending legislation, enforced by the threat of annual, automatic sequestration; HR 4250 Medicaid DSH Integrity Act, a bill to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to revise regulations implementing the statutory reporting and auditing requirements for the Medicaid disproportionate share hospital ("DSH") payment program to be consistent with the scope of the statutory provisions and avoid substantive changes to preexisting DSH policy; S 1776 Medicare Physician Fairness Act of 2009, 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; discussion with the HHS Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology of hospital concerns around development of requirements for meaningful use of Electronic Health Records (EHR) to qualify for Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments for EHR development; 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; HR 4213 American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010 a bill that includes an extension of the Recovery Acts increased Federal match for state Medicaid programs. The passed bill extends the increased FMAP through June 30, 2011, which is estimated to provide states with an additional $25.5 billion in FMAP; Letter to Pelosi and Reid expressing opposition to establishment of an Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB); Medicaid FMAP ARRA Extension Letter to Senator Reid to include an extension of federal Medicaid assistance to states in legislative proposals to increase employment and rebuild the nations economy; Space, Burgess, Stearns and Engel House Health IT letter and Klobuchar and Hatch Senate Health IT letter to CMS urging a modification of CMS proposed definition of and requirements for hospitals to become qualified as meaningful users of certified electronic health record (EHR) technology; S 3028 Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services under the Medicare program; HR 4872 The Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010, to provide for reconciliation pursuant to section 202 of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2010; Meetings with CMS to urge a different interpretation of the Medicare conditions of participation interpretive guidelines, as currently interpreted guidelines would require accreditation of each hospital as a standalone entity and require them to each have a separate governing body, medical staff, etc. in order to be accredited by the joint commission; Crowley- Sessions Letter to CMS urging reevaluation of the IPPS regulation that would apply a 2.9 percent cut to hospital payments in FY 2011; Letter to CMS re development of the Self-referral disclosure protocol that is authorized by the PPACA; HR 5712 Veterans, Seniors, and Childrens Health Technical Corrections Act of 2010 to provide for certain clarifications and extensions under Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program; HR 6005 Ensuring Equality for Early EHR Adoption Act of 2010, to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for the temporary treatment of certain electronic health records as certified EHR technology for purposes of health information technology payment incentives under the Medicare and Medicaid Programs. Sen. Stabenow and Sen. Murkoswki, Rep. Crowley and Rep. Sessions letter to CMS asking to reevaluate the proposed IPPS regulations that will hit hospital payments in FY 2011; Pomeroy, Moran letter to CMS, regarding concersn of the proposed Medicare OPPS regulation for FY 2011 does not show continued access to full range of outpatient therapeutic services for small, rural & CAH hospitals.

HR 27 Medicare Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish additional provisions to combat waste, fraud, and abuse within the Medicare Program, and for other purposes; HR 43 and S 46, Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to repeal the Medicare outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps; S 54 Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by establishing minimum nurse staffing ratios at certain Medicare providers, and for other purposes; HR 319 Legal Immigrant Children's Health Improvement Act of 2009, a bill to amend titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act to permit States the option of coverage of legal immigrants under the Medicaid Program and the State children's health insurance program (SCHIP); S 214 Children's Health Equity Technical Amendments Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to permit qualifying States to use their allotments under the SCHIP for any fiscal year for certain Medicaid expenditures; HR 362 and S 318 Medicare Rural Health Access Improvement Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve access to health care under the Medicare program for beneficiaries residing in rural areas; HR 465 a bill to amend titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act to permit States to ensure coverage without a 5-year delay of certain children and pregnant women under the Medicaid program and SCHIP; HR 487, a bill to waive the 35-mile requirement for designation of a critical access hospital under the Medicare program; HR 592 and S 264 E-Centives Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to encourage the use of certified health information technology by providers in the Medicaid Program and the Children's Health Insurance Program, and for other purposes; HR 619 a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to remove the exclusion from medical assistance under the Medicaid Program of items and services for patients in an institution for mental diseases; S 295 Medicare Quality and Payment Reform Act of 2009, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the quality and efficiency of the Medicare program through measurement of readmission rates and resource use and to develop a pilot program to provide episodic payments to organized groups of multispecialty and multilevel providers of services and suppliers for hospitalization episodes associated with select, high cost diagnoses; HR 668 and S 307 Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide flexibility in the manner in which beds are counted for purposes of determining whether a hospital may be designated as a critical access hospital under the Medicare program and to exempt from the critical access hospital inpatient bed limitation the number of beds provided for certain veterans; HR 902 and S. 382 MediFair Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the provision of items and services provided to Medicare beneficiaries residing in States with more cost-effective health care delivery systems; S 434 Empowered at Home Act of 2009, a bill 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; S 438 Improved Medical Decision Incentive Act of 2009, a bill to provide for the voluntary development by States of qualifying best practices for health care and to encourage such voluntary development by amending titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to provide differential rates of payment favoring treatment provided consistent with qualifying best practices under the Medicare and Medicaid programs, and for other purposes; HR 1117 Medically Fragile Children's Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to establish a State plan option under Medicaid to provide an all-inclusive program of care for children who are medically fragile or have one or more chronic conditions that impede their ability to function; HR 1188 and S 468 Access to Emergency Medical Services Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve access to emergency medical services and the quality and efficiency of care furnished in emergency departments of hospitals and critical access hospitals by establishing a bipartisan commission to examine factors that affect the effective delivery of such services, by providing for additional payments for certain physician services furnished in such emergency departments, and by establishing a CMS Working Group, and for other purposes; S 712 Rural Medicare Equity Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the Medicare program for beneficiaries residing in rural areas; HR 1776 Quality FIRST (From Incentives, Reporting, Standards, and Technology) Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand the development of quality measures for inpatient hospital services, to implement a performance-based payment methodology for the provision of such services under the Medicare Program; Letter to CMS asking to eliminate the state-specific budget neutrality policy for the rural and imputed rural floor indices in the upcoming FY2010 Inpatient Prospective Payment System Rule (IPPS); Working on legislation to amend the Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor Program; S 852 a bill to apply an alternative payment amount under the Medicare program for certain graduate medical education programs established to train residents displaced by natural disasters; HR 2068 Medicare Telehealth Enhancement Act of 2009, a bill to improve the provision of telehealth services under the Medicare Program; HR 2094 Physician Training Promotion Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to increase the per resident payment floor for direct graduate medical education payments under the Medicare Program; HR 2124 Medicare Long-Term Care Hospital Improvement Act of 2009, a bill to extend subsections (c) and(d) of section 114 of the Medicare, Medicaid, & SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-173) to provide for regulatory stability during the development of facility and patient criteria for long-term care hospitals under the Medicare program; HR 2204 Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide payment under part A of the Medicare Program on a reasonable cost basis for anesthesia services furnished by an anesthesiologist in certain rural hospitals in the same manner as payments are provided for anesthesia services furnished by anesthesiologist assistants and certified registered nurse anesthetists in such hospitals; S 935 Medicare Long-Term Care Hospital Improvement Act of 2009, a bill to extend subsections (c) and (d) of section 114 of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-173) to provide for regulatory stability during the development of facility and patient criteria for long-term care hospitals under the Medicare program; HR 2443 Medicare Ambulance Access Preservation Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to preserve access to ambulance services under the Medicare Program; S 1079 Medicare Cost Contract Extension and Refinement Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to extend reasonable cost contracts under the Medicare program; HR 2525 Safeguarding Our Hospitals' Futures Act of 2009, a bill to require application of budget neutrality on a national basis in the calculation of the Medicare hospital wage index floor for each all-urban and rural State; HR 2534 Physician Pathology Services Continuity Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for the treatment of certain physician pathology services under the Medicare Program; S 1108 Safeguarding Our Hospitals' Futures Act of 2009, a bill to require application of budget neutrality on a national basis in the calculation of the Medicare hospital wage index floor for each all-urban and rural State; S 1110 Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) Reform Act of 2009, 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 1114 Medical Homes Act of 2009, a bill to establish a demonstration project to provide for patient-centered medical homes to improve the effectiveness and efficiency in providing medical assistance under the Medicaid program and child health assistance under the State Children's Health Insurance Program; Letters and further discussions to CMS, Physician Supervision for Outpatient Service, resend policy changes requiring direct physician supervision for all PSO therapeutic Outpatient Service provided in and on hospital campus under Medicare, and withdraw change to minimize legal risk for years 2001-2009; HR 2688 Empowered at Home Act of 2009, a bill 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; HR 2692 and S 1171CAH Designation Waiver Authority Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to restore State authority to waive the 35-mile rule for designating critical access hospitals under the Medicare Program; HR 2718 Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) Reform Act of 2009, 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 1185 Medicare Financial Stability for Beneficiaries Act of 2009, a bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to ensure that low-income beneficiaries have improved access to health care under the Medicare and Medicaid programs; S 1181 Healthy Living and Health Aging Demonstration Project Act of 2009, a bill to provide for a demonstration project to examine whether community-level public health interventions can result in lower rates of chronic disease for individuals entering the Medicare program; HR 2753 a bill to delay the implementation of new Medicare hospital geographic wage reclassification criteria until the Secretary of Health and Human Services issues a proposal to revise the hospital wage index classification system that addresses certain considerations; HR 2758 Medicare Specialty Care Improvement and Protection Act of 2009, 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; HR 2773 Medicare Transitional Care Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to cover transitional care services to improve the quality and cost effectiveness of care under the Medicare Program; S 1218 Urban Medicare-Dependent Hospitals Preservation Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to preserve access to urban Medicare-dependent hospitals; HR 2784 Partnership to Improve Seniors Access to Medicare Act, a bill to establish a loan repayment program for qualifying physicians and nurse practitioners participating in the Medicare Program; HR 2805 Ensuring Continuous Medicaid Coverage for Children Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require 12-month continuous coverage for children under Medicaid; HR 2844 Medicare Payment Improvement Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to create a value indexing mechanism for the physician work component of the Medicare physician fee schedule; HR 2859 Strengthening Medicaid for America's Children Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for application of an enhanced Federal matching rate for children under the Medicaid Program if certain conditions are met; S 1262 Medical Efficiency and Delivery Improvement of Care Act (MEDIC) of 2009, a bill to amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act and titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to provide additional resources for primary care services, to create new payment models for services under Medicare, to expand provision of non-institutionally-based long-term services, and for other purposes; S 1263 Senior Navigation and Planning Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for advanced illness care management services for Medicare beneficiaries, and for other purposes; HR 2919 Medicare Efficiency Incentive Act of 2009, a bill to amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide Medicare physician incentive payments for efficient areas; HR 2921a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for an annual review by the MedPAC on geographic access to services; S 1279 TARP Recipient Ownership Trust Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to extend the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program; HR 2959 Accountable Care Promotion Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish an accountable care organization pilot program to reduce the growth of expenditures and improve health outcomes under the Medicare Program; S 1300 Community and Rural Medical Residency Preservation Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to clarify intent regarding the counting of residents in a nonhospital setting under the Medicare program; S 1380 MedPAC Reform Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to create a sensible infrastructure for delivery system reform by renaming the MedPAC, making the commission an executive branch agency, and providing the Commission new resources and authority to implement Medicare payment policy; H.R. 3138 Physician Payments Sunshine Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XI of the Social Security Act to provide for transparency in the relationship between physicians and manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologicals, or medical supplies for which payment is made under Medicare, Medicaid, or SCHIP; HR 3141 Strengthening the Health Care Safety Net Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for a DSH redistribution pool from unexpended Medicaid DSH allotments in order to increase Medicaid DSH allotments for low DSH States and to provide grants for health access networks serving the uninsured; H.R. 3152 Helping Seniors Choose their Medicare Drug Plan Act, a bill 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; S. 1423 Medicaid Birth Center Reimbursement Act, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require coverage under the Medicaid Program for freestanding birth center services; S. 1427 Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital Quality Report Card Act of 2009, a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative to report on health care quality in Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, and for other purposes; H.R. 3172 Senior Navigation and Planning Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for advanced illness care management services for Medicare beneficiaries, and for other purposes; H.R. 3184 Medicare Independent Living Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the in the home restriction for Medicare coverage of mobility devices for individuals with expected long-term needs; H.R. 3256 Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Extension Act of 2009, a bill to amend the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to extend the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program; H.R. 3356 Medicare Beneficiary Freedom to Choose Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to clarify the use of private contracts by Medicare beneficiaries for professional services and to allow individuals to choose to opt out of the Medicare part A benefits; H.R. 3361 Medicare Patient Safeguards Act of 2009, a bill to provide a process for public comment and Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee review of certain Medicare national coverage determinations, and for other purposes; HR 3369 and S.1521 Improve Act of 2009, a bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to require provider payments under Medicare and Medicaid to be made through direct deposit or electronic funds transfer (EFT) at insured depository institutions; S.1522 Outpatient Mental Health Modernization Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to stabilize and modernize the provision of partial hospitalization services under the Medicare program; H.R. 3374 Medicare and Medicaid Access Project through Information Technology (MAP IT) Act, a bill to provide for a demonstration project relating to the impact of health information technology on chronic disease management under the Medicare and Medicaid programs; H.R. 3422 Medicare Support for Rural Hospitals Act, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to make temporary improvements to the Medicare inpatient payment adjustment for low-volume hospitals; H.R. 3430 DSH Collaborative Care Network Pilot Program Act of 2009, a bill to establish a Medicare DSH pilot program under which participants shall establish collaborative care networks to reduce the use of emergency departments, inpatient and other expensive resources of hospitals and other providers and provide more comprehensive and coordinated care to low-income individuals, including those without health insurance coverage, and to establish a Collaborative Care Network Center; Neal Letter to Pelosi, Opposition to the Independent Medicare Advisory Council (IMAC) and MedPAC Reform Act (HR 2718, S1110, S 1380); HR 3556 NO TITLE, a bill to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a self-referral disclosure protocol under the Medicare Program to enable health care providers of services and suppliers to disclose violations of section 1877 of the Social Security Act; S 1669 Equal Access to Medicare Options Act of 2009, a bill to provide all Medicare beneficiaries with the right to guaranteed issue of a Medicare supplemental policy; HR 3631 Medicare Premium Fairness Act, a bill 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; HR 3653 Medicare Card Security Act of 2009, a bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to prohibit the display of Social Security account numbers on Medicare cards; HR 3663 NO TITLE, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to delay the date on which the accreditation requirement under the Medicare Program applies to suppliers of durable medical equipment that are pharmacies; HR 3665 Ryan White Grantee Medicaid Payment Equity Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for payment for Medicaid services furnished by Ryan White part C grantees under a cost-based prospective payment system; HR 3675 National Quality Cancer Care Demonstration Project Act of 2009, a bill to improve the quality and cost effectiveness of cancer care to Medicare beneficiaries by establishing a national demonstration project; HR 2962 Integrity in Medicare Advanced Diagnostic Imaging Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to exclude certain advanced diagnostic imaging services from the in-office ancillary services exception to the prohibition on physician self-referral; Meeting with CMS re implementation of new requirements for insurance providers to report payment responsibility for Medicare Secondary Payer program; HR 3693 Ensuring the Future Physician Workforce Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to modify Medicare physician reimbursement policies to ensure a future physician workforce; HR 3961, HR 4154, S 1600 and Reid amendment 3305 Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009 and Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2009, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to reform the Medicare SGR payment system for physicians and to reinstitute and update the Pay-As-You-Go requirement of budget neutrality on new tax and mandatory spending legislation, enforced by the threat of annual, automatic sequestration; HR 4250 Medicaid DSH Integrity Act, a bill to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to revise regulations implementing the statutory reporting and auditing requirements for the Medicaid disproportionate share hospital ("DSH") payment program to be consistent with the scope of the statutory provisions and avoid substantive changes to preexisting DSH policy; S 1776 Medicare Physician Fairness Act of 2009, 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; discussion with the HHS Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology of hospital concerns around development of requirements for meaningful use of Electronic Health Records (EHR) to qualify for Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments for EHR development; 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; HR 4213 American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010 a bill that includes an extension of the Recovery Acts increased Federal match for state Medicaid programs. The passed bill extends the increased FMAP through June 30, 2011, which is estimated to provide states with an additional $25.5 billion in FMAP; Letter to Pelosi and Reid expressing opposition to establishment of an Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB); Medicaid FMAP ARRA Extension Letter to Senator Reid to include an extension of federal Medicaid assistance to states in legislative proposals to increase employment and rebuild the nations economy; Space, Burgess, Stearns and Engel House Health IT letter and Klobuchar and Hatch Senate Health IT letter to CMS urging a modification of CMS proposed definition of and requirements for hospitals to become qualified as meaningful users of certified electronic health record (EHR) technology; S 3028 Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services under the Medicare program; HR 4872 The Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010, to provide for reconciliation pursuant to section 202 of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2010; Meetings with CMS to urge a different interpretation of the Medicare conditions of participation interpretive guidelines, as currently interpreted guidelines would require accreditation of each hospital as a standalone entity and require them to each have a separate governing body, medical staff, etc. in order to be accredited by the joint commission.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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 1409 and S 560 Employee Free Choice Act , all provisions to amend the National Labor Relations Act to establish an efficient system to enable employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to provide for mandatory injunctions for unfair labor practices during organizing efforts, and for other purposes; RESPECT Act, all provisions to amend the National Labor Relations Act to clarify the definition of `supervisor' for purposes of such Act; HR 1355 National Labor Relations Modernization Act, provisions related to interest arbitration for first contracts; enhanced employer penalties for certain NLRA violations or alleged violations; and a provision designed to give unions greater access to employees at the employers property; HR 1493 Quality Health Care Coalition Act of 2009, a bill to ensure and foster continued patient safety and quality of care by exempting health care professionals from the Federal antitrust laws in their negotiations with health plans and health insurance issuers; HR 1176 and S 478 The Secret Ballot Protection Act, to amend the National Labor Relations Act to ensure the right of employees to a secret-ballot election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board; S 1681 and HR 3596 Health Insurance Industry Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2009, a bill to ensure that health insurance issuers and medical malpractice insurance issuers cannot engage in price fixing, bid rigging, or market allocations to the detriment of competition and consumers; S. 1788 and HR 2381 Nurse and Health Care Worker Protection Act of 2009, the bill requires the Secretary of Labor to propose a standard on safe patient handling and injury prevention to prevent musculoskeletal disorders for direct-care registered nurses and all other health care workers that requires the use of engineering controls to lift patients and the elimination of manual lifting of patients through the use of mechanical devices, except where patient care may be compromised; HR 5687 Underserved Area Nursing Relief Restoration Act of 2010, to extend changes to requirements for admission of nonimmigrant nurses in health professional shortage areas made by the Nursing Relief for Disadvantaged Areas Act of 1999.

HR 1409 and S 560 Employee Free Choice Act , all provisions to amend the National Labor Relations Act to establish an efficient system to enable employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to provide for mandatory injunctions for unfair labor practices during organizing efforts, and for other purposes; RESPECT Act, all provisions to amend the National Labor Relations Act to clarify the definition of `supervisor' for purposes of such Act; HR 1355 National Labor Relations Modernization Act, provisions related to interest arbitration for first contracts; enhanced employer penalties for certain NLRA violations or alleged violations; and a provision designed to give unions greater access to employees at the employers property; HR 1493 Quality Health Care Coalition Act of 2009, a bill to ensure and foster continued patient safety and quality of care by exempting health care professionals from the Federal antitrust laws in their negotiations with health plans and health insurance issuers; HR 1176 and S 478 The Secret Ballot Protection Act, to amend the National Labor Relations Act to ensure the right of employees to a secret-ballot election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board; Discussion with DOJ about AHA white paper on Clinical Integration and antitrust barriers to clinical integration; Discussions with DOJ about the implications for hospitals of insurance industry mergers; S 1681 and HR 3596 Health Insurance Industry Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2009, a bill to ensure that health insurance issuers and medical malpractice insurance issuers cannot engage in price fixing, bid rigging, or market allocations to the detriment of competition and consumers; S. 1788 and HR 2381 Nurse and Health Care Worker Protection Act of 2009, the bill requires the Secretary of Labor to propose a standard on safe patient handling and injury prevention to prevent musculoskeletal disorders for direct-care registered nurses and all other health care workers that requires the use of engineering controls to lift patients and the elimination of manual lifting of patients through the use of mechanical devices, except where patient care may be compromised.

HR 1409 and S 560 Employee Free Choice Act , all provisions to amend the National Labor Relations Act to establish an efficient system to enable employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to provide for mandatory injunctions for unfair labor practices during organizing efforts, and for other purposes; RESPECT Act, all provisions to amend the National Labor Relations Act to clarify the definition of `supervisor' for purposes of such Act; HR 1355 National Labor Relations Modernization Act, provisions related to interest arbitration for first contracts; enhanced employer penalties for certain NLRA violations or alleged violations; and a provision designed to give unions greater access to employees at the employers property; HR 1493 Quality Health Care Coalition Act of 2009, a bill to ensure and foster continued patient safety and quality of care by exempting health care professionals from the Federal antitrust laws in their negotiations with health plans and health insurance issuers; HR 1176 and S 478 The Secret Ballot Protection Act, to amend the National Labor Relations Act to ensure the right of employees to a secret-ballot election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board; Discussion with DOJ about AHA white paper on Clinical Integration and antitrust barriers to clinical integration; Discussions with DOJ about the implications for hospitals of insurance industry mergers; S 1681 and HR 3596 Health Insurance Industry Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2009, a bill to ensure that health insurance issuers and medical malpractice insurance issuers cannot engage in price fixing, bid rigging, or market allocations to the detriment of competition and consumers; S. 1788 and HR 2381 Nurse and Health Care Worker Protection Act of 2009, the bill requires the Secretary of Labor to propose a standard on safe patient handling and injury prevention to prevent musculoskeletal disorders for direct-care registered nurses and all other health care workers that requires the use of engineering controls to lift patients and the elimination of manual lifting of patients through the use of mechanical devices, except where patient care may be compromised.

HR 1409 and S 560 Employee Free Choice Act , all provisions to amend the National Labor Relations Act to establish an efficient system to enable employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to provide for mandatory injunctions for unfair labor practices during organizing efforts, and for other purposes; RESPECT Act, all provisions to amend the National Labor Relations Act to clarify the definition of `supervisor' for purposes of such Act; HR 1355 National Labor Relations Modernization Act, provisions related to interest arbitration for first contracts; enhanced employer penalties for certain NLRA violations or alleged violations; and a provision designed to give unions greater access to employees at the employers property; HR 1493 Quality Health Care Coalition Act of 2009, a bill to ensure and foster continued patient safety and quality of care by exempting health care professionals from the Federal antitrust laws in their negotiations with health plans and health insurance issuers; HR 1176 and S 478 The Secret Ballot Protection Act, to amend the National Labor Relations Act to ensure the right of employees to a secret-ballot election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board; Discussion with DOJ about AHA white paper on Clinical Integration and antitrust barriers to clinical integration; Discussions with DOJ about the implications for hospitals of insurance industry mergers; S 1681 and HR 3596 Health Insurance Industry Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2009, a bill to ensure that health insurance issuers and medical malpractice insurance issuers cannot engage in price fixing, bid rigging, or market allocations to the detriment of competition and consumers; S. 1788 and HR 2381 Nurse and Health Care Worker Protection Act of 2009, the bill requires the Secretary of Labor to propose a standard on safe patient handling and injury prevention to prevent musculoskeletal disorders for direct-care registered nurses and all other health care workers that requires the use of engineering controls to lift patients and the elimination of manual lifting of patients through the use of mechanical devices, except where patient care may be compromised; HR 5687Underserved Area Nursing Relief Restoration Act of 2010, to extend changes to requirements for admission of nonimmigrant nurses in health professional shortage areas made by the Nursing Relief for Disadvantaged Areas Act of 1999.

HR 1409 and S 560 Employee Free Choice Act , all provisions to amend the National Labor Relations Act to establish an efficient system to enable employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to provide for mandatory injunctions for unfair labor practices during organizing efforts, and for other purposes; RESPECT Act, all provisions to amend the National Labor Relations Act to clarify the definition of `supervisor' for purposes of such Act; HR 1355 National Labor Relations Modernization Act, provisions related to interest arbitration for first contracts; enhanced employer penalties for certain NLRA violations or alleged violations; and a provision designed to give unions greater access to employees at the employers property; HR 1493 Quality Health Care Coalition Act of 2009, a bill to ensure and foster continued patient safety and quality of care by exempting health care professionals from the Federal antitrust laws in their negotiations with health plans and health insurance issuers; HR 1176 and S 478 The Secret Ballot Protection Act, to amend the National Labor Relations Act to ensure the right of employees to a secret-ballot election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board; S 1681 and HR 3596 Health Insurance Industry Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2009, a bill to ensure that health insurance issuers and medical malpractice insurance issuers cannot engage in price fixing, bid rigging, or market allocations to the detriment of competition and consumers; S. 1788 and HR 2381 Nurse and Health Care Worker Protection Act of 2009, the bill requires the Secretary of Labor to propose a standard on safe patient handling and injury prevention to prevent musculoskeletal disorders for direct-care registered nurses and all other health care workers that requires the use of engineering controls to lift patients and the elimination of manual lifting of patients through the use of mechanical devices, except where patient care may be compromised; HR 5687 Underserved Area Nursing Relief Restoration Act of 2010, to extend changes to requirements for admission of nonimmigrant nurses in health professional shortage areas made by the Nursing Relief for Disadvantaged Areas Act of 1999.

HR 1409 and S 560 Employee Free Choice Act , all provisions to amend the National Labor Relations Act to establish an efficient system to enable employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to provide for mandatory injunctions for unfair labor practices during organizing efforts, and for other purposes; RESPECT Act, all provisions to amend the National Labor Relations Act to clarify the definition of `supervisor' for purposes of such Act; HR 1355 National Labor Relations Modernization Act, provisions related to interest arbitration for first contracts; enhanced employer penalties for certain NLRA violations or alleged violations; and a provision designed to give unions greater access to employees at the employers property; HR 1493 Quality Health Care Coalition Act of 2009, a bill to ensure and foster continued patient safety and quality of care by exempting health care professionals from the Federal antitrust laws in their negotiations with health plans and health insurance issuers; HR 1176 and S 478 The Secret Ballot Protection Act, to amend the National Labor Relations Act to ensure the right of employees to a secret-ballot election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board; Discussion with DOJ about AHA white paper on Clinical Integration and antitrust barriers to clinical integration; Discussions with DOJ about the implications for hospitals of insurance industry mergers; S 1681 and HR 3596 Health Insurance Industry Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2009, a bill to ensure that health insurance issuers and medical malpractice insurance issuers cannot engage in price fixing, bid rigging, or market allocations to the detriment of competition and consumers; S. 1788 and HR 2381 Nurse and Health Care Worker Protection Act of 2009, the bill requires the Secretary of Labor to propose a standard on safe patient handling and injury prevention to prevent musculoskeletal disorders for direct-care registered nurses and all other health care workers that requires the use of engineering controls to lift patients and the elimination of manual lifting of patients through the use of mechanical devices, except where patient care may be compromised.

HR 1409 and S 560 Employee Free Choice Act , all provisions to amend the National Labor Relations Act to establish an efficient system to enable employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to provide for mandatory injunctions for unfair labor practices during organizing efforts, and for other purposes; RESPECT Act, all provisions to amend the National Labor Relations Act to clarify the definition of `supervisor' for purposes of such Act; HR 1355 National Labor Relations Modernization Act, provisions related to interest arbitration for first contracts; enhanced employer penalties for certain NLRA violations or alleged violations; and a provision designed to give unions greater access to employees at the employers property; HR 1493 Quality Health Care Coalition Act of 2009, a bill to ensure and foster continued patient safety and quality of care by exempting health care professionals from the Federal antitrust laws in their negotiations with health plans and health insurance issuers; HR 1176 and S 478 The Secret Ballot Protection Act, to amend the National Labor Relations Act to ensure the right of employees to a secret-ballot election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board; Discussion with DOJ about AHA white paper on Clinical Integration and antitrust barriers to clinical integration; Discussions with DOJ about the implications for hospitals of insurance industry mergers; S 1681 and HR 3596 Health Insurance Industry Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2009, a bill to ensure that health insurance issuers and medical malpractice insurance issuers cannot engage in price fixing, bid rigging, or market allocations to the detriment of competition and consumers; S. 1788 and HR 2381 Nurse and Health Care Worker Protection Act of 2009, the bill requires the Secretary of Labor to propose a standard on safe patient handling and injury prevention to prevent musculoskeletal disorders for direct-care registered nurses and all other health care workers that requires the use of engineering controls to lift patients and the elimination of manual lifting of patients through the use of mechanical devices, except where patient care may be compromised.