ELISE BUSSE

Asking Congress to cosponsor H.R. 2474, the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act, which would align Medicare physician payments with other sectors of Medicare by adding a mandatory annual inflation update. To also cosponsor H.R. 6371, the Provider Reimbursement Stability Act, which would increase the budget-neutrality threshold, set limits on conversion factor variance, and allow CMS to enhance accountability and stability within the physician payment system. Support H.R. 5625, the Fentanyl Awareness for Children and Teens in Schools (FACTS) Act, which would help to address the opioid crisis by making naloxone available in school settings. Support H.R. 5420 / S. 2948, the Workplace Overdose Reversal Kits (WORK) to Save Lives Act which would require opioid overdose reversal medications to be in federal buildings and create non-mandatory guidance for private employers on how to obtain these medications; both important measures to reduce opioid overdose fatalities. Support H.R. 6161, the Supporting Access to Vital and Affordable Care for Everyone (SAVE) Act, which would make access to over-the-counter naloxone more affordable by ensuring it qualifies as a deductible medical expense.

Asking Congress to cosponsor H.R. 2474, the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act, which would align Medicare physician payments with other sectors of Medicare by adding a mandatory annual inflation update. To also cosponsor H.R. 6371, the Provider Reimbursement Stability Act, which would increase the budget-neutrality threshold, set limits on conversion factor variance, and allow CMS to enhance accountability and stability within the physician payment system. Support H.R. 5625, the Fentanyl Awareness for Children and Teens in Schools (FACTS) Act, which would help to address the opioid crisis by making naloxone available in school settings. Support H.R. 5420 / S. 2948, the Workplace Overdose Reversal Kits (WORK) to Save Lives Act which would require opioid overdose reversal medications to be in federal buildings and create non-mandatory guidance for private employers on how to obtain these medications; both important measures to reduce opioid overdose fatalities. Support H.R. 6161, the Supporting Access to Vital and Affordable Care for Everyone (SAVE) Act, which would make access to over-the-counter naloxone more affordable by ensuring it qualifies as a deductible medical expense.

Prior Authorization Simplification - H.R. 8702/S. 4532 - Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act Establish an electronic prior authorization process for MA plans including a standardization for transactions and clinical attachments. Increase transparency around MA prior authorization requirements and its use. Clarify CMS authority to establish timeframes for e-PA requests including expedited determinations, real-time decisions for routinely approved items and services, and other PA requests. Expand beneficiary protections to improve enrollee experiences and outcomes. Require HHS and other agencies to report to Congress on program integrity efforts and other ways to further improve the e-PA process.

Prior Authorization Simplification - H.R. 8702/S. 4532 - Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act Establish an electronic prior authorization process for MA plans including a standardization for transactions and clinical attachments. Increase transparency around MA prior authorization requirements and its use. Clarify CMS authority to establish timeframes for e-PA requests including expedited determinations, real-time decisions for routinely approved items and services, and other PA requests. Expand beneficiary protections to improve enrollee experiences and outcomes. Require HHS and other agencies to report to Congress on program integrity efforts and other ways to further improve the e-PA process.

S.2689 - H.R.5414 - Ensuring Medicaid Continuity for Children in Foster Care Act - This bill allows states to receive federal Medicaid payment for services provided to foster care children in qualified residential treatment programs (i.e., programs with trauma-informed treatment models that address the needs of children with serious emotional or behavioral disorders or disturbances). S. 1351 - Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act - Establishes an interagency federal work group on youth residential programs to improve the dissemination and implementation of data and best practices regarding the health and safety, care, treatment, and appropriate placement of youth in youth residential programs.

S.2689 - H.R.5414 - Ensuring Medicaid Continuity for Children in Foster Care Act - This bill allows states to receive federal Medicaid payment for services provided to foster care children in qualified residential treatment programs (i.e., programs with trauma-informed treatment models that address the needs of children with serious emotional or behavioral disorders or disturbances). S. 1351 - Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act - Establishes an interagency federal work group on youth residential programs to improve the dissemination and implementation of data and best practices regarding the health and safety, care, treatment, and appropriate placement of youth in youth residential programs.

Congress is asked to contact VA leadership to urge a halt to this risky VA initiative and to support the inclusion of provisions from H.R. 3347/S.2070, the Protect Lifesaving Anesthesia Care for Veterans Act, in any Veterans' legislation considered this year. Congress should use its authority to curtail the harmful behavior of insurance companies including: Holding United Health Group (UHG) and Change Healthcare (CHC) accountable for fully repairing the harm to physicians and for ensuring future protections from unexpected delays in claims processing and payment. Scrutinizing insurance companies that divert premium dollars away from patient care for the sake of corporate profits. Ensuring the enforcement of the mechanisms of the No Surprises Act requiring timely insurers' payments to prevailing parties in the IDR process. Ensuring the enforcement of the mechanisms of the No Surprises Act requiring timely insurers' payments to prevailing parties in the IDR process. Passing legislation to address insurers' prior authorization abuse.

Asking Congress to cosponsor H.R. 2474, the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act, which would align Medicare physician payments with other sectors of Medicare by adding a mandatory annual inflation update. To also cosponsor H.R. 6371, the Provider Reimbursement Stability Act, which would increase the budget-neutrality threshold, set limits on conversion factor variance, and allow CMS to enhance accountability and stability within the physician payment system. Support H.R. 5625, the Fentanyl Awareness for Children and Teens in Schools (FACTS) Act, which would help to address the opioid crisis by making naloxone available in school settings. Support H.R. 5420 / S. 2948, the Workplace Overdose Reversal Kits (WORK) to Save Lives Act which would require opioid overdose reversal medications to be in federal buildings and create non-mandatory guidance for private employers on how to obtain these medications; both important measures to reduce opioid overdose fatalities. Support H.R. 6161, the Supporting Access to Vital and Affordable Care for Everyone (SAVE) Act, which would make access to over-the-counter naloxone more affordable by ensuring it qualifies as a deductible medical expense.

Prior Authorization Simplification - H.R. 8702/S. 4532 - Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act Establish an electronic prior authorization process for MA plans including a standardization for transactions and clinical attachments. Increase transparency around MA prior authorization requirements and its use. Clarify CMS authority to establish timeframes for e-PA requests including expedited determinations, real-time decisions for routinely approved items and services, and other PA requests. Expand beneficiary protections to improve enrollee experiences and outcomes. Require HHS and other agencies to report to Congress on program integrity efforts and other ways to further improve the e-PA process.

Prior Authorization Simplification - H.R. 8702/S. 4532 - Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act Establish an electronic prior authorization process for MA plans including a standardization for transactions and clinical attachments. Increase transparency around MA prior authorization requirements and its use. Clarify CMS authority to establish timeframes for e-PA requests including expedited determinations, real-time decisions for routinely approved items and services, and other PA requests. Expand beneficiary protections to improve enrollee experiences and outcomes. Require HHS and other agencies to report to Congress on program integrity efforts and other ways to further improve the e-PA process.

H.R.2303 - Supporting Apprenticeship Colleges Act - This bill directs the Department of Education to award grants to institutions of higher education that sponsor construction and manufacturing-oriented registered apprenticeship programs for (1) expanding or supporting outreach to high schools, local businesses, and local workforce development boards; and (2) providing advising and support services to students who are enrolled in these apprenticeship programs.

S.2689 - H.R.5414 - Ensuring Medicaid Continuity for Children in Foster Care Act - This bill allows states to receive federal Medicaid payment for services provided to foster care children in qualified residential treatment programs (i.e., programs with trauma-informed treatment models that address the needs of children with serious emotional or behavioral disorders or disturbances). S. 1351 - Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act - Establishes an interagency federal work group on youth residential programs to improve the dissemination and implementation of data and best practices regarding the health and safety, care, treatment, and appropriate placement of youth in youth residential programs.

S.2689 - H.R.5414 - Ensuring Medicaid Continuity for Children in Foster Care Act - This bill allows states to receive federal Medicaid payment for services provided to foster care children in qualified residential treatment programs (i.e., programs with trauma-informed treatment models that address the needs of children with serious emotional or behavioral disorders or disturbances). S. 1351 - Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act - Establishes an interagency federal work group on youth residential programs to improve the dissemination and implementation of data and best practices regarding the health and safety, care, treatment, and appropriate placement of youth in youth residential programs.

S.2689 - H.R.5414 - Ensuring Medicaid Continuity for Children in Foster Care Act - This bill allows states to receive federal Medicaid payment for services provided to foster care children in qualified residential treatment programs (i.e., programs with trauma-informed treatment models that address the needs of children with serious emotional or behavioral disorders or disturbances). S. 1351 - Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act - Establishes an interagency federal work group on youth residential programs to improve the dissemination and implementation of data and best practices regarding the health and safety, care, treatment, and appropriate placement of youth in youth residential programs.

S.2689 - H.R.5414 - Ensuring Medicaid Continuity for Children in Foster Care Act - This bill allows states to receive federal Medicaid payment for services provided to foster care children in qualified residential treatment programs (i.e., programs with trauma-informed treatment models that address the needs of children with serious emotional or behavioral disorders or disturbances). S. 1351 - Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act - Establishes an interagency federal work group on youth residential programs to improve the dissemination and implementation of data and best practices regarding the health and safety, care, treatment, and appropriate placement of youth in youth residential programs.