mr JEFFREY COHEN

H.R. 5818/S. 2843 - "Opioid Workforce Act of 2018" H.R. 6 - "SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act of 2018" - Supported Legislation. H.R. 6378/S. 2852 - "The Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA)" - Monitored and reviewed legislation. Monitored Congressional Proposals concerning health price transparency. H.R. 676/S.1804 - "Expanded & Improved Medicare For All Act" - Oppose legislation to impose single payer health care delivery H.R. 959 - "Title VIII Nursing Workforce Re-authorization Act of 2018" - Urge support for legislation to provide loan repayment for nurses to practice in any care setting.

H.R. 1156/S.1133 "Patient Access to Higher Quality Health Care Act of 2017" - Oppose efforts to repeal certain provisions 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. Bad Debt Payments to Hospitals - Lawmakers have proposed lowering the amount of Medicare Bad Debt payments to hospitals for Medicare beneficiaries who fail to pay their cost-sharing obligations for treatments provided by the hospital. Oppose any effort to lower such payments. Oppose any additional site neutral cuts. Support access to affordable prescription drugs. Market Stabilization - Support efforts to fund Cost Sharing Reductions. Provided input and comment on House Ways and Means Red Tape Initiative.

FCC Rural Broadband Parity - Support investor-owned access to grants under the FCC for rural broadband.

FCC Rural Broadband Parity - Support investor-owned access to grants under the FCC for rural broadband.

H.R. 1156/S.1133 "Patient Access to Higher Quality Health Care Act of 2017" - Oppose efforts to repeal certain provisions 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. Bad Debt Payments to Hospitals - Lawmakers have proposed lowering the amount of Medicare Bad Debt payments to hospitals for Medicare beneficiaries who fail to pay their cost-sharing obligations for treatments provided by the hospital. Oppose any effort to lower such payments. Oppose any additional site neutral cuts. Support access to affordable prescription drugs. Market Stabilization - Support efforts to fund Cost Sharing Reductions. Provided input and comment on House Ways and Means Red Tape Initiative.

H.R. 1156/S.1133 "Patient Access to Higher Quality Health Care Act of 2017" - Oppose efforts to repeal certain provisions 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. Bad Debt Payments to Hospitals - Lawmakers have proposed lowering the amount of Medicare Bad Debt payments to hospitals for Medicare beneficiaries who fail to pay their cost-sharing obligations for treatments provided by the hospital. Oppose any effort to lower such payments. Oppose any additional site neutral cuts. Support access to affordable prescription drugs. Market Stabilization - Support efforts to fund Cost Sharing Reductions. S. 2051 - "Medicare Care Coordination Improvement Act of 2017" - Monitored Legislation. Provided input and comment on House Ways and Means Red Tape Initiative.

H.R. 5818/S. 2843 - "Opioid Workforce Act of 2018" - Supported Legislation. H.R. 5675 - "To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require prescription Drug Plan Sponsors Under the Medicare Program to Establish Drug Management Programs For At Risk Beneficiaries" - Review and monitor legislation. H.R. 4841 - "Standardizing Electronic Prior Authorization for Safe Prescribing Act of 2018" - Review and monitor legislation. H.R. 5676 - "Stop Excessive Narcotics in our Retirement Communities Protection Act of 2018" - Review and monitor legislation. H.R. 5684 - "Protecting Seniors From Opioid Abuse Act" - Review and monitor legislation. H.R. 5699 - "Hospital Opioid Solutions Toolkit (HOST) Act" - Review and monitor legislation. H.R. 5686 - "Medicare Clear Health Options in Care for Enrollees Act of 2018" - Review and monitor legislation. H.R. 5722 - "Dr. Todd Graham Pain Management Improvement Act of 2018" - Review and monitor legislation. S. 2852 - "The Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA)" - Monitored and reviewed legislation. Monitored Congressional Proposals concerning health price transparency. H.R. 3415 - "Megan Rondini Act" - Monitored and provided comment. H.R. 4613 - "Ensuring Patient Access to Healthcare Records Act of 2017" - Monitored Legislation.

FCC Rural Broadband Parity - Support investor-owned access to grants under the FCC for rural broadband.

Support funding for National Quality Forum. Opioids - Monitor legislation to address opioid epidemic. Emergency Preparedness - monitored development of The Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) H.R. 1625 - Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 - Oppose changes to current hospital-hospice transfer policy.

H.R. 1892 - Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 - Oppose medicare and medicaid cuts to hospitals.

H.R. 1 - "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" - Monitor action on tax reform; advise membership on lowering of corporate rate and policies affecting interest deductibility. Advocated against the elimination of the Affordable Care Act's Individual Mandate.

H.R. 1156/S.1133 "Patient Access to Higher Quality Health Care Act of 2017" - Oppose efforts to repeal certain provisions 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. Bad Debt Payments to Hospitals - Lawmakers have proposed lowering the amount of Medicare Bad Debt payments to hospitals for Medicare beneficiaries who fail to pay their cost-sharing obligations for treatments provided by the hospital. Oppose any effort to lower such payments. H.R. 1955/S. 872 - "Rural Hospital Access Act of 2017" - Advocate for the extension of the Medicare Dependent Hospital (MDH) and current Low-Volume Hospital (LVH) programs. Oppose any additional site neutral cuts. Sequestration - Against extending the Medicare sequester and oppose Medicare sequester increase and extension as an offset. Support access to affordable prescription drugs. Medicare DSH - Mitigate the impact of the IPPS proposed Medicare DSH redistribution in the FY18 proposed rule. Medicaid DSH - Advocate for a two year delay of the Medicaid DSH cuts. H.R. 2556/S.1016 "CONNECT for Health Act of 2017" - Support programs to encourage and properly reimburse telemedicine. Market Stabilization - Support efforts to fund Cost Sharing Reductions. Children's Health Insurance Plans (CHIP) - Support an appropriate extension of the CHIP program. H.R. 849 - "Protecting Seniors Access to Medicare Act" - Advocated in support of bill which would repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB).

FEMA Grants/Assistance - Support investor-owned hospital access to FEMA grants.

Health Reform Implementation - The Affordable Care Act enacted comprehensive reform of the health care delivery and payment systems in the United States. Specifically, FAH is advocating on implementation issues related to delivery reform affecting hospitals and insurance reform. Support funding for National Quality Forum.

H.R. 1156/S.1133 "Patient Access to Higher Quality Health Care Act of 2017" - Oppose efforts to repeal certain provisions 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. Bad Debt Payments to Hospitals - Lawmakers have proposed lowering the amount of Medicare Bad Debt payments to hospitals for Medicare beneficiaries who fail to pay their cost-sharing obligations for treatments provided by the hospital. Oppose any effort to lower such payments. H.R. 1955/S. 872 - "Rural Hospital Access Act of 2017" - Advocate for the extension of the Medicare Dependent Hospital (MDH) and current Low-Volume Hospital (LVH) programs. Oppose any additional site neutral cuts. Sequestration - Against extending the Medicare sequester and oppose Medicare sequester increase and extension as an offset. Price Transparency - Advocate for meaningful price transparency for consumers by ensuring they have access to out of pocket price information. H.R. 1628 "American Health Care Act/Better Care Reconciliation Act" - Expressed significant concern with revised Senate legislation. Opposed loss of coverage. Advocated for appropriate Medicaid payment and appropriate flexibility and restoration of hospital Medicare cuts if Affordable Care Act is repealed. H.R. 3173 "Stark Administrative Simplification Act" and H.R. 3178 "Medicare Part B Improvement Act" - Discussions regarding reforms to physician self-referral law. Support access to affordable prescription drugs. Medicare DSH - Mitigate the impact of the IPPS proposed Medicare DSH redistribution in the FY18 proposed rule. Medicaid DSH - Advocate for a two year delay of the Medicaid DSH cuts. H.R. 2556/S.1016 "CONNECT for Health Act of 2017" - Support programs to encourage and properly reimburse telemedicine. Market Stabilization - Support efforts to fund Cost Sharing Reductions. Children's Health Insurance Plans (CHIP) - Support an appropriate extension of the CHIP program.

H.R. 1156/S.1133 "Patient Access to Higher Quality Health Care Act of 2017" - Oppose efforts to repeal certain provisions 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. Bad Debt Payments to Hospitals - Lawmakers have proposed lowering the amount of Medicare Bad Debt payments to hospitals for Medicare beneficiaries who fail to pay their cost-sharing obligations for treatments provided by the hospital. Oppose any effort to lower such payments. Direct and Indirect Graduate Medical Education Payments - Oppose any reductions to the way that hospitals are reimbursed for the costs of training physicians and other medical professionals. H.R. 1955/S. 872 - "Rural Hospital Access Act of 2017" - Advocate for the extension of the Medicare Dependent Hospital (MDH) and current Low-Volume Hospital (LVH) programs. Oppose any additional site neutral cuts. Oppose the proposal of lowering Medicare reimbursements to Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities. Sequestration - Against extending the Medicare sequester and oppose Medicare sequester increase and extension as an offset. Price Transparency - Advocate for meaningful price transparency for consumers by ensuring they have access to out of pocket price information. H.R. 1628 "American Health Care Act/Better Care Reconciliation Act" - Advocated for appropriate Medicaid payment and appropriate flexibility and restoration of hospital Medicare cuts if Affordable Care Act is repealed. Stark - Discussions regarding possible legislation to amend physician self-referral law. Support access to affordable prescription drugs. Advocate for EHR Meaningful Use program improvements. H.R. 2267/S. 1301 "Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act" - Advocated to increase the number of Medicare funded residency positions. Medicare DSH - Mitigate the impact of the IPPS proposed Medicare DSH redistribution in the FY18 proposed rule. H.R. 2556/S.1016 "CONNECT for Health Act of 2017" - Support programs to encourage and properly reimburse telemedicine.

Health Reform Implementation - The Affordable Care Act enacted comprehensive reform of the health care delivery and payments systems in the United States. Specifically, FAH is advocating on implementation issues related to delivery reform affecting hospitals and insurance reform. HITECH Act - Implementation of meaningful use and privacy and security provisions in HITECH Act of 2009. Support programs to encourage and properly reimburse telemedicine. Support funding for National Quality Forum. Provided comment on hospital acquired conditions amendment.

H.R. 1156 "Patient Access to Higher Quality Health Care Act of 2017" - Oppose efforts to repeal certain provisions 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. Bad Debt Payments to Hospitals - Lawmakers have proposed lowering the amount of Medicare Bad Debt payments to hospitals for Medicare beneficiaries who fail to pay their cost-sharing obligations for treatments provided by the hospital. Oppose any effort to lower such payments. Direct and Indirect Graduate Medical Education Payments - Oppose any reductions to the way that hospitals are reimbursed for the costs of training physicians and other medical professionals. H.R. 1955/ S. 872 - "Rural Hospital Access Act of 2017" - Advocate for the extension of the Medicare Dependent Hospital (MDH) and current Low-Volume Hospital (LVH) programs. Oppose any additional site neutral cuts. Oppose the proposal of lowering Medicare reimbursements to Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities. Sequestration - Against extending the Medicare sequester and oppose Medicare sequester increase and extension as an offset. Price Transparency - Advocate for meaningful price transparency for consumers by ensuring they have access to out of pocket price information. H.R. 1628 "American Health Care Act" - Advocated for the appropriate Medicaid payment and appropriate flexibility. H.R. 1628 "American Health Care Act" - Advocated for restoration of hospital Medicare cuts if Affordable Care Act is repealed. Stark - Discussions regarding possible legislation to amend physician self-referral law. Support access to affordable prescription drugs.

H.R. 2513 "PACE Act of 2015" - Oppose efforts to repeal certain provisions 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. Bad Debt Payments to Hospitals - Lawmakers have proposed lowering the amount of Medicare Bad Debt payments to hospitals for Medicare beneficiaries who fail to pay their cost-sharing obligations for treatments provided by the hospital. Oppose any effort to lower such payments. Direct and Indirect Graduate Medical Education Payments - Lawmakers have proposed changes to the way that hospitals are reimbursed for the costs of training physicians and other medical professionals. Oppose any reductions to such payments. H.R. 663/S.332 "Rural Hospital Access Act of 2015" - Advocate for the extension the Medicare Dependent Hospital (MDH) and current Low-Volume Hospital (LVH) programs. Oppose any additional site neutral cuts. Oppose the proposal of lowering Medicare reimbursements to Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities. Sequestration - against extending the Medicare Sequester and oppose Medicare sequester increase and extension as an offset. Price Transparency - advocate for meaningful price transparency for consumers by ensuring they have access to out of pocket price information. H.R. 5273 "Helping Hospitals Improve Patient Care Act of 2016" - Advocated for targeted, appropriate Hospital Outpatient Department under development language in the House Ways and Means package including LTCH provision. Advocated for Medicaid expansion and the role hospitals have in caring for patients in Medicaid populations. Part B Demo - Opposed administration's proposed Part B Drug Demo. Advocated for limits to CMMI Pilots. H.R. 6226 "Pre-Claims Undermine Seniors Health Act" - Support delay of pre-claim review for home health services. H.R. 1343/S. 688 "Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmission Program Act of 2015" - SES risk adjustment for hospital payment and readmissions. H.R. 3298 "Medicare Post-Acute Care Value-Based Purchasing Act of 2015" - Provided comments on Medicare Post-Acute Care Value-Based Purchasing Act of 2015. Advocated for restoration of hospital Medicare cuts if Affordable Care Act is repealed.

Health Reform Implementation -The Affordable Care Act enacted comprehensive reform of the health care delivery and payments systems in the United States. Specifically, FAH is advocating on implementation issues related to delivery reform affecting hospitals and insurance reform. HITECH Act - Implementation of meaningful use and privacy and security provisions in HITECH Act of 2009. S. 2822 "Flexibility in Electronic Health Record Reporting Act" - Advocate for 90 day reporting under meaningful use program requirements as part of the EHR Incentive Program. Realignment - educate policymakers on the driving factors, benefits and implications of hospital realignment. H.R 4442/S. 2484 "The Connect for Health ACT" - Support programs to encourage and properly reimburse telemedicine. UDI - Provide guidance on appropriate use and implementation of any changes to the Unique Device Identifier. Opioid - Provide guidance on legislation that would reduce the abuse of opioids. Mental Health - Support and provide guidance on mental health legislation that would provide Medicaid access for adults to stand-alone behavioral health facilities. S. 3056 "Creating and Restoring Equal Access to Equivalent Samples Act of 2016" - Supported legislation that would increase access to generic drugs. H.R. 6 "21st Century Cures Act" - Ensure proposed Cures legislation does not contain hospital cuts.

H.R. 2513 "PACE Act of 2015" - Oppose efforts to repeal certain provisions 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. Bad Debt Payments to Hospitals - Lawmakers have proposed lowering the amount of Medicare Bad Debt payments to hospitals for Medicare beneficiaries who fail to pay their cost-sharing obligations for treatments provided by the hospital. Oppose any effort to lower such payments. Direct and Indirect Graduate Medical Education Payments - Lawmakers have proposed changes to the way that hospitals are reimbursed for the costs of training physicians and other medical professionals. oppose any reductions to such payments. H.R. 663/S.332 "Rural Hospital Access Act of 2015" - Advocate for the extension the Medicare Dependent Hospital (MDH) and current Low-Volume Hospital (LVH) programs. Oppose any additional site neutral cuts. Oppose the proposal of lowering Medicare reimbursements to Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities. Sequestration - against extending the Medicare Sequester and oppose Medicare sequester increase and extension as an offset. H.R. 2156 "Medicare Audit Improvement Act of 2015" supports legislation to improve Medicare audits and provided comments to Senate Finance Committee to improve draft legislation. Price Transparency - advocate for meaningful price transparency for consumers by ensuring they have access to out of pocket price information. S. 2822 "Flexibility in Electronic Health Record Reporting Act" - Advocate for 90 day reporting under meaningful use program requirements as part of the EHR Incentive Program. H.R. 5273 "Helping Hospitals Improve Patient Care Act of 2016" - Advocated for targeted, appropriate Hospital Outpatient Department under development language in the House Ways and Means package including LTCH provision. Advocated for Medicaid expansion and the role hospitals have in caring for patients in Medicaid populations. Medicaid Provider Tax - Oppose efforts to limit states ability to use Medicaid provider taxes. Commented on potential policy changes to both the Hospital Acquired Conditions Program and the Readmissions Program. Part B Demo - Opposed administration's proposed Part B Drug Demo. Home Health Prior Authorization - Oppose home health prior authorization proposed demonstration project. Hospital Stars Rating - Support for delay in the CMS Hospitals Stars Program data release. DSH/S-10 - Advocate for delay and reform of the Administration's DSH/S-10 proposal. H.R. 1343/S. 688 "Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmission Program Act of 2015" - SES risk adjustment for hospital payment and readmissions.

Health Reform Implementation -The Affordable Care Act enacted comprehensive reform of the health care delivery and payments systems in the United States. Specifically, FAH is advocating on implementation issues related to delivery reform affecting hospitals and insurance reform. HITECH Act - Implementation of meaningful use and privacy and security provisions in HITECH Act of 2009. Realignment - educate policymakers on the driving factors, benefits and implications of hospital realignment. H.R.776 -- Stark Administrative Simplification Act of 2015 -- supports legislation that would allow for simplified single civil monetary penalty as an alternative sanction to those already established for compensation arrangements between a physician (or an immediate family member) and a person or entity that is in violation of the limitation on certain physician referrals (Stark Law) solely due to technical noncompliance. It also requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to accept the voluntary disclosure of a technically non-complaint compensation arrangement by a person or entity in violation of the Stark Law under certain circumstances. Telemedicine Reforms - Support programs to encourage and properly reimburse telemedicine. Hospital Preparedness Funds - Advocate for increased appropriations for the Hospital Preparedness Program to ensure hospitals are adequately prepared for emerging public health emergencies. UDI - Provide guidance on appropriate use and implementation of any changes to the Unique Device Identifier. Opioid - Provide guidance on legislation that would reduce the abuse of opioids. Mental Health - Support and provide guidance on mental health legislation that would provide Medicaid access for adults to stand-alone behavioral health facilities.

Health Reform Implementation -The Affordable Care Act enacted comprehensive reform of the health care delivery and payments systems in the United States. Specifically, FAH is advocating on implementation issues related to delivery reform affecting hospitals and insurance reform. HITECH Act - Implementation of meaningful use and privacy and security provisions in HITECH Act of 2009. Group Purchasing Organization - Monitor policy proposals that would impact Group Purchasing Organizations. Realignment - educate policymakers on the driving factors, benefits and implications of hospital realignment. H.R.776 -- Stark Administrative Simplification Act of 2015 -- supports legislation that would allow for simplified single civil monetary penalty as an alternative sanction to those already established for compensation arrangements between a physician (or an immediate family member) and a person or entity that is in violation of the limitation on certain physician referrals (Stark Law) solely due to technical noncompliance. It also requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to accept the voluntary disclosure of a technically non-complaint compensation arrangement by a person or entity in violation of the Stark Law under certain circumstances. H.R. 1314 Balanced Budget Act of 2015 - legislation to create infrastructure for government and private industry to share cyber threat information; advocate for passage and reasonable approach to new data security mandates. Telemedicine Reforms - Support programs to encourage and properly reimburse telemedicine. Support measures to reform the liability system: limit non-economic damages to $250,000; reform joint and several liability; cap attorneys fees; and allow periodic payments for future award payments.

Health Reform Implementation -The Affordable Care Act enacted comprehensive reform of the health care delivery and payments systems in the United States. Specifically, FAH is advocating on implementation issues related to delivery reform affecting hospitals and insurance reform. HITECH Act - Implementation of meaningful use and privacy and security provisions in HITECH Act of 2009. Group Purchasing Organization Regulations - Monitor policy proposals that would result in additional federal regulation of Group Purchasing Organizations. Realignment - educate policymakers on the driving factors, benefits and implications of hospital realignment. H.R.776 -- Stark Administrative Simplification Act of 2015 -- supports legislation that would allows for simplified single civil monetary penalty as an alternative sanction to those already established for compensation arrangements between a physician (or an immediate family member) and a person or entity that is in violation of the limitation on certain physician referrals (Stark Law) solely due to technical noncompliance. It also requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to accept the voluntary disclosure of a technically non-complaint compensation arrangement by a person or entity in violation of the Stark Law under certain circumstances. H.R. 1731, "The National Cybersecurity Protection Advancement Act"; H.R. 1560 "The Protecting Cyber Networks Act"; S. 754 "Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2014 (CISA) - legislation to create infrastructure for government and private industry to share cyber threat information; advocate for passage and reasonable approach to new data security mandates. Telemedicine Reforms - Support programs to encourage and properly reimburse telemedicine. Support measures to reform the liability system: limit non-economic damages to $250,000; reform joint and several liability; cap attorneys fees; and allow periodic payments for future award payments.

Health Reform Implementation -The Affordable Care Act enacted comprehensive reform of the health care delivery and payments systems in the United States. Specifically, FAH is advocating on implementation issues related to delivery reform affecting hospitals and insurance reform. HITECH Act - Implementation of meaningful use and privacy and security provisions in HITECH Act of 2009. Group Purchasing Organization Regulations - Monitor policy proposals that would result in additional federal regulation of Group Purchasing Organizations. Realignment - educate policymakers on the driving factors, benefits and implications of hospital realignment. ICD-10 -- discussions of effects of possible delay in implementation of the new ICD-10 coding system. H.R.776 -- Stark Administrative Simplification Act of 2015 -- supports legislation that would allows for simplified single civil monetary penalty as an alternative sanction to those already established for compensation arrangements between a physician (or an immediate family member) and a person or entity that is in violation of the limitation on certain physician referrals (Stark Law) solely due to technical noncompliance. It also requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to accept the voluntary disclosure of a technically non-complaint compensation arrangement by a person or entity in violation of the Stark Law under certain circumstances. CyberSecurity - H.R. 1731 - legislation to create infrastructure for government and private industry to share cyber threat information; advocate for passage and reasonable approach to new data security mandates. Advocate for sufficient government resources to support hospital preparedness and response to Ebola and/or other pandemics. Advocated for improvements to the HIPAA research provisions in the 21st Century Cures draft legislation. Telemedicine Reforms - 21st Century Cures Initiative -- Support programs to encourage and properly reimburse telemedicine. Budgets - H.CON.RES.27 / S.CON.RES.11 - House/Senate Resolutions to Establish the budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2016 and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2017 through 2025. Support measures to reform the liability system: limit non-economic damages to $250,000; reform joint and several liability; cap attorneys fees; and allow periodic payments for future award payments. Support "Standard of Care Protection Act" - H.R. 2 -- Support language to prevent any expansion of health care from leading to new legal standards of care in state medical liability lawsuits. By clarifying that payment rules, new guidelines, standards and other provision of federal health care statutes are not intended to define the applicable standard of care or duty of care in a medical liability lawsuit, such language hopefully would ensure that clinical best practices represent a medical guideline and not a legal standard.

Health Reform Implementation -The Affordable Care Act enacted comprehensive reform of the health care delivery and payments systems in the United States. Specifically, FAH is advocating on implementation issues related to delivery reform affecting hospitals and insurance reform. HITECH Act - Implementation of meaningful use and privacy and security provisions in HITECH Act of 2009. Group Purchasing Organization Regulations - Monitor policy proposals that would result in additional federal regulation of Group Purchasing Organizations. Realignment - educate policymakers on the driving factors, benefits and implications of hospital realignment. ICD-10 -- discussions of effects of possible delay in implementation of the new ICD-10 coding system. H.R.776 -- Stark Administrative Simplification Act of 2015 -- supports legislation that would allows for simplified single civil monetary penalty as an alternative sanction to those already established for compensation arrangements between a physician (or an immediate family member) and a person or entity that is in violation of the limitation on certain physician referrals (Stark Law) solely due to technical noncompliance. It also requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to accept the voluntary disclosure of a technically non-complaint compensation arrangement by a person or entity in violation of the Stark Law under certain circumstances. CyberSecurity - H.R. 1731 - legislation to create infrastructure for government and private industry to share cyber threat information; advocate for passage and reasonable approach to new data security mandates. Advocate for sufficient government resources to support hospital preparedness and response to Ebola and/or other pandemics. Advocated for improvements to the HIPAA research provisions in the 21st Century Cures draft legislation. Telemedicine Reforms - 21st Century Cures Initiative -- Support programs to encourage and properly reimburse telemedicine. Budgets - H.CON.RES.27 / S.CON.RES.11 - House/Senate Resolutions to Establish the budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2016 and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2017 through 2025. Support measures to reform the liability system: limit non-economic damages to $250,000; reform joint and several liability; cap attorneys fees; and allow periodic payments for future award payments. Support "Standard of Care Protection Act" - H.R. 2 -- Support language to prevent any expansion of health care from leading to new legal standards of care in state medical liability lawsuits. By clarifying that payment rules, new guidelines, standards and other provision of federal health care statutes are not intended to define the applicable standard of care or duty of care in a medical liability lawsuit, such language hopefully would ensure that clinical best practices represent a medical guideline and not a legal standard.

Health Reform Implementation -The Affordable Care Act enacted comprehensive reform of the health care delivery and payments systems in the United States. Specifically, FAH is advocating on implementation issues related to delivery reform affecting hospitals and insurance reform. HITECH Act - Implementation of meaningful use and privacy and security provisions in HITECH Act of 2009. Group Purchasing Organization Regulations - Monitor policy proposals that would result in additional federal regulation of Group Purchasing Organizations. H.R. 1473, the Standard of Care Protection Act, supports legislation to prevent certain Federal health care laws from establishing health care provider standards of care in medical malpractice cases. Realignment - educate policymakers on the driving factors, benefits and implications of hospital realignment. ICD-10 -- discussions of effects of possible delay in implementation of the new ICD-10 coding system. H.R. 3776, the Stark Administrative Simplification Act - supports legislation that would create an alternative, and more appropriate, penalty structure for hospitals that inadvertently incur a technical violation of the Stark self-referral law. CyberSecurity - S. 2588 - legislation to create infrastructure for government and private industry to share cyber threat information; advocate for passage and reasonable approach to new data security mandates. ADAPT Act - HR 3742 - legislation to create incentives and pathways for the expedited development of new drug therapies; advocate for passage as legislative measure to address drug resistance while ensuring preservation of FDA standards for drug safety and efficacy. Assist in review and development of possible revisions to the HIPAA Privacy Rule to allow expanded use of protected health information for research purposes. Advocate for sufficient government resources to support hospital preparedness and response to Ebola and/or other pandemics. Advocate for clarification of hospital compliance with DEAs final rule on disposal of controlled substances, including disposal methodologies, oversight and application.

Oppose efforts 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. Oppose efforts to repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals. Bad Debt Payments to Hospitals - Lawmakers have proposed lowering the amount of Medicare Bad Debt payments to hospitals for Medicare beneficiaries who fail to pay their cost-sharing obligations for treatments provided by the hospital. Direct and Indirect Graduate Medical Education Payments - Lawmakers have proposed changes to the way that hospitals are reimbursed for the costs of training physicians and other medical professionals. Advocate for the extension the Medicare Dependent Hospital (MDH) and current Low-Volume Hospital (LVH) programs. S. 842, the Rural Hospital Access Act of 2013 and H.R. 1787, the Rural Hospital Access Act of 2013 Oppose the lowering of Medicare outpatients rates for Evaluation and Management visits in a hospital S. 1680 - Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act of 2011 - A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to protect and preserve access of Medicare beneficiaries in rural areas to health care providers under the Medicare program, and for other purposes. Oppose any cuts to the Medicaid DSH funds above and beyond what was legislated in the Affordable Care Act Support a long-term patch or full repeal of the Sustainable Growth Rate for Physician payments in Medicare that does not cut hospitals. Oppose the proposal of lowering Medicare reimbursements to Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities. Support a reasonable one-time budget neutrality adjustment for long-term care hospitals. Sequestration - against extending the Medicare Sequester. Advocate in support of reauthorization of funding for quality measure development, endorsement, pre-rulemaking review and recommendations, and collection of data analyzing measure implementation under MIPPA (P.L. 110-275, Section 1980 ) and ACA (P.L. 111-148, Section 3014) for the consensus-based entity (National Quality Forum). H.R.1250 and S. 1012, "Medicare Audit Improvement Act of 2013" -- supports legislation to improve Medicare audits. Price Transparency - advocate for meaningful price transparency for consumers by ensuring they have access to out of pocket price information. Medicare IPPS- advocate for favorable IPPS and OPPS hospital reimbursement policies. CMS "2 Midnight" Policy - advocate for policy to allow for physician judgment on whether a patient should be considered inpatient or outpatient status; oppose Administration's proposed rule on "2 Midnight." National Quality Forum -Advocated for inclusion of private-sector multi-stakeholder processes in development, endorsement and use of quality measures in federal payment programs under consideration. H.R. 4994 and S. 2553, "IMPACT Act of 2014"- legislation intended to improve post acute care for Medicare beneficiaries by collecting and using standardized quality data; advocate to ensure stakeholder input appropriately included in measure endorsement and review. Protecting the Integrity of Medicare Act of 2014 - Bill to combat fraud, waste and abuse in the Medicare program by streamlining processes and improving program payment accuracy.

Oppose applying the $500,000 limit on insurance company executive compensation in the case of companies that only have only a small amount of insurance business as compared to total business.

Health Reform Implementation The Affordable Care Act enacted comprehensive reform of the health care delivery and payments systems in the United States. Specifically, FAH is advocating on implementation issues related to delivery reform affecting hospitals and insurance reform.HITECH Act - Implementation of meaningful use and privacy and security provisions in HITECH Act of 2009. Group Purchasing Organization Regulations Monitor policy proposals that would result in additional federal regulation of Group Purchasing Organizations. Pharmaceutical Compounding Follow implementation of enacted legislation to address pharmaceutical compounding and its impact on hospitals. H.R. 2186--To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide for the compounding of drug products and S. 959--To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to compounding drugs. H.R. 1473, the Standard of Care Protection Act, supports legislation to prevent certain Federal health care laws from establishing health care provider standards of care in medical malpractice cases. Realignment educate policymakers on the driving factors, benefits and implications of hospital realignment. ICD-10 -- discussions of effects of possible delay in implementation of the new ICD-10 coding system. H.R. 3776, the Stark Administrative Simplification Act supports legislation that would create an alternative, and more appropriate, penalty structure for hospitals that inadvertently incur a technical violation of the Stark self-referral law.

Oppose applying the $500,000 limit on insurance company executive compensation in the case of companies that only have only a small amount of insurance business as compared to total business.

Oppose efforts 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.Oppose efforts to repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals. Bad Debt Payments to Hospitals Lawmakers have proposed lowering the amount of Medicare Bad Debt payments to hospitals for Medicare beneficiaries who fail to pay their cost-sharing obligations for treatments provided by the hospital. Direct and Indirect Graduate Medical Education Payments Lawmakers have proposed changes to the way that hospitals are reimbursed for the costs of training physicians and other medical professionals. Advocate for the extension the Medicare Dependent Hospital (MDH) and current Low-Volume Hospital (LVH) programs. S. 842, the Rural Hospital Access Act of 2013 and H.R. 1787, the Rural Hospital Access Act of 2013 Oppose the lowering of Medicare outpatients rates for Evaluation and Management visits in a hospital S. 1680 - Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act of 2011 - A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to protect and preserve access of Medicare beneficiaries in rural areas to health care providers under the Medicare program, and for other purposes. Support transition to revised Medicare DSH policy Oppose any cuts to the Medicaid DSH funds above and beyond what was legislated in the Affordable Care Act Support a long-term patch or full repeal of the Sustainable Growth Rate for Physician payments in Medicare that does not cut hospitals. Oppose the proposal of lowering Medicare reimbursements to Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities. Support a reasonable one-time budget neutrality adjustment for long-term care hospitals. Sequestration - against extending the Medicare Sequester to pay for extensions of unemployment insurance or other non-health care programs. Advocate in support of reauthorization of funding for quality measure development, endorsement, pre-rulemaking review and recommendations, and collection of data analyzing measure implementation under MIPPA (P.L. 110-275, Section 1980 ) and ACA (P.L. 111-148, Section 3014) for the consensus-based entity (National Quality Forum). H.R.1250 and S. 1012, "Medicare Audit Improvement Act of 2013" -- supports legislation to improve Medicare audits. Advocate for lower hospital Medicare/ Medicaid cuts in any Entitlement Reform package. Price Transparency - advocate for meaningful price transparency for consumers by ensuring they have access to out of pocket price information. Medicare IPPS- advocate for favorable IPPS and OPPS hospital reimbursement policies. CMS "2 Midnight" Policy - advocate for policy to allow for physician judgment on whether a patient should be considered inpatient or outpatient status; oppose Administration's proposed rule on "2 Midnight." H.R. 3796, "The Comprehensive Care Payment Innovation Act" - Establishes a voluntary bundle payment model. FAH was asked to review.

Oppose efforts 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. Oppose efforts to repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals. Bad Debt Payments to Hospitals Lawmakers have proposed lowering the amount of Medicare Bad Debt payments to hospitals for Medicare beneficiaries who fail to pay their cost-sharing obligations for treatments provided by the hospital. Direct and Indirect Graduate Medical Education Payments Lawmakers have proposed changes to the way that hospitals are reimbursed for the costs of training physicians and other medical professionals. Advocate for the extension the Medicare Dependent Hospital (MDH) and current Low-Volume Hospital (LVH) programs. S. 842, the Rural Hospital Access Act of 2013 and H.R. 1787, the Rural Hospital Access Act of 2013 Oppose the lowering of Medicare outpatients rates for Evaluation and Management visits in a hospital S. 1680 - Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act of 2011 - A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to protect and preserve access of Medicare beneficiaries in rural areas to health care providers under the Medicare program, and for other purposes. Support transition to revised Medicare DSH policy Oppose any cuts to the Medicaid DSH funds above and beyond what was legislated in the Affordable Care Act Support a long-term patch or full repeal of the Sustainable Growth Rate for Physician payments in Medicare that does not cut hospitals. Oppose the proposal of lowering Medicare reimbursements to Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities. Support a reasonable one-time budget neutrality adjustment for long-term care hospitals. Sequestration - work to mitigate impact of Medicare sequestration on hospitals per the Budget Control Act. Advocate in support of reauthorization of funding for quality measure development, endorsement, pre-rulemaking review and recommendations, and collection of data analyzing measure implementation under MIPPA (P.L. 110-275, Section 1980 ) and ACA (P.L. 111-148, Section 3014) for the consensus-based entity (National Quality Forum). H.R.1250 and S. 1012, "Medicare Audit Improvement Act of 2013" -- supports legislation to improve Medicare audits. Advocate for lower hospital Medicare/ Medicaid cuts in any Entitlement Reform package. Price Transparency - advocate for meaningful price transparency for consumers by ensuring they have access to out of pocket price information. Medicare IPPS- advocate for favorable IPPS and OPPS hospital reimbursement policies. CMS "2 Midnight" Policy - advocate for policy to allow for physician judgment on whether a patient should be considered inpatient or outpatient status; oppose Administration's proposed rule on "2 Midnight." H.R. 3796, "The Comprehensive Care Payment Innovation Act" - Establishes a voluntary bundle payment model. FAH was asked to review.

Oppose efforts 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.Oppose efforts to repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals. Bad Debt Payments to Hospitals Lawmakers have proposed lowering the amount of Medicare Bad Debt payments to hospitals for Medicare beneficiaries who fail to pay their cost-sharing obligations for treatments provided by the hospital. Direct and Indirect Graduate Medical Education Payments Lawmakers have proposed changes to the way that hospitals are reimbursed for the costs of training physicians and other medical professionals. Advocate for the extension the Medicare Dependent Hospital (MDH) and current Low-Volume Hospital (LVH) programs. S. 842, the Rural Hospital Access Act of 2013 and H.R. 1787, the Rural Hospital Access Act of 2013 Oppose the lowering of Medicare outpatients rates for Evaluation and Management visits in a hospital S. 1680 - Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act of 2011 - A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to protect and preserve access of Medicare beneficiaries in rural areas to health care providers under the Medicare program, and for other purposes. Support transition to revised Medicare DSH policy Oppose any cuts to the Medicaid DSH funds above and beyond what was legislated in the Affordable Care Act Support a long-term patch or full repeal of the Sustainable Growth Rate for Physician payments in Medicare Oppose the proposal of lowering Medicare reimbursements to Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities. Support a reasonable one-time budget neutrality adjustment for long-term care hospitals. Sequestration - work to mitigate impact of Medicare sequestration on hospitals per the Budget Control Act. Advocate in support of reauthorization of funding for quality measure development, endorsement, pre-rulemaking review and recommendations, and collection of data analyzing measure implementation under MIPPA (P.L. 110-275, Section 1980 ) and ACA (P.L. 111-148, Section 3014) for the consensus-based entity (National Quality Forum). H.R.1250 and S. 1012, "Medicare Audit Improvement Act of 2013" -- supports legislation to improve Medicare audits. Advocate for lower hospital Medicare/ Medicaid cuts in any Entitlment Reform package. Price Transparency - advocate for meaningful price transparency for consumers by ensuring they have access to out of pocket price information. Medicare DSH - support H.R. 1920, delaying the ACA's Medicaid and Medicare DSH cuts for two years until FY 2016. Medicare IPPS- advocate for favorable IPPS and OPPS hospital reimbursement policies. CSM "2 Midnight" Policy - advocate for policy to allow for physician judgment on whether a patient should be considered inpatient or outpatient status; oppose Administration's proposed rule on "2 Midnight."

S. 616, "Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Act" and S.747, "A bill to provide for comprehensive immigration reform and for other purposes" -- to improve the physician immigration system and address current and growing physician shortages by expanding visa options for American-trained foreign physicians.

Health Reform Implementation The Affordable Care Act enacted comprehensive reform of the health care delivery and payments systems in the United States. Specifically, FAH is advocating on implementation issues related to delivery reform affecting hospitals and insurance reform.HITECH Act - Implementation of meaningful use and privacy and security provisions in HITECH Act of 2009. Group Purchasing Organization Regulations Monitor policy proposals that would result in additional federal regulation of Group Purchasing Organizations. Support legislation to develop quality measures to improve the health of mothers and babies during pregnancy and immediately following. Pharmaceutical Compounding Follow Congressional and Administration efforts to address pharmaceutical compounding and its impact on hospitals. H.R. 2186--To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide for the compounding of drug products and S. 959--To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to compounding drugs. H.R. 1473, the Standard of Care Protection Act -- all provisions related to medical malpractice.

Health Reform Implementation The Affordable Care Act enacted comprehensive reform of the health care delivery and payments systems in the United States. Specifically, FAH is advocating on implementation issues related to delivery reform affecting hospitals and insurance reform.HITECH Act - Implementation of meaningful use and privacy and security provisions in HITECH Act of 2009. Group Purchasing Organization Regulations Monitor policy proposals that would result in additional federal regulation of Group Purchasing Organizations. Support legislation to develop quality measures to improve the health of mothers and babies during pregnancy and immediately following. Pharmaceutical Compounding Follow Congressional and Administration efforts to address pharmaceutical compounding and its impact on hospitals. H.R. 1473, the Standard of Care Protection Act -- all provisions related to medical malpractice.

S. 616, "Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Act" and S.747, "A bill to provide for comprehensive immigration reform and for other purposes" -- to improve the physician immigration system and address current and growing physician shortages by expanding visa options for American-trained foreign physicians.

Oppose efforts 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.Oppose efforts to repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals. Bad Debt Payments to Hospitals Lawmakers have proposed lowering the amount of Medicare Bad Debt payments to hospitals for Medicare beneficiaries who fail to pay their cost-sharing obligations for treatments provided by the hospital. Direct and Indirect Graduate Medical Education Payments Lawmakers have proposed changes to the way that hospitals are reimbursed for the costs of training physicians and other medical professionals. Advocate for the extension the Medicare Dependent Hospital (MDH) and current Low-Volume Hospital (LVH) programs. S. 842, the Rural Hospital Access Act of 2013 and H.R. 1787, the Rural Hospital Access Act of 2013 Oppose the lowering of Medicare outpatients rates for Evaluation and Management visits in a hospital S. 1680 - Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act of 2011 - A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to protect and preserve access of Medicare beneficiaries in rural areas to health care providers under the Medicare program, and for other purposes. Support transition to revised Medicare DSH policy Oppose any cuts to the Medicaid DSH funds above and beyond what was legislated in the Affordable Care Act Support a long-term patch or full repeal of the Sustainable Growth Rate for Physician payments in Medicare that does not cut hospitals. Oppose the proposal of lowering Medicare reimbursements to Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities. Support a reasonable one-time budget neutrality adjustment for long-term care hospitals. Sequestration - work to mitigate impact of Medicare sequestration on hospitals per the Budget Control Act. Advocate in support of reauthorization of funding for quality measure development, endorsement, pre-rulemaking review and recommendations, and collection of data analyzing measure implementation under MIPPA (P.L. 110-275, Section 1980 ) and ACA (P.L. 111-148, Section 3014) for the consensus-based entity (National Quality Forum). H.R.1250 and S. 1012, "Medicare Audit Improvement Act of 2013" -- supports legislation to improve Medicare audits. Advocate for lower hospital Medicare/ Medicaid cuts in any Entitlement Reform package. Price Transparency - advocate for meaningful price transparency for consumers by ensuring they have access to out of pocket price information. Medicare IPPS- advocate for favorable IPPS and OPPS hospital reimbursement policies. CMS "2 Midnight" Policy - advocate for policy to allow for physician judgment on whether a patient should be considered inpatient or outpatient status; oppose Administration's proposed rule on "2 Midnight." H.R. 3796, "The Comprehensive Care Payment Innovation Act" - Establishes a voluntary bundle payment model. FAH was asked to review.

Oppose applying the $500,000 limit on insurance company executive compensation in the case of companies that only have only a small amount of insurance business as compared to total business.

S. 616, "Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Act" and S.747, "A bill to provide for comprehensive immigration reform and for other purposes" -- to improve the physician immigration system and address current and growing physician shortages by expanding visa options for American-trained foreign physicians.

Oppose efforts 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.Oppose efforts to repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals. Bad Debt Payments to Hospitals Lawmakers have proposed lowering the amount of Medicare Bad Debt payments to hospitals for Medicare beneficiaries who fail to pay their cost-sharing obligations for treatments provided by the hospital. Direct and Indirect Graduate Medical Education Payments Lawmakers have proposed changes to the way that hospitals are reimbursed for the costs of training physicians and other medical professionals. Advocate for the extension the Medicare Dependent Hospital (MDH) and current Low-Volume Hospital (LVH) programs. S. 842, the Rural Hospital Access Act of 2013 and H.R. 1787, the Rural Hospital Access Act of 2013 Oppose the lowering of Medicare outpatients rates for Evaluation and Management visits in a hospital S. 1680 - Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act of 2011 - A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to protect and preserve access of Medicare beneficiaries in rural areas to health care providers under the Medicare program, and for other purposes. Support transition to revised Medicare DSH policy Oppose any cuts to the Medicaid DSH funds above and beyond what was legislated in the Affordable Care Act Support a long-term patch or full repeal of the Sustainable Growth Rate for Physician payments in Medicare that does not cut hospitals. Oppose the proposal of lowering Medicare reimbursements to Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities. Support a reasonable one-time budget neutrality adjustment for long-term care hospitals. Sequestration - work to mitigate impact of Medicare sequestration on hospitals per the Budget Control Act. Advocate in support of reauthorization of funding for quality measure development, endorsement, pre-rulemaking review and recommendations, and collection of data analyzing measure implementation under MIPPA (P.L. 110-275, Section 1980 ) and ACA (P.L. 111-148, Section 3014) for the consensus-based entity (National Quality Forum). H.R.1250 and S. 1012, "Medicare Audit Improvement Act of 2013" -- supports legislation to improve Medicare audits. Advocate for lower hospital Medicare/ Medicaid cuts in any Entitlement Reform package. Price Transparency - advocate for meaningful price transparency for consumers by ensuring they have access to out of pocket price information. Medicare IPPS- advocate for favorable IPPS and OPPS hospital reimbursement policies. CMS "2 Midnight" Policy - advocate for policy to allow for physician judgment on whether a patient should be considered inpatient or outpatient status; oppose Administration's proposed rule on "2 Midnight." H.R. 3796, "The Comprehensive Care Payment Innovation Act" - Establishes a voluntary bundle payment model. FAH was asked to review.

Oppose efforts 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.Oppose efforts to repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals. Bad Debt Payments to Hospitals Lawmakers have proposed lowering the amount of Medicare Bad Debt payments to hospitals for Medicare beneficiaries who fail to pay their cost-sharing obligations for treatments provided by the hospital. Direct and Indirect Graduate Medical Education Payments Lawmakers have proposed changes to the way that hospitals are reimbursed for the costs of training physicians and other medical professionals. Advocate for the extension the Medicare Dependent Hospital (MDH) and current Low-Volume Hospital (LVH) programs. S. 842, the Rural Hospital Access Act of 2013 and H.R. 1787, the Rural Hospital Access Act of 2013 Oppose the lowering of Medicare outpatients rates for Evaluation and Management visits in a hospital S. 1680 - Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act of 2011 - A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to protect and preserve access of Medicare beneficiaries in rural areas to health care providers under the Medicare program, and for other purposes. Support transition to revised Medicare DSH policy Oppose any cuts to the Medicaid DSH funds above and beyond what was legislated in the Affordable Care Act Support a long-term patch or full repeal of the Sustainable Growth Rate for Physician payments in Medicare Oppose the proposal of lowering Medicare reimbursements to Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities. Support a reasonable one-time budget neutrality adjustment for long-term care hospitals. Sequestration - work to mitigate impact of Medicare sequestration on hospitals per the Budget Control Act. Advocate in support of reauthorization of funding for quality measure development, endorsement, pre-rulemaking review and recommendations, and collection of data analyzing measure implementation under MIPPA (P.L. 110-275, Section 1980 ) and ACA (P.L. 111-148, Section 3014) for the consensus-based entity (National Quality Forum). H.R.1250 and S. 1012, "Medicare Audit Improvement Act of 2013" -- supports legislation to improve Medicare audits. Advocate for lower hospital Medicare/ Medicaid cuts in any Entitlment Reform package. Price Transparency - advocate for meaningful price transparency for consumers by ensuring they have access to out of pocket price information. Medicare DSH - support H.R. 1920, delaying the ACA's Medicaid and Medicare DSH cuts for two years until FY 2016. Medicare IPPS- advocate for favorable IPPS and OPPS hospital reimbursement policies. CSM "2 Midnight" Policy - advocate for policy to allow for physician judgment on whether a patient should be considered inpatient or outpatient status; oppose Administration's proposed rule on "2 Midnight."

Health Reform Implementation The Affordable Care Act enacted comprehensive reform of the health care delivery and payments systems in the United States. Specifically, FAH is advocating on implementation issues related to delivery reform affecting hospitals and insurance reform.HITECH Act - Implementation of meaningful use and privacy and security provisions in HITECH Act of 2009. Group Purchasing Organization Regulations Monitor policy proposals that would result in additional federal regulation of Group Purchasing Organizations. Support legislation to develop quality measures to improve the health of mothers and babies during pregnancy and immediately following. Pharmaceutical Compounding Follow Congressional and Administration efforts to address pharmaceutical compounding and its impact on hospitals. H.R. 2186--To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide for the compounding of drug products and S. 959--To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to compounding drugs. H.R. 1473, the Standard of Care Protection Act -- all provisions related to medical malpractice.

Oppose applying the $500,000 limit on insurance company executive compensation in the case of companies that only have only a small amount of insurance business as compared to total business.

Health Reform Implementation The Affordable Care Act enacted comprehensive reform of the health care delivery and payments systems in the United States. Specifically, FAH is advocating on implementation issues related to delivery reform affecting hospitals and insurance reform.HITECH Act - Implementation of meaningful use and privacy and security provisions in HITECH Act of 2009. Group Purchasing Organization Regulations Monitor policy proposals that would result in additional federal regulation of Group Purchasing Organizations. Support legislation to develop quality measures to improve the health of mothers and babies during pregnancy and immediately following. Pharmaceutical Compounding Follow Congressional and Administration efforts to address pharmaceutical compounding and its impact on hospitals. H.R. 1473, the Standard of Care Protection Act -- all provisions related to medical malpractice.

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 H.R.1186 - To repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals. Bad Debt Payments to Hospitals Lawmakers have proposed lowering the amount of Medicare Bad Debt payments to hospitals for Medicare beneficiaries who fail to pay their cost-sharing obligations for treatments provided by the hospital. Oppose changes to current law impacting Medicare Documentation and Coding. Direct and Indirect Graduate Medical Education Payments Lawmakers have proposed changes to the way that hospitals are reimbursed for the costs of training physicians and other medical professionals. S. 2620 - Rural Hospital Access Act of 2012- A bill that would extend the Medicare Dependent Hospital (MDH) and current Low-Volume Hospital (LVH) programs and would prevent the pending expiration of both programs on October, 1 2012. Oppose the lowering of Medicare outpatients rates for Evaluation and Management visits in a hospital S. 1680 - Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act of 2011 - A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to protect and preserve access of Medicare beneficiaries in rural areas to health care providers under the Medicare program, and for other purposes. Oppose the reduction of allowed Medicaid provider taxes in states Oppose any cuts to the Medicaid DSH funds above and beyond what was legislated in the Affordable Care Act CMS Coverage Determination Policy Support a long-term patch or full repeal of the Sustainable Growth Rate for Physician payments in Medicare Oppose the proposal of lowering Medicare reimbursements to Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities. Support a reasonable one-time budget neutrality adjustment for long-term care hospitals. Medicaid and Medicare dual-eligibles- limit the size, scope and envisioned savings from the dual-eligibles demonstrations per the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Inpatient Prospective Payment System- CMS proposed rule for hospitals paid under the Inpatient Prospective Payment System and the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System that would increase Medicare's operating payments to acute-care hospitals for fiscal year 2013. Sequestration - work to mitigate impact of Medicare sequestration on hospitals per the Budget Control Act. S. 3391- the Taking Essential Steps for Testing (TEST) Act of 2012- A bill that would provide CMS with flexibility to apply sanctions appropriate to the level of noncompliance and improve access to essential laboratory services. Advocate in support of reauthorization of funding for quality measure development, endorsement, pre-rulemaking review and recommendations, and collection of data analyzing measure implementation under MIPPA (P.L. 110-275, Section 1980 ) and ACA (P.L. 111-148, Section 3014) for the consensus-based entity (National Quality Forum). H.R. 6575, "Medicare Audit Improvement Act of 2012" -- supports legislation to improve Medicare audits.

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. H.R.1186 - To repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals. Bad Debt Payments to Hospitals Lawmakers have proposed lowering the amount of Medicare Bad Debt payments to hospitals for Medicare beneficiaries who fail to pay their cost-sharing obligations for treatments provided by the hospital. Direct and Indirect Graduate Medical Education Payments Lawmakers have proposed changes to the way that hospitals are reimbursed for the costs of training physicians and other medical professionals. S. 2620 - Rural Hospital Access Act of 2012- A bill that would extend the Medicare Dependent Hospital (MDH) and current Low-Volume Hospital (LVH) programs and would prevent the pending expiration of both programs on October, 1 2012. Oppose the lowering of Medicare outpatients rates for Evaluation and Management visits in a hospital S. 1680 - Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act of 2011 - A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to protect and preserve access of Medicare beneficiaries in rural areas to health care providers under the Medicare program, and for other purposes. Oppose the reduction of allowed Medicaid provider taxes in states Oppose any cuts to the Medicaid DSH funds above and beyond what was legislated in the Affordable Care Act CMS Coverage Determination Policy Support a long-term patch or full repeal of the Sustainable Growth Rate for Physician payments in Medicare Oppose the proposal of lowering reimbursements to Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities through Medicare. Support a reasonable one-time budget neutrality adjustment for long-term care hospitals. Medicaid and Medicare dual-eligibles- limit the dual-eligibles demonstrations per the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Inpatient Propsective Payment System- CMS proposed rule for hospitals paid under the Inpatient Prospective Payment System and the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System that would increase Medicare's operating payments to acute-care hospitals for fiscal year 2013. Sequestration - work to mitigate impact of Medicare sequestration on hospitals per the Budget Control Act. S. 3391- the Taking Essential Steps for Testing (TEST) Act of 2012- A bill that would provide CMS with flexibility to apply sanctions appropriate to the level of noncompliance and improve access to essential laboratory services. Advocate in support of reauthorization of funding for quality measure development, endorsement, pre-rulemaking review and recommendations, and collection of data analyzing measure implementation under MIPPA (P.L. 110-275, Section 1980 ) and ACA (P.L. 111-148, Section 3014) for the consensus-based entity (National Quality Forum).

Oppose applying the $500,000 limit on insurance company executive compensation in the case of companies that only have only a small amount of insurance business as compared to total business.

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. H.R.1186 - To repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals. Bad Debt Payments to Hospitals Lawmakers have proposed lowering the amount of Medicare Bad Debt payments to hospitals for Medicare beneficiaries who fail to pay their cost-sharing obligations for treatments provided by the hospital. Direct and Indirect Graduate Medical Education Payments Lawmakers have proposed changes to the way that hospitals are reimbursed for the costs of training physicians and other medical professionals. S. 2620 - Rural Hospital Access Act of 2012- A bill that would extend the Medicare Dependent Hospital (MDH) and current Low-Volume Hospital (LVH) programs and would prevent the pending expiration of both programs on October, 1 2012. Oppose the lowering of Medicare outpatients rates for Evaluation and Management visits in a hospital S. 1680 - Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act of 2011 - A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to protect and preserve access of Medicare beneficiaries in rural areas to health care providers under the Medicare program, and for other purposes. Oppose the reduction of allowed Medicaid provider taxes in states Oppose any cuts to the Medicaid DSH funds above and beyond what was legislated in the Affordable Care Act CMS Coverage Determination Policy Support a long-term patch or full repeal of the Sustainable Growth Rate for Physician payments in Medicare Oppose the proposal of lowering reimbursements to Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities through Medicare. Support a reasonable one-time budget neutrality adjustment for long-term care hospitals. Medicaid and Medicare dual-eligibles- limit the dual-eligibles demonstrations per the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Inpatient Propsective Payment System- CMS proposed rule for hospitals paid under the Inpatient Prospective Payment System and the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System that would increase Medicare"s operating payments to acute-care hospitals for fiscal year 2013.

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 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. H.R.1186 - To repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals. Bad Debt Payments to Hospitals Lawmakers have proposed lowering the amount of Medicare Bad Debt payments to hospitals for Medicare beneficiaries who fail to pay their cost-sharing obligations for treatments provided by the hospital. Direct and Indirect Graduate Medical Education Payments Lawmakers have proposed changes to the way that hospitals are reimbursed for the costs of training physicians and other medical professionals. Support extension of a number of rural Medicare payment policies set to expire at the end of 2011. Oppose the lowering of Medicare outpatients rates for Evaluation and Management visits in a hospital S. 1680 - Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act of 2011 - A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to protect and preserve access of Medicare beneficiaries in rural areas to health care providers under the Medicare program, and for other purposes. Oppose the reduction of allowed Medicaid provider taxes in states Oppose any cuts to the Medicaid DSH funds above and beyond what was legislated in the Affordable Care Act CMS Coverage Determination Policy Support a long-term patch or full repeal of the Sustainable Growth Rate for Physician payments in Medicare Oppose the proposal of lowering reimbursements to Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities through Medicare

Oppose applying the $500,000 limit on insurance company executive compensation in the case of companies that only have only a small amount of insurance business as compared to total business

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 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. H.R.1186 - To repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals. Bad Debt Payments to Hospitals Lawmakers have proposed lowering the amount of Medicare Bad Debt payments to hospitals for Medicare beneficiaries who fail to pay their cost-sharing obligations for treatments provided by the hospital. Direct and Indirect Graduate Medical Education Payments Lawmakers have proposed changes to the way that hospitals are reimbursed for the costs of training physicians and other medical professionals. Support extension of a number of rural Medicare payment policies set to expire at the end of 2011. Oppose the lowering of Medicare outpatients rates for Evaluation and Management visits in a hospital S. 1680 - Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act of 2011 - A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to protect and preserve access of Medicare beneficiaries in rural areas to health care providers under the Medicare program, and for other purposes. Oppose the reduction of allowed Medicaid provider taxes in states Oppose any cuts to the Medicaid DSH funds above and beyond what was legislated in the Affordable Care Act CMS Coverage Determination Policy Support a long-term patch or full repeal of the Sustainable Growth Rate for Physician payments in Medicare Oppose the proposal of lowering reimbursements to Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities through Medicare

In-Patient Prospective Payment System Rulemaking Yearly CMS proposed rulemaking. Outlier Reform - Current law prevents CMS from reconciling acute inpatient outlier payments from one year to the next, should payments exceed or fall short of the 5.1 percent target amount on which the outlier threshold is based. The outlier pool is funded by reducing the DRG base payment for all PPS hospitals and for all discharges. Accountable Care Organizations An innovation of PPACA that attempts to integrate care in order to achieve savings in the Medicare program. Hospital Readmissions Policies A policy concept that would penalize hospitals for preventable readmissions to hospitals through Medicare reimbursement. Intended to save the Medicare system money in order to pay for a coverage expansion in health reform. 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. H.R.1186 - To repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals. Medicaid Maintenance of Effort Proposals to repeal provision of the Affordable Care Act that would relieve states of their requirement to maintain Medicaid eligibility standards until 2014. Bad Debt Payments to Hospitals Lawmakers have proposed lowering the amount of Medicare Bad Debt payments to hospitals for Medicare beneficiaries who fail to pay their cost-sharing obligations for treatments provided by the hospital. Direct and Indirect Graduate Medical Education Payments Lawmakers have proposed changes to the way that hospitals are reimbursed for the costs of training physicians and other medical professionals. Support extension of a number of Medicare payment policies set to expire at the end of 2011. Dual Eligible Reform Support reform of reimbursements for patients eligible for both medicare and Medicaid Medicare Part A / Part B Rebilling Reform Support allowing hospitals that have claims denied by RACs under Medicare Part A to file the claim under Part B of Medicare Medicaid Block Grants Oppose proposals to reform Medicaid payments to states into block grants

Supporting attempts to repeal the imposition of withholding on certain payments made to vendors by government entities.

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. H.R.1186 - To repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals. Bad Debt Payments to Hospitals Lawmakers have proposed lowering the amount of Medicare Bad Debt payments to hospitals for Medicare beneficiaries who fail to pay their cost-sharing obligations for treatments provided by the hospital. Direct and Indirect Graduate Medical Education Payments Lawmakers have proposed changes to the way that hospitals are reimbursed for the costs of training physicians and other medical professionals. Support extension of a number of rural Medicare payment policies set to expire at the end of 2011. Oppose the lowering of Medicare outpatients rates for Evaluation and Management visits in a hospital S. 1680 - Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act of 2011 - A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to protect and preserve access of Medicare beneficiaries in rural areas to health care providers under the Medicare program, and for other purposes. Oppose the reduction of allowed Medicaid provider taxes in states Oppose any cuts to the Medicaid DSH funds above and beyond what was legislated in the Affordable Care Act CMS Coverage Determination Policy Support a long-term patch or full repeal of the Sustainable Growth Rate for Physician payments in Medicare Oppose the proposal of lowering reimbursements to Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities through Medicare

Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction and Budget Control Act Opposing many of the possible cuts to hospital reimbursements that could be included in the JSCs final recommendations.

Supporting attempts to repeal the imposition of withholding on certain payments made to vendors by government entities.

Department of Labor and Internal Revenue Service Proposed Rule on Exempt Communications

House Budget Resolution FY2012 Provisions of the FY12 budget resolution deals with the Medicare and Medicaid portions of the budget. Presidents Deficit Reduction Commission In January 2010 President Obama signed an Executive Order creating a Deficit Reduction Commission. The purpose of this commission will be to make recommendations on reducing inefficiencies in entitlements with the result of reducing the nations deficit. The Commission produced a report in December 2010 that proposed cuts to the Medicare and Medicaid programs that could impact hospitals including Dual Eligible Reform, IME/GME Payment Reductions, and Bad Debt Payments.

HR 5 - Medical Liability Reform Numerous policy proposals have been developed that would seek to reform the federal medical liability laws. HITECH Act - Implementation of meaningful use and privacy and security provisions in HITECH Act of 2009. Group Purchasing Organization Regulations Policy proposals have been discussed in the context of health reform that would result in additional federal regulation of Group Purchasing Organizations. Health Reform Implementation The President and Congress passed plans to institute comprehensive reform of the health care delivery and payments systems in the United States. (Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Bill, Senate Finance Bill, House Tri-Committee Bill, HR 3962, and HR 3590). FAH is focused on specific provisions of the bill that impact Medicare and Medicaid payments and other hospital related policies (i.e. Value-Based Purchasing, IPAB, Medicaid Expansion, Individual Mandate, Employer Mandate, Insurance Exchanges, Maintenance of Effort, Medical Loss Ratios, Medical Malpractice Reform, Quality Initiatives, CLASS Act, Workforce, etc.) Healthcare Acquired Conditions/Infections There are a number of government activities related to reducing the number of healthcare acquired conditions or infections. Group Purchasing Organization Regulations Policy proposals have been discussed in the context of health reform that would result in additional federal regulation of Group Purchasing Organizations.

Health Reform Implementation The President and Congress passed plans to institute comprehensive reform of the health care delivery and payments systems in the United States. (Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Bill, Senate Finance Bill, House Tri-Committee Bill, HR 3962, and HR 3590) HITECH Act - Implementation of meaningful use and privacy and security provisions in HITECH Act of 2009. Group Purchasing Organization Regulations Policy proposals have been discussed in the context of health reform that would result in additional federal regulation of Group Purchasing Organizations. HR 1 - Medical Liability Reform Numerous policy proposals have been developed that would seek to reform the federal medical liability laws. Healthcare Acquired Conditions/Infections There are a number of government activities related to reducing the number of healthcare acquired conditions or infections.

FMAP - The Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAPs) are used in determining the amount of Federal matching funds for State expenditures for assistance payments for certain social services, and State medical and medical insurance expenditures. The Social Security Act requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to calculate and publish the FMAPs each year. Out-Patient Prospective Payment System Rulemaking Yearly CMS proposed rulemaking. In-Patient Prospective Payment System Rulemaking Yearly CMS proposed rulemaking. 72 Hour Rule A provision of HR4213 that closed the 3-day payment window for hospitals to re-submit Medicare claims to unbundle unrelated payments. HR 5950 - To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to count a period of observation status in a hospital exceeding 24 hours toward satisfying the 3-day inpatient hospital requirement for coverage of skilled nursing facility services under Medicare. Outlier Reform - Current law prevents CMS from reconciling acute inpatient outlier payments from one year to the next, should payments exceed or fall short of the 5.1 percent target amount on which the outlier threshold is based. The outlier pool is funded by reducing the DRG base payment for all PPS hospitals and for all discharges. Value based purchasing Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) initiative to more closely tie payments to providers with the quality of care provided. Accountable Care Organizations An innovation of PPACA that attempts to integrate care in order to achieve savings in the Medicare program. Hospital Readmissions Policies A policy concept that would penalize hospitals for preventable readmissions to hospitals through Medicare reimbursement. Intended to save the Medicare system money in order to pay for a coverage expansion in health reform. 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. H.R.1186 - To repeal changes made by health care reform laws to the Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals. Medicaid Maintenance-of-Effort - Provisions of PPACA require that states maintain their current Medicaid elegibility until 2014 when Medicaid expansion laws go into effect. There are efforts to repeal this provision underway.

FMAP - The Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAPs) are used in determining the amount of Federal matching funds for State expenditures for assistance payments for certain social services, and State medical and medical insurance expenditures. The Social Security Act requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to calculate and publish the FMAPs each year. 72 Hour Rule A provision of HR4213 that closed the 3-day payment window for hospitals to re-submit Medicare claims to unbundle unrelated payments. HR 5950 - To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to count a period of observation status in a hospital exceeding 24 hours toward satisfying the 3-day inpatient hospital requirement for coverage of skilled nursing facility services under Medicare. Outlier Reform - Current law prevents CMS from reconciling acute inpatient outlier payments from one year to the next, should payments exceed or fall short of the 5.1 percent target amount on which the outlier threshold is based. The outlier pool is funded by reducing the DRG base payment for all PPS hospitals and for all discharges. Value based purchasing Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) initiative to more closely tie payments to providers with the quality of care provided. Accountable Care Organizations An innovation of PPACA that attempts to integrate care in order to achieve savings in the Medicare program. Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Comment Letter Hospital Readmissions Policies A policy concept that would penalize hospitals for preventable readmissions to hospitals through Medicare reimbursement. Intended to save the Medicare system money in order to pay for a coverage expansion in health reform.

HR 1409 - Employee Free Choice Act of 2009 - 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. S. 560 Employee Free Choice Act of 2009 - A bill 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 the organizing efforts, and for other purposes.

Health Reform Implementation The President and Congress passed plans to institute comprehensive reform of the health care delivery and payments systems in the United States. (Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Bill, Senate Finance Bill, House Tri-Committee Bill, HR 3962, and HR 3590) HITECH Act - Implementation of meaningful use and privacy and security provisions in HITECH Act of 2009. HR 6072 - 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. 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. Group Purchasing Organization Regulations Policy proposals have been discussed in the context of health reform that would result in additional federal regulation of Group Purchasing Organizations. Medical Liability Reform Numerous policy proposals have been developed that would seek to reform the federal medical liability laws. Healthcare Acquired Conditions/Infections There are a number of government activities related to reducing the number of healthcare acquired conditions or infections. Medical Loss Ratios A provision of the health reform legislation of 2010 required that health insurance plans meet a minimum threshold of premium dollars spent on actually medical care. Johanns Amendment Amendment #4596 to Small Business Bill Would have returned the 1099 issuance threshold to $5,000 and would pay for this change of law by lowering the threshold for obtaining an exemption from the health reform laws personal responsibility mandate. Senator Mike Enzi Resolution of Disapproval on Grandfathered Health Insurance Plans Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY) introduced a resolution of disapproval to overturn the grandfathering clause of the healthcare reform law.

Ban on Self-Referral to Physician-Owned Hospitals Provision that will prospectively ban the practice of physicians referring patients to hospitals that are owned by the physician. FMAP - The Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAPs) are used in determining the amount of Federal matching funds for State expenditures for assistance payments for certain social services, and State medical and medical insurance expenditures. The Social Security Act requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to calculate and publish the FMAPs each year. In-Patient Prospective Payment System Rulemaking Yearly CMS proposed rulemaking. 72 Hour Rule A provision of HR4213 that closed the 3-day payment window for hospitals to re-submit Medicare claims to unbundle unrelated payments. Disproportionate Share Payments As a part of the health reform debate there has been discussion of using a cut to Disproportionate Share (DSH) payments to hospitals as a way of paying for coverage expansion. Hospital Readmissions Policies A policy concept that would penalize hospitals for preventable readmissions to hospitals through Medicare reimbursement. Intended to save the Medicare system money in order to pay for a coverage expansion in health reform.

Health Reform The President and Congress passed plans to institute comprehensive reform of the health care delivery and payments systems in the United States. (Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Bill, Senate Finance Bill, House Tri-Committee Bill, HR 3962, and HR 3590) HR 4872 Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 Includes changes to the health reform legislation that are agreed on between both Senate and House leaders. HITECH Act - Implementation of meaningful use and privacy and security provisions in HITECH Act of 2009. Stand for Quality - Initiative to codify the health care quality infrastructure that has operated outside the realm of Congress to this point. HR 1776 - Quality FIRST (From Incentives, Reporting, Standards, and Technology) Act of 2009 - 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, and for other purposes. Group Purchasing Organization Regulations Policy proposals have been discussed in the context of health reform that would result in additional federal regulation of Group Purchasing Organizations. Medical Liability Reform Numerous policy proposals have been developed that would seek to reform the federal medical liability laws. Price transparency Policy proposals have been discussed that would make pricing of health care services more transparent. Healthcare Acquired Conditions/Infections There are a number of government activities related to reducing the number of healthcare acquired conditions or infections.

Health Reform The President and Congress have been developing plans to institute comprehensive reform of the health care delivery and payments systems in the United States. (Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Bill, Senate Finance Bill, House Tri-Committee Bill, HR 3962, and HR 3590) HITECH Act - Implementation of meaningful use and privacy and security provisions in HITECH Act of 2009. Stand for Quality - Initiative to codify the health care quality infrastructure that has operated outside the realm of Congress to this point. HR 1776 - Quality FIRST (From Incentives, Reporting, Standards, and Technology) Act of 2009 - 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, and for other purposes. Group Purchasing Organization Regulations Policy proposals have been discussed in the context of health reform that would result in additional federal regulation of Group Purchasing Organizations. Medical Liability Reform Numerous policy proposals have been developed that would seek to reform the federal medical liability laws. Price transparency Policy proposals have been discussed that would make pricing of health care services more transparent. Healthcare Acquired Conditions/Infections There are a number of government activities related to reducing the number of healthcare acquired conditions or infections.

Health Care Reform The President and Congress have been developing plans to institute comprehensive reform of the health care delivery and payments systems in the United States. (Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Bill, House Tri-Committee Bill) HIT - HR 1 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 - Making supplemental appropriations for job preservation and creation, infrastructure investment, energy efficiency and science, assistance to the unemployed, and State and local fiscal stabilization, for fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes. HR 1776 - Quality FIRST (From Incentives, Reporting, Standards, and Technology) Act of 2009 - 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, and for other purposes. Stand for Quality - Initiative to codify the health care quality infrastructure that has operated outside the realm of Congress to this point. Administrative Simplification A policy proposal in the context of health insurance reform that would reduce administrative barriers between providers and health insurers. Group Purchasing Organization Regulations Policy proposals have been discussed in the context of health reform that would result in additional federal regulation of Group Purchasing Organizations.

FY 2009 President's Proposed Budget - The President proposed a "down payment" on health reform that specified savings to the government taken from payments to providers. U.S. Senate Budget Proposal U.S. House Budget Proposal

HR 1409 - Employee Free Choice Act of 2009 - 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. S. 560 Employee Free Choice Act of 2009 - A bill 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 the organizing efforts, and for other purposes.

HR 1409 - Employee Free Choice Act of 2009 - 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. S. 560 Employee Free Choice Act of 2009 - A bill 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 the organizing efforts, and for other purposes.

Health Care Reform The President and Congress have been developing plans to institute comprehensive reform of the health care delivery and payments systems in the United States. (Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Bill, House Tri-Committee Bill) HITECH Act - Implementation of meaningful use and privacy and security provisions in HITECH Act of 2009. HR 1776 - Quality FIRST (From Incentives, Reporting, Standards, and Technology) Act of 2009 - 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, and for other purposes. Stand for Quality - Initiative to codify the health care quality infrastructure that has operated outside the realm of Congress to this point. Administrative Simplification A policy proposal in the context of health insurance reform that would reduce administrative barriers between providers and health insurers. Group Purchasing Organization Regulations Policy proposals have been discussed in the context of health reform that would result in additional federal regulation of Group Purchasing Organizations. Medical Liability Reform Numerous policy proposals have been developed that would seek to reform the federal medical liability laws. Price transparency Policy proposals have been discussed that would make pricing of health care services more transparent.

Ban on Self-Referral to Physician-Owned Hospitals Provision that will prospectively ban the practice of physicians referring patients to hospitals that are owned by the physician. Disproportionate Share Payments As a part of the health reform debate there has been discussion of using a cut to Disproportionate Share (DSH) payments to hospitals as a way of paying for coverage expansion. Value based purchasing Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) initiative to more closely tie payments to providers with the quality of care provided. Hospital Readmissions Policies A policy concept that would penalize hospitals for preventable readmissions to hospitals through Medicare reimbursement. Intended to save the Medicare system money in order to pay for a coverage expansion. Medicare Payment Bundling A policy proposal being discussed in Congress that would bundle payments to different health care providers by funneling those payments through a single provider. In-Patient Prospective Payment System Rulemaking Yearly CMS proposed rulemaking. Out-Patient Prospective Payment System Rulemaking - Yearly CMS proposed rulemaking. H.R.2124 - 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, and for other purposes. Rural Medicare DSH Equity Providing for equity in Medicare Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments between rural and urban hospitals.

TRICARE Outpatient Prospective Payment System - TRICARE is the Department of Defense's health care program for members of the uniformed services, their families and survivors. The Department of Defense is proposing changes to the TRICARE payment system.

HR 1409 - Employee Free Choice Act of 2009 - 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. S. 560 Employee Free Choice Act of 2009 - A bill 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 the organizing efforts, and for other purposes.

HR1023 - To repeal the imposition of withholding on certain payments made to vendors by government entities.

Ban on Self-Referral to Physician-Owned Hospitals Provision that will prospectively ban the practice of physicians referring patients to hospitals that are owned by the physician. Rural Medicare DSH Equity Providing for equity in Medicare Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments between rural and urban hospitals. Section 1011 Funding - Section 1011, Federal Reimbursement of Emergency Health Services Furnished to Undocumented Aliens, provides $250 million per year for fiscal years (FY) 2005-2008 for payments to eligible providers for emergency health services provided to undocumented aliens and other specified aliens. Value based purchasing Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) initiative to more closely tie payments to providers with the quality of care provided.

TRICARE Outpatient Prospective Payment System - TRICARE is the Department of Defense's health care program for members of the uniformed services, their families and survivors. The Department of Defense is proposing changes to the TRICARE payment system.

S. 1693 - Wired for Health Care Quality Act - A bill to enhance the adoption of a nationwide interoperable health information technology system and to improve the quality and reduce the costs of health care in the United States. HR 6898 - Health-e Information Technology Act of 2008 - To promote the adoption and meaningful use of health information technology, and for other purposes. Price transparency amendment Proposed amendment to various bills in House Energy and Commerce Committee to mandate that states provide a system to have pricing information for hospitals and healthcare providers available to the public. HR5613 - Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - To extend certain moratoria and impose additional moratoria on certain Medicaid regulations through April 1, 2009, and for other purposes. ICD-10 - The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced a proposed regulation that would replace the ICD-9-CM code sets now used to report health care diagnoses and procedures with ICD-10 code sets, effective Oct. 1, 2011.

Ban on Self-Referral to Physician-Owned Hospitals Provision that will prospectively ban the practice of physicians referring patients to hospitals that are owned by the physician. Value based purchasing Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) initiative to more closely tie payments to providers with the quality of care provided. Rural Medicare DSH Equity Providing for equity in Medicare Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments between rural and urban hospitals. HR6331 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers - To amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to extend expiring provisions under the Medicare Program, to improve beneficiary access to preventive and mental health services, to enhance low-income benefit programs, and to maintain access to care in rural areas, including pharmacy access, and for other purposes. Section 1011 Funding - Section 1011, Federal Reimbursement of Emergency Health Services Furnished to Undocumented Aliens, provides $250 million per year for fiscal years (FY) 2005-2008 for payments to eligible providers for emergency health services provided to undocumented aliens and other specified aliens.

FY 2009 President's Proposed Budget House and Senate Budget Resolutions

H.R. 1023 - To repeal the imposition of withholding on certain payments made to vendors by government entities. S. 777 - To repeal the imposition of withholding on certain payments made to vendors by government entities.

H.R. 4105 - Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor Program Moratorium Act of 2007 A bill to impose a moratorium on the use of recovery audit contractors under the Medicare Integrity Program. S. 2819 Economic Recovery in Health Care Act Legislation to enact moratoria on the Medicaid and CHIP regulations issued by the Administration over the last year and to provide targeted state fiscal relief. HR 5613 - Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 To extend certain moratoria and impose additional moratoria on certain Medicaid regulations through April 1, 2009. HR 2642 - Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 Making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other purposes. This bill included provisions related to a moratorium on Medicaid funding cuts. HR 6331 - Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 To amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to extend expiring provisions under the Medicare Program, to improve beneficiary access to preventive and mental health services, to enhance low-income benefit programs, and to maintain access to care in rural areas, including pharmacy access, and for other purposes. HR 3533 - Public and Teaching Hospital Preservation Act To extend by one year the moratorium on implementation of a rule relating to the Federal-State financial partnership under Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program and on finalization of a Medicaid rule regarding graduate medical education. S. 1605 - Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act of 2007 A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to protect and preserve access of Medicare beneficiaries in rural areas to health care providers under the Medicare program, and for other purposes. HR 2860 - Health Care Access and Rural Equity (H-CARE) Act of 2007 To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to protect and preserve access of Medicare beneficiaries in rural areas to health care providers under the Medicare Program, and for other purposes. S. 2786 - Medicare Rural Health Access Improvement Act of 2008 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.

FY 2009 President's Proposed Budget

S. 1693 - Wired for Health Care Quality Act - A bill to enhance the adoption of a nationwide interoperable health information technology system and to improve the quality and reduce the costs of health care in the United States. H.R. 1424 - Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007 To amend section 712 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, section 2705 of the Public Health Service Act, and section 9812 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require equity in the provision of mental health and substance-related disorder benefits under group health plans. S. 558 - Mental Health Parity Act of 2007 A bill to provide parity between health insurance coverage of mental health benefits and benefits for medical and surgical services.

H. CON RES.99 Revising the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2007, establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2008, and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2009 through 2012.

S. 1041- Employee Free Choice Act of 2007 A bill 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.

H.R. 1459 To improve Medicare beneficiary access by extending the 60 percent compliance threshold used to determine whether a hospital or unit of a hospital is an inpatient rehabilitation facility. H.R. 3162 - Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act of 2007 To amend titles XVIII, XIX, and XXI of the Social Security Act to extend and improve the children's health insurance program, to improve beneficiary protections under the Medicare, Medicaid, and the CHIP program, and for other purposes. S. 338 - Medicare Long-Term Care Hospital Improvement Act of 2007 A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to ensure and foster continued patient quality of care by establishing facility and patient criteria for long-term care hospitals and related improvements under the Medicare program. S. 543 - Preserving Patient Access to Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospitals Act of 2007 A bill to improve Medicare beneficiary access by extending the 60 percent compliance threshold used to determine whether a hospital or unit of a hospital is an inpatient rehabilitation facility under the Medicare program. S. 787 A bill to impose a 2-year moratorium on implementation of a proposed rule relating to the Federal-State financial partnerships under Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program. H.R. 562 - Medicare Long-Term Care Hospital Improvement Act of 2007 To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to ensure and foster continued patient quality of care by establishing facility and patient criteria for long-term care hospitals and related improvements under the Medicare Program.

HR 4157 Health Information Technology Promotion Act of 2006 To promote a better health information system. S 1418 Wired for Health Care Quality Act A bill to enhance the adoption of a nationwide inter operable health information technology system and to improve the quality and reduce the costs of health care in the United States. S 3678 Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to public health security and all-hazards preparedness and response, and for other purposes. H.R.1402 Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act of 2005 To provide for equal coverage of mental health benefits with respect to health insurance coverage unless comparable limitations are imposed on medical and surgical benefits

H.R.4297 Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 To provide for reconciliation pursuant to section 201(b) of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2006. HR 6242 Withholding Tax Relief Act of 2006 To repeal the imposition of withholding on certain payments made to vendors by government entities. HR 6408 Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend expiring provisions, and for other purposes. TITLE III--HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS DIVISION B--MEDICARE AND OTHER HEALTH PROVISIONS TITLE I--MEDICARE IMPROVED QUALITY AND PROVIDER PAYMENTS TITLE II--MEDICARE BENEFICIARY PROTECTIONS TITLE III--MEDICARE PROGRAM INTEGRITY EFFORTS TITLE IV--MEDICAID AND OTHER HEALTH PROVISIONS S 2821 Withholding Tax Relief Act of 2006 To repeal the imposition of withholding on certain payments made to vendors by government entities. HR 4511 Flex Health Savings Accounts Act of 2005 To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow the use of flexible spending and health reimbursement arrangements in combination with health savings accounts, and for other purposes.