DANIELLE JARCHOW jd

Comments to the Institute of Medicine's Committee on Accessible and Affordable Hearing Health Care for Adults regarding the delivery of hearing healthcare services in the United States. Encourage USP to maintain current rules applicable to allergen extracts with sterile compounding. H.R. 1741, the Truth in Healthcare Marketing Act of 2015, all provisions.

Comments to the Institute of Medicine's Committee on Accessible and Affordable Hearing Health Care for Adults regarding the delivery of hearing healthcare services in the United States. Encourage USP to maintain current rules applicable to allergen extracts with sterile compounding. H.R. 1741, the "Truth in Healthcare Marketing Act of 2015," all provisions. H.R. 1859/S. 2782, the "Ensuring Childrens Access to Specialty Care Act," all provisions. S. 2978, the Protect Continuing Physician Education and Patient Care Act," all provisions. Support for the inclusion of language in S.2511, the "Improving Health Information Technology Act," aimed at eliminating information blocking and enhancing data exchange between electronic health record technology and clinical data registries. Comments re:Docket No. FDA-2015-N-4602 for Streamlining Regulations for Good Manufacturing Practices for Hearing Aids; Public Workshop; Request for Comments.

Comments to the Institute of Medicine's Committee on Accessible and Affordable Hearing Health Care for Adults regarding the delivery of hearing healthcare services in the United States. Encourage USP to maintain current rules applicable to allergen extracts with sterile compounding. H.R. 1741, the "Truth in Healthcare Marketing Act of 2015," all provisions. H.R. 1859/S. 2782, the "Ensuring Childrens Access to Specialty Care Act," all provisions. S. 2978, the Protect Continuing Physician Education and Patient Care Act," all provisions. Support for the inclusion of language in S.2511, the "Improving Health Information Technology Act," aimed at eliminating information blocking and enhancing data exchange between electronic health record technology and clinical data registries. Comments re:Docket No. FDA-2015-N-4602 for Streamlining Regulations for Good Manufacturing Practices for Hearing Aids; Public Workshop; Request for Comments.

Medicare physician payment reform, in general. Implementation of MACRA, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015. Audiology-related legislation, in general. H.R. 1116, the "Medicare Audiology Services Enhancement Act of 2015," all provisions. Flexibility of the Meaningful Use Program, in general. Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). H.R. 2519, the "Audiology Patient Choice Act of 2015," all provisions. Regulatory approaches that allow Qualified Clinical Data Registries to meet quality requirements under MACRA and Meaningful Use and addressing unfair data blocking policies. Communications assessing interoperability for the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA), which directs the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish metrics to determine if and to what extent interoperability has been achieved. Support for the inclusion of language in S.2511, the "Improving Health Information Technology Act," aimed at eliminating information blocking and enhancing data exchange between electronic health record technology and clinical data registries. Comments re: Medicare Program; Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Alternative Payment Model (APM) Incentive under the Physician Fee Schedule, and Criteria for Physician-Focused Payment Models.

Medicare physician payment reform, in general. Implementation of MACRA, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015. Audiology-related legislation, in general. H.R. 1116, the Medicare Audiology Services Enhancement Act of 2015, all provisions. Flexibility of the Meaningful Use Program, in general. Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). H.R. 2519, the Audiology Patient Choice Act of 2015, all provisions. Regulatory approaches that allow Qualified Clinical Data Registries to meet quality requirements under MACRA and Meaningful Use and addressing unfair data blocking policies.

Food and Drug Administration oversight of tobacco products, in general. Tobacco control provisions of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement, in general. Premarket review provisions of the Tobacco Control Act, in general. Funding to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for tobacco cessation intervention and preventive services. Approval of the authorized level of user fees for the Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) oversight of tobacco products and to oppose any effort to limit the authority that Congress granted the FDA under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (TCA). Implementation of a smoke-free policy in all public housing. H.R. 3242/S. 142, the Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act of 2015, all provisions.

Food and Drug Administration oversight of tobacco products, in general. Tobacco control provisions of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement, in general. Pre-market review provisions of the Tobacco Control Act, in general. Funding to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for tobacco cessation intervention and preventive services. Approval of the authorized level of user fees for the Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) oversight of tobacco products and to oppose any effort to limit the authority that Congress granted the FDA under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (TCA). Implementation of a smoke-free policy in all public housing. H.R. 3242/S. 142, the "Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act of 2015," all provisions. Support for finalization of deeming regulations re: all tobacco products. Opposition to policy riders in the House/Senate Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2017 that would weaken FDA's authority to regulate tobacco products.

S. 2175, the "Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Provider Equity Act," all provisions. H.R. 353/S. 564, the "Veterans Access to Hearing Health Act of 2015," all provisions. H.R. 3471, the "Veterans Mobility Safety Act of 2015," provisions relating to hearing healthcare services.

S. 2175, the "Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Provider Equity Act," all provisions. H.R. 353/S. 564, the "Veterans Access to Hearing Health Act of 2015," all provisions. H.R. 3471, the "Veterans Mobility Safety Act of 2015," provisions relating to hearing healthcare services.

Food and Drug Administration oversight of tobacco products, in general. Tobacco control provisions of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement, in general. Premarket review provisions of the Tobacco Control Act, in general. Funding to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for tobacco cessation intervention and preventive services. Approval of the authorized level of user fees for the Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) oversight of tobacco products and to oppose any effort to limit the authority that Congress granted the FDA under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (TCA). Implementation of a smoke-free policy in all public housing. H.R. 3242/S. 142, the Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act of 2015, all provisions.

Food and Drug Administration oversight of tobacco products, in general. Tobacco control provisions of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement, in general. Pre-market review provisions of the Tobacco Control Act, in general. Funding to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for tobacco cessation intervention and preventive services. Approval of the authorized level of user fees for the Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) oversight of tobacco products and to oppose any effort to limit the authority that Congress granted the FDA under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (TCA). Implementation of a smoke-free policy in all public housing. H.R. 3242/S. 142, the "Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act of 2015," all provisions. Support for finalization of deeming regulations re: all tobacco products. Opposition to policy riders in the House/Senate Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2017 that would weaken FDA's authority to regulate tobacco products.

S. 2175, the "Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Provider Equity Act," all provisions. H.R. 353/S. 564, the "Veterans Access to Hearing Health Act of 2015," all provisions. H.R. 3471, the "Veterans Mobility Safety Act of 2015," provisions relating to hearing healthcare services.

S. 2175, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Provider Equity Act.

H.R. 1344/S. 2424, "the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act of 2015," all provisions. Reauthorization of NASPER, the federal program providing support for state Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) funding request for 2017. Funding for Graduate Medical Education, in general. Funding for NIH and medical research, in general. Funding to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) for tobacco cessation intervention and preventive services. Approval of the authorized level of user fees for the Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) oversight of tobacco products and to oppose any effort to limit the authority that Congress granted the FDA under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (TCA). Funding for the Pediatric Device Consortia for 2017. Funding for Human Temporal Bone Laboratories in the US. Opposition to policy riders in the House/Senate Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2017 that would weaken FDA's authority to regulate tobacco products.

H.R. 1344/S. 2424, the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act of 2015, all provisions. Reauthorization of NASPER, the federal program providing support for state Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) funding request for 2017. Funding for Graduate Medical Education, in general. Funding for NIH and medical research, in general. Funding to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) for tobacco cessation intervention and preventive services. Approval of the authorized level of user fees for the Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) oversight of tobacco products and to oppose any effort to limit the authority that Congress granted the FDA under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (TCA). Funding for the Pediatric Device Consortia for 2017. Funding for Human Temporal Bone Laboratories in the US.

Medicare physician payment reform, in general. Implementation of MACRA, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015. Audiology-related legislation, in general. H.R. 1116, the "Medicare Audiology Services Enhancement Act of 2015," all provisions. Flexibility of the Meaningful Use Program, in general. Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). H.R. 2519, the "Audiology Patient Choice Act of 2015," all provisions. Regulatory approaches that allow Qualified Clinical Data Registries to meet quality requirements under MACRA and Meaningful Use and addressing unfair data blocking policies. Communications assessing interoperability for the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA), which directs the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish metrics to determine if and to what extent interoperability has been achieved. Support for the inclusion of language in S.2511, the "Improving Health Information Technology Act," aimed at eliminating information blocking and enhancing data exchange between electronic health record technology and clinical data registries. Comments re: Medicare Program; Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Alternative Payment Model (APM) Incentive under the Physician Fee Schedule, and Criteria for Physician-Focused Payment Models.

Comments to the Institute of Medicine's Committee on Accessible and Affordable Hearing Health Care for Adults regarding the delivery of hearing healthcare services in the United States. Encourage USP to maintain current rules applicable to allergen extracts with sterile compounding. H.R. 1741, the "Truth in Healthcare Marketing Act of 2015," all provisions. H.R. 1859/S. 2782, the "Ensuring Childrens Access to Specialty Care Act," all provisions. S. 2978, the Protect Continuing Physician Education and Patient Care Act," all provisions. Support for the inclusion of language in S.2511, the "Improving Health Information Technology Act," aimed at eliminating information blocking and enhancing data exchange between electronic health record technology and clinical data registries. Comments re:Docket No. FDA-2015-N-4602 for Streamlining Regulations for Good Manufacturing Practices for Hearing Aids; Public Workshop; Request for Comments.

Comments to the Institute of Medicine's Committee on Accessible and Affordable Hearing Health Care for Adults regarding the delivery of hearing healthcare services in the United States. Encourage USP to maintain current rules applicable to allergen extracts with sterile compounding. H.R. 1741, the "Truth in Healthcare Marketing Act of 2015," all provisions. H.R. 1859/S. 2782, the "Ensuring Childrens Access to Specialty Care Act," all provisions. S. 2978, the Protect Continuing Physician Education and Patient Care Act," all provisions. Support for the inclusion of language in S.2511, the "Improving Health Information Technology Act," aimed at eliminating information blocking and enhancing data exchange between electronic health record technology and clinical data registries. Comments re:Docket No. FDA-2015-N-4602 for Streamlining Regulations for Good Manufacturing Practices for Hearing Aids; Public Workshop; Request for Comments.

Comments to the Institute of Medicine's Committee on Accessible and Affordable Hearing Health Care for Adults regarding the delivery of hearing healthcare services in the United States. Encourage USP to maintain current rules applicable to allergen extracts with sterile compounding. H.R. 1741, the "Truth in Healthcare Marketing Act of 2015," all provisions. H.R. 1859/S. 2782, the "Ensuring Childrens Access to Specialty Care Act," all provisions. S. 2978, the Protect Continuing Physician Education and Patient Care Act," all provisions. Support for the inclusion of language in S.2511, the "Improving Health Information Technology Act," aimed at eliminating information blocking and enhancing data exchange between electronic health record technology and clinical data registries. Comments re:Docket No. FDA-2015-N-4602 for Streamlining Regulations for Good Manufacturing Practices for Hearing Aids; Public Workshop; Request for Comments.

S. 2175, the "Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Provider Equity Act," all provisions. H.R. 353/S. 564, the "Veterans Access to Hearing Health Act of 2015," all provisions. H.R. 3471, the "Veterans Mobility Safety Act of 2015," provisions relating to hearing healthcare services.

Medicare physician payment reform; in general. H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015; all provisions. H.R. 1470, the SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2015; all provisions. Audiology-related legislation; in general. H.R. 1116, the Medicare Audiology Services Enhancement Act of 2015. Repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB); in general. H.R. 1190/S.141, the Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2015; all provisions. Certification of electronic health records (EHRs); in general. Medicare Advantage "Network Adequacy"; in general. Opposition to proposed policy in the 2015 Final Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule to transition 10- and 90-day global payment period codes to 0-day global period codes in 2017, and 2018, respectively. Implementation plans for moving to ICD-10, a code set named under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). Implementation of Section 218 (b) of Public Law 113-93, entitled the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA), relating to the possible consideration of Radiology Benefit Management (RBM) companies as potential sources for the establishment of applicable appropriate use criteria, as well as any use of RBMs for the enforcement of the prior authorization section for ordering professionals who are outliers. Comments re: funding of quality measures authorized under section 102 of the recently enacted Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, or MACRA, Public Law 114-10. H.R. 2519, Audiology Patient Choice Act of 2015; all provisions. Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) created under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Support for H.R. 3309, the Further Flexibility in HIT Reporting and Advancing Interoperability Act or Flex IT 2 Act"; all provisions. Communications urging the Administration to "pause" implementation of Stage 3 Meaningful Use (MU) and reevaluate the program in light of pivotal changes to Medicare, including passage of the Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "CY 2016 Hospital Outpatient PPS Policy changes and Payment Rates and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Policy Changes and Payment Rates CMS-1633-P, published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 8, 2015. Comments address 1.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 2.) Proposed New Technology APCs - Orthopedic Procedures. Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "Medicare Program; Revisions for Part B for CY 2016" published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 15, 2015. Comments address 1.) 2016 Conversion Factor (CF); 2.) Practice Expense Issues; 3.) Potentially Misvalued Services Under the Fee Schedule; 4.) Improving Valuation of the Global Surgical Package; 5.) Improving Payment Accuracy for Primary Care and Care Management Services; 6.) Target for Relative Value Adjustments for Misvalued Services; 7.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 8.) Malpractice RVUs; 9.) Validating RVUs of Service; 10.) Valuing New, Revised, and Potentially Misvalued Codes; 11.) Valuation of Specific Codes; 12.) Incident to Proposals: Billing Physicians as the Supervising Physician and Ancillary Personnel Requirements; 13.) Physicians Compare; 14.) Physician Payment, Efficiency, and Quality Improvements-Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS); 15.) Value Based Modifier (VM) and Physician Feedback Reporting Program. H.R. 1919, the Steve Gleason Act of 2015; all provisions.

Medicare physician payment reform; in general. H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015; all provisions. H.R. 1470, the SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2015; all provisions. Audiology-related legislation; in general. H.R. 1116, the Medicare Audiology Services Enhancement Act of 2015. Repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB); in general. H.R. 1190/S.141, the Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2015; all provisions. Certification of electronic health records (EHRs); in general. Medicare Advantage "Network Adequacy"; in general. Opposition to proposed policy in the 2015 Final Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule to transition 10- and 90-day global payment period codes to 0-day global period codes in 2017, and 2018, respectively. Implementation plans for moving to ICD-10, a code set named under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). Implementation of Section 218 (b) of Public Law 113-93, entitled the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA), relating to the possible consideration of Radiology Benefit Management (RBM) companies as potential sources for the establishment of applicable appropriate use criteria, as well as any use of RBMs for the enforcement of the prior authorization section for ordering professionals who are outliers. Comments re: funding of quality measures authorized under section 102 of the recently enacted Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, or MACRA, Public Law 114-10. H.R. 2519, Audiology Patient Choice Act of 2015; all provisions. Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) created under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Support for H.R. 3309, the Further Flexibility in HIT Reporting and Advancing Interoperability Act or Flex IT 2 Act"; all provisions. Communications urging the Administration to "pause" implementation of Stage 3 Meaningful Use (MU) and reevaluate the program in light of pivotal changes to Medicare, including passage of the Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "CY 2016 Hospital Outpatient PPS Policy changes and Payment Rates and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Policy Changes and Payment Rates CMS-1633-P, published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 8, 2015. Comments address 1.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 2.) Proposed New Technology APCs - Orthopedic Procedures. Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "Medicare Program; Revisions for Part B for CY 2016" published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 15, 2015. Comments address 1.) 2016 Conversion Factor (CF); 2.) Practice Expense Issues; 3.) Potentially Misvalued Services Under the Fee Schedule; 4.) Improving Valuation of the Global Surgical Package; 5.) Improving Payment Accuracy for Primary Care and Care Management Services; 6.) Target for Relative Value Adjustments for Misvalued Services; 7.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 8.) Malpractice RVUs; 9.) Validating RVUs of Service; 10.) Valuing New, Revised, and Potentially Misvalued Codes; 11.) Valuation of Specific Codes; 12.) Incident to Proposals: Billing Physicians as the Supervising Physician and Ancillary Personnel Requirements; 13.) Physicians Compare; 14.) Physician Payment, Efficiency, and Quality Improvements-Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS); 15.) Value Based Modifier (VM) and Physician Feedback Reporting Program. H.R. 1919, the Steve Gleason Act of 2015; all provisions. S. 2425, the Patient Access and Medicare Protection Act; Section 4. Meaningful Use Incentive Program; in general. Physician-led, team-base care approach to healthcare models; in general. Comments regarding the Request for Information (RFI) on implementation of Alternative Payment Models (APMs) and Merit-Based Incentive Programs (MIPS) under the Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act (MACRA). H.R. 2568, the Fair Medical Audits Act of 2015; all provisions. H.R. 2513, the Protecting Access, Competition, and Equity Act; all provisions. H.R. 3940, the Meaningful Use Hardship Relief Act of 2015; all provisions. Comments re: "Medicare Program; Revisions to Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule and and other Revisions for Part B for CY 16" published in the Federal Register as a final rule with comment period on November 16, 2015, which address the following issues: 1) 2016 Conversion Factor (CF); 2) Practice Expense Issues; 3) Potentially Misvalued Services Under the Fee Schedule; 4) Improving Valuation of the Global Surgical Package; 5) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 6) Valuing New, Revised, and Potentially Misvalued Codes; 7) CY 2016 Interim Final Rule Codes; 8) Incident to Proposals: Billing Physicians as the Supervising Physician and Ancillary Personnel Requirements; 9) Physician Compare; 10) Physician Payment, Efficiency, and Quality Improvements - Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS); 11) Value Based Payment Modifier (VM) and Physician Feedback Reporting Program. Comments re: the "Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Electronic Health Record Incentive Program--Stage 3 and Modifications to Meaningful Use in 2015-2017; Final Rule" published in the Federal Register on Friday, October 16, 2015, which address the following issues: 1) the need for increased flexibility; 2) the lack of interoperability; 3) the need for 90-day reporting periods beyond the current year; and 4) the specific meaningful use criteria.

Medicare physician payment reform; in general. H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015; all provisions. H.R. 1470, the SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2015; all provisions. Audiology-related legislation; in general. H.R. 1116, the Medicare Audiology Services Enhancement Act of 2015. Repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB); in general. H.R. 1190/S.141, the Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2015; all provisions. Certification of electronic health records (EHRs); in general. Medicare Advantage "Network Adequacy"; in general. Opposition to proposed policy in the 2015 Final Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule to transition 10- and 90-day global payment period codes to 0-day global period codes in 2017, and 2018, respectively. Implementation plans for moving to ICD-10, a code set named under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). Implementation of Section 218 (b) of Public Law 113-93, entitled the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA), relating to the possible consideration of Radiology Benefit Management (RBM) companies as potential sources for the establishment of applicable appropriate use criteria, as well as any use of RBMs for the enforcement of the prior authorization section for ordering professionals who are outliers. Comments re: funding of quality measures authorized under section 102 of the recently enacted Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, or MACRA, Public Law 114-10. H.R. 2519, Audiology Patient Choice Act of 2015; all provisions. Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) created under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Support for H.R. 3309, the Further Flexibility in HIT Reporting and Advancing Interoperability Act or Flex IT 2 Act"; all provisions. Communications urging the Administration to "pause" implementation of Stage 3 Meaningful Use (MU) and reevaluate the program in light of pivotal changes to Medicare, including passage of the Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "CY 2016 Hospital Outpatient PPS Policy changes and Payment Rates and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Policy Changes and Payment Rates CMS-1633-P, published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 8, 2015. Comments address 1.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 2.) Proposed New Technology APCs - Orthopedic Procedures. Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "Medicare Program; Revisions for Part B for CY 2016" published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 15, 2015. Comments address 1.) 2016 Conversion Factor (CF); 2.) Practice Expense Issues; 3.) Potentially Misvalued Services Under the Fee Schedule; 4.) Improving Valuation of the Global Surgical Package; 5.) Improving Payment Accuracy for Primary Care and Care Management Services; 6.) Target for Relative Value Adjustments for Misvalued Services; 7.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 8.) Malpractice RVUs; 9.) Validating RVUs of Service; 10.) Valuing New, Revised, and Potentially Misvalued Codes; 11.) Valuation of Specific Codes; 12.) Incident to Proposals: Billing Physicians as the Supervising Physician and Ancillary Personnel Requirements; 13.) Physicians Compare; 14.) Physician Payment, Efficiency, and Quality Improvements-Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS); 15.) Value Based Modifier (VM) and Physician Feedback Reporting Program. H.R. 1919, the Steve Gleason Act of 2015; all provisions.

Medicare physician payment reform; in general. H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015; all provisions. H.R. 1470, the SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2015; all provisions. Audiology-related legislation; in general. H.R. 1116, the Medicare Audiology Services Enhancement Act of 2015. Repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB); in general. H.R. 1190/S.141, the Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2015; all provisions. Certification of electronic health records (EHRs); in general. Medicare Advantage "Network Adequacy"; in general. Opposition to proposed policy in the 2015 Final Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule to transition 10- and 90-day global payment period codes to 0-day global period codes in 2017, and 2018, respectively. Implementation plans for moving to ICD-10, a code set named under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). Implementation of Section 218 (b) of Public Law 113-93, entitled the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA), relating to the possible consideration of Radiology Benefit Management (RBM) companies as potential sources for the establishment of applicable appropriate use criteria, as well as any use of RBMs for the enforcement of the prior authorization section for ordering professionals who are outliers. Comments re: funding of quality measures authorized under section 102 of the recently enacted Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, or MACRA, Public Law 114-10. H.R. 2519, Audiology Patient Choice Act of 2015; all provisions. Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) created under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Support for H.R. 3309, the Further Flexibility in HIT Reporting and Advancing Interoperability Act or Flex IT 2 Act"; all provisions. Communications urging the Administration to "pause" implementation of Stage 3 Meaningful Use (MU) and reevaluate the program in light of pivotal changes to Medicare, including passage of the Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "CY 2016 Hospital Outpatient PPS Policy changes and Payment Rates and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Policy Changes and Payment Rates CMS-1633-P, published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 8, 2015. Comments address 1.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 2.) Proposed New Technology APCs - Orthopedic Procedures. Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "Medicare Program; Revisions for Part B for CY 2016" published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 15, 2015. Comments address 1.) 2016 Conversion Factor (CF); 2.) Practice Expense Issues; 3.) Potentially Misvalued Services Under the Fee Schedule; 4.) Improving Valuation of the Global Surgical Package; 5.) Improving Payment Accuracy for Primary Care and Care Management Services; 6.) Target for Relative Value Adjustments for Misvalued Services; 7.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 8.) Malpractice RVUs; 9.) Validating RVUs of Service; 10.) Valuing New, Revised, and Potentially Misvalued Codes; 11.) Valuation of Specific Codes; 12.) Incident to Proposals: Billing Physicians as the Supervising Physician and Ancillary Personnel Requirements; 13.) Physicians Compare; 14.) Physician Payment, Efficiency, and Quality Improvements-Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS); 15.) Value Based Modifier (VM) and Physician Feedback Reporting Program. H.R. 1919, the Steve Gleason Act of 2015; all provisions. S. 2425, the Patient Access and Medicare Protection Act; Section 4. Meaningful Use Incentive Program; in general. Physician-led, team-base care approach to healthcare models; in general. Comments regarding the Request for Information (RFI) on implementation of Alternative Payment Models (APMs) and Merit-Based Incentive Programs (MIPS) under the Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act (MACRA). H.R. 2568, the Fair Medical Audits Act of 2015; all provisions. H.R. 2513, the Protecting Access, Competition, and Equity Act; all provisions. H.R. 3940, the Meaningful Use Hardship Relief Act of 2015; all provisions. Comments re: "Medicare Program; Revisions to Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule and and other Revisions for Part B for CY 16" published in the Federal Register as a final rule with comment period on November 16, 2015, which address the following issues: 1) 2016 Conversion Factor (CF); 2) Practice Expense Issues; 3) Potentially Misvalued Services Under the Fee Schedule; 4) Improving Valuation of the Global Surgical Package; 5) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 6) Valuing New, Revised, and Potentially Misvalued Codes; 7) CY 2016 Interim Final Rule Codes; 8) Incident to Proposals: Billing Physicians as the Supervising Physician and Ancillary Personnel Requirements; 9) Physician Compare; 10) Physician Payment, Efficiency, and Quality Improvements - Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS); 11) Value Based Payment Modifier (VM) and Physician Feedback Reporting Program. Comments re: the "Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Electronic Health Record Incentive Program--Stage 3 and Modifications to Meaningful Use in 2015-2017; Final Rule" published in the Federal Register on Friday, October 16, 2015, which address the following issues: 1) the need for increased flexibility; 2) the lack of interoperability; 3) the need for 90-day reporting periods beyond the current year; and 4) the specific meaningful use criteria.

Funding for NIH and medical research; in general. Funding for Graduate Medical Education, in general. FY 2016 budgets; in general. Funding in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) appropriations bill for the Pediatric Device Consortia (PDC) Grant Program at the Office of Orphan Products Development (OOPD) at FDA. H.R. 1344, the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act of 2015; all provisions. H.R. 1859, the Ensuring Childrens Access to Specialty Care Act of 2015; all provisions. Opposition to Section 747 of the House Agriculture Appropriations Bill with regards to FDAs authority under the Tobacco Control Act. Opposition to provisions in the FY 2016 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies appropriations bill to eliminate, or reduce, funding for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Opposition to language in the FY16 House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) Appropriations bill that would cut funding for tobacco prevention at the CDC Office on Smoking and Health by 50 percent. Opposition to proposed "rider" language in the FY 16 House Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill that changes the so-called grandfather date for e-cigarettes, cigars and other unregulated products and exempts these products from an important review requirement in the Tobacco Control Act (TCA). S. 2424, Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act of 2015; all provisions.

Funding for NIH and medical research; in general. Funding for Graduate Medical Education, in general. FY 2016 budgets; in general. Funding in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) appropriations bill for the Pediatric Device Consortia (PDC) Grant Program at the Office of Orphan Products Development (OOPD) at FDA. H.R. 1344, the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act of 2015; all provisions. H.R. 1859, the Ensuring Childrens Access to Specialty Care Act of 2015; all provisions. Opposition to Section 747 of the House Agriculture Appropriations Bill with regards to FDAs authority under the Tobacco Control Act. Opposition to provisions in the FY 2016 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies appropriations bill to eliminate funding for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Opposition to language in the FY16 House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) Appropriations bill that would cut funding for tobacco prevention at the CDC Office on Smoking and Health by 50 percent. Opposition to proposed "rider" language in the FY 16 House Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill that changes the so-called grandfather date for e-cigarettes, cigars and other unregulated products and exempts these products from an important review requirement in the Tobacco Control Act (TCA).

Food and Drug Administration oversight of tobacco products; in general. H.R. 662/S. 441, the Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act of 2015; all provisions. Support for the Department of Housing and Urban Development requiring all government subsidized housing be made smokefree. Comments re: Administration's release of a Final "Deeming" regulation for tobacco products. H.R. 1375/S. 142, the Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act; all provisions. H.R. 2058, the FDA Deeming Authority Clarification Act of 2015; all provisions. Comments to the US Preventive Services Task Force re: their draft recommendations for various tobacco cessation interventions. Opposition to Section 747 of the House Agriculture Appropriations Bill with regards to FDAs authority under the Tobacco Control Act. Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP); relating to the inclusion of provisions/protections necessary to enable countries that are party to the agreement to protect the public health of their citizens from the death and disease caused by tobacco products. Communication to urge the the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to commence an appropriate enforcement action against Reynolds American, Inc. (Reynolds) and its subsidiary Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Co. (Santa Fe) for the marketing of Natural American Spirit brand cigarettes in violation of the modified risk provisions of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (TCA). Opposition to language in the FY16 House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) Appropriations bill that would cut funding for tobacco prevention at the CDC Office on Smoking and Health by 50 percent. Opposition to proposed "rider" language in the FY 16 House Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill that changes the so-called grandfather date for e-cigarettes, cigars and other unregulated products and exempts these products from an important review requirement in the Tobacco Control Act (TCA). Comments to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM), Nicotine Exposure Warnings and Child-Resistant Packaging for Liquid Nicotine, Nicotine-Containing E-Liquid(s), and Other Tobacco Products; Request for Comments, published on July 1, 2015 (docket no. FDA-2015-N-1514). Comments regarding tobacco cessation interventions and preventive services, including guidance on insurance coverage of aforementioned.

Food and Drug Administration oversight of tobacco products; in general. H.R. 662/S. 441, the Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act of 2015; all provisions. Support for the Department of Housing and Urban Development requiring all government subsidized housing be made smokefree. Comments re: Administration's release of a Final "Deeming" regulation for tobacco products. H.R. 1375/S. 142, the Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act; all provisions. H.R. 2058, the FDA Deeming Authority Clarification Act of 2015; all provisions. Comments to the US Preventive Services Task Force re: their draft recommendations for various tobacco cessation interventions. Opposition to Section 747 of the House Agriculture Appropriations Bill with regards to FDAs authority under the Tobacco Control Act. Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP); relating to the inclusion of provisions/protections necessary to enable countries that are party to the agreement to protect the public health of their citizens from the death and disease caused by tobacco products. Communication to urge the the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to commence an appropriate enforcement action against Reynolds American, Inc. (Reynolds) and its subsidiary Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Co. (Santa Fe) for the marketing of Natural American Spirit brand cigarettes in violation of the modified risk provisions of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (TCA). Opposition to language in the FY16 House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) Appropriations bill that would cut funding for tobacco prevention at the CDC Office on Smoking and Health by 50 percent. Opposition to proposed "rider" language in the FY 16 House Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill that changes the so-called grandfather date for e-cigarettes, cigars and other unregulated products and exempts these products from an important review requirement in the Tobacco Control Act (TCA). Comments to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM), Nicotine Exposure Warnings and Child-Resistant Packaging for Liquid Nicotine, Nicotine-Containing E-Liquid(s), and Other Tobacco Products; Request for Comments, published on July 1, 2015 (docket no. FDA-2015-N-1514).

Medicare physician payment reform; in general. H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015; all provisions. H.R. 1470, the SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2015; all provisions. Audiology-related legislation; in general. H.R. 1116, the Medicare Audiology Services Enhancement Act of 2015. Repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB); in general. H.R. 1190/S.141, the Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2015; all provisions. Certification of electronic health records (EHRs); in general. Medicare Advantage "Network Adequacy"; in general. Opposition to proposed policy in the 2015 Final Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule to transition 10- and 90-day global payment period codes to 0-day global period codes in 2017, and 2018, respectively. Implementation plans for moving to ICD-10, a code set named under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). Implementation of Section 218 (b) of Public Law 113-93, entitled the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA), relating to the possible consideration of Radiology Benefit Management (RBM) companies as potential sources for the establishment of applicable appropriate use criteria, as well as any use of RBMs for the enforcement of the prior authorization section for ordering professionals who are outliers. Comments re: funding of quality measures authorized under section 102 of the recently enacted Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, or MACRA, Public Law 114-10. H.R. 2519, Audiology Patient Choice Act of 2015; all provisions. Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) created under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Support for H.R. 3309, the Further Flexibility in HIT Reporting and Advancing Interoperability Act or Flex IT 2 Act"; all provisions. Communications urging the Administration to "pause" implementation of Stage 3 Meaningful Use (MU) and reevaluate the program in light of pivotal changes to Medicare, including passage of the Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "CY 2016 Hospital Outpatient PPS Policy changes and Payment Rates and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Policy Changes and Payment Rates CMS-1633-P, published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 8, 2015. Comments address 1.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 2.) Proposed New Technology APCs - Orthopedic Procedures. Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "Medicare Program; Revisions for Part B for CY 2016" published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 15, 2015. Comments address 1.) 2016 Conversion Factor (CF); 2.) Practice Expense Issues; 3.) Potentially Misvalued Services Under the Fee Schedule; 4.) Improving Valuation of the Global Surgical Package; 5.) Improving Payment Accuracy for Primary Care and Care Management Services; 6.) Target for Relative Value Adjustments for Misvalued Services; 7.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 8.) Malpractice RVUs; 9.) Validating RVUs of Service; 10.) Valuing New, Revised, and Potentially Misvalued Codes; 11.) Valuation of Specific Codes; 12.) Incident to Proposals: Billing Physicians as the Supervising Physician and Ancillary Personnel Requirements; 13.) Physicians Compare; 14.) Physician Payment, Efficiency, and Quality Improvements-Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS); 15.) Value Based Modifier (VM) and Physician Feedback Reporting Program. H.R. 1919, the Steve Gleason Act of 2015; all provisions.

Medicare physician payment reform; in general. H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015; all provisions. H.R. 1470, the SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2015; all provisions. Audiology-related legislation; in general. H.R. 1116, the Medicare Audiology Services Enhancement Act of 2015. Repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB); in general. H.R. 1190/S.141, the Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2015; all provisions. Certification of electronic health records (EHRs); in general. Medicare Advantage "Network Adequacy"; in general. Opposition to proposed policy in the 2015 Final Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule to transition 10- and 90-day global payment period codes to 0-day global period codes in 2017, and 2018, respectively. Implementation plans for moving to ICD-10, a code set named under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). Implementation of Section 218 (b) of Public Law 113-93, entitled the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA), relating to the possible consideration of Radiology Benefit Management (RBM) companies as potential sources for the establishment of applicable appropriate use criteria, as well as any use of RBMs for the enforcement of the prior authorization section for ordering professionals who are outliers. Comments re: funding of quality measures authorized under section 102 of the recently enacted Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, or MACRA, Public Law 114-10. H.R. 2519, Audiology Patient Choice Act of 2015; all provisions. Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) created under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Support for H.R. 3309, the Further Flexibility in HIT Reporting and Advancing Interoperability Act or Flex IT 2 Act"; all provisions. Communications urging the Administration to "pause" implementation of Stage 3 Meaningful Use (MU) and reevaluate the program in light of pivotal changes to Medicare, including passage of the Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "CY 2016 Hospital Outpatient PPS Policy changes and Payment Rates and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Policy Changes and Payment Rates CMS-1633-P, published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 8, 2015. Comments address 1.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 2.) Proposed New Technology APCs - Orthopedic Procedures. Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "Medicare Program; Revisions for Part B for CY 2016" published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 15, 2015. Comments address 1.) 2016 Conversion Factor (CF); 2.) Practice Expense Issues; 3.) Potentially Misvalued Services Under the Fee Schedule; 4.) Improving Valuation of the Global Surgical Package; 5.) Improving Payment Accuracy for Primary Care and Care Management Services; 6.) Target for Relative Value Adjustments for Misvalued Services; 7.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 8.) Malpractice RVUs; 9.) Validating RVUs of Service; 10.) Valuing New, Revised, and Potentially Misvalued Codes; 11.) Valuation of Specific Codes; 12.) Incident to Proposals: Billing Physicians as the Supervising Physician and Ancillary Personnel Requirements; 13.) Physicians Compare; 14.) Physician Payment, Efficiency, and Quality Improvements-Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS); 15.) Value Based Modifier (VM) and Physician Feedback Reporting Program. H.R. 1919, the Steve Gleason Act of 2015; all provisions. S. 2425, the Patient Access and Medicare Protection Act; Section 4. Meaningful Use Incentive Program; in general. Physician-led, team-base care approach to healthcare models; in general. Comments regarding the Request for Information (RFI) on implementation of Alternative Payment Models (APMs) and Merit-Based Incentive Programs (MIPS) under the Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act (MACRA). H.R. 2568, the Fair Medical Audits Act of 2015; all provisions. H.R. 2513, the Protecting Access, Competition, and Equity Act; all provisions. H.R. 3940, the Meaningful Use Hardship Relief Act of 2015; all provisions. Comments re: "Medicare Program; Revisions to Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule and and other Revisions for Part B for CY 16" published in the Federal Register as a final rule with comment period on November 16, 2015, which address the following issues: 1) 2016 Conversion Factor (CF); 2) Practice Expense Issues; 3) Potentially Misvalued Services Under the Fee Schedule; 4) Improving Valuation of the Global Surgical Package; 5) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 6) Valuing New, Revised, and Potentially Misvalued Codes; 7) CY 2016 Interim Final Rule Codes; 8) Incident to Proposals: Billing Physicians as the Supervising Physician and Ancillary Personnel Requirements; 9) Physician Compare; 10) Physician Payment, Efficiency, and Quality Improvements - Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS); 11) Value Based Payment Modifier (VM) and Physician Feedback Reporting Program. Comments re: the "Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Electronic Health Record Incentive Program--Stage 3 and Modifications to Meaningful Use in 2015-2017; Final Rule" published in the Federal Register on Friday, October 16, 2015, which address the following issues: 1) the need for increased flexibility; 2) the lack of interoperability; 3) the need for 90-day reporting periods beyond the current year; and 4) the specific meaningful use criteria.

H.R. 293, a bill to amend title XI (General Provisions, Peer Review, Administrative Simplification) of the Social Security Act to exempt from manufacturer transparency reporting to the Secretary of Health and Human Services any transfer of value to a covered recipient of: (1) peer-reviewed journals, journal reprints, journal supplements, conference reports, and medical textbooks that directly benefit patients or are intended for patient use; and (2) anything of value to a physician if it is intended solely to provide continuing medical education. H.R. 1741, the Truth in Healthcare Marketing Act of 2015; all provisions. Comments re: October 26, 2015, Presidents Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) report to the President on Aging America & Hearing Loss: Imperative of Improved Hearing Technologies.

H.R. 293, a bill to amend title XI (General Provisions, Peer Review, Administrative Simplification) of the Social Security Act to exempt from manufacturer transparency reporting to the Secretary of Health and Human Services any transfer of value to a covered recipient of: (1) peer-reviewed journals, journal reprints, journal supplements, conference reports, and medical textbooks that directly benefit patients or are intended for patient use; and (2) anything of value to a physician if it is intended solely to provide continuing medical education. H.R. 1741, the Truth in Healthcare Marketing Act of 2015; all provisions.

Funding for NIH and medical research; in general. Funding for Graduate Medical Education, in general. FY 2016 budgets; in general. Funding in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) appropriations bill for the Pediatric Device Consortia (PDC) Grant Program at the Office of Orphan Products Development (OOPD) at FDA. H.R. 1344, the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act of 2015; all provisions. H.R. 1859, the Ensuring Childrens Access to Specialty Care Act of 2015; all provisions. Opposition to Section 747 of the House Agriculture Appropriations Bill with regards to FDAs authority under the Tobacco Control Act. Opposition to provisions in the FY 2016 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies appropriations bill to eliminate, or reduce, funding for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Opposition to language in the FY16 House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) Appropriations bill that would cut funding for tobacco prevention at the CDC Office on Smoking and Health by 50 percent. Opposition to proposed "rider" language in the FY 16 House Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill that changes the so-called grandfather date for e-cigarettes, cigars and other unregulated products and exempts these products from an important review requirement in the Tobacco Control Act (TCA). S. 2424, Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act of 2015; all provisions.

Funding for NIH and medical research; in general. Funding for Graduate Medical Education, in general. FY 2016 budgets; in general. Funding in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) appropriations bill for the Pediatric Device Consortia (PDC) Grant Program at the Office of Orphan Products Development (OOPD) at FDA. H.R. 1344, the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act of 2015; all provisions. H.R. 1859, the Ensuring Childrens Access to Specialty Care Act of 2015; all provisions. Opposition to Section 747 of the House Agriculture Appropriations Bill with regards to FDAs authority under the Tobacco Control Act. Opposition to provisions in the FY 2016 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies appropriations bill to eliminate funding for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Opposition to language in the FY16 House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) Appropriations bill that would cut funding for tobacco prevention at the CDC Office on Smoking and Health by 50 percent. Opposition to proposed "rider" language in the FY 16 House Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill that changes the so-called grandfather date for e-cigarettes, cigars and other unregulated products and exempts these products from an important review requirement in the Tobacco Control Act (TCA).

Medicare physician payment reform; in general. H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015; all provisions. H.R. 1470, the SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2015; all provisions. Audiology-related legislation; in general. H.R. 1116, the Medicare Audiology Services Enhancement Act of 2015. Repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB); in general. H.R. 1190/S.141, the Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2015; all provisions. Certification of electronic health records (EHRs); in general. Medicare Advantage "Network Adequacy"; in general. Opposition to proposed policy in the 2015 Final Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule to transition 10- and 90-day global payment period codes to 0-day global period codes in 2017, and 2018, respectively. Implementation plans for moving to ICD-10, a code set named under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). Implementation of Section 218 (b) of Public Law 113-93, entitled the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA), relating to the possible consideration of Radiology Benefit Management (RBM) companies as potential sources for the establishment of applicable appropriate use criteria, as well as any use of RBMs for the enforcement of the prior authorization section for ordering professionals who are outliers. Comments re: funding of quality measures authorized under section 102 of the recently enacted Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, or MACRA, Public Law 114-10. H.R. 2519, Audiology Patient Choice Act of 2015; all provisions. Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) created under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Support for H.R. 3309, the Further Flexibility in HIT Reporting and Advancing Interoperability Act or Flex IT 2 Act"; all provisions. Communications urging the Administration to "pause" implementation of Stage 3 Meaningful Use (MU) and reevaluate the program in light of pivotal changes to Medicare, including passage of the Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "CY 2016 Hospital Outpatient PPS Policy changes and Payment Rates and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Policy Changes and Payment Rates CMS-1633-P, published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 8, 2015. Comments address 1.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 2.) Proposed New Technology APCs - Orthopedic Procedures. Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "Medicare Program; Revisions for Part B for CY 2016" published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 15, 2015. Comments address 1.) 2016 Conversion Factor (CF); 2.) Practice Expense Issues; 3.) Potentially Misvalued Services Under the Fee Schedule; 4.) Improving Valuation of the Global Surgical Package; 5.) Improving Payment Accuracy for Primary Care and Care Management Services; 6.) Target for Relative Value Adjustments for Misvalued Services; 7.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 8.) Malpractice RVUs; 9.) Validating RVUs of Service; 10.) Valuing New, Revised, and Potentially Misvalued Codes; 11.) Valuation of Specific Codes; 12.) Incident to Proposals: Billing Physicians as the Supervising Physician and Ancillary Personnel Requirements; 13.) Physicians Compare; 14.) Physician Payment, Efficiency, and Quality Improvements-Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS); 15.) Value Based Modifier (VM) and Physician Feedback Reporting Program. H.R. 1919, the Steve Gleason Act of 2015; all provisions. S. 2425, the Patient Access and Medicare Protection Act; Section 4. Meaningful Use Incentive Program; in general. Physician-led, team-base care approach to healthcare models; in general. Comments regarding the Request for Information (RFI) on implementation of Alternative Payment Models (APMs) and Merit-Based Incentive Programs (MIPS) under the Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act (MACRA). H.R. 2568, the Fair Medical Audits Act of 2015; all provisions. H.R. 2513, the Protecting Access, Competition, and Equity Act; all provisions. H.R. 3940, the Meaningful Use Hardship Relief Act of 2015; all provisions. Comments re: "Medicare Program; Revisions to Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule and and other Revisions for Part B for CY 16" published in the Federal Register as a final rule with comment period on November 16, 2015, which address the following issues: 1) 2016 Conversion Factor (CF); 2) Practice Expense Issues; 3) Potentially Misvalued Services Under the Fee Schedule; 4) Improving Valuation of the Global Surgical Package; 5) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 6) Valuing New, Revised, and Potentially Misvalued Codes; 7) CY 2016 Interim Final Rule Codes; 8) Incident to Proposals: Billing Physicians as the Supervising Physician and Ancillary Personnel Requirements; 9) Physician Compare; 10) Physician Payment, Efficiency, and Quality Improvements - Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS); 11) Value Based Payment Modifier (VM) and Physician Feedback Reporting Program. Comments re: the "Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Electronic Health Record Incentive Program--Stage 3 and Modifications to Meaningful Use in 2015-2017; Final Rule" published in the Federal Register on Friday, October 16, 2015, which address the following issues: 1) the need for increased flexibility; 2) the lack of interoperability; 3) the need for 90-day reporting periods beyond the current year; and 4) the specific meaningful use criteria.

Medicare physician payment reform; in general. H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015; all provisions. H.R. 1470, the SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2015; all provisions. Audiology-related legislation; in general. H.R. 1116, the Medicare Audiology Services Enhancement Act of 2015. Repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB); in general. H.R. 1190/S.141, the Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2015; all provisions. Certification of electronic health records (EHRs); in general. Medicare Advantage "Network Adequacy"; in general. Opposition to proposed policy in the 2015 Final Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule to transition 10- and 90-day global payment period codes to 0-day global period codes in 2017, and 2018, respectively. Implementation plans for moving to ICD-10, a code set named under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). Implementation of Section 218 (b) of Public Law 113-93, entitled the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA), relating to the possible consideration of Radiology Benefit Management (RBM) companies as potential sources for the establishment of applicable appropriate use criteria, as well as any use of RBMs for the enforcement of the prior authorization section for ordering professionals who are outliers. Comments re: funding of quality measures authorized under section 102 of the recently enacted Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, or MACRA, Public Law 114-10. H.R. 2519, Audiology Patient Choice Act of 2015; all provisions. Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) created under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Support for H.R. 3309, the Further Flexibility in HIT Reporting and Advancing Interoperability Act or Flex IT 2 Act"; all provisions. Communications urging the Administration to "pause" implementation of Stage 3 Meaningful Use (MU) and reevaluate the program in light of pivotal changes to Medicare, including passage of the Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "CY 2016 Hospital Outpatient PPS Policy changes and Payment Rates and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Policy Changes and Payment Rates CMS-1633-P, published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 8, 2015. Comments address 1.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 2.) Proposed New Technology APCs - Orthopedic Procedures. Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "Medicare Program; Revisions for Part B for CY 2016" published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 15, 2015. Comments address 1.) 2016 Conversion Factor (CF); 2.) Practice Expense Issues; 3.) Potentially Misvalued Services Under the Fee Schedule; 4.) Improving Valuation of the Global Surgical Package; 5.) Improving Payment Accuracy for Primary Care and Care Management Services; 6.) Target for Relative Value Adjustments for Misvalued Services; 7.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 8.) Malpractice RVUs; 9.) Validating RVUs of Service; 10.) Valuing New, Revised, and Potentially Misvalued Codes; 11.) Valuation of Specific Codes; 12.) Incident to Proposals: Billing Physicians as the Supervising Physician and Ancillary Personnel Requirements; 13.) Physicians Compare; 14.) Physician Payment, Efficiency, and Quality Improvements-Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS); 15.) Value Based Modifier (VM) and Physician Feedback Reporting Program. H.R. 1919, the Steve Gleason Act of 2015; all provisions.

Medicare physician payment reform; in general. H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015; all provisions. H.R. 1470, the SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2015; all provisions. Audiology-related legislation; in general. H.R. 1116, the Medicare Audiology Services Enhancement Act of 2015. Repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB); in general. H.R. 1190/S.141, the Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2015; all provisions. Certification of electronic health records (EHRs); in general. Medicare Advantage "Network Adequacy"; in general. Opposition to proposed policy in the 2015 Final Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule to transition 10- and 90-day global payment period codes to 0-day global period codes in 2017, and 2018, respectively. Implementation plans for moving to ICD-10, a code set named under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). Implementation of Section 218 (b) of Public Law 113-93, entitled the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA), relating to the possible consideration of Radiology Benefit Management (RBM) companies as potential sources for the establishment of applicable appropriate use criteria, as well as any use of RBMs for the enforcement of the prior authorization section for ordering professionals who are outliers. Comments re: funding of quality measures authorized under section 102 of the recently enacted Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, or MACRA, Public Law 114-10. H.R. 2519, Audiology Patient Choice Act of 2015; all provisions. Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) created under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Support for H.R. 3309, the Further Flexibility in HIT Reporting and Advancing Interoperability Act or Flex IT 2 Act"; all provisions. Communications urging the Administration to "pause" implementation of Stage 3 Meaningful Use (MU) and reevaluate the program in light of pivotal changes to Medicare, including passage of the Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "CY 2016 Hospital Outpatient PPS Policy changes and Payment Rates and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Policy Changes and Payment Rates CMS-1633-P, published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 8, 2015. Comments address 1.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 2.) Proposed New Technology APCs - Orthopedic Procedures. Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "Medicare Program; Revisions for Part B for CY 2016" published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 15, 2015. Comments address 1.) 2016 Conversion Factor (CF); 2.) Practice Expense Issues; 3.) Potentially Misvalued Services Under the Fee Schedule; 4.) Improving Valuation of the Global Surgical Package; 5.) Improving Payment Accuracy for Primary Care and Care Management Services; 6.) Target for Relative Value Adjustments for Misvalued Services; 7.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 8.) Malpractice RVUs; 9.) Validating RVUs of Service; 10.) Valuing New, Revised, and Potentially Misvalued Codes; 11.) Valuation of Specific Codes; 12.) Incident to Proposals: Billing Physicians as the Supervising Physician and Ancillary Personnel Requirements; 13.) Physicians Compare; 14.) Physician Payment, Efficiency, and Quality Improvements-Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS); 15.) Value Based Modifier (VM) and Physician Feedback Reporting Program. H.R. 1919, the Steve Gleason Act of 2015; all provisions.

Medicare physician payment reform; in general. H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015; all provisions. H.R. 1470, the SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2015; all provisions. Audiology-related legislation; in general. H.R. 1116, the Medicare Audiology Services Enhancement Act of 2015. Repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB); in general. H.R. 1190/S.141, the Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2015; all provisions. Certification of electronic health records (EHRs); in general. Medicare Advantage "Network Adequacy"; in general. Opposition to proposed policy in the 2015 Final Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule to transition 10- and 90-day global payment period codes to 0-day global period codes in 2017, and 2018, respectively. Implementation plans for moving to ICD-10, a code set named under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). Implementation of Section 218 (b) of Public Law 113-93, entitled the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA), relating to the possible consideration of Radiology Benefit Management (RBM) companies as potential sources for the establishment of applicable appropriate use criteria, as well as any use of RBMs for the enforcement of the prior authorization section for ordering professionals who are outliers. Comments re: funding of quality measures authorized under section 102 of the recently enacted Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, or MACRA, Public Law 114-10. H.R. 2519, Audiology Patient Choice Act of 2015; all provisions. Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) created under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Support for H.R. 3309, the Further Flexibility in HIT Reporting and Advancing Interoperability Act or Flex IT 2 Act"; all provisions. Communications urging the Administration to "pause" implementation of Stage 3 Meaningful Use (MU) and reevaluate the program in light of pivotal changes to Medicare, including passage of the Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "CY 2016 Hospital Outpatient PPS Policy changes and Payment Rates and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Policy Changes and Payment Rates CMS-1633-P, published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 8, 2015. Comments address 1.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 2.) Proposed New Technology APCs - Orthopedic Procedures. Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "Medicare Program; Revisions for Part B for CY 2016" published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 15, 2015. Comments address 1.) 2016 Conversion Factor (CF); 2.) Practice Expense Issues; 3.) Potentially Misvalued Services Under the Fee Schedule; 4.) Improving Valuation of the Global Surgical Package; 5.) Improving Payment Accuracy for Primary Care and Care Management Services; 6.) Target for Relative Value Adjustments for Misvalued Services; 7.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 8.) Malpractice RVUs; 9.) Validating RVUs of Service; 10.) Valuing New, Revised, and Potentially Misvalued Codes; 11.) Valuation of Specific Codes; 12.) Incident to Proposals: Billing Physicians as the Supervising Physician and Ancillary Personnel Requirements; 13.) Physicians Compare; 14.) Physician Payment, Efficiency, and Quality Improvements-Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS); 15.) Value Based Modifier (VM) and Physician Feedback Reporting Program. H.R. 1919, the Steve Gleason Act of 2015; all provisions. S. 2425, the Patient Access and Medicare Protection Act; Section 4. Meaningful Use Incentive Program; in general. Physician-led, team-base care approach to healthcare models; in general. Comments regarding the Request for Information (RFI) on implementation of Alternative Payment Models (APMs) and Merit-Based Incentive Programs (MIPS) under the Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act (MACRA). H.R. 2568, the Fair Medical Audits Act of 2015; all provisions. H.R. 2513, the Protecting Access, Competition, and Equity Act; all provisions. H.R. 3940, the Meaningful Use Hardship Relief Act of 2015; all provisions. Comments re: "Medicare Program; Revisions to Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule and and other Revisions for Part B for CY 16" published in the Federal Register as a final rule with comment period on November 16, 2015, which address the following issues: 1) 2016 Conversion Factor (CF); 2) Practice Expense Issues; 3) Potentially Misvalued Services Under the Fee Schedule; 4) Improving Valuation of the Global Surgical Package; 5) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 6) Valuing New, Revised, and Potentially Misvalued Codes; 7) CY 2016 Interim Final Rule Codes; 8) Incident to Proposals: Billing Physicians as the Supervising Physician and Ancillary Personnel Requirements; 9) Physician Compare; 10) Physician Payment, Efficiency, and Quality Improvements - Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS); 11) Value Based Payment Modifier (VM) and Physician Feedback Reporting Program. Comments re: the "Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Electronic Health Record Incentive Program--Stage 3 and Modifications to Meaningful Use in 2015-2017; Final Rule" published in the Federal Register on Friday, October 16, 2015, which address the following issues: 1) the need for increased flexibility; 2) the lack of interoperability; 3) the need for 90-day reporting periods beyond the current year; and 4) the specific meaningful use criteria.

Food and Drug Administration oversight of tobacco products; in general. H.R. 662/S. 441, the Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act of 2015; all provisions. Support for the Department of Housing and Urban Development requiring all government subsidized housing be made smokefree. Comments re: Administration's release of a Final "Deeming" regulation for tobacco products. H.R. 1375/S. 142, the Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act; all provisions. H.R. 2058, the FDA Deeming Authority Clarification Act of 2015; all provisions. Comments to the US Preventive Services Task Force re: their draft recommendations for various tobacco cessation interventions. Opposition to Section 747 of the House Agriculture Appropriations Bill with regards to FDAs authority under the Tobacco Control Act. Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP); relating to the inclusion of provisions/protections necessary to enable countries that are party to the agreement to protect the public health of their citizens from the death and disease caused by tobacco products. Communication to urge the the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to commence an appropriate enforcement action against Reynolds American, Inc. (Reynolds) and its subsidiary Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Co. (Santa Fe) for the marketing of Natural American Spirit brand cigarettes in violation of the modified risk provisions of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (TCA). Opposition to language in the FY16 House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) Appropriations bill that would cut funding for tobacco prevention at the CDC Office on Smoking and Health by 50 percent. Opposition to proposed "rider" language in the FY 16 House Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill that changes the so-called grandfather date for e-cigarettes, cigars and other unregulated products and exempts these products from an important review requirement in the Tobacco Control Act (TCA). Comments to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM), Nicotine Exposure Warnings and Child-Resistant Packaging for Liquid Nicotine, Nicotine-Containing E-Liquid(s), and Other Tobacco Products; Request for Comments, published on July 1, 2015 (docket no. FDA-2015-N-1514).

Food and Drug Administration oversight of tobacco products; in general. H.R. 662/S. 441, the Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act of 2015; all provisions. Support for the Department of Housing and Urban Development requiring all government subsidized housing be made smokefree. Comments re: Administration's release of a Final "Deeming" regulation for tobacco products. H.R. 1375/S. 142, the Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act; all provisions. H.R. 2058, the FDA Deeming Authority Clarification Act of 2015; all provisions. Comments to the US Preventive Services Task Force re: their draft recommendations for various tobacco cessation interventions. Opposition to Section 747 of the House Agriculture Appropriations Bill with regards to FDAs authority under the Tobacco Control Act. Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP); relating to the inclusion of provisions/protections necessary to enable countries that are party to the agreement to protect the public health of their citizens from the death and disease caused by tobacco products. Communication to urge the the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to commence an appropriate enforcement action against Reynolds American, Inc. (Reynolds) and its subsidiary Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Co. (Santa Fe) for the marketing of Natural American Spirit brand cigarettes in violation of the modified risk provisions of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (TCA). Opposition to language in the FY16 House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) Appropriations bill that would cut funding for tobacco prevention at the CDC Office on Smoking and Health by 50 percent. Opposition to proposed "rider" language in the FY 16 House Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill that changes the so-called grandfather date for e-cigarettes, cigars and other unregulated products and exempts these products from an important review requirement in the Tobacco Control Act (TCA). Comments to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM), Nicotine Exposure Warnings and Child-Resistant Packaging for Liquid Nicotine, Nicotine-Containing E-Liquid(s), and Other Tobacco Products; Request for Comments, published on July 1, 2015 (docket no. FDA-2015-N-1514). Comments regarding tobacco cessation interventions and preventive services, including guidance on insurance coverage of aforementioned.

Medicare physician payment reform; in general. H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015; all provisions. H.R. 1470, the SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2015; all provisions. Audiology-related legislation; in general. H.R. 1116, the Medicare Audiology Services Enhancement Act of 2015. Repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB); in general. H.R. 1190/S.141, the Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2015; all provisions. Certification of electronic health records (EHRs); in general. Medicare Advantage "Network Adequacy"; in general. Opposition to proposed policy in the 2015 Final Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule to transition 10- and 90-day global payment period codes to 0-day global period codes in 2017, and 2018, respectively. Implementation plans for moving to ICD-10, a code set named under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). Implementation of Section 218 (b) of Public Law 113-93, entitled the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA), relating to the possible consideration of Radiology Benefit Management (RBM) companies as potential sources for the establishment of applicable appropriate use criteria, as well as any use of RBMs for the enforcement of the prior authorization section for ordering professionals who are outliers. Comments re: funding of quality measures authorized under section 102 of the recently enacted Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, or MACRA, Public Law 114-10. H.R. 2519, Audiology Patient Choice Act of 2015; all provisions. Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) created under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Support for H.R. 3309, the Further Flexibility in HIT Reporting and Advancing Interoperability Act or Flex IT 2 Act"; all provisions. Communications urging the Administration to "pause" implementation of Stage 3 Meaningful Use (MU) and reevaluate the program in light of pivotal changes to Medicare, including passage of the Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "CY 2016 Hospital Outpatient PPS Policy changes and Payment Rates and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Policy Changes and Payment Rates CMS-1633-P, published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 8, 2015. Comments address 1.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 2.) Proposed New Technology APCs - Orthopedic Procedures. Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "Medicare Program; Revisions for Part B for CY 2016" published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 15, 2015. Comments address 1.) 2016 Conversion Factor (CF); 2.) Practice Expense Issues; 3.) Potentially Misvalued Services Under the Fee Schedule; 4.) Improving Valuation of the Global Surgical Package; 5.) Improving Payment Accuracy for Primary Care and Care Management Services; 6.) Target for Relative Value Adjustments for Misvalued Services; 7.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 8.) Malpractice RVUs; 9.) Validating RVUs of Service; 10.) Valuing New, Revised, and Potentially Misvalued Codes; 11.) Valuation of Specific Codes; 12.) Incident to Proposals: Billing Physicians as the Supervising Physician and Ancillary Personnel Requirements; 13.) Physicians Compare; 14.) Physician Payment, Efficiency, and Quality Improvements-Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS); 15.) Value Based Modifier (VM) and Physician Feedback Reporting Program. H.R. 1919, the Steve Gleason Act of 2015; all provisions. S. 2425, the Patient Access and Medicare Protection Act; Section 4. Meaningful Use Incentive Program; in general. Physician-led, team-base care approach to healthcare models; in general. Comments regarding the Request for Information (RFI) on implementation of Alternative Payment Models (APMs) and Merit-Based Incentive Programs (MIPS) under the Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act (MACRA). H.R. 2568, the Fair Medical Audits Act of 2015; all provisions. H.R. 2513, the Protecting Access, Competition, and Equity Act; all provisions. H.R. 3940, the Meaningful Use Hardship Relief Act of 2015; all provisions. Comments re: "Medicare Program; Revisions to Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule and and other Revisions for Part B for CY 16" published in the Federal Register as a final rule with comment period on November 16, 2015, which address the following issues: 1) 2016 Conversion Factor (CF); 2) Practice Expense Issues; 3) Potentially Misvalued Services Under the Fee Schedule; 4) Improving Valuation of the Global Surgical Package; 5) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 6) Valuing New, Revised, and Potentially Misvalued Codes; 7) CY 2016 Interim Final Rule Codes; 8) Incident to Proposals: Billing Physicians as the Supervising Physician and Ancillary Personnel Requirements; 9) Physician Compare; 10) Physician Payment, Efficiency, and Quality Improvements - Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS); 11) Value Based Payment Modifier (VM) and Physician Feedback Reporting Program. Comments re: the "Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Electronic Health Record Incentive Program--Stage 3 and Modifications to Meaningful Use in 2015-2017; Final Rule" published in the Federal Register on Friday, October 16, 2015, which address the following issues: 1) the need for increased flexibility; 2) the lack of interoperability; 3) the need for 90-day reporting periods beyond the current year; and 4) the specific meaningful use criteria.

Medicare physician payment reform; in general. H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015; all provisions. H.R. 1470, the SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2015; all provisions. Audiology-related legislation; in general. H.R. 1116, the Medicare Audiology Services Enhancement Act of 2015. Repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB); in general. H.R. 1190/S.141, the Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2015; all provisions. Certification of electronic health records (EHRs); in general. Medicare Advantage "Network Adequacy"; in general. Opposition to proposed policy in the 2015 Final Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule to transition 10- and 90-day global payment period codes to 0-day global period codes in 2017, and 2018, respectively. Implementation plans for moving to ICD-10, a code set named under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). Implementation of Section 218 (b) of Public Law 113-93, entitled the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA), relating to the possible consideration of Radiology Benefit Management (RBM) companies as potential sources for the establishment of applicable appropriate use criteria, as well as any use of RBMs for the enforcement of the prior authorization section for ordering professionals who are outliers. Comments re: funding of quality measures authorized under section 102 of the recently enacted Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, or MACRA, Public Law 114-10. H.R. 2519, Audiology Patient Choice Act of 2015; all provisions. Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) created under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Support for H.R. 3309, the Further Flexibility in HIT Reporting and Advancing Interoperability Act or Flex IT 2 Act"; all provisions. Communications urging the Administration to "pause" implementation of Stage 3 Meaningful Use (MU) and reevaluate the program in light of pivotal changes to Medicare, including passage of the Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "CY 2016 Hospital Outpatient PPS Policy changes and Payment Rates and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Policy Changes and Payment Rates CMS-1633-P, published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 8, 2015. Comments address 1.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 2.) Proposed New Technology APCs - Orthopedic Procedures. Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "Medicare Program; Revisions for Part B for CY 2016" published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 15, 2015. Comments address 1.) 2016 Conversion Factor (CF); 2.) Practice Expense Issues; 3.) Potentially Misvalued Services Under the Fee Schedule; 4.) Improving Valuation of the Global Surgical Package; 5.) Improving Payment Accuracy for Primary Care and Care Management Services; 6.) Target for Relative Value Adjustments for Misvalued Services; 7.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 8.) Malpractice RVUs; 9.) Validating RVUs of Service; 10.) Valuing New, Revised, and Potentially Misvalued Codes; 11.) Valuation of Specific Codes; 12.) Incident to Proposals: Billing Physicians as the Supervising Physician and Ancillary Personnel Requirements; 13.) Physicians Compare; 14.) Physician Payment, Efficiency, and Quality Improvements-Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS); 15.) Value Based Modifier (VM) and Physician Feedback Reporting Program. H.R. 1919, the Steve Gleason Act of 2015; all provisions.

Medicare physician payment reform; in general. H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015; all provisions. H.R. 1470, the SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2015; all provisions. Audiology-related legislation; in general. H.R. 1116, the Medicare Audiology Services Enhancement Act of 2015. Repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB); in general. H.R. 1190/S.141, the Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2015; all provisions. Certification of electronic health records (EHRs); in general. Medicare Advantage "Network Adequacy"; in general. Opposition to proposed policy in the 2015 Final Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule to transition 10- and 90-day global payment period codes to 0-day global period codes in 2017, and 2018, respectively. Implementation plans for moving to ICD-10, a code set named under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). Implementation of Section 218 (b) of Public Law 113-93, entitled the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA), relating to the possible consideration of Radiology Benefit Management (RBM) companies as potential sources for the establishment of applicable appropriate use criteria, as well as any use of RBMs for the enforcement of the prior authorization section for ordering professionals who are outliers. Comments re: funding of quality measures authorized under section 102 of the recently enacted Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, or MACRA, Public Law 114-10. H.R. 2519, Audiology Patient Choice Act of 2015; all provisions. Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) created under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Support for H.R. 3309, the Further Flexibility in HIT Reporting and Advancing Interoperability Act or Flex IT 2 Act"; all provisions. Communications urging the Administration to "pause" implementation of Stage 3 Meaningful Use (MU) and reevaluate the program in light of pivotal changes to Medicare, including passage of the Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "CY 2016 Hospital Outpatient PPS Policy changes and Payment Rates and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Policy Changes and Payment Rates CMS-1633-P, published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 8, 2015. Comments address 1.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 2.) Proposed New Technology APCs - Orthopedic Procedures. Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "Medicare Program; Revisions for Part B for CY 2016" published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 15, 2015. Comments address 1.) 2016 Conversion Factor (CF); 2.) Practice Expense Issues; 3.) Potentially Misvalued Services Under the Fee Schedule; 4.) Improving Valuation of the Global Surgical Package; 5.) Improving Payment Accuracy for Primary Care and Care Management Services; 6.) Target for Relative Value Adjustments for Misvalued Services; 7.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 8.) Malpractice RVUs; 9.) Validating RVUs of Service; 10.) Valuing New, Revised, and Potentially Misvalued Codes; 11.) Valuation of Specific Codes; 12.) Incident to Proposals: Billing Physicians as the Supervising Physician and Ancillary Personnel Requirements; 13.) Physicians Compare; 14.) Physician Payment, Efficiency, and Quality Improvements-Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS); 15.) Value Based Modifier (VM) and Physician Feedback Reporting Program. H.R. 1919, the Steve Gleason Act of 2015; all provisions. S. 2425, the Patient Access and Medicare Protection Act; Section 4. Meaningful Use Incentive Program; in general. Physician-led, team-base care approach to healthcare models; in general. Comments regarding the Request for Information (RFI) on implementation of Alternative Payment Models (APMs) and Merit-Based Incentive Programs (MIPS) under the Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act (MACRA). H.R. 2568, the Fair Medical Audits Act of 2015; all provisions. H.R. 2513, the Protecting Access, Competition, and Equity Act; all provisions. H.R. 3940, the Meaningful Use Hardship Relief Act of 2015; all provisions. Comments re: "Medicare Program; Revisions to Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule and and other Revisions for Part B for CY 16" published in the Federal Register as a final rule with comment period on November 16, 2015, which address the following issues: 1) 2016 Conversion Factor (CF); 2) Practice Expense Issues; 3) Potentially Misvalued Services Under the Fee Schedule; 4) Improving Valuation of the Global Surgical Package; 5) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 6) Valuing New, Revised, and Potentially Misvalued Codes; 7) CY 2016 Interim Final Rule Codes; 8) Incident to Proposals: Billing Physicians as the Supervising Physician and Ancillary Personnel Requirements; 9) Physician Compare; 10) Physician Payment, Efficiency, and Quality Improvements - Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS); 11) Value Based Payment Modifier (VM) and Physician Feedback Reporting Program. Comments re: the "Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Electronic Health Record Incentive Program--Stage 3 and Modifications to Meaningful Use in 2015-2017; Final Rule" published in the Federal Register on Friday, October 16, 2015, which address the following issues: 1) the need for increased flexibility; 2) the lack of interoperability; 3) the need for 90-day reporting periods beyond the current year; and 4) the specific meaningful use criteria.

Medicare physician payment reform; in general. H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015; all provisions. H.R. 1470, the SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2015; all provisions. Audiology-related legislation; in general. H.R. 1116, the Medicare Audiology Services Enhancement Act of 2015. Repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB); in general. H.R. 1190/S.141, the Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2015; all provisions. Certification of electronic health records (EHRs); in general. Medicare Advantage "Network Adequacy"; in general. Opposition to proposed policy in the 2015 Final Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule to transition 10- and 90-day global payment period codes to 0-day global period codes in 2017, and 2018, respectively. Implementation plans for moving to ICD-10, a code set named under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). Implementation of Section 218 (b) of Public Law 113-93, entitled the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA), relating to the possible consideration of Radiology Benefit Management (RBM) companies as potential sources for the establishment of applicable appropriate use criteria, as well as any use of RBMs for the enforcement of the prior authorization section for ordering professionals who are outliers. Comments re: funding of quality measures authorized under section 102 of the recently enacted Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, or MACRA, Public Law 114-10. H.R. 2519, Audiology Patient Choice Act of 2015; all provisions. Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) created under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Support for H.R. 3309, the Further Flexibility in HIT Reporting and Advancing Interoperability Act or Flex IT 2 Act"; all provisions. Communications urging the Administration to "pause" implementation of Stage 3 Meaningful Use (MU) and reevaluate the program in light of pivotal changes to Medicare, including passage of the Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "CY 2016 Hospital Outpatient PPS Policy changes and Payment Rates and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Policy Changes and Payment Rates CMS-1633-P, published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 8, 2015. Comments address 1.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 2.) Proposed New Technology APCs - Orthopedic Procedures. Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "Medicare Program; Revisions for Part B for CY 2016" published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 15, 2015. Comments address 1.) 2016 Conversion Factor (CF); 2.) Practice Expense Issues; 3.) Potentially Misvalued Services Under the Fee Schedule; 4.) Improving Valuation of the Global Surgical Package; 5.) Improving Payment Accuracy for Primary Care and Care Management Services; 6.) Target for Relative Value Adjustments for Misvalued Services; 7.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 8.) Malpractice RVUs; 9.) Validating RVUs of Service; 10.) Valuing New, Revised, and Potentially Misvalued Codes; 11.) Valuation of Specific Codes; 12.) Incident to Proposals: Billing Physicians as the Supervising Physician and Ancillary Personnel Requirements; 13.) Physicians Compare; 14.) Physician Payment, Efficiency, and Quality Improvements-Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS); 15.) Value Based Modifier (VM) and Physician Feedback Reporting Program. H.R. 1919, the Steve Gleason Act of 2015; all provisions. S. 2425, the Patient Access and Medicare Protection Act; Section 4. Meaningful Use Incentive Program; in general. Physician-led, team-base care approach to healthcare models; in general. Comments regarding the Request for Information (RFI) on implementation of Alternative Payment Models (APMs) and Merit-Based Incentive Programs (MIPS) under the Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act (MACRA). H.R. 2568, the Fair Medical Audits Act of 2015; all provisions. H.R. 2513, the Protecting Access, Competition, and Equity Act; all provisions. H.R. 3940, the Meaningful Use Hardship Relief Act of 2015; all provisions. Comments re: "Medicare Program; Revisions to Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule and and other Revisions for Part B for CY 16" published in the Federal Register as a final rule with comment period on November 16, 2015, which address the following issues: 1) 2016 Conversion Factor (CF); 2) Practice Expense Issues; 3) Potentially Misvalued Services Under the Fee Schedule; 4) Improving Valuation of the Global Surgical Package; 5) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 6) Valuing New, Revised, and Potentially Misvalued Codes; 7) CY 2016 Interim Final Rule Codes; 8) Incident to Proposals: Billing Physicians as the Supervising Physician and Ancillary Personnel Requirements; 9) Physician Compare; 10) Physician Payment, Efficiency, and Quality Improvements - Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS); 11) Value Based Payment Modifier (VM) and Physician Feedback Reporting Program. Comments re: the "Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Electronic Health Record Incentive Program--Stage 3 and Modifications to Meaningful Use in 2015-2017; Final Rule" published in the Federal Register on Friday, October 16, 2015, which address the following issues: 1) the need for increased flexibility; 2) the lack of interoperability; 3) the need for 90-day reporting periods beyond the current year; and 4) the specific meaningful use criteria.

H.R. 293, a bill to amend title XI (General Provisions, Peer Review, Administrative Simplification) of the Social Security Act to exempt from manufacturer transparency reporting to the Secretary of Health and Human Services any transfer of value to a covered recipient of: (1) peer-reviewed journals, journal reprints, journal supplements, conference reports, and medical textbooks that directly benefit patients or are intended for patient use; and (2) anything of value to a physician if it is intended solely to provide continuing medical education. H.R. 1741, the Truth in Healthcare Marketing Act of 2015; all provisions. Comments re: October 26, 2015, Presidents Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) report to the President on Aging America & Hearing Loss: Imperative of Improved Hearing Technologies.

H.R. 293, a bill to amend title XI (General Provisions, Peer Review, Administrative Simplification) of the Social Security Act to exempt from manufacturer transparency reporting to the Secretary of Health and Human Services any transfer of value to a covered recipient of: (1) peer-reviewed journals, journal reprints, journal supplements, conference reports, and medical textbooks that directly benefit patients or are intended for patient use; and (2) anything of value to a physician if it is intended solely to provide continuing medical education. H.R. 1741, the Truth in Healthcare Marketing Act of 2015; all provisions.

Medicare physician payment reform; in general. H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015; all provisions. H.R. 1470, the SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2015; all provisions. Audiology-related legislation; in general. H.R. 1116, the Medicare Audiology Services Enhancement Act of 2015. Repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB); in general. H.R. 1190/S.141, the Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2015; all provisions. Certification of electronic health records (EHRs); in general. Medicare Advantage "Network Adequacy"; in general. Opposition to proposed policy in the 2015 Final Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule to transition 10- and 90-day global payment period codes to 0-day global period codes in 2017, and 2018, respectively. Implementation plans for moving to ICD-10, a code set named under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). Implementation of Section 218 (b) of Public Law 113-93, entitled the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA), relating to the possible consideration of Radiology Benefit Management (RBM) companies as potential sources for the establishment of applicable appropriate use criteria, as well as any use of RBMs for the enforcement of the prior authorization section for ordering professionals who are outliers. Comments re: funding of quality measures authorized under section 102 of the recently enacted Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, or MACRA, Public Law 114-10. H.R. 2519, Audiology Patient Choice Act of 2015; all provisions. Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) created under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Support for H.R. 3309, the Further Flexibility in HIT Reporting and Advancing Interoperability Act or Flex IT 2 Act"; all provisions. Communications urging the Administration to "pause" implementation of Stage 3 Meaningful Use (MU) and reevaluate the program in light of pivotal changes to Medicare, including passage of the Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "CY 2016 Hospital Outpatient PPS Policy changes and Payment Rates and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Policy Changes and Payment Rates CMS-1633-P, published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 8, 2015. Comments address 1.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 2.) Proposed New Technology APCs - Orthopedic Procedures. Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "Medicare Program; Revisions for Part B for CY 2016" published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 15, 2015. Comments address 1.) 2016 Conversion Factor (CF); 2.) Practice Expense Issues; 3.) Potentially Misvalued Services Under the Fee Schedule; 4.) Improving Valuation of the Global Surgical Package; 5.) Improving Payment Accuracy for Primary Care and Care Management Services; 6.) Target for Relative Value Adjustments for Misvalued Services; 7.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 8.) Malpractice RVUs; 9.) Validating RVUs of Service; 10.) Valuing New, Revised, and Potentially Misvalued Codes; 11.) Valuation of Specific Codes; 12.) Incident to Proposals: Billing Physicians as the Supervising Physician and Ancillary Personnel Requirements; 13.) Physicians Compare; 14.) Physician Payment, Efficiency, and Quality Improvements-Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS); 15.) Value Based Modifier (VM) and Physician Feedback Reporting Program. H.R. 1919, the Steve Gleason Act of 2015; all provisions. S. 2425, the Patient Access and Medicare Protection Act; Section 4. Meaningful Use Incentive Program; in general. Physician-led, team-base care approach to healthcare models; in general. Comments regarding the Request for Information (RFI) on implementation of Alternative Payment Models (APMs) and Merit-Based Incentive Programs (MIPS) under the Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act (MACRA). H.R. 2568, the Fair Medical Audits Act of 2015; all provisions. H.R. 2513, the Protecting Access, Competition, and Equity Act; all provisions. H.R. 3940, the Meaningful Use Hardship Relief Act of 2015; all provisions. Comments re: "Medicare Program; Revisions to Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule and and other Revisions for Part B for CY 16" published in the Federal Register as a final rule with comment period on November 16, 2015, which address the following issues: 1) 2016 Conversion Factor (CF); 2) Practice Expense Issues; 3) Potentially Misvalued Services Under the Fee Schedule; 4) Improving Valuation of the Global Surgical Package; 5) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 6) Valuing New, Revised, and Potentially Misvalued Codes; 7) CY 2016 Interim Final Rule Codes; 8) Incident to Proposals: Billing Physicians as the Supervising Physician and Ancillary Personnel Requirements; 9) Physician Compare; 10) Physician Payment, Efficiency, and Quality Improvements - Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS); 11) Value Based Payment Modifier (VM) and Physician Feedback Reporting Program. Comments re: the "Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Electronic Health Record Incentive Program--Stage 3 and Modifications to Meaningful Use in 2015-2017; Final Rule" published in the Federal Register on Friday, October 16, 2015, which address the following issues: 1) the need for increased flexibility; 2) the lack of interoperability; 3) the need for 90-day reporting periods beyond the current year; and 4) the specific meaningful use criteria.

Medicare physician payment reform; in general. H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015; all provisions. H.R. 1470, the SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2015; all provisions. Audiology-related legislation; in general. H.R. 1116, the Medicare Audiology Services Enhancement Act of 2015. Repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB); in general. H.R. 1190/S.141, the Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2015; all provisions. Certification of electronic health records (EHRs); in general. Medicare Advantage "Network Adequacy"; in general. Opposition to proposed policy in the 2015 Final Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule to transition 10- and 90-day global payment period codes to 0-day global period codes in 2017, and 2018, respectively. Implementation plans for moving to ICD-10, a code set named under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). Implementation of Section 218 (b) of Public Law 113-93, entitled the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA), relating to the possible consideration of Radiology Benefit Management (RBM) companies as potential sources for the establishment of applicable appropriate use criteria, as well as any use of RBMs for the enforcement of the prior authorization section for ordering professionals who are outliers. Comments re: funding of quality measures authorized under section 102 of the recently enacted Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, or MACRA, Public Law 114-10. H.R. 2519, Audiology Patient Choice Act of 2015; all provisions. Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) created under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Support for H.R. 3309, the Further Flexibility in HIT Reporting and Advancing Interoperability Act or Flex IT 2 Act"; all provisions. Communications urging the Administration to "pause" implementation of Stage 3 Meaningful Use (MU) and reevaluate the program in light of pivotal changes to Medicare, including passage of the Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "CY 2016 Hospital Outpatient PPS Policy changes and Payment Rates and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Policy Changes and Payment Rates CMS-1633-P, published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 8, 2015. Comments address 1.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 2.) Proposed New Technology APCs - Orthopedic Procedures. Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "Medicare Program; Revisions for Part B for CY 2016" published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 15, 2015. Comments address 1.) 2016 Conversion Factor (CF); 2.) Practice Expense Issues; 3.) Potentially Misvalued Services Under the Fee Schedule; 4.) Improving Valuation of the Global Surgical Package; 5.) Improving Payment Accuracy for Primary Care and Care Management Services; 6.) Target for Relative Value Adjustments for Misvalued Services; 7.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 8.) Malpractice RVUs; 9.) Validating RVUs of Service; 10.) Valuing New, Revised, and Potentially Misvalued Codes; 11.) Valuation of Specific Codes; 12.) Incident to Proposals: Billing Physicians as the Supervising Physician and Ancillary Personnel Requirements; 13.) Physicians Compare; 14.) Physician Payment, Efficiency, and Quality Improvements-Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS); 15.) Value Based Modifier (VM) and Physician Feedback Reporting Program. H.R. 1919, the Steve Gleason Act of 2015; all provisions.

H.R. 353/S. 564, the Veterans' Access to Hearing Health Act of 2015; all provisions. Comments regarding the draft VHA Nursing Handbook and its impact on surgical care.

H.R. 353/S. 564, the Veterans' Access to Hearing Health Act of 2015; all provisions.

Medicare physician payment reform; in general. H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015; all provisions. H.R. 1470, the SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2015; all provisions. Audiology-related legislation; in general. H.R. 1116, the Medicare Audiology Services Enhancement Act of 2015. Repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB); in general. H.R. 1190/S.141, the Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2015; all provisions. Certification of electronic health records (EHRs); in general. Medicare Advantage "Network Adequacy"; in general. Opposition to proposed policy in the 2015 Final Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule to transition 10- and 90-day global payment period codes to 0-day global period codes in 2017, and 2018, respectively. Implementation plans for moving to ICD-10, a code set named under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). Implementation of Section 218 (b) of Public Law 113-93, entitled the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA), relating to the possible consideration of Radiology Benefit Management (RBM) companies as potential sources for the establishment of applicable appropriate use criteria, as well as any use of RBMs for the enforcement of the prior authorization section for ordering professionals who are outliers. Comments re: funding of quality measures authorized under section 102 of the recently enacted Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, or MACRA, Public Law 114-10. H.R. 2519, Audiology Patient Choice Act of 2015; all provisions. Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) created under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Support for H.R. 3309, the Further Flexibility in HIT Reporting and Advancing Interoperability Act or Flex IT 2 Act"; all provisions. Communications urging the Administration to "pause" implementation of Stage 3 Meaningful Use (MU) and reevaluate the program in light of pivotal changes to Medicare, including passage of the Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "CY 2016 Hospital Outpatient PPS Policy changes and Payment Rates and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Policy Changes and Payment Rates CMS-1633-P, published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 8, 2015. Comments address 1.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 2.) Proposed New Technology APCs - Orthopedic Procedures. Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "Medicare Program; Revisions for Part B for CY 2016" published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 15, 2015. Comments address 1.) 2016 Conversion Factor (CF); 2.) Practice Expense Issues; 3.) Potentially Misvalued Services Under the Fee Schedule; 4.) Improving Valuation of the Global Surgical Package; 5.) Improving Payment Accuracy for Primary Care and Care Management Services; 6.) Target for Relative Value Adjustments for Misvalued Services; 7.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 8.) Malpractice RVUs; 9.) Validating RVUs of Service; 10.) Valuing New, Revised, and Potentially Misvalued Codes; 11.) Valuation of Specific Codes; 12.) Incident to Proposals: Billing Physicians as the Supervising Physician and Ancillary Personnel Requirements; 13.) Physicians Compare; 14.) Physician Payment, Efficiency, and Quality Improvements-Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS); 15.) Value Based Modifier (VM) and Physician Feedback Reporting Program. H.R. 1919, the Steve Gleason Act of 2015; all provisions. S. 2425, the Patient Access and Medicare Protection Act; Section 4. Meaningful Use Incentive Program; in general. Physician-led, team-base care approach to healthcare models; in general. Comments regarding the Request for Information (RFI) on implementation of Alternative Payment Models (APMs) and Merit-Based Incentive Programs (MIPS) under the Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act (MACRA). H.R. 2568, the Fair Medical Audits Act of 2015; all provisions. H.R. 2513, the Protecting Access, Competition, and Equity Act; all provisions. H.R. 3940, the Meaningful Use Hardship Relief Act of 2015; all provisions. Comments re: "Medicare Program; Revisions to Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule and and other Revisions for Part B for CY 16" published in the Federal Register as a final rule with comment period on November 16, 2015, which address the following issues: 1) 2016 Conversion Factor (CF); 2) Practice Expense Issues; 3) Potentially Misvalued Services Under the Fee Schedule; 4) Improving Valuation of the Global Surgical Package; 5) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 6) Valuing New, Revised, and Potentially Misvalued Codes; 7) CY 2016 Interim Final Rule Codes; 8) Incident to Proposals: Billing Physicians as the Supervising Physician and Ancillary Personnel Requirements; 9) Physician Compare; 10) Physician Payment, Efficiency, and Quality Improvements - Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS); 11) Value Based Payment Modifier (VM) and Physician Feedback Reporting Program. Comments re: the "Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Electronic Health Record Incentive Program--Stage 3 and Modifications to Meaningful Use in 2015-2017; Final Rule" published in the Federal Register on Friday, October 16, 2015, which address the following issues: 1) the need for increased flexibility; 2) the lack of interoperability; 3) the need for 90-day reporting periods beyond the current year; and 4) the specific meaningful use criteria.

Food and Drug Administration oversight of tobacco products; in general. H.R. 662/S. 441, the Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act of 2015; all provisions. Support for the Department of Housing and Urban Development requiring all government subsidized housing be made smokefree. Comments re: Administration's release of a Final "Deeming" regulation for tobacco products. H.R. 1375/S. 142, the Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act; all provisions. H.R. 2058, the FDA Deeming Authority Clarification Act of 2015; all provisions. Comments to the US Preventive Services Task Force re: their draft recommendations for various tobacco cessation interventions. Opposition to Section 747 of the House Agriculture Appropriations Bill with regards to FDAs authority under the Tobacco Control Act. Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP); relating to the inclusion of provisions/protections necessary to enable countries that are party to the agreement to protect the public health of their citizens from the death and disease caused by tobacco products. Communication to urge the the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to commence an appropriate enforcement action against Reynolds American, Inc. (Reynolds) and its subsidiary Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Co. (Santa Fe) for the marketing of Natural American Spirit brand cigarettes in violation of the modified risk provisions of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (TCA). Opposition to language in the FY16 House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) Appropriations bill that would cut funding for tobacco prevention at the CDC Office on Smoking and Health by 50 percent. Opposition to proposed "rider" language in the FY 16 House Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill that changes the so-called grandfather date for e-cigarettes, cigars and other unregulated products and exempts these products from an important review requirement in the Tobacco Control Act (TCA). Comments to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM), Nicotine Exposure Warnings and Child-Resistant Packaging for Liquid Nicotine, Nicotine-Containing E-Liquid(s), and Other Tobacco Products; Request for Comments, published on July 1, 2015 (docket no. FDA-2015-N-1514).

Food and Drug Administration oversight of tobacco products; in general. H.R. 662/S. 441, the Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act of 2015; all provisions. Support for the Department of Housing and Urban Development requiring all government subsidized housing be made smokefree. Comments re: Administration's release of a Final "Deeming" regulation for tobacco products. H.R. 1375/S. 142, the Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act; all provisions. H.R. 2058, the FDA Deeming Authority Clarification Act of 2015; all provisions. Comments to the US Preventive Services Task Force re: their draft recommendations for various tobacco cessation interventions. Opposition to Section 747 of the House Agriculture Appropriations Bill with regards to FDAs authority under the Tobacco Control Act. Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP); relating to the inclusion of provisions/protections necessary to enable countries that are party to the agreement to protect the public health of their citizens from the death and disease caused by tobacco products. Communication to urge the the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to commence an appropriate enforcement action against Reynolds American, Inc. (Reynolds) and its subsidiary Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Co. (Santa Fe) for the marketing of Natural American Spirit brand cigarettes in violation of the modified risk provisions of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (TCA). Opposition to language in the FY16 House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) Appropriations bill that would cut funding for tobacco prevention at the CDC Office on Smoking and Health by 50 percent. Opposition to proposed "rider" language in the FY 16 House Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill that changes the so-called grandfather date for e-cigarettes, cigars and other unregulated products and exempts these products from an important review requirement in the Tobacco Control Act (TCA). Comments to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM), Nicotine Exposure Warnings and Child-Resistant Packaging for Liquid Nicotine, Nicotine-Containing E-Liquid(s), and Other Tobacco Products; Request for Comments, published on July 1, 2015 (docket no. FDA-2015-N-1514). Comments regarding tobacco cessation interventions and preventive services, including guidance on insurance coverage of aforementioned.

Medicare physician payment reform; in general. H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015; all provisions. H.R. 1470, the SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2015; all provisions. Audiology-related legislation; in general. H.R. 1116, the Medicare Audiology Services Enhancement Act of 2015. Repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB); in general. H.R. 1190/S.141, the Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2015; all provisions. Certification of electronic health records (EHRs); in general. Medicare Advantage "Network Adequacy"; in general. Opposition to proposed policy in the 2015 Final Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule to transition 10- and 90-day global payment period codes to 0-day global period codes in 2017, and 2018, respectively. Implementation plans for moving to ICD-10, a code set named under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). Implementation of Section 218 (b) of Public Law 113-93, entitled the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA), relating to the possible consideration of Radiology Benefit Management (RBM) companies as potential sources for the establishment of applicable appropriate use criteria, as well as any use of RBMs for the enforcement of the prior authorization section for ordering professionals who are outliers. Comments re: funding of quality measures authorized under section 102 of the recently enacted Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, or MACRA, Public Law 114-10. H.R. 2519, Audiology Patient Choice Act of 2015; all provisions. Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) created under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Support for H.R. 3309, the Further Flexibility in HIT Reporting and Advancing Interoperability Act or Flex IT 2 Act"; all provisions. Communications urging the Administration to "pause" implementation of Stage 3 Meaningful Use (MU) and reevaluate the program in light of pivotal changes to Medicare, including passage of the Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "CY 2016 Hospital Outpatient PPS Policy changes and Payment Rates and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Policy Changes and Payment Rates CMS-1633-P, published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 8, 2015. Comments address 1.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 2.) Proposed New Technology APCs - Orthopedic Procedures. Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "Medicare Program; Revisions for Part B for CY 2016" published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 15, 2015. Comments address 1.) 2016 Conversion Factor (CF); 2.) Practice Expense Issues; 3.) Potentially Misvalued Services Under the Fee Schedule; 4.) Improving Valuation of the Global Surgical Package; 5.) Improving Payment Accuracy for Primary Care and Care Management Services; 6.) Target for Relative Value Adjustments for Misvalued Services; 7.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 8.) Malpractice RVUs; 9.) Validating RVUs of Service; 10.) Valuing New, Revised, and Potentially Misvalued Codes; 11.) Valuation of Specific Codes; 12.) Incident to Proposals: Billing Physicians as the Supervising Physician and Ancillary Personnel Requirements; 13.) Physicians Compare; 14.) Physician Payment, Efficiency, and Quality Improvements-Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS); 15.) Value Based Modifier (VM) and Physician Feedback Reporting Program. H.R. 1919, the Steve Gleason Act of 2015; all provisions. S. 2425, the Patient Access and Medicare Protection Act; Section 4. Meaningful Use Incentive Program; in general. Physician-led, team-base care approach to healthcare models; in general. Comments regarding the Request for Information (RFI) on implementation of Alternative Payment Models (APMs) and Merit-Based Incentive Programs (MIPS) under the Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act (MACRA). H.R. 2568, the Fair Medical Audits Act of 2015; all provisions. H.R. 2513, the Protecting Access, Competition, and Equity Act; all provisions. H.R. 3940, the Meaningful Use Hardship Relief Act of 2015; all provisions. Comments re: "Medicare Program; Revisions to Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule and and other Revisions for Part B for CY 16" published in the Federal Register as a final rule with comment period on November 16, 2015, which address the following issues: 1) 2016 Conversion Factor (CF); 2) Practice Expense Issues; 3) Potentially Misvalued Services Under the Fee Schedule; 4) Improving Valuation of the Global Surgical Package; 5) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 6) Valuing New, Revised, and Potentially Misvalued Codes; 7) CY 2016 Interim Final Rule Codes; 8) Incident to Proposals: Billing Physicians as the Supervising Physician and Ancillary Personnel Requirements; 9) Physician Compare; 10) Physician Payment, Efficiency, and Quality Improvements - Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS); 11) Value Based Payment Modifier (VM) and Physician Feedback Reporting Program. Comments re: the "Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Electronic Health Record Incentive Program--Stage 3 and Modifications to Meaningful Use in 2015-2017; Final Rule" published in the Federal Register on Friday, October 16, 2015, which address the following issues: 1) the need for increased flexibility; 2) the lack of interoperability; 3) the need for 90-day reporting periods beyond the current year; and 4) the specific meaningful use criteria.

Medicare physician payment reform; in general. H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015; all provisions. H.R. 1470, the SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2015; all provisions. Audiology-related legislation; in general. H.R. 1116, the Medicare Audiology Services Enhancement Act of 2015. Repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB); in general. H.R. 1190/S.141, the Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2015; all provisions. Certification of electronic health records (EHRs); in general. Medicare Advantage "Network Adequacy"; in general. Opposition to proposed policy in the 2015 Final Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule to transition 10- and 90-day global payment period codes to 0-day global period codes in 2017, and 2018, respectively. Implementation plans for moving to ICD-10, a code set named under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). Implementation of Section 218 (b) of Public Law 113-93, entitled the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA), relating to the possible consideration of Radiology Benefit Management (RBM) companies as potential sources for the establishment of applicable appropriate use criteria, as well as any use of RBMs for the enforcement of the prior authorization section for ordering professionals who are outliers. Comments re: funding of quality measures authorized under section 102 of the recently enacted Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, or MACRA, Public Law 114-10. H.R. 2519, Audiology Patient Choice Act of 2015; all provisions. Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) created under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Support for H.R. 3309, the Further Flexibility in HIT Reporting and Advancing Interoperability Act or Flex IT 2 Act"; all provisions. Communications urging the Administration to "pause" implementation of Stage 3 Meaningful Use (MU) and reevaluate the program in light of pivotal changes to Medicare, including passage of the Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "CY 2016 Hospital Outpatient PPS Policy changes and Payment Rates and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Policy Changes and Payment Rates CMS-1633-P, published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 8, 2015. Comments address 1.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 2.) Proposed New Technology APCs - Orthopedic Procedures. Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "Medicare Program; Revisions for Part B for CY 2016" published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 15, 2015. Comments address 1.) 2016 Conversion Factor (CF); 2.) Practice Expense Issues; 3.) Potentially Misvalued Services Under the Fee Schedule; 4.) Improving Valuation of the Global Surgical Package; 5.) Improving Payment Accuracy for Primary Care and Care Management Services; 6.) Target for Relative Value Adjustments for Misvalued Services; 7.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 8.) Malpractice RVUs; 9.) Validating RVUs of Service; 10.) Valuing New, Revised, and Potentially Misvalued Codes; 11.) Valuation of Specific Codes; 12.) Incident to Proposals: Billing Physicians as the Supervising Physician and Ancillary Personnel Requirements; 13.) Physicians Compare; 14.) Physician Payment, Efficiency, and Quality Improvements-Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS); 15.) Value Based Modifier (VM) and Physician Feedback Reporting Program. H.R. 1919, the Steve Gleason Act of 2015; all provisions.

Food and Drug Administration oversight of tobacco products; in general. H.R. 662/S. 441, the Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act of 2015; all provisions. Support for the Department of Housing and Urban Development requiring all government subsidized housing be made smokefree. Comments re: Administration's release of a Final "Deeming" regulation for tobacco products. H.R. 1375/S. 142, the Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act; all provisions. H.R. 2058, the FDA Deeming Authority Clarification Act of 2015; all provisions. Comments to the US Preventive Services Task Force re: their draft recommendations for various tobacco cessation interventions. Opposition to Section 747 of the House Agriculture Appropriations Bill with regards to FDAs authority under the Tobacco Control Act. Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP); relating to the inclusion of provisions/protections necessary to enable countries that are party to the agreement to protect the public health of their citizens from the death and disease caused by tobacco products. Communication to urge the the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to commence an appropriate enforcement action against Reynolds American, Inc. (Reynolds) and its subsidiary Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Co. (Santa Fe) for the marketing of Natural American Spirit brand cigarettes in violation of the modified risk provisions of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (TCA). Opposition to language in the FY16 House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) Appropriations bill that would cut funding for tobacco prevention at the CDC Office on Smoking and Health by 50 percent. Opposition to proposed "rider" language in the FY 16 House Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill that changes the so-called grandfather date for e-cigarettes, cigars and other unregulated products and exempts these products from an important review requirement in the Tobacco Control Act (TCA). Comments to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM), Nicotine Exposure Warnings and Child-Resistant Packaging for Liquid Nicotine, Nicotine-Containing E-Liquid(s), and Other Tobacco Products; Request for Comments, published on July 1, 2015 (docket no. FDA-2015-N-1514).

Food and Drug Administration oversight of tobacco products; in general. H.R. 662/S. 441, the Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act of 2015; all provisions. Support for the Department of Housing and Urban Development requiring all government subsidized housing be made smokefree. Comments re: Administration's release of a Final "Deeming" regulation for tobacco products. H.R. 1375/S. 142, the Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act; all provisions. H.R. 2058, the FDA Deeming Authority Clarification Act of 2015; all provisions. Comments to the US Preventive Services Task Force re: their draft recommendations for various tobacco cessation interventions. Opposition to Section 747 of the House Agriculture Appropriations Bill with regards to FDAs authority under the Tobacco Control Act. Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP); relating to the inclusion of provisions/protections necessary to enable countries that are party to the agreement to protect the public health of their citizens from the death and disease caused by tobacco products. Communication to urge the the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to commence an appropriate enforcement action against Reynolds American, Inc. (Reynolds) and its subsidiary Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Co. (Santa Fe) for the marketing of Natural American Spirit brand cigarettes in violation of the modified risk provisions of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (TCA). Opposition to language in the FY16 House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) Appropriations bill that would cut funding for tobacco prevention at the CDC Office on Smoking and Health by 50 percent. Opposition to proposed "rider" language in the FY 16 House Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill that changes the so-called grandfather date for e-cigarettes, cigars and other unregulated products and exempts these products from an important review requirement in the Tobacco Control Act (TCA). Comments to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM), Nicotine Exposure Warnings and Child-Resistant Packaging for Liquid Nicotine, Nicotine-Containing E-Liquid(s), and Other Tobacco Products; Request for Comments, published on July 1, 2015 (docket no. FDA-2015-N-1514). Comments regarding tobacco cessation interventions and preventive services, including guidance on insurance coverage of aforementioned.

Funding for NIH and medical research; in general. Funding for Graduate Medical Education, in general. FY 2016 budgets; in general. Funding in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) appropriations bill for the Pediatric Device Consortia (PDC) Grant Program at the Office of Orphan Products Development (OOPD) at FDA. H.R. 1344, the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act of 2015; all provisions. H.R. 1859, the Ensuring Childrens Access to Specialty Care Act of 2015; all provisions. Opposition to Section 747 of the House Agriculture Appropriations Bill with regards to FDAs authority under the Tobacco Control Act. Opposition to provisions in the FY 2016 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies appropriations bill to eliminate, or reduce, funding for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Opposition to language in the FY16 House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) Appropriations bill that would cut funding for tobacco prevention at the CDC Office on Smoking and Health by 50 percent. Opposition to proposed "rider" language in the FY 16 House Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill that changes the so-called grandfather date for e-cigarettes, cigars and other unregulated products and exempts these products from an important review requirement in the Tobacco Control Act (TCA). S. 2424, Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act of 2015; all provisions.

Medicare physician payment reform; in general. H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015; all provisions. H.R. 1470, the SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2015; all provisions. Audiology-related legislation; in general. H.R. 1116, the Medicare Audiology Services Enhancement Act of 2015. Repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB); in general. H.R. 1190/S.141, the Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2015; all provisions. Certification of electronic health records (EHRs); in general. Medicare Advantage "Network Adequacy"; in general. Opposition to proposed policy in the 2015 Final Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule to transition 10- and 90-day global payment period codes to 0-day global period codes in 2017, and 2018, respectively. Implementation plans for moving to ICD-10, a code set named under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). Implementation of Section 218 (b) of Public Law 113-93, entitled the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA), relating to the possible consideration of Radiology Benefit Management (RBM) companies as potential sources for the establishment of applicable appropriate use criteria, as well as any use of RBMs for the enforcement of the prior authorization section for ordering professionals who are outliers. Comments re: funding of quality measures authorized under section 102 of the recently enacted Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, or MACRA, Public Law 114-10. H.R. 2519, Audiology Patient Choice Act of 2015; all provisions. Support for the appointment of a surgeon to the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) created under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Support for H.R. 3309, the Further Flexibility in HIT Reporting and Advancing Interoperability Act or Flex IT 2 Act"; all provisions. Communications urging the Administration to "pause" implementation of Stage 3 Meaningful Use (MU) and reevaluate the program in light of pivotal changes to Medicare, including passage of the Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "CY 2016 Hospital Outpatient PPS Policy changes and Payment Rates and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Policy Changes and Payment Rates CMS-1633-P, published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 8, 2015. Comments address 1.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 2.) Proposed New Technology APCs - Orthopedic Procedures. Communication to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regarding the "Medicare Program; Revisions for Part B for CY 2016" published in the Federal Register as a proposed notice on July 15, 2015. Comments address 1.) 2016 Conversion Factor (CF); 2.) Practice Expense Issues; 3.) Potentially Misvalued Services Under the Fee Schedule; 4.) Improving Valuation of the Global Surgical Package; 5.) Improving Payment Accuracy for Primary Care and Care Management Services; 6.) Target for Relative Value Adjustments for Misvalued Services; 7.) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 8.) Malpractice RVUs; 9.) Validating RVUs of Service; 10.) Valuing New, Revised, and Potentially Misvalued Codes; 11.) Valuation of Specific Codes; 12.) Incident to Proposals: Billing Physicians as the Supervising Physician and Ancillary Personnel Requirements; 13.) Physicians Compare; 14.) Physician Payment, Efficiency, and Quality Improvements-Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS); 15.) Value Based Modifier (VM) and Physician Feedback Reporting Program. H.R. 1919, the Steve Gleason Act of 2015; all provisions. S. 2425, the Patient Access and Medicare Protection Act; Section 4. Meaningful Use Incentive Program; in general. Physician-led, team-base care approach to healthcare models; in general. Comments regarding the Request for Information (RFI) on implementation of Alternative Payment Models (APMs) and Merit-Based Incentive Programs (MIPS) under the Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act (MACRA). H.R. 2568, the Fair Medical Audits Act of 2015; all provisions. H.R. 2513, the Protecting Access, Competition, and Equity Act; all provisions. H.R. 3940, the Meaningful Use Hardship Relief Act of 2015; all provisions. Comments re: "Medicare Program; Revisions to Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule and and other Revisions for Part B for CY 16" published in the Federal Register as a final rule with comment period on November 16, 2015, which address the following issues: 1) 2016 Conversion Factor (CF); 2) Practice Expense Issues; 3) Potentially Misvalued Services Under the Fee Schedule; 4) Improving Valuation of the Global Surgical Package; 5) Changes for Computed Tomography (CT) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA); 6) Valuing New, Revised, and Potentially Misvalued Codes; 7) CY 2016 Interim Final Rule Codes; 8) Incident to Proposals: Billing Physicians as the Supervising Physician and Ancillary Personnel Requirements; 9) Physician Compare; 10) Physician Payment, Efficiency, and Quality Improvements - Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS); 11) Value Based Payment Modifier (VM) and Physician Feedback Reporting Program. Comments re: the "Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Electronic Health Record Incentive Program--Stage 3 and Modifications to Meaningful Use in 2015-2017; Final Rule" published in the Federal Register on Friday, October 16, 2015, which address the following issues: 1) the need for increased flexibility; 2) the lack of interoperability; 3) the need for 90-day reporting periods beyond the current year; and 4) the specific meaningful use criteria.

Food and Drug Administration oversight of tobacco products; in general. H.R. 662/S. 441, the Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act of 2015; all provisions. Support for the Department of Housing and Urban Development requiring all government subsidized housing be made smokefree. Comments re: Administration's release of a Final "Deeming" regulation for tobacco products. H.R. 1375/S. 142, the Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act; all provisions. H.R. 2058, the FDA Deeming Authority Clarification Act of 2015; all provisions. Comments to the US Preventive Services Task Force re: their draft recommendations for various tobacco cessation interventions. Opposition to Section 747 of the House Agriculture Appropriations Bill with regards to FDAs authority under the Tobacco Control Act. Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP); relating to the inclusion of provisions/protections necessary to enable countries that are party to the agreement to protect the public health of their citizens from the death and disease caused by tobacco products. Communication to urge the the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to commence an appropriate enforcement action against Reynolds American, Inc. (Reynolds) and its subsidiary Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Co. (Santa Fe) for the marketing of Natural American Spirit brand cigarettes in violation of the modified risk provisions of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (TCA). Opposition to language in the FY16 House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) Appropriations bill that would cut funding for tobacco prevention at the CDC Office on Smoking and Health by 50 percent. Opposition to proposed "rider" language in the FY 16 House Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill that changes the so-called grandfather date for e-cigarettes, cigars and other unregulated products and exempts these products from an important review requirement in the Tobacco Control Act (TCA). Comments to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM), Nicotine Exposure Warnings and Child-Resistant Packaging for Liquid Nicotine, Nicotine-Containing E-Liquid(s), and Other Tobacco Products; Request for Comments, published on July 1, 2015 (docket no. FDA-2015-N-1514). Comments regarding tobacco cessation interventions and preventive services, including guidance on insurance coverage of aforementioned.

Food and Drug Administration oversight of tobacco products; in general. H.R. 662/S. 441, the Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act of 2015; all provisions. Support for the Department of Housing and Urban Development requiring all government subsidized housing be made smokefree. Comments re: Administration's release of a Final "Deeming" regulation for tobacco products. H.R. 1375/S. 142, the Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act; all provisions. H.R. 2058, the FDA Deeming Authority Clarification Act of 2015; all provisions. Comments to the US Preventive Services Task Force re: their draft recommendations for various tobacco cessation interventions. Opposition to Section 747 of the House Agriculture Appropriations Bill with regards to FDAs authority under the Tobacco Control Act. Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP); relating to the inclusion of provisions/protections necessary to enable countries that are party to the agreement to protect the public health of their citizens from the death and disease caused by tobacco products. Communication to urge the the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to commence an appropriate enforcement action against Reynolds American, Inc. (Reynolds) and its subsidiary Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Co. (Santa Fe) for the marketing of Natural American Spirit brand cigarettes in violation of the modified risk provisions of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (TCA). Opposition to language in the FY16 House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) Appropriations bill that would cut funding for tobacco prevention at the CDC Office on Smoking and Health by 50 percent. Opposition to proposed "rider" language in the FY 16 House Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill that changes the so-called grandfather date for e-cigarettes, cigars and other unregulated products and exempts these products from an important review requirement in the Tobacco Control Act (TCA). Comments to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM), Nicotine Exposure Warnings and Child-Resistant Packaging for Liquid Nicotine, Nicotine-Containing E-Liquid(s), and Other Tobacco Products; Request for Comments, published on July 1, 2015 (docket no. FDA-2015-N-1514).

H.R. 353/S. 564, the Veterans' Access to Hearing Health Act of 2015; all provisions.

H.R. 353/S. 564, the Veterans' Access to Hearing Health Act of 2015; all provisions. Comments regarding the draft VHA Nursing Handbook and its impact on surgical care.

Medical Liability Reform; in general. "Standard of Care Protection Act" (H.R. 4750 in 113th Congress) provisions included in H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA).

Medical Liability Reform; in general. "Standard of Care Protection Act" (H.R. 4750 in 113th Congress) provisions included in H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA).