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Income and expense are whole-filing amounts associated with this lobbyist, not personal compensation or an allocated share.
No topic inference: each bill number appears in source LDA issue text assigned to this lobbyist.
Setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2010 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2009 and 2011 through 2014.
H.R.1/S.1 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 - AARP interest in the economic stimulus legislation included funding for Department of Transportation transit and paratransit programs, digital television conversion, DOE Weatherization program assistance, State energy efficiency grants and revenue decoupling proposals, public housing capital assistance, Neighborhood Revitalization Program funding and HUD assisted housing energy efficiency rehabilitation. Reached out for assistance in determining which children, if any, were excluded from receiving a $250 payment. Legislation would also provide $1.1 billion in funding for comparative effectiveness research and health information technology. Lobbied for Senior Community Service Employment program funding. H.R. 1388/S. 277 Edward M. Kennedy Service America Act - Will strengthen and expand civic engagement and volunteer opportunities to address pressing national, state and local needs, enhance service opportunities for persons age 50+ so that they can apply a lifetime of acquired skills; and improve the capacity of non-profit, service and philanthropic organizations to recruit, manage and apply volunteer skills to identified service needs. H.R. 476, Safeguarding America's Seniors and Veterans Act of 2009 - Strategized, assisted in drafting provisions, and drafted letter of support for legislation that would provide a recovery payment to retirees, people with disabilities, and veterans. S.Con.Res. 13/H.Con.Res. 85, Concurrent Budget Resolution for FY 2010 - Lobbied in support of federal budget for fiscal year 2010, particularly with regard to health care reform, transportation reauthorization and social security agency funding. Lobbied for nursing education funding (HRSA) in the conference negotiations for the economic stimulus package.
Specific issues are shown only where the LDA source assigned them to this lobbyist. Targets apply to the associated filing.
H.R.1159, To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide special rules for investments lost in a fraudulent Ponzi-type scheme-Contacted Congressman's Meek's office to explore support of a bill that offers some relief to victims of Ponzi schemes. Lobbied for reintroduction of auto-IRA, a bill that would require an automatic workplace retirement savings plan for an estimated 50 million employees (no bill). Lobbied for introduction of legislation that would expand the savers credit so that more modest income individuals can benefit from it. Discussed Auto-IRA, a bill that would require an automatic workplace retirement savings plan for an estimated 50 million employees; legislation that would end the age cap in the earned income tax credit; legislation that would expand the savers credit so that more modest income individuals can benefit from it; and on the inappropriate application of withholding tables that implement Make Work Pay to pension and other retirement income. (no bill) Met with DPC staff on: Auto-IRA, a bill that would require an automatic workplace retirement savings plan for an estimated 5o million employees; legislation that would end the age cap in the earned income tax credit; legislation that would expand the savers credit so that more modest income individuals can benefit from it; weatherization; modernizing the poverty measure; and modernizing the asset tests that are used to determine eligibility for federal benefits. (no bill) Met with the Vice-President's staff on: Auto-IRA, a bill that would require an automatic workplace retirement savings plan for an estimated 50 million employees; legislation that would end the age cap in the earned income tax credit; legislation that would expand the savers credit so that more modest income individuals can benefit from it; weatherization; modernizing the poverty measure; and modernizing the asset tests that are used to determine eligibility for federal benefits. (no bill) Discussed the need for bipartisan action on long-term financial security. (no bill) Discussed Social Security options that are preferred by AARP to educate members with inquiries.
Source: Senate LDA
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide special rules for investments lost in a fraudulent Ponzi-type scheme.
H.R.1159, To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide special rules for investments lost in a fraudulent Ponzi-type scheme-Contacted Congressman's Meek's office to explore support of a bill that offers some relief to victims of Ponzi schemes. Lobbied for reintroduction of auto-IRA, a bill that would require an automatic workplace retirement savings plan for an estimated 50 million employees (no bill). Lobbied for introduction of legislation that would expand the savers credit so that more modest income individuals can benefit from it. Discussed Auto-IRA, a bill that would require an automatic workplace retirement savings plan for an estimated 50 million employees; legislation that would end the age cap in the earned income tax credit; legislation that would expand the savers credit so that more modest income individuals can benefit from it; and on the inappropriate application of withholding tables that implement Make Work Pay to pension and other retirement income. (no bill) Met with DPC staff on: Auto-IRA, a bill that would require an automatic workplace retirement savings plan for an estimated 5o million employees; legislation that would end the age cap in the earned income tax credit; legislation that would expand the savers credit so that more modest income individuals can benefit from it; weatherization; modernizing the poverty measure; and modernizing the asset tests that are used to determine eligibility for federal benefits. (no bill) Met with the Vice-President's staff on: Auto-IRA, a bill that would require an automatic workplace retirement savings plan for an estimated 50 million employees; legislation that would end the age cap in the earned income tax credit; legislation that would expand the savers credit so that more modest income individuals can benefit from it; weatherization; modernizing the poverty measure; and modernizing the asset tests that are used to determine eligibility for federal benefits. (no bill) Discussed the need for bipartisan action on long-term financial security. (no bill) Discussed Social Security options that are preferred by AARP to educate members with inquiries.
S. 584/H.R. 1443 Complete Streets Act of 2009-Directs States and Metropolitan Planning Organization to adopt complete Streets policies within two years to ensure improvements are made to federally-funded roadways to ensure that potential users of all ages and abilities can travel safely and conveniently. Discussed legislation to be introduced to provide a five-year reauthorization of the expiring SAFTEA-LU legislation. AARP interests include increasing funding for public transit and para-transit services, promotion of older driver and pedestrian safety, and strengthened connections between transportation and land use. (no bill) Older Driver and Pedestrian Safty and Roadway Enhancement Act - Discussed legislation to be introduced to provide funding to states to implement roadway safety recommendations for unsafe intersections and roadways based on the Federal Highway Administration's Highway Design Handbook for Older Drivers and Pedestrians. (no bill)
Veterans, Women, Families with Children, and Persons With Disabilities Housing Fairness Act of 2010
H.R.1/S.1 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 - AARP interest in the economic stimulus legislation included funding for Department of Transportation transit and paratransit programs, digital television conversion, DOE Weatherization program assistance, State energy efficiency grants and revenue decoupling proposals, public housing capital assistance, Neighborhood Revitalization Program funding and HUD assisted housing energy efficiency rehabilitation. Reached out for assistance in determining which children, if any, were excluded from receiving a $250 payment. Legislation would also provide $1.1 billion in funding for comparative effectiveness research and health information technology. Lobbied for Senior Community Service Employment program funding. H.R. 1388/S. 277 Edward M. Kennedy Service America Act - Will strengthen and expand civic engagement and volunteer opportunities to address pressing national, state and local needs, enhance service opportunities for persons age 50+ so that they can apply a lifetime of acquired skills; and improve the capacity of non-profit, service and philanthropic organizations to recruit, manage and apply volunteer skills to identified service needs. H.R. 476, Safeguarding America's Seniors and Veterans Act of 2009 - Strategized, assisted in drafting provisions, and drafted letter of support for legislation that would provide a recovery payment to retirees, people with disabilities, and veterans. S.Con.Res. 13/H.Con.Res. 85, Concurrent Budget Resolution for FY 2010 - Lobbied in support of federal budget for fiscal year 2010, particularly with regard to health care reform, transportation reauthorization and social security agency funding. Lobbied for nursing education funding (HRSA) in the conference negotiations for the economic stimulus package.
H.R.1/S.1 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 - AARP interest in the economic stimulus legislation included funding for Department of Transportation transit and paratransit programs, digital television conversion, DOE Weatherization program assistance, State energy efficiency grants and revenue decoupling proposals, public housing capital assistance, Neighborhood Revitalization Program funding and HUD assisted housing energy efficiency rehabilitation. Reached out for assistance in determining which children, if any, were excluded from receiving a $250 payment. Legislation would also provide $1.1 billion in funding for comparative effectiveness research and health information technology. Lobbied for Senior Community Service Employment program funding. H.R. 1388/S. 277 Edward M. Kennedy Service America Act - Will strengthen and expand civic engagement and volunteer opportunities to address pressing national, state and local needs, enhance service opportunities for persons age 50+ so that they can apply a lifetime of acquired skills; and improve the capacity of non-profit, service and philanthropic organizations to recruit, manage and apply volunteer skills to identified service needs. H.R. 476, Safeguarding America's Seniors and Veterans Act of 2009 - Strategized, assisted in drafting provisions, and drafted letter of support for legislation that would provide a recovery payment to retirees, people with disabilities, and veterans. S.Con.Res. 13/H.Con.Res. 85, Concurrent Budget Resolution for FY 2010 - Lobbied in support of federal budget for fiscal year 2010, particularly with regard to health care reform, transportation reauthorization and social security agency funding. Lobbied for nursing education funding (HRSA) in the conference negotiations for the economic stimulus package.
H.R.1/S.1 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 - AARP interest in the economic stimulus legislation included funding for Department of Transportation transit and paratransit programs, digital television conversion, DOE Weatherization program assistance, State energy efficiency grants and revenue decoupling proposals, public housing capital assistance, Neighborhood Revitalization Program funding and HUD assisted housing energy efficiency rehabilitation. Reached out for assistance in determining which children, if any, were excluded from receiving a $250 payment. Legislation would also provide $1.1 billion in funding for comparative effectiveness research and health information technology. Lobbied for Senior Community Service Employment program funding. H.R. 1388/S. 277 Edward M. Kennedy Service America Act - Will strengthen and expand civic engagement and volunteer opportunities to address pressing national, state and local needs, enhance service opportunities for persons age 50+ so that they can apply a lifetime of acquired skills; and improve the capacity of non-profit, service and philanthropic organizations to recruit, manage and apply volunteer skills to identified service needs. H.R. 476, Safeguarding America's Seniors and Veterans Act of 2009 - Strategized, assisted in drafting provisions, and drafted letter of support for legislation that would provide a recovery payment to retirees, people with disabilities, and veterans. S.Con.Res. 13/H.Con.Res. 85, Concurrent Budget Resolution for FY 2010 - Lobbied in support of federal budget for fiscal year 2010, particularly with regard to health care reform, transportation reauthorization and social security agency funding. Lobbied for nursing education funding (HRSA) in the conference negotiations for the economic stimulus package.
S. 584/H.R. 1443 Complete Streets Act of 2009-Directs States and Metropolitan Planning Organization to adopt complete Streets policies within two years to ensure improvements are made to federally-funded roadways to ensure that potential users of all ages and abilities can travel safely and conveniently. Discussed legislation to be introduced to provide a five-year reauthorization of the expiring SAFTEA-LU legislation. AARP interests include increasing funding for public transit and para-transit services, promotion of older driver and pedestrian safety, and strengthened connections between transportation and land use. (no bill) Older Driver and Pedestrian Safty and Roadway Enhancement Act - Discussed legislation to be introduced to provide funding to states to implement roadway safety recommendations for unsafe intersections and roadways based on the Federal Highway Administration's Highway Design Handbook for Older Drivers and Pedestrians. (no bill)
To amend title 5, United States Code, to increase the level of Government contributions under the Federal employees health benefits program.
H.R.1256, Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act - Discussed legislation that would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide for the regulation of tobacco products by the Secretary of Health and Human Services through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including through disclosure, annual registration, inspection, recordkeeping, and user fee requirements. Provided information on the need for nursing education capacity and the retention of newer and older nurses in the workplace (no bill). Discussed the need for bipartisan action on health care reform legislation, such as affordable and accessible quality healthcare (no bill). Discussed healthcare reform and issues around the public plan option (no bill).
H.R.1/S.1 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 - AARP interest in the economic stimulus legislation included funding for Department of Transportation transit and paratransit programs, digital television conversion, DOE Weatherization program assistance, State energy efficiency grants and revenue decoupling proposals, public housing capital assistance, Neighborhood Revitalization Program funding and HUD assisted housing energy efficiency rehabilitation. Reached out for assistance in determining which children, if any, were excluded from receiving a $250 payment. Legislation would also provide $1.1 billion in funding for comparative effectiveness research and health information technology. Lobbied for Senior Community Service Employment program funding. H.R. 1388/S. 277 Edward M. Kennedy Service America Act - Will strengthen and expand civic engagement and volunteer opportunities to address pressing national, state and local needs, enhance service opportunities for persons age 50+ so that they can apply a lifetime of acquired skills; and improve the capacity of non-profit, service and philanthropic organizations to recruit, manage and apply volunteer skills to identified service needs. H.R. 476, Safeguarding America's Seniors and Veterans Act of 2009 - Strategized, assisted in drafting provisions, and drafted letter of support for legislation that would provide a recovery payment to retirees, people with disabilities, and veterans. S.Con.Res. 13/H.Con.Res. 85, Concurrent Budget Resolution for FY 2010 - Lobbied in support of federal budget for fiscal year 2010, particularly with regard to health care reform, transportation reauthorization and social security agency funding. Lobbied for nursing education funding (HRSA) in the conference negotiations for the economic stimulus package.
Supporting the goals and ideals of a Long-Term Care Awareness Week.
S 2337/HR 3363 - Discussion of and support for Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act that would make private long-term care insurance available through employer-sponsored flexible spending accounts and cafeteria plans and update and add consumer protections. S 1070/HR 1783 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation, strategy for how they might both move forward this year, bill markup, background for score on S.1577. S 2708 Caring for an Aging America Act of 2008 - Provisions related to increasing the number of professionals trained in geriatrics or gerontology, etc., providing input on legislation and encouraging offices to cosponsor the bill. Discussed draft legislation to make changes to Medicaid HCBS, including the Medicaid state plan option, spousal impoverishment, Medicaid Transformation Grants, etc. S 3230 Empowered at Home Act - Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid. HR 7110/S 3604 Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act - Lobbied for FMAP funding. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. HR 6331 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act - Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries, and promote e-prescriptions in medicare. S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641 Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act - Lobbied in support of the bill and to increase co-sponsors; criminal background checks for LTC employees; nursing home quality and proposed five star rating system cms; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving initiative, nursing home compliance guidelines, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid data reporting requirements), status of Nursing Home Value Based Purchasing Demonstration, Prepare to Care for use in innovative employer caregiving programs satellite broadcast, LTC Quality Alliance. HR 2642 - Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid Regulation Moratoriam in Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2008, and on supplemental appropriations bill. To build support and obtain sponsors for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no Bill). S 2838/HR 6126 - Lobbied to support the Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act and oppose amendments to weaken the bill. Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers (no bill). Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives (no bill). S 1577- Support for Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act (S 1577) and marking up the bill; provided feedback and in testimony. HR 7114/S3613 Independence at Home Act/Chronic Care Coordination - Feedback on and support for legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries. S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Seniors Act of 2007- Support for Medicare premium protection and modifications to Medicare Savings Programs/Part D Low-Income Subsidy. S. 3118 Preserving Access to Medicare Act - Lobbied in opposition to Grassley-McConnell bill - All provisions related to beneficiary access and Medicare improvements, including e-prescribing. S 3101- Urged support of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 to help improve Medicare. Green Houses and culture change in LTC facilities, person centered care and medical homes - testimony and input on draft bill - no bill number. Lobbied for appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans (no bill). S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Services - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 Prescription Coverage Now Act - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. HR 5702 End-of-Life Care Advance Directive Promotion Act - Discussed ideas for end-of-life care legislation and how to help ensure patient wishes are respected; Advance Directive Promotion Act. Provided feedback on draft legislation regarding physician orders for life sustaining treatment. S.334 - Discussed long-term care broadly and including it in health care reform, including the Healthy Americans Act. Discussed voting in LTC facilities, such as nursing homes, current status and law on the issue (no bill). S 3327 - Provided input and support for the Empowered at Home Act to make improvements in Medicaid HCBS; LTC insurance tax incentives and consumer protection improvements and a caregiver tax credit. Invitations and information about a solutions forum on balancing of state LTC systems. HR 3363/S 2337 - Discussed consumer protections for LTC insurance, premium increases and claims denials, support for family caregivers including assessment, consumer complaints and support for the LTC Affordability and Security Act. HR 6033 - Discussed provisions of Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act. H.Con.Res 133 - Provided input on and support for new LTC Awareness Week resolution. LTC - General discussion of LTC, home and community based services, family caregiving, chronic care, workforce, quality and financing options.(no bill) CMS - Lobbied on the Medicare Medical Home Demo implementation.
S 623/HR 1038 (Access to Life Saving Medicine Act), HR 1956 (Patient Protection and Innovative Biologic Medicines Act of 2007), HR 5629 (Pathway for Biosimilars Act) - Lobbied to ensure that Waxman Biogenerics legislation is enacted particularly provisions related to ensuring a safe, effective pathway for the approval of comparable, interchangeable biologics. HR 1902 (Protecting Consumer Access to Generic Drugs Act of 2007)/ S 316 (Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act -Provisions related to preventing abuses in patent settlements between generic and brand name prescription drug manufactures. S 1145 Patient Reform Act of 2007- Ensuring that the existing inequitable conduct provisions in Patent Law Act are not weakened. Discussion regarding prescription drug affordability (no Bill). S 3230 Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations FY 2009 - Lobbying for spending levels for Rx comparative effectiveness. S 3289 Agriculture and Rural Development Appropriations, FY 2009 - Lobbied to reduce FDA generic drug processing backlog.
HR 3001/ S 1340 - Shared and discusssed actuarial analysis of the CLASS Act regarding creation of a public insurance program for long-term services. S 2337/HR 3363 - Discussion of and support for Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act that would make private long-term care insurance available through employer-sponsored flexible spending accounts and cafeteria plans and update and add consumer protections. S 1070 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation and strategy for how they might both move forward this year. S 1340 Geriatric Assessment and Chronic Care Coordination Act of 2007- Discussed a demonstration version of this Medicare chronic care coordination and geriatric assessment bill. S 2708 Caring for an Aging America Act of 2008 - Provisions related to increasing the number of professionals trained in geriatrics or gerontology, etc., providing input on legislation and encouraging offices to cosponsor the bill. Discussed draft legislation to make changes to Medicaid HCBS, including the Medicaid state plan option, spousal impoverishment, Medicaid Transformation Grants, etc. HR 1174 Healthy Hospitals Act of 2007- Discussed with sponsors' staff potential endorsement of this legislation to require hospitals to report infection rates. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicaid Personal Assistance Services State Plan option- discussion of comment letter sending and receipt. Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries. S 2480/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641/ HR 5799 Nursing Home Quality and Transparency Legislation Act - To protect residents and support for the Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act. Discussion of provisions (civil monetary penalties and Special Focus Facilities) in nursing home transparency, accountability, and quality bill. Special Focus Facilities and disclosure of these facilities; criminal background checks for LTC employees; nursing home quality; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving, nursing home compliance guidelines, Real Choice Systems Change Grants and family caregiver assessments, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid), Aging and Disability Resource Centers (AoA), health care and the uninsured - steps HHS is taking to address this, Medicare Medical Adult Day Care Demonstration. HR 5702 Advance Directive Promotion Act of 2008 - Negotiated provisions on portability of advance directives. HR 2642 - Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid Regulation Moratoriam in Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2008, and on supplemental appropriations bill. To build support for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no Bill). S 2838/HR 6126 - Input on draft legislation to make arbitration clauses between LTC facilities and their residents or representatives unenforceable; support for this legislation once it was introduced as the Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act, including support letter. Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers. Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives. S 1577/HR 3078 - Support for Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act (S 1577) and moving the issue forward; provided feedback and in testimony. S 2921 Caring for Wounded Warriors Act of 2008 - Services and supports for family caregivers of certain veterans. Feedback on draft legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries; approaches to improving chronic care for Medicare beneficiaries; discussion of chronic care and Special Needs Plans. S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Seniors Act of 2007- Support for Medicare premium protection and modifications to Medicare Savings Programs/Part D Low-Income Subsidy. S 1758 - Long-term care financing proposals, including the CLASS Act, a public LTC financing program. S. 3164 - Lobbied on Medicare Fraud bill (Martinez and Cornyn) - All provisions related to protecting participants and the Medicare program from fraud and abuse. S. 3118 - Lobbied in opposition to Grassley-McConnell bill - All provisions related to beneficiary access and Medicare improvements, including e-prescribing. S 3101- Urged support of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 to help improve Medicare. Long Term Care/Reverse Mortgages - To protect consumers when reverse mortgages are used as a LTC financing tool. Green Houses and culture change in LTC facilities. HR 2642 - To keep moratorium on all seven Medicaid regulations in the supplemental appropriations bill. Lobbied on appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans. S 1102 - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. S 3101/HR 6331 - (Medicare) Lobbied for legislation to protect part B premiums, increase LIS and MSP asset limits, and promote e-prescribing in Medicare. HR 2642 - (Medicaid) Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid regulation moratorium in Iraq Supplemental.
S 2337/HR 3363 Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act - Discussed consumer protections for LTC insurance. S 1070/HR 1783 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation, strategy for how they might both move forward next year. S 3327/HR 7212 - Empowered at Home Act - Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid and other improvements to bill. Also lobbied in support of the bill. HR 7110/S 3604 Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act - Lobbied for FMAP funding. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries, and promote e-prescriptions in medicare (no bill number). S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641 Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act and HR 7128 Nursing Home Transparency and Quality of Care Improvement Act - Discussed the bill and provided suggestions for changes to the bill, nursing home quality and proposed five star rating system cms; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving initiative, nursing home compliance guidelines, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid data reporting requirements), LTC Quality Alliance. To build support and obtain sponsors for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no bill number). Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers (no bill number). Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives (no bill number). HR 7114/S3613 Independence at Home Act/Chronic Care Coordination - Lobbied on and support for legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries. S 3101/HR 6331 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 - Discussed implementation to help improve Medicare. Lobbied for appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans (no bill number). S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Services - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 Prescription Coverage Now Act - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. HR 6033 - Discussed provisions of Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act and ways to improve bill.
HR 3001/ S 1340 - Shared and discusssed actuarial analysis of the CLASS Act regarding creation of a public insurance program for long-term services. S 2337/HR 3363 - Discussion of and support for Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act that would make private long-term care insurance available through employer-sponsored flexible spending accounts and cafeteria plans and update and add consumer protections. S 1070 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation and strategy for how they might both move forward this year. S 1340 Geriatric Assessment and Chronic Care Coordination Act of 2007- Discussed a demonstration version of this Medicare chronic care coordination and geriatric assessment bill. S 2708 Caring for an Aging America Act of 2008 - Provisions related to increasing the number of professionals trained in geriatrics or gerontology, etc., providing input on legislation and encouraging offices to cosponsor the bill. Discussed draft legislation to make changes to Medicaid HCBS, including the Medicaid state plan option, spousal impoverishment, Medicaid Transformation Grants, etc. HR 1174 Healthy Hospitals Act of 2007- Discussed with sponsors' staff potential endorsement of this legislation to require hospitals to report infection rates. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicaid Personal Assistance Services State Plan option- discussion of comment letter sending and receipt. Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries. S 2480/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641/ HR 5799 Nursing Home Quality and Transparency Legislation Act - To protect residents and support for the Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act. Discussion of provisions (civil monetary penalties and Special Focus Facilities) in nursing home transparency, accountability, and quality bill. Special Focus Facilities and disclosure of these facilities; criminal background checks for LTC employees; nursing home quality; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving, nursing home compliance guidelines, Real Choice Systems Change Grants and family caregiver assessments, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid), Aging and Disability Resource Centers (AoA), health care and the uninsured - steps HHS is taking to address this, Medicare Medical Adult Day Care Demonstration. HR 5702 Advance Directive Promotion Act of 2008 - Negotiated provisions on portability of advance directives. HR 2642 - Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid Regulation Moratoriam in Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2008, and on supplemental appropriations bill. To build support for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no Bill). S 2838/HR 6126 - Input on draft legislation to make arbitration clauses between LTC facilities and their residents or representatives unenforceable; support for this legislation once it was introduced as the Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act, including support letter. Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers. Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives. S 1577/HR 3078 - Support for Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act (S 1577) and moving the issue forward; provided feedback and in testimony. S 2921 Caring for Wounded Warriors Act of 2008 - Services and supports for family caregivers of certain veterans. Feedback on draft legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries; approaches to improving chronic care for Medicare beneficiaries; discussion of chronic care and Special Needs Plans. S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Seniors Act of 2007- Support for Medicare premium protection and modifications to Medicare Savings Programs/Part D Low-Income Subsidy. S 1758 - Long-term care financing proposals, including the CLASS Act, a public LTC financing program. S. 3164 - Lobbied on Medicare Fraud bill (Martinez and Cornyn) - All provisions related to protecting participants and the Medicare program from fraud and abuse. S. 3118 - Lobbied in opposition to Grassley-McConnell bill - All provisions related to beneficiary access and Medicare improvements, including e-prescribing. S 3101- Urged support of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 to help improve Medicare. Long Term Care/Reverse Mortgages - To protect consumers when reverse mortgages are used as a LTC financing tool. Green Houses and culture change in LTC facilities. HR 2642 - To keep moratorium on all seven Medicaid regulations in the supplemental appropriations bill. Lobbied on appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans. S 1102 - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. S 3101/HR 6331 - (Medicare) Lobbied for legislation to protect part B premiums, increase LIS and MSP asset limits, and promote e-prescribing in Medicare. HR 2642 - (Medicaid) Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid regulation moratorium in Iraq Supplemental.
S 2337/HR 3363 - Discussion of and support for Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act that would make private long-term care insurance available through employer-sponsored flexible spending accounts and cafeteria plans and update and add consumer protections. S 1070/HR 1783 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation, strategy for how they might both move forward this year, bill markup, background for score on S.1577. S 2708 Caring for an Aging America Act of 2008 - Provisions related to increasing the number of professionals trained in geriatrics or gerontology, etc., providing input on legislation and encouraging offices to cosponsor the bill. Discussed draft legislation to make changes to Medicaid HCBS, including the Medicaid state plan option, spousal impoverishment, Medicaid Transformation Grants, etc. S 3230 Empowered at Home Act - Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid. HR 7110/S 3604 Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act - Lobbied for FMAP funding. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. HR 6331 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act - Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries, and promote e-prescriptions in medicare. S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641 Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act - Lobbied in support of the bill and to increase co-sponsors; criminal background checks for LTC employees; nursing home quality and proposed five star rating system cms; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving initiative, nursing home compliance guidelines, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid data reporting requirements), status of Nursing Home Value Based Purchasing Demonstration, Prepare to Care for use in innovative employer caregiving programs satellite broadcast, LTC Quality Alliance. HR 2642 - Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid Regulation Moratoriam in Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2008, and on supplemental appropriations bill. To build support and obtain sponsors for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no Bill). S 2838/HR 6126 - Lobbied to support the Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act and oppose amendments to weaken the bill. Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers (no bill). Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives (no bill). S 1577- Support for Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act (S 1577) and marking up the bill; provided feedback and in testimony. HR 7114/S3613 Independence at Home Act/Chronic Care Coordination - Feedback on and support for legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries. S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Seniors Act of 2007- Support for Medicare premium protection and modifications to Medicare Savings Programs/Part D Low-Income Subsidy. S. 3118 Preserving Access to Medicare Act - Lobbied in opposition to Grassley-McConnell bill - All provisions related to beneficiary access and Medicare improvements, including e-prescribing. S 3101- Urged support of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 to help improve Medicare. Green Houses and culture change in LTC facilities, person centered care and medical homes - testimony and input on draft bill - no bill number. Lobbied for appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans (no bill). S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Services - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 Prescription Coverage Now Act - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. HR 5702 End-of-Life Care Advance Directive Promotion Act - Discussed ideas for end-of-life care legislation and how to help ensure patient wishes are respected; Advance Directive Promotion Act. Provided feedback on draft legislation regarding physician orders for life sustaining treatment. S.334 - Discussed long-term care broadly and including it in health care reform, including the Healthy Americans Act. Discussed voting in LTC facilities, such as nursing homes, current status and law on the issue (no bill). S 3327 - Provided input and support for the Empowered at Home Act to make improvements in Medicaid HCBS; LTC insurance tax incentives and consumer protection improvements and a caregiver tax credit. Invitations and information about a solutions forum on balancing of state LTC systems. HR 3363/S 2337 - Discussed consumer protections for LTC insurance, premium increases and claims denials, support for family caregivers including assessment, consumer complaints and support for the LTC Affordability and Security Act. HR 6033 - Discussed provisions of Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act. H.Con.Res 133 - Provided input on and support for new LTC Awareness Week resolution. LTC - General discussion of LTC, home and community based services, family caregiving, chronic care, workforce, quality and financing options.(no bill) CMS - Lobbied on the Medicare Medical Home Demo implementation.
HR 5140 Tax Relief, urging vote for Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008. HR 2167/ S 1141 Automatic IRA of 2007- Provisions related to establishing an auto IRA for workers not covered by pension plan. HR 5719 Taxpayer Assistance and Simplification Act of 2008 - Discussed various provisions that could be included in a bill drafted to make the administration of the tax code more effective and efficient. Discussed political, economic and social conditions that would create the conditions necessary to reform the tax code and possible changes that would simplify the tax code and make it more equitable (no Bill). HR 1540 Civil Rights Tax Relief Act of 2007- Provisions related to excluding from gross income amounts received as damages due to discriminatory conduct. HR 6237 Tax Relief for Long-Term Care Act of 2008 - All provisions regarding tax relief for family caregivers and purchasers of LTC insurance, the Tax Relief Act of 2008. S 3032/S 3532 Give Act HR 6283 Reimbursing Our American Drivers (ROAD) Act of 2008 - Lobbied in favor of allowing non-profit organizations to reimburse volunteers (without income tax consequences for mileage driven for charitable purposes up to the business mileage rate, and increasing the mileage deduction allowed for charitable purposes. S 3260 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations, FY 2009 - Lobbied for increased funding for IRS taxpayer assistance programs (Tax Counseling for the Elderly and VITA).
HR 5140 Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008 - Lobbied in favor of including senior rebate in the economic stimulus bill. HR 2167/ S 1141 Automatic IRA of 2007- Provisions related to establishing an auto IRA for workers not covered by pension plan. HR 5719 Taxpayer Assistance and Simplification Act of 2008 - Discussed various provisions that could be included in a bill drafted to make the administration of the tax code more effective and efficient. A general discussion of the political, economic and social conditions that would create the conditions necessary to reform the tax code and possible changes that would simplify the tax code and make it more equitable (no Bill). Meeting with House Small Business Committee to discuss the agenda for the Committee hearing scheduled for April 10, 2008 on small business taxes and impact on retirement security (no Bill). HR 1540 Civil Rights Tax Relief Act of 2007- Provisions related to excluding from gross income amounts received as damages due to discriminatory conduct. HR 6237 Tax Relief for Long-Term Care Act of 2008 - All provisions regarding tax relief for family caregivers and purchasers of LTC insurance, the Tax Relief Act of 2008.
S 2337/HR 3363 Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act - Discussed consumer protections for LTC insurance. S 1070/HR 1783 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation, strategy for how they might both move forward next year. S 3327/HR 7212 - Empowered at Home Act - Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid and other improvements to bill. Also lobbied in support of the bill. HR 7110/S 3604 Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act - Lobbied for FMAP funding. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries, and promote e-prescriptions in medicare (no bill number). S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641 Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act and HR 7128 Nursing Home Transparency and Quality of Care Improvement Act - Discussed the bill and provided suggestions for changes to the bill, nursing home quality and proposed five star rating system cms; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving initiative, nursing home compliance guidelines, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid data reporting requirements), LTC Quality Alliance. To build support and obtain sponsors for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no bill number). Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers (no bill number). Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives (no bill number). HR 7114/S3613 Independence at Home Act/Chronic Care Coordination - Lobbied on and support for legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries. S 3101/HR 6331 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 - Discussed implementation to help improve Medicare. Lobbied for appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans (no bill number). S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Services - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 Prescription Coverage Now Act - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. HR 6033 - Discussed provisions of Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act and ways to improve bill.
S 2337/HR 3363 - Discussion of and support for Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act that would make private long-term care insurance available through employer-sponsored flexible spending accounts and cafeteria plans and update and add consumer protections. S 1070/HR 1783 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation, strategy for how they might both move forward this year, bill markup, background for score on S.1577. S 2708 Caring for an Aging America Act of 2008 - Provisions related to increasing the number of professionals trained in geriatrics or gerontology, etc., providing input on legislation and encouraging offices to cosponsor the bill. Discussed draft legislation to make changes to Medicaid HCBS, including the Medicaid state plan option, spousal impoverishment, Medicaid Transformation Grants, etc. S 3230 Empowered at Home Act - Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid. HR 7110/S 3604 Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act - Lobbied for FMAP funding. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. HR 6331 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act - Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries, and promote e-prescriptions in medicare. S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641 Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act - Lobbied in support of the bill and to increase co-sponsors; criminal background checks for LTC employees; nursing home quality and proposed five star rating system cms; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving initiative, nursing home compliance guidelines, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid data reporting requirements), status of Nursing Home Value Based Purchasing Demonstration, Prepare to Care for use in innovative employer caregiving programs satellite broadcast, LTC Quality Alliance. HR 2642 - Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid Regulation Moratoriam in Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2008, and on supplemental appropriations bill. To build support and obtain sponsors for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no Bill). S 2838/HR 6126 - Lobbied to support the Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act and oppose amendments to weaken the bill. Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers (no bill). Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives (no bill). S 1577- Support for Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act (S 1577) and marking up the bill; provided feedback and in testimony. HR 7114/S3613 Independence at Home Act/Chronic Care Coordination - Feedback on and support for legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries. S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Seniors Act of 2007- Support for Medicare premium protection and modifications to Medicare Savings Programs/Part D Low-Income Subsidy. S. 3118 Preserving Access to Medicare Act - Lobbied in opposition to Grassley-McConnell bill - All provisions related to beneficiary access and Medicare improvements, including e-prescribing. S 3101- Urged support of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 to help improve Medicare. Green Houses and culture change in LTC facilities, person centered care and medical homes - testimony and input on draft bill - no bill number. Lobbied for appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans (no bill). S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Services - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 Prescription Coverage Now Act - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. HR 5702 End-of-Life Care Advance Directive Promotion Act - Discussed ideas for end-of-life care legislation and how to help ensure patient wishes are respected; Advance Directive Promotion Act. Provided feedback on draft legislation regarding physician orders for life sustaining treatment. S.334 - Discussed long-term care broadly and including it in health care reform, including the Healthy Americans Act. Discussed voting in LTC facilities, such as nursing homes, current status and law on the issue (no bill). S 3327 - Provided input and support for the Empowered at Home Act to make improvements in Medicaid HCBS; LTC insurance tax incentives and consumer protection improvements and a caregiver tax credit. Invitations and information about a solutions forum on balancing of state LTC systems. HR 3363/S 2337 - Discussed consumer protections for LTC insurance, premium increases and claims denials, support for family caregivers including assessment, consumer complaints and support for the LTC Affordability and Security Act. HR 6033 - Discussed provisions of Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act. H.Con.Res 133 - Provided input on and support for new LTC Awareness Week resolution. LTC - General discussion of LTC, home and community based services, family caregiving, chronic care, workforce, quality and financing options.(no bill) CMS - Lobbied on the Medicare Medical Home Demo implementation.
HR 3548 Plain Language in Government Communications Act - Provisions related to detering predatory lending practices and helping to protect older homeowners from foreclosure. HR 5818 Neighborhood Stablization Act - Lobbied to help prevent older homeowners from losing their homes to foreclosure. . S 2636 Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 - All provisions in Title IV related to allowing bankruptcy judges to restructure subprime mortgage debt for primary residences; lobbied the bill to help prevent older homeowners from losing their homes to foreclosure HR 3609 Emergency Home Ownership and Mortgage Equity Protection Act of 2007- Provisions related to allowing judges to modify the terms of mortages in bankruptcy to reduce foreclosures. S. 2684 Section 8 Voucher Reform Act of 2008 - Provisions related to stabilizing the funding formula for Section 8 Vouchers to provide more affordable housing options for our members and their families. HR 5758/S. 2490 Reverse Mortgage Proceeds Protection Act - Supported passage of this bill and House companion bill to better prevent reverse mortgage borrowers from fraud and abuse. HR 1852/S 2338 Expanding American Homeownership - Lobbied to expand the FHA-insured reverse mortgage program while limiting origination fees charged by lenders. HR 3221 Housing and Economic Recovery Act - discussed the implementation of the bill. HR 6076 Home Retention and Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 - Lobbied for a foreclosure deferral to help members workout loans in default or refinance into new loans. S 3261 Transportation and HUD Appropriations - Lobbied for affordable housing assistance spending including section 202-housing for the elderly program. HR 6033 Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act of 2008 - Lobbied to expand the bill to cover more types of housing and to ensure the competitive nature of the grants program, as well as other changes to the bill. S 2490 Reverse Mortgage Proceeds Protections Act - Lobbied to increase protections for Home Equity Conversion Mortgage loan recipients. HR 3997/HR 1424 - Emergency Economic Stabilization Act - Lobbied to include provisions to assist troubled homeowners, including the ability for bankruptcy judges to modify primary mortgage debt.
S 623/HR 1038 (Access to Life Saving Medicine Act), HR 1956 (Patient Protection and Innovative Biologic Medicines Act of 2007), HR 5629 (Pathway for Biosimilars Act) - Lobbied to ensure that Waxman Biogenerics legislation is enacted particularly provisions related to ensuring a safe, effective pathway for the approval of comparable, interchangeable biologics. HR 1902 (Protecting Consumer Access to Generic Drugs Act of 2007)/ S 316 (Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act -Provisions related to preventing abuses in patent settlements between generic and brand name prescription drug manufactures. S 1145 Patient Reform Act of 2007- Ensuring that the existing inequitable conduct provisions in Patent Law Act are not weakened. Discussion regarding prescription drug affordability (no Bill). S 3230 Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations FY 2009 - Lobbying for spending levels for Rx comparative effectiveness. S 3289 Agriculture and Rural Development Appropriations, FY 2009 - Lobbied to reduce FDA generic drug processing backlog.
S 623/HR 1038 (Access to Life Saving Medicine Act), HR 1956 (Patient Protection and Innovative Biologic Medicines Act of 2007), HR 5629 (Pathway for Biosimilars Act) - Lobbied to ensure that Waxman Biogenerics legislation is enacted particularly provisions related to ensuring a safe, effective pathway for the approval of comparable, interchangeable biologics. HR 1902 (Protecting Consumer Access to Generic Drugs Act of 2007)/ S 316 (Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act -Provisions related to preventing abuses in patent settlements between generic and brand name prescription drug manufactures. S 1145 Patient Reform Act of 2007- Ensuring that the existing inequitable conduct provisions in Patent Law Act are not weakened. Discussion regarding prescription drug affordability (no Bill). S 3230 Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations FY 2009 - Lobbying for spending levels for Rx comparative effectiveness. S 3289 Agriculture and Rural Development Appropriations, FY 2009 - Lobbied to reduce FDA generic drug processing backlog.
HR 5140 Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008 - Lobbied in favor of including senior rebate in the economic stimulus bill. HR 2167/ S 1141 Automatic IRA of 2007- Provisions related to establishing an auto IRA for workers not covered by pension plan. HR 5719 Taxpayer Assistance and Simplification Act of 2008 - Discussed various provisions that could be included in a bill drafted to make the administration of the tax code more effective and efficient. A general discussion of the political, economic and social conditions that would create the conditions necessary to reform the tax code and possible changes that would simplify the tax code and make it more equitable (no Bill). Meeting with House Small Business Committee to discuss the agenda for the Committee hearing scheduled for April 10, 2008 on small business taxes and impact on retirement security (no Bill). HR 1540 Civil Rights Tax Relief Act of 2007- Provisions related to excluding from gross income amounts received as damages due to discriminatory conduct. HR 6237 Tax Relief for Long-Term Care Act of 2008 - All provisions regarding tax relief for family caregivers and purchasers of LTC insurance, the Tax Relief Act of 2008.
HR 5140 Tax Relief, urging vote for Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008. HR 2167/ S 1141 Automatic IRA of 2007- Provisions related to establishing an auto IRA for workers not covered by pension plan. HR 5719 Taxpayer Assistance and Simplification Act of 2008 - Discussed various provisions that could be included in a bill drafted to make the administration of the tax code more effective and efficient. Discussed political, economic and social conditions that would create the conditions necessary to reform the tax code and possible changes that would simplify the tax code and make it more equitable (no Bill). HR 1540 Civil Rights Tax Relief Act of 2007- Provisions related to excluding from gross income amounts received as damages due to discriminatory conduct. HR 6237 Tax Relief for Long-Term Care Act of 2008 - All provisions regarding tax relief for family caregivers and purchasers of LTC insurance, the Tax Relief Act of 2008. S 3032/S 3532 Give Act HR 6283 Reimbursing Our American Drivers (ROAD) Act of 2008 - Lobbied in favor of allowing non-profit organizations to reimburse volunteers (without income tax consequences for mileage driven for charitable purposes up to the business mileage rate, and increasing the mileage deduction allowed for charitable purposes. S 3260 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations, FY 2009 - Lobbied for increased funding for IRS taxpayer assistance programs (Tax Counseling for the Elderly and VITA).
HR 2167/ S 1141 Automatic IRA Act of 2007 - Provisions related to establishing an auto IRA for workers not covered by pension plan. HR 5140 Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008 - Discussed implementation of the economic stimulus package, including rebates for seniors and IRS funding for implementation. Divided We Fail, an initiative to give voice to millions of Americans who are tired of letting Washington gridlock stand in the way of affordable, quality health care and long-term financial security-the most pressing domestic issues facing our nation. Lobbied for adequate funding for Social Security Administration budget. S 2063/HR 3655- Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action Act of 2007 Senate Budget: Entitlement Task Force (could cut Social Security and Medicare benefits). Discussed options to strengthen and improve long term financing and operations of social security program (no Bill). Lobbying for increased spending to reduce SSA disability claim backlog (no Bill). Discussed increased bankruptcy among 50+ population (no Bill). HR 3185, HR 3765(Defined Contribution Plan Fee Transparency Act of 2007), S 2473 Defined Contribution Fee Disclosure Act of 2007- HR 3185 401(k) Fair Disclosure for Retirement Security Act of 2007 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 9 (ERISA) to prohibit an administrator of an individual account plan that includes a qualified cash or deferred arrangement to enter into any contract for services to the plan without a written statement that identifies who will be performing such services, describes each such service, and specifies the expected total annual cost of such services. Requires the Secretary of Labor to prescribe a model statement that may be used for purposes of satisfying such requirements. Limits the requirements for such a statement to contracts for services if the total cost for such services equals or exceeds $1,000. Discussed AARP's concerns about garnishment of Social Security checks by banks and payday lenders and check cashers. HR 2642 - Lobbying for funding for IRS/SSA and from IRS to implement Economic Stimulus Payment. S 3230 Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations FY 2009 - Lobbied for increased spending to reduce SSA disability claim backlog and in opposition to certain e-verify provisions without sufficient funding. HR 3654 Safe Act - All provisions related to strengthening Social Security and Medicare and reducing health care costs. S 2794 Senior Investor Protection Act - Lobbied in favor of provisions related to protecting seniors from fraudulent and misleading marketing practices.
HR 2167/ S 1141 Automatic IRA Act of 2007 - Provisions related to establishing an auto IRA for workers not covered by pension plan. HR 5140 Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008 - Discussed implementation of the economic stimulus package, including rebates for older Americans and IRS funding for implementation. Lobbied for long-term financial security (no bill). S 3230 Labor, HHS, Education, Appropriations - Lobbied for adequate funding for Social Security Administration budget. S 2063/HR 3655- Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action Act of 2007 Senate Budget: Entitlement Task Force (could cut Social Security and Medicare benefits). Discussed options to strengthen and improve long term financing and operations of social security program (no Bill). Lobbying for increased spending to reduce SSA disability claim backlog (no Bill). Discussed increased bankruptcy among 50+ population (no Bill). HR 3765(Defined Contribution Plan Fee Transparency Act of 2007), S 2473 Defined Contribution Fee Disclosure Act of 2007, HR 3185 401(k) Fair Disclosure for Retirement Security Act of 2007 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to prohibit an administrator of an individual account plan that includes a qualified cash or deferred arrangement to enter into any contract for services to the plan without a written statement that identifies who will be performing such services, describes each such service, and specifies the expected total annual cost of such services. Requires the Secretary of Labor to prescribe a model statement that may be used for purposes of satisfying such requirements. Limits the requirements for such a statement to contracts for services if the total cost for such services equals or exceeds $1,000. Discussed AARP's concerns about garnishment of Social Security checks by banks and payday lenders and check cashers. HR 2642 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act - Lobbied for funding for IRS/SSA and from IRS to implement Economic Stimulus Payment. S 3230 Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations FY 2009 - Lobbied for increased spending to reduce SSA disability claim backlog and in opposition to certain e-verify provisions without sufficient funding. HR 3654 Safe Commission Act - All provisions related to strengthening Social Security and Medicare and reducing health care costs. S 2794 Senior Investor Protection Act - Lobbied in favor of provisions related to protecting older Americans from fraudulent and misleading marketing practices.
HR 3195 ADA Amendments Act of 2008 - Lobbied in favor of passage ADA restoration Act which restores original Congressional intent on ADA act. HR 2831/S 1843 - Educated and lobbied Hill staff on the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2007 which restores the paycheck rule for employment discrimination law suits.
HR 3001/ S 1340 - Shared and discusssed actuarial analysis of the CLASS Act regarding creation of a public insurance program for long-term services. S 2337/HR 3363 - Discussion of and support for Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act that would make private long-term care insurance available through employer-sponsored flexible spending accounts and cafeteria plans and update and add consumer protections. S 1070 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation and strategy for how they might both move forward this year. S 1340 Geriatric Assessment and Chronic Care Coordination Act of 2007- Discussed a demonstration version of this Medicare chronic care coordination and geriatric assessment bill. S 2708 Caring for an Aging America Act of 2008 - Provisions related to increasing the number of professionals trained in geriatrics or gerontology, etc., providing input on legislation and encouraging offices to cosponsor the bill. Discussed draft legislation to make changes to Medicaid HCBS, including the Medicaid state plan option, spousal impoverishment, Medicaid Transformation Grants, etc. HR 1174 Healthy Hospitals Act of 2007- Discussed with sponsors' staff potential endorsement of this legislation to require hospitals to report infection rates. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicaid Personal Assistance Services State Plan option- discussion of comment letter sending and receipt. Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries. S 2480/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641/ HR 5799 Nursing Home Quality and Transparency Legislation Act - To protect residents and support for the Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act. Discussion of provisions (civil monetary penalties and Special Focus Facilities) in nursing home transparency, accountability, and quality bill. Special Focus Facilities and disclosure of these facilities; criminal background checks for LTC employees; nursing home quality; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving, nursing home compliance guidelines, Real Choice Systems Change Grants and family caregiver assessments, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid), Aging and Disability Resource Centers (AoA), health care and the uninsured - steps HHS is taking to address this, Medicare Medical Adult Day Care Demonstration. HR 5702 Advance Directive Promotion Act of 2008 - Negotiated provisions on portability of advance directives. HR 2642 - Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid Regulation Moratoriam in Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2008, and on supplemental appropriations bill. To build support for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no Bill). S 2838/HR 6126 - Input on draft legislation to make arbitration clauses between LTC facilities and their residents or representatives unenforceable; support for this legislation once it was introduced as the Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act, including support letter. Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers. Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives. S 1577/HR 3078 - Support for Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act (S 1577) and moving the issue forward; provided feedback and in testimony. S 2921 Caring for Wounded Warriors Act of 2008 - Services and supports for family caregivers of certain veterans. Feedback on draft legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries; approaches to improving chronic care for Medicare beneficiaries; discussion of chronic care and Special Needs Plans. S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Seniors Act of 2007- Support for Medicare premium protection and modifications to Medicare Savings Programs/Part D Low-Income Subsidy. S 1758 - Long-term care financing proposals, including the CLASS Act, a public LTC financing program. S. 3164 - Lobbied on Medicare Fraud bill (Martinez and Cornyn) - All provisions related to protecting participants and the Medicare program from fraud and abuse. S. 3118 - Lobbied in opposition to Grassley-McConnell bill - All provisions related to beneficiary access and Medicare improvements, including e-prescribing. S 3101- Urged support of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 to help improve Medicare. Long Term Care/Reverse Mortgages - To protect consumers when reverse mortgages are used as a LTC financing tool. Green Houses and culture change in LTC facilities. HR 2642 - To keep moratorium on all seven Medicaid regulations in the supplemental appropriations bill. Lobbied on appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans. S 1102 - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. S 3101/HR 6331 - (Medicare) Lobbied for legislation to protect part B premiums, increase LIS and MSP asset limits, and promote e-prescribing in Medicare. HR 2642 - (Medicaid) Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid regulation moratorium in Iraq Supplemental.
HR 3001/ S 1340 - Shared and discusssed actuarial analysis of the CLASS Act regarding creation of a public insurance program for long-term services. S 2337/HR 3363 - Discussion of and support for Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act that would make private long-term care insurance available through employer-sponsored flexible spending accounts and cafeteria plans and update and add consumer protections. S 1070 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation and strategy for how they might both move forward this year. S 1340 Geriatric Assessment and Chronic Care Coordination Act of 2007- Discussed a demonstration version of this Medicare chronic care coordination and geriatric assessment bill. S 2708 Caring for an Aging America Act of 2008 - Provisions related to increasing the number of professionals trained in geriatrics or gerontology, etc., providing input on legislation and encouraging offices to cosponsor the bill. Discussed draft legislation to make changes to Medicaid HCBS, including the Medicaid state plan option, spousal impoverishment, Medicaid Transformation Grants, etc. HR 1174 Healthy Hospitals Act of 2007- Discussed with sponsors' staff potential endorsement of this legislation to require hospitals to report infection rates. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicaid Personal Assistance Services State Plan option- discussion of comment letter sending and receipt. Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries. S 2480/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641/ HR 5799 Nursing Home Quality and Transparency Legislation Act - To protect residents and support for the Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act. Discussion of provisions (civil monetary penalties and Special Focus Facilities) in nursing home transparency, accountability, and quality bill. Special Focus Facilities and disclosure of these facilities; criminal background checks for LTC employees; nursing home quality; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving, nursing home compliance guidelines, Real Choice Systems Change Grants and family caregiver assessments, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid), Aging and Disability Resource Centers (AoA), health care and the uninsured - steps HHS is taking to address this, Medicare Medical Adult Day Care Demonstration. HR 5702 Advance Directive Promotion Act of 2008 - Negotiated provisions on portability of advance directives. HR 2642 - Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid Regulation Moratoriam in Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2008, and on supplemental appropriations bill. To build support for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no Bill). S 2838/HR 6126 - Input on draft legislation to make arbitration clauses between LTC facilities and their residents or representatives unenforceable; support for this legislation once it was introduced as the Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act, including support letter. Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers. Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives. S 1577/HR 3078 - Support for Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act (S 1577) and moving the issue forward; provided feedback and in testimony. S 2921 Caring for Wounded Warriors Act of 2008 - Services and supports for family caregivers of certain veterans. Feedback on draft legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries; approaches to improving chronic care for Medicare beneficiaries; discussion of chronic care and Special Needs Plans. S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Seniors Act of 2007- Support for Medicare premium protection and modifications to Medicare Savings Programs/Part D Low-Income Subsidy. S 1758 - Long-term care financing proposals, including the CLASS Act, a public LTC financing program. S. 3164 - Lobbied on Medicare Fraud bill (Martinez and Cornyn) - All provisions related to protecting participants and the Medicare program from fraud and abuse. S. 3118 - Lobbied in opposition to Grassley-McConnell bill - All provisions related to beneficiary access and Medicare improvements, including e-prescribing. S 3101- Urged support of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 to help improve Medicare. Long Term Care/Reverse Mortgages - To protect consumers when reverse mortgages are used as a LTC financing tool. Green Houses and culture change in LTC facilities. HR 2642 - To keep moratorium on all seven Medicaid regulations in the supplemental appropriations bill. Lobbied on appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans. S 1102 - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. S 3101/HR 6331 - (Medicare) Lobbied for legislation to protect part B premiums, increase LIS and MSP asset limits, and promote e-prescribing in Medicare. HR 2642 - (Medicaid) Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid regulation moratorium in Iraq Supplemental.
HR 2167/ S 1141 Automatic IRA Act of 2007 - Provisions related to establishing an auto IRA for workers not covered by pension plan. HR 5140 Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008 - Discussed implementation of the economic stimulus package, including rebates for older Americans and IRS funding for implementation. Lobbied for long-term financial security (no bill). S 3230 Labor, HHS, Education, Appropriations - Lobbied for adequate funding for Social Security Administration budget. S 2063/HR 3655- Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action Act of 2007 Senate Budget: Entitlement Task Force (could cut Social Security and Medicare benefits). Discussed options to strengthen and improve long term financing and operations of social security program (no Bill). Lobbying for increased spending to reduce SSA disability claim backlog (no Bill). Discussed increased bankruptcy among 50+ population (no Bill). HR 3765(Defined Contribution Plan Fee Transparency Act of 2007), S 2473 Defined Contribution Fee Disclosure Act of 2007, HR 3185 401(k) Fair Disclosure for Retirement Security Act of 2007 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to prohibit an administrator of an individual account plan that includes a qualified cash or deferred arrangement to enter into any contract for services to the plan without a written statement that identifies who will be performing such services, describes each such service, and specifies the expected total annual cost of such services. Requires the Secretary of Labor to prescribe a model statement that may be used for purposes of satisfying such requirements. Limits the requirements for such a statement to contracts for services if the total cost for such services equals or exceeds $1,000. Discussed AARP's concerns about garnishment of Social Security checks by banks and payday lenders and check cashers. HR 2642 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act - Lobbied for funding for IRS/SSA and from IRS to implement Economic Stimulus Payment. S 3230 Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations FY 2009 - Lobbied for increased spending to reduce SSA disability claim backlog and in opposition to certain e-verify provisions without sufficient funding. HR 3654 Safe Commission Act - All provisions related to strengthening Social Security and Medicare and reducing health care costs. S 2794 Senior Investor Protection Act - Lobbied in favor of provisions related to protecting older Americans from fraudulent and misleading marketing practices.
HR 2167/ S 1141 Automatic IRA Act of 2007 - Provisions related to establishing an auto IRA for workers not covered by pension plan. HR 5140 Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008 - Discussed implementation of the economic stimulus package, including rebates for seniors and IRS funding for implementation. Divided We Fail, an initiative to give voice to millions of Americans who are tired of letting Washington gridlock stand in the way of affordable, quality health care and long-term financial security-the most pressing domestic issues facing our nation. Lobbied for adequate funding for Social Security Administration budget. S 2063/HR 3655- Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action Act of 2007 Senate Budget: Entitlement Task Force (could cut Social Security and Medicare benefits). Discussed options to strengthen and improve long term financing and operations of social security program (no Bill). Lobbying for increased spending to reduce SSA disability claim backlog (no Bill). Discussed increased bankruptcy among 50+ population (no Bill). HR 3185, HR 3765(Defined Contribution Plan Fee Transparency Act of 2007), S 2473 Defined Contribution Fee Disclosure Act of 2007- HR 3185 401(k) Fair Disclosure for Retirement Security Act of 2007 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 9 (ERISA) to prohibit an administrator of an individual account plan that includes a qualified cash or deferred arrangement to enter into any contract for services to the plan without a written statement that identifies who will be performing such services, describes each such service, and specifies the expected total annual cost of such services. Requires the Secretary of Labor to prescribe a model statement that may be used for purposes of satisfying such requirements. Limits the requirements for such a statement to contracts for services if the total cost for such services equals or exceeds $1,000. Discussed AARP's concerns about garnishment of Social Security checks by banks and payday lenders and check cashers. HR 2642 - Lobbying for funding for IRS/SSA and from IRS to implement Economic Stimulus Payment. S 3230 Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations FY 2009 - Lobbied for increased spending to reduce SSA disability claim backlog and in opposition to certain e-verify provisions without sufficient funding. HR 3654 Safe Act - All provisions related to strengthening Social Security and Medicare and reducing health care costs. S 2794 Senior Investor Protection Act - Lobbied in favor of provisions related to protecting seniors from fraudulent and misleading marketing practices.
S 2337/HR 3363 - Discussion of and support for Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act that would make private long-term care insurance available through employer-sponsored flexible spending accounts and cafeteria plans and update and add consumer protections. S 1070/HR 1783 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation, strategy for how they might both move forward this year, bill markup, background for score on S.1577. S 2708 Caring for an Aging America Act of 2008 - Provisions related to increasing the number of professionals trained in geriatrics or gerontology, etc., providing input on legislation and encouraging offices to cosponsor the bill. Discussed draft legislation to make changes to Medicaid HCBS, including the Medicaid state plan option, spousal impoverishment, Medicaid Transformation Grants, etc. S 3230 Empowered at Home Act - Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid. HR 7110/S 3604 Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act - Lobbied for FMAP funding. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. HR 6331 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act - Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries, and promote e-prescriptions in medicare. S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641 Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act - Lobbied in support of the bill and to increase co-sponsors; criminal background checks for LTC employees; nursing home quality and proposed five star rating system cms; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving initiative, nursing home compliance guidelines, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid data reporting requirements), status of Nursing Home Value Based Purchasing Demonstration, Prepare to Care for use in innovative employer caregiving programs satellite broadcast, LTC Quality Alliance. HR 2642 - Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid Regulation Moratoriam in Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2008, and on supplemental appropriations bill. To build support and obtain sponsors for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no Bill). S 2838/HR 6126 - Lobbied to support the Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act and oppose amendments to weaken the bill. Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers (no bill). Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives (no bill). S 1577- Support for Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act (S 1577) and marking up the bill; provided feedback and in testimony. HR 7114/S3613 Independence at Home Act/Chronic Care Coordination - Feedback on and support for legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries. S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Seniors Act of 2007- Support for Medicare premium protection and modifications to Medicare Savings Programs/Part D Low-Income Subsidy. S. 3118 Preserving Access to Medicare Act - Lobbied in opposition to Grassley-McConnell bill - All provisions related to beneficiary access and Medicare improvements, including e-prescribing. S 3101- Urged support of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 to help improve Medicare. Green Houses and culture change in LTC facilities, person centered care and medical homes - testimony and input on draft bill - no bill number. Lobbied for appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans (no bill). S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Services - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 Prescription Coverage Now Act - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. HR 5702 End-of-Life Care Advance Directive Promotion Act - Discussed ideas for end-of-life care legislation and how to help ensure patient wishes are respected; Advance Directive Promotion Act. Provided feedback on draft legislation regarding physician orders for life sustaining treatment. S.334 - Discussed long-term care broadly and including it in health care reform, including the Healthy Americans Act. Discussed voting in LTC facilities, such as nursing homes, current status and law on the issue (no bill). S 3327 - Provided input and support for the Empowered at Home Act to make improvements in Medicaid HCBS; LTC insurance tax incentives and consumer protection improvements and a caregiver tax credit. Invitations and information about a solutions forum on balancing of state LTC systems. HR 3363/S 2337 - Discussed consumer protections for LTC insurance, premium increases and claims denials, support for family caregivers including assessment, consumer complaints and support for the LTC Affordability and Security Act. HR 6033 - Discussed provisions of Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act. H.Con.Res 133 - Provided input on and support for new LTC Awareness Week resolution. LTC - General discussion of LTC, home and community based services, family caregiving, chronic care, workforce, quality and financing options.(no bill) CMS - Lobbied on the Medicare Medical Home Demo implementation.
S 2337/HR 3363 Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act - Discussed consumer protections for LTC insurance. S 1070/HR 1783 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation, strategy for how they might both move forward next year. S 3327/HR 7212 - Empowered at Home Act - Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid and other improvements to bill. Also lobbied in support of the bill. HR 7110/S 3604 Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act - Lobbied for FMAP funding. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries, and promote e-prescriptions in medicare (no bill number). S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641 Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act and HR 7128 Nursing Home Transparency and Quality of Care Improvement Act - Discussed the bill and provided suggestions for changes to the bill, nursing home quality and proposed five star rating system cms; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving initiative, nursing home compliance guidelines, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid data reporting requirements), LTC Quality Alliance. To build support and obtain sponsors for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no bill number). Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers (no bill number). Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives (no bill number). HR 7114/S3613 Independence at Home Act/Chronic Care Coordination - Lobbied on and support for legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries. S 3101/HR 6331 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 - Discussed implementation to help improve Medicare. Lobbied for appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans (no bill number). S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Services - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 Prescription Coverage Now Act - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. HR 6033 - Discussed provisions of Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act and ways to improve bill.
HR 3001/ S 1340 - Shared and discusssed actuarial analysis of the CLASS Act regarding creation of a public insurance program for long-term services. S 2337/HR 3363 - Discussion of and support for Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act that would make private long-term care insurance available through employer-sponsored flexible spending accounts and cafeteria plans and update and add consumer protections. S 1070 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation and strategy for how they might both move forward this year. S 1340 Geriatric Assessment and Chronic Care Coordination Act of 2007- Discussed a demonstration version of this Medicare chronic care coordination and geriatric assessment bill. S 2708 Caring for an Aging America Act of 2008 - Provisions related to increasing the number of professionals trained in geriatrics or gerontology, etc., providing input on legislation and encouraging offices to cosponsor the bill. Discussed draft legislation to make changes to Medicaid HCBS, including the Medicaid state plan option, spousal impoverishment, Medicaid Transformation Grants, etc. HR 1174 Healthy Hospitals Act of 2007- Discussed with sponsors' staff potential endorsement of this legislation to require hospitals to report infection rates. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicaid Personal Assistance Services State Plan option- discussion of comment letter sending and receipt. Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries. S 2480/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641/ HR 5799 Nursing Home Quality and Transparency Legislation Act - To protect residents and support for the Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act. Discussion of provisions (civil monetary penalties and Special Focus Facilities) in nursing home transparency, accountability, and quality bill. Special Focus Facilities and disclosure of these facilities; criminal background checks for LTC employees; nursing home quality; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving, nursing home compliance guidelines, Real Choice Systems Change Grants and family caregiver assessments, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid), Aging and Disability Resource Centers (AoA), health care and the uninsured - steps HHS is taking to address this, Medicare Medical Adult Day Care Demonstration. HR 5702 Advance Directive Promotion Act of 2008 - Negotiated provisions on portability of advance directives. HR 2642 - Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid Regulation Moratoriam in Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2008, and on supplemental appropriations bill. To build support for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no Bill). S 2838/HR 6126 - Input on draft legislation to make arbitration clauses between LTC facilities and their residents or representatives unenforceable; support for this legislation once it was introduced as the Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act, including support letter. Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers. Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives. S 1577/HR 3078 - Support for Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act (S 1577) and moving the issue forward; provided feedback and in testimony. S 2921 Caring for Wounded Warriors Act of 2008 - Services and supports for family caregivers of certain veterans. Feedback on draft legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries; approaches to improving chronic care for Medicare beneficiaries; discussion of chronic care and Special Needs Plans. S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Seniors Act of 2007- Support for Medicare premium protection and modifications to Medicare Savings Programs/Part D Low-Income Subsidy. S 1758 - Long-term care financing proposals, including the CLASS Act, a public LTC financing program. S. 3164 - Lobbied on Medicare Fraud bill (Martinez and Cornyn) - All provisions related to protecting participants and the Medicare program from fraud and abuse. S. 3118 - Lobbied in opposition to Grassley-McConnell bill - All provisions related to beneficiary access and Medicare improvements, including e-prescribing. S 3101- Urged support of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 to help improve Medicare. Long Term Care/Reverse Mortgages - To protect consumers when reverse mortgages are used as a LTC financing tool. Green Houses and culture change in LTC facilities. HR 2642 - To keep moratorium on all seven Medicaid regulations in the supplemental appropriations bill. Lobbied on appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans. S 1102 - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. S 3101/HR 6331 - (Medicare) Lobbied for legislation to protect part B premiums, increase LIS and MSP asset limits, and promote e-prescribing in Medicare. HR 2642 - (Medicaid) Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid regulation moratorium in Iraq Supplemental.
HR 3548 Plain Language in Government Communications Act - Provisions related to detering predatory lending practices and helping to protect older homeowners from foreclosure. HR 5818 Neighborhood Stablization Act - Lobbied to help prevent older homeowners from losing their homes to foreclosure. . S 2636 Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 - All provisions in Title IV related to allowing bankruptcy judges to restructure subprime mortgage debt for primary residences; lobbied the bill to help prevent older homeowners from losing their homes to foreclosure HR 3609 Emergency Home Ownership and Mortgage Equity Protection Act of 2007- Provisions related to allowing judges to modify the terms of mortages in bankruptcy to reduce foreclosures. S. 2684 Section 8 Voucher Reform Act of 2008 - Provisions related to stabilizing the funding formula for Section 8 Vouchers to provide more affordable housing options for our members and their families. HR 5758/S. 2490 Reverse Mortgage Proceeds Protection Act - Supported passage of this bill and House companion bill to better prevent reverse mortgage borrowers from fraud and abuse. HR 1852/S 2338 Expanding American Homeownership - Lobbied to expand the FHA-insured reverse mortgage program while limiting origination fees charged by lenders. HR 3221 Housing and Economic Recovery Act - discussed the implementation of the bill. HR 6076 Home Retention and Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 - Lobbied for a foreclosure deferral to help members workout loans in default or refinance into new loans. S 3261 Transportation and HUD Appropriations - Lobbied for affordable housing assistance spending including section 202-housing for the elderly program. HR 6033 Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act of 2008 - Lobbied to expand the bill to cover more types of housing and to ensure the competitive nature of the grants program, as well as other changes to the bill. S 2490 Reverse Mortgage Proceeds Protections Act - Lobbied to increase protections for Home Equity Conversion Mortgage loan recipients. HR 3997/HR 1424 - Emergency Economic Stabilization Act - Lobbied to include provisions to assist troubled homeowners, including the ability for bankruptcy judges to modify primary mortgage debt.
Emergency Home Ownership and Mortgage Equity Protection Act of 2007
HR 3548 Plain Language in Government Communications Act - Provisions related to detering predatory lending practices and helping to protect older homeowners from foreclosure. HR 5818 Neighborhood Stablization Act - Lobbied to help prevent older homeowners from losing their homes to foreclosure. . S 2636 Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 - All provisions in Title IV related to allowing bankruptcy judges to restructure subprime mortgage debt for primary residences; lobbied the bill to help prevent older homeowners from losing their homes to foreclosure HR 3609 Emergency Home Ownership and Mortgage Equity Protection Act of 2007- Provisions related to allowing judges to modify the terms of mortages in bankruptcy to reduce foreclosures. S. 2684 Section 8 Voucher Reform Act of 2008 - Provisions related to stabilizing the funding formula for Section 8 Vouchers to provide more affordable housing options for our members and their families. HR 5758/S. 2490 Reverse Mortgage Proceeds Protection Act - Supported passage of this bill and House companion bill to better prevent reverse mortgage borrowers from fraud and abuse. HR 1852/S 2338 Expanding American Homeownership - Lobbied to expand the FHA-insured reverse mortgage program while limiting origination fees charged by lenders. HR 3221 Housing and Economic Recovery Act - discussed the implementation of the bill. HR 6076 Home Retention and Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 - Lobbied for a foreclosure deferral to help members workout loans in default or refinance into new loans. S 3261 Transportation and HUD Appropriations - Lobbied for affordable housing assistance spending including section 202-housing for the elderly program. HR 6033 Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act of 2008 - Lobbied to expand the bill to cover more types of housing and to ensure the competitive nature of the grants program, as well as other changes to the bill. S 2490 Reverse Mortgage Proceeds Protections Act - Lobbied to increase protections for Home Equity Conversion Mortgage loan recipients. HR 3997/HR 1424 - Emergency Economic Stabilization Act - Lobbied to include provisions to assist troubled homeowners, including the ability for bankruptcy judges to modify primary mortgage debt.
HR 2167/ S 1141 Automatic IRA Act of 2007 - Provisions related to establishing an auto IRA for workers not covered by pension plan. HR 5140 Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008 - Discussed implementation of the economic stimulus package, including rebates for seniors and IRS funding for implementation. Divided We Fail, an initiative to give voice to millions of Americans who are tired of letting Washington gridlock stand in the way of affordable, quality health care and long-term financial security-the most pressing domestic issues facing our nation. Lobbied for adequate funding for Social Security Administration budget. S 2063/HR 3655- Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action Act of 2007 Senate Budget: Entitlement Task Force (could cut Social Security and Medicare benefits). Discussed options to strengthen and improve long term financing and operations of social security program (no Bill). Lobbying for increased spending to reduce SSA disability claim backlog (no Bill). Discussed increased bankruptcy among 50+ population (no Bill). HR 3185, HR 3765(Defined Contribution Plan Fee Transparency Act of 2007), S 2473 Defined Contribution Fee Disclosure Act of 2007- HR 3185 401(k) Fair Disclosure for Retirement Security Act of 2007 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 9 (ERISA) to prohibit an administrator of an individual account plan that includes a qualified cash or deferred arrangement to enter into any contract for services to the plan without a written statement that identifies who will be performing such services, describes each such service, and specifies the expected total annual cost of such services. Requires the Secretary of Labor to prescribe a model statement that may be used for purposes of satisfying such requirements. Limits the requirements for such a statement to contracts for services if the total cost for such services equals or exceeds $1,000. Discussed AARP's concerns about garnishment of Social Security checks by banks and payday lenders and check cashers. HR 2642 - Lobbying for funding for IRS/SSA and from IRS to implement Economic Stimulus Payment. S 3230 Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations FY 2009 - Lobbied for increased spending to reduce SSA disability claim backlog and in opposition to certain e-verify provisions without sufficient funding. HR 3654 Safe Act - All provisions related to strengthening Social Security and Medicare and reducing health care costs. S 2794 Senior Investor Protection Act - Lobbied in favor of provisions related to protecting seniors from fraudulent and misleading marketing practices.
Lobbied to ensure that comparative effectiveness research is promoted (including appropriations financing for AHRQ's Section 1013 funding) and/or that Medicare Part D is not means tested (no bill). S 2063/HR 3655 Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action Act of 2007- Lobbied in favor of a health reform framework in the entitlement task force legislation. HR 3654 Safe Commission Act - Discussed AARP's position on entitlement commission legislation, including health care and revenue. Discussed AARP's concerns about healthcare key issues and funding impact of entitlement commission. S 3230 Labor-HHS Appropriations Act of FY 2009 - Lobbied for energy assistance, senior nutrition, Older Americans Act, Social Security Administration, comparative effectiveness and other social services programs. S 3261 Transportation-HUD Appropriations bill, FY2009 - Lobbied for senior housing and transit programs. HR 7110/S3604 Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act - Lobbied for SSA administrative expenses, weatherization and energy assistance and FMAP funding. S 3289 Agriculture and Rural Development Appropriation, FY 2009 - Lobbied for Commodity Supplemental Food Program, rural rental housing, and FDA generic drug processing. S 3260 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations - Lobbied for IRS taxpayer assistance program. S 3182 Commerce, Justice-Science Appropriations, FY 2009 - Lobbied for National Telecommunications and Information Administration, DTV transition converter box coupon program. S 3258 Energy and Water Development Appropriations, FY 2009 - Lobbied for weatherization assistance. Stimulus Legislation and Economic Recovery - Lobbied on proposed/draft legislation to increase funding for federal nutrition program (food stamps/SNAP,TEFAP,CSFP) Employment and Training Services (WIA, SCSEP); SSI benefits; Philanthropic & Civic Engagement programs, unemployment insurance; federal medical assistance percentage; weatherization assistance program; the promotion of health information technology; accredited nursing schools through grants; transportation infrastructure; and to allow bankruptcy judges to restructure subprime mortgage debt for primary residences.
HR 2167/ S 1141 Automatic IRA Act of 2007 - Provisions related to establishing an auto IRA for workers not covered by pension plan. HR 5140 Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008 - Discussed implementation of the economic stimulus package, including rebates for older Americans and IRS funding for implementation. Lobbied for long-term financial security (no bill). S 3230 Labor, HHS, Education, Appropriations - Lobbied for adequate funding for Social Security Administration budget. S 2063/HR 3655- Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action Act of 2007 Senate Budget: Entitlement Task Force (could cut Social Security and Medicare benefits). Discussed options to strengthen and improve long term financing and operations of social security program (no Bill). Lobbying for increased spending to reduce SSA disability claim backlog (no Bill). Discussed increased bankruptcy among 50+ population (no Bill). HR 3765(Defined Contribution Plan Fee Transparency Act of 2007), S 2473 Defined Contribution Fee Disclosure Act of 2007, HR 3185 401(k) Fair Disclosure for Retirement Security Act of 2007 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to prohibit an administrator of an individual account plan that includes a qualified cash or deferred arrangement to enter into any contract for services to the plan without a written statement that identifies who will be performing such services, describes each such service, and specifies the expected total annual cost of such services. Requires the Secretary of Labor to prescribe a model statement that may be used for purposes of satisfying such requirements. Limits the requirements for such a statement to contracts for services if the total cost for such services equals or exceeds $1,000. Discussed AARP's concerns about garnishment of Social Security checks by banks and payday lenders and check cashers. HR 2642 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act - Lobbied for funding for IRS/SSA and from IRS to implement Economic Stimulus Payment. S 3230 Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations FY 2009 - Lobbied for increased spending to reduce SSA disability claim backlog and in opposition to certain e-verify provisions without sufficient funding. HR 3654 Safe Commission Act - All provisions related to strengthening Social Security and Medicare and reducing health care costs. S 2794 Senior Investor Protection Act - Lobbied in favor of provisions related to protecting older Americans from fraudulent and misleading marketing practices.
HR 2167/ S 1141 Automatic IRA Act of 2007 - Provisions related to establishing an auto IRA for workers not covered by pension plan. HR 5140 Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008 - Discussed implementation of the economic stimulus package, including rebates for seniors and IRS funding for implementation. Divided We Fail, an initiative to give voice to millions of Americans who are tired of letting Washington gridlock stand in the way of affordable, quality health care and long-term financial security-the most pressing domestic issues facing our nation. Lobbied for adequate funding for Social Security Administration budget. S 2063/HR 3655- Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action Act of 2007 Senate Budget: Entitlement Task Force (could cut Social Security and Medicare benefits). Discussed options to strengthen and improve long term financing and operations of social security program (no Bill). Lobbying for increased spending to reduce SSA disability claim backlog (no Bill). Discussed increased bankruptcy among 50+ population (no Bill). HR 3185, HR 3765(Defined Contribution Plan Fee Transparency Act of 2007), S 2473 Defined Contribution Fee Disclosure Act of 2007- HR 3185 401(k) Fair Disclosure for Retirement Security Act of 2007 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 9 (ERISA) to prohibit an administrator of an individual account plan that includes a qualified cash or deferred arrangement to enter into any contract for services to the plan without a written statement that identifies who will be performing such services, describes each such service, and specifies the expected total annual cost of such services. Requires the Secretary of Labor to prescribe a model statement that may be used for purposes of satisfying such requirements. Limits the requirements for such a statement to contracts for services if the total cost for such services equals or exceeds $1,000. Discussed AARP's concerns about garnishment of Social Security checks by banks and payday lenders and check cashers. HR 2642 - Lobbying for funding for IRS/SSA and from IRS to implement Economic Stimulus Payment. S 3230 Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations FY 2009 - Lobbied for increased spending to reduce SSA disability claim backlog and in opposition to certain e-verify provisions without sufficient funding. HR 3654 Safe Act - All provisions related to strengthening Social Security and Medicare and reducing health care costs. S 2794 Senior Investor Protection Act - Lobbied in favor of provisions related to protecting seniors from fraudulent and misleading marketing practices.
Lobbied to ensure that comparative effectiveness research is promoted (including appropriations financing for AHRQ's Section 1013 funding) and/or that Medicare Part D is not means tested (no bill). S 2063/HR 3655 Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action Act of 2007- Lobbied in favor of a health reform framework in the entitlement task force legislation. HR 3654 Safe Commission Act - Discussed AARP's position on entitlement commission legislation, including health care and revenue. Discussed AARP's concerns about healthcare key issues and funding impact of entitlement commission. S 3230 Labor-HHS Appropriations Act of FY 2009 - Lobbied for energy assistance, senior nutrition, Older Americans Act, Social Security Administration, comparative effectiveness and other social services programs. S 3261 Transportation-HUD Appropriations bill, FY2009 - Lobbied for senior housing and transit programs. HR 7110/S3604 Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act - Lobbied for SSA administrative expenses, weatherization and energy assistance and FMAP funding. S 3289 Agriculture and Rural Development Appropriation, FY 2009 - Lobbied for Commodity Supplemental Food Program, rural rental housing, and FDA generic drug processing. S 3260 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations - Lobbied for IRS taxpayer assistance program. S 3182 Commerce, Justice-Science Appropriations, FY 2009 - Lobbied for National Telecommunications and Information Administration, DTV transition converter box coupon program. S 3258 Energy and Water Development Appropriations, FY 2009 - Lobbied for weatherization assistance. Stimulus Legislation and Economic Recovery - Lobbied on proposed/draft legislation to increase funding for federal nutrition program (food stamps/SNAP,TEFAP,CSFP) Employment and Training Services (WIA, SCSEP); SSI benefits; Philanthropic & Civic Engagement programs, unemployment insurance; federal medical assistance percentage; weatherization assistance program; the promotion of health information technology; accredited nursing schools through grants; transportation infrastructure; and to allow bankruptcy judges to restructure subprime mortgage debt for primary residences.
HR 2167/ S 1141 Automatic IRA Act of 2007 - Provisions related to establishing an auto IRA for workers not covered by pension plan. HR 5140 Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008 - Discussed implementation of the economic stimulus package, including rebates for older Americans and IRS funding for implementation. Lobbied for long-term financial security (no bill). S 3230 Labor, HHS, Education, Appropriations - Lobbied for adequate funding for Social Security Administration budget. S 2063/HR 3655- Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action Act of 2007 Senate Budget: Entitlement Task Force (could cut Social Security and Medicare benefits). Discussed options to strengthen and improve long term financing and operations of social security program (no Bill). Lobbying for increased spending to reduce SSA disability claim backlog (no Bill). Discussed increased bankruptcy among 50+ population (no Bill). HR 3765(Defined Contribution Plan Fee Transparency Act of 2007), S 2473 Defined Contribution Fee Disclosure Act of 2007, HR 3185 401(k) Fair Disclosure for Retirement Security Act of 2007 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to prohibit an administrator of an individual account plan that includes a qualified cash or deferred arrangement to enter into any contract for services to the plan without a written statement that identifies who will be performing such services, describes each such service, and specifies the expected total annual cost of such services. Requires the Secretary of Labor to prescribe a model statement that may be used for purposes of satisfying such requirements. Limits the requirements for such a statement to contracts for services if the total cost for such services equals or exceeds $1,000. Discussed AARP's concerns about garnishment of Social Security checks by banks and payday lenders and check cashers. HR 2642 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act - Lobbied for funding for IRS/SSA and from IRS to implement Economic Stimulus Payment. S 3230 Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations FY 2009 - Lobbied for increased spending to reduce SSA disability claim backlog and in opposition to certain e-verify provisions without sufficient funding. HR 3654 Safe Commission Act - All provisions related to strengthening Social Security and Medicare and reducing health care costs. S 2794 Senior Investor Protection Act - Lobbied in favor of provisions related to protecting older Americans from fraudulent and misleading marketing practices.
S 2795/HR 5918 Small Business Health Options Program Act of 2008 - Discussed concerns on small business health insurance coverage. Discussed proposal for health insurance reinsurance. S 334 Healthy Americans Act - Discussed Senator Wyden's health care reform bill. Stakeholder meeting on health care quality. HR 3701/S 845 Keeping Seniors Safe from Falls Act of 2007- Lobbied for all provisions to direct the Secretary of HHS to conduct public and professional education, research, and demonstration grants to prevent falls among the elderly. SCR 70 - Lobbied in favor of Medicare premium protection language in the budget and for reserve funds for health. Divided We Fail, an initiative to give voice to millions of Americans who are tired of letting Washington gridlock stand in the way of affordable, quality health care and long-term financial security - the most pressing domestic issues facing our nation. Lobbied for spending levels for Rx comparative effectiveness, nursing education, NIH research, Falls Prevention and other similar accounts. Discussed the need for bipartisan action on health care reform legislation, and how AARP could be helpful in vetting such proposals with its members. Expressed concern about proposed regulation regarding reduction of annual reassignment of LIS population in Medicare Part D. HR 3800/S 1693 - Wired for Health Act/Promotion of Health Information Technology Act - Strongly promoted enactment of this legislation to promote adoption of health information technology. S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported this legislation to require e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. Lobbied for legislation to promote Health IT. Lobbied on structure of Health IT standard-setting body.
HR 2167/ S 1141 Automatic IRA Act of 2007 - Provisions related to establishing an auto IRA for workers not covered by pension plan. HR 5140 Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008 - Discussed implementation of the economic stimulus package, including rebates for seniors and IRS funding for implementation. Divided We Fail, an initiative to give voice to millions of Americans who are tired of letting Washington gridlock stand in the way of affordable, quality health care and long-term financial security-the most pressing domestic issues facing our nation. Lobbied for adequate funding for Social Security Administration budget. S 2063/HR 3655- Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action Act of 2007 Senate Budget: Entitlement Task Force (could cut Social Security and Medicare benefits). Discussed options to strengthen and improve long term financing and operations of social security program (no Bill). Lobbying for increased spending to reduce SSA disability claim backlog (no Bill). Discussed increased bankruptcy among 50+ population (no Bill). HR 3185, HR 3765(Defined Contribution Plan Fee Transparency Act of 2007), S 2473 Defined Contribution Fee Disclosure Act of 2007- HR 3185 401(k) Fair Disclosure for Retirement Security Act of 2007 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 9 (ERISA) to prohibit an administrator of an individual account plan that includes a qualified cash or deferred arrangement to enter into any contract for services to the plan without a written statement that identifies who will be performing such services, describes each such service, and specifies the expected total annual cost of such services. Requires the Secretary of Labor to prescribe a model statement that may be used for purposes of satisfying such requirements. Limits the requirements for such a statement to contracts for services if the total cost for such services equals or exceeds $1,000. Discussed AARP's concerns about garnishment of Social Security checks by banks and payday lenders and check cashers. HR 2642 - Lobbying for funding for IRS/SSA and from IRS to implement Economic Stimulus Payment. S 3230 Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations FY 2009 - Lobbied for increased spending to reduce SSA disability claim backlog and in opposition to certain e-verify provisions without sufficient funding. HR 3654 Safe Act - All provisions related to strengthening Social Security and Medicare and reducing health care costs. S 2794 Senior Investor Protection Act - Lobbied in favor of provisions related to protecting seniors from fraudulent and misleading marketing practices.
HR 2167/ S 1141 Automatic IRA Act of 2007 - Provisions related to establishing an auto IRA for workers not covered by pension plan. HR 5140 Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008 - Discussed implementation of the economic stimulus package, including rebates for older Americans and IRS funding for implementation. Lobbied for long-term financial security (no bill). S 3230 Labor, HHS, Education, Appropriations - Lobbied for adequate funding for Social Security Administration budget. S 2063/HR 3655- Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action Act of 2007 Senate Budget: Entitlement Task Force (could cut Social Security and Medicare benefits). Discussed options to strengthen and improve long term financing and operations of social security program (no Bill). Lobbying for increased spending to reduce SSA disability claim backlog (no Bill). Discussed increased bankruptcy among 50+ population (no Bill). HR 3765(Defined Contribution Plan Fee Transparency Act of 2007), S 2473 Defined Contribution Fee Disclosure Act of 2007, HR 3185 401(k) Fair Disclosure for Retirement Security Act of 2007 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to prohibit an administrator of an individual account plan that includes a qualified cash or deferred arrangement to enter into any contract for services to the plan without a written statement that identifies who will be performing such services, describes each such service, and specifies the expected total annual cost of such services. Requires the Secretary of Labor to prescribe a model statement that may be used for purposes of satisfying such requirements. Limits the requirements for such a statement to contracts for services if the total cost for such services equals or exceeds $1,000. Discussed AARP's concerns about garnishment of Social Security checks by banks and payday lenders and check cashers. HR 2642 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act - Lobbied for funding for IRS/SSA and from IRS to implement Economic Stimulus Payment. S 3230 Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations FY 2009 - Lobbied for increased spending to reduce SSA disability claim backlog and in opposition to certain e-verify provisions without sufficient funding. HR 3654 Safe Commission Act - All provisions related to strengthening Social Security and Medicare and reducing health care costs. S 2794 Senior Investor Protection Act - Lobbied in favor of provisions related to protecting older Americans from fraudulent and misleading marketing practices.
S 3408 - Lobbying in favor of the Conrad-Baucus legislation to create an independent comparative effectiveness entity to conduct and desseminate independent comparative effectiveness research. SCR 70 - Lobbied in favor of Medicare premium protection language in the budget and for reserve funds for health. Lobbied for quality health care (no bill). Lobbied for spending levels for Rx comparative effectiveness, nursing education, NIH research, Falls Prevention and other similar accounts (no bill). Discussed the need for bipartisan action on health care reform legislation, and how AARP could be helpful in vetting such proposals with its members (no bill). Expressed concern about proposed regulation regarding reduction of annual reassignment of LIS population in Medicare Part D. HR 3800/S 1693 - Wired for Health Act/Promotion of Health Information Technology Act - Strongly promoted enactment of this legislation to promote adoption of health information technology. HR 6357 Pro(tech)t Act - Protecting Records, Optimizing Treatment, and Easing Communication through Healthcare Technology Act of 2008. Lobbied for the adoption of Health IT. S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported this legislation to require e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. Lobbied for legislation to promote Health IT (no bill). Lobbied on structure of Health IT standard-setting body (no bill). Health Care Reform - Inquiry on medical home or primary care home legislation. HR 6898 Health-e Information Technology Act - Lobbied to promote Health IT and on structure of Health IT standard-setting body.
S 2795/HR 5918 Small Business Health Options Program Act of 2008 - Discussed concerns on small business health insurance coverage. Discussed proposal for health insurance reinsurance. S 334 Healthy Americans Act - Discussed Senator Wyden's health care reform bill. Stakeholder meeting on health care quality. HR 3701/S 845 Keeping Seniors Safe from Falls Act of 2007- Lobbied for all provisions to direct the Secretary of HHS to conduct public and professional education, research, and demonstration grants to prevent falls among the elderly. SCR 70 - Lobbied in favor of Medicare premium protection language in the budget and for reserve funds for health. Divided We Fail, an initiative to give voice to millions of Americans who are tired of letting Washington gridlock stand in the way of affordable, quality health care and long-term financial security - the most pressing domestic issues facing our nation. Lobbied for spending levels for Rx comparative effectiveness, nursing education, NIH research, Falls Prevention and other similar accounts. Discussed the need for bipartisan action on health care reform legislation, and how AARP could be helpful in vetting such proposals with its members. Expressed concern about proposed regulation regarding reduction of annual reassignment of LIS population in Medicare Part D. HR 3800/S 1693 - Wired for Health Act/Promotion of Health Information Technology Act - Strongly promoted enactment of this legislation to promote adoption of health information technology. S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported this legislation to require e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. Lobbied for legislation to promote Health IT. Lobbied on structure of Health IT standard-setting body.
HR 3548 Plain Language in Government Communications Act - Provisions related to detering predatory lending practices and helping to protect older homeowners from foreclosure. HR 5818 Neighborhood Stablization Act - Lobbied to help prevent older homeowners from losing their homes to foreclosure. . S 2636 Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 - All provisions in Title IV related to allowing bankruptcy judges to restructure subprime mortgage debt for primary residences; lobbied the bill to help prevent older homeowners from losing their homes to foreclosure HR 3609 Emergency Home Ownership and Mortgage Equity Protection Act of 2007- Provisions related to allowing judges to modify the terms of mortages in bankruptcy to reduce foreclosures. S. 2684 Section 8 Voucher Reform Act of 2008 - Provisions related to stabilizing the funding formula for Section 8 Vouchers to provide more affordable housing options for our members and their families. HR 5758/S. 2490 Reverse Mortgage Proceeds Protection Act - Supported passage of this bill and House companion bill to better prevent reverse mortgage borrowers from fraud and abuse. HR 1852/S 2338 Expanding American Homeownership - Lobbied to expand the FHA-insured reverse mortgage program while limiting origination fees charged by lenders. HR 3221 Housing and Economic Recovery Act - discussed the implementation of the bill. HR 6076 Home Retention and Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 - Lobbied for a foreclosure deferral to help members workout loans in default or refinance into new loans. S 3261 Transportation and HUD Appropriations - Lobbied for affordable housing assistance spending including section 202-housing for the elderly program. HR 6033 Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act of 2008 - Lobbied to expand the bill to cover more types of housing and to ensure the competitive nature of the grants program, as well as other changes to the bill. S 2490 Reverse Mortgage Proceeds Protections Act - Lobbied to increase protections for Home Equity Conversion Mortgage loan recipients. HR 3997/HR 1424 - Emergency Economic Stabilization Act - Lobbied to include provisions to assist troubled homeowners, including the ability for bankruptcy judges to modify primary mortgage debt.
Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-MEDS) Act of 2007
S 2337/HR 3363 Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act - Discussed consumer protections for LTC insurance. S 1070/HR 1783 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation, strategy for how they might both move forward next year. S 3327/HR 7212 - Empowered at Home Act - Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid and other improvements to bill. Also lobbied in support of the bill. HR 7110/S 3604 Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act - Lobbied for FMAP funding. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries, and promote e-prescriptions in medicare (no bill number). S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641 Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act and HR 7128 Nursing Home Transparency and Quality of Care Improvement Act - Discussed the bill and provided suggestions for changes to the bill, nursing home quality and proposed five star rating system cms; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving initiative, nursing home compliance guidelines, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid data reporting requirements), LTC Quality Alliance. To build support and obtain sponsors for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no bill number). Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers (no bill number). Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives (no bill number). HR 7114/S3613 Independence at Home Act/Chronic Care Coordination - Lobbied on and support for legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries. S 3101/HR 6331 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 - Discussed implementation to help improve Medicare. Lobbied for appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans (no bill number). S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Services - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 Prescription Coverage Now Act - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. HR 6033 - Discussed provisions of Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act and ways to improve bill.
Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-MEDS) Act of 2007
HR 3001/ S 1340 - Shared and discusssed actuarial analysis of the CLASS Act regarding creation of a public insurance program for long-term services. S 2337/HR 3363 - Discussion of and support for Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act that would make private long-term care insurance available through employer-sponsored flexible spending accounts and cafeteria plans and update and add consumer protections. S 1070 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation and strategy for how they might both move forward this year. S 1340 Geriatric Assessment and Chronic Care Coordination Act of 2007- Discussed a demonstration version of this Medicare chronic care coordination and geriatric assessment bill. S 2708 Caring for an Aging America Act of 2008 - Provisions related to increasing the number of professionals trained in geriatrics or gerontology, etc., providing input on legislation and encouraging offices to cosponsor the bill. Discussed draft legislation to make changes to Medicaid HCBS, including the Medicaid state plan option, spousal impoverishment, Medicaid Transformation Grants, etc. HR 1174 Healthy Hospitals Act of 2007- Discussed with sponsors' staff potential endorsement of this legislation to require hospitals to report infection rates. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicaid Personal Assistance Services State Plan option- discussion of comment letter sending and receipt. Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries. S 2480/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641/ HR 5799 Nursing Home Quality and Transparency Legislation Act - To protect residents and support for the Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act. Discussion of provisions (civil monetary penalties and Special Focus Facilities) in nursing home transparency, accountability, and quality bill. Special Focus Facilities and disclosure of these facilities; criminal background checks for LTC employees; nursing home quality; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving, nursing home compliance guidelines, Real Choice Systems Change Grants and family caregiver assessments, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid), Aging and Disability Resource Centers (AoA), health care and the uninsured - steps HHS is taking to address this, Medicare Medical Adult Day Care Demonstration. HR 5702 Advance Directive Promotion Act of 2008 - Negotiated provisions on portability of advance directives. HR 2642 - Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid Regulation Moratoriam in Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2008, and on supplemental appropriations bill. To build support for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no Bill). S 2838/HR 6126 - Input on draft legislation to make arbitration clauses between LTC facilities and their residents or representatives unenforceable; support for this legislation once it was introduced as the Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act, including support letter. Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers. Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives. S 1577/HR 3078 - Support for Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act (S 1577) and moving the issue forward; provided feedback and in testimony. S 2921 Caring for Wounded Warriors Act of 2008 - Services and supports for family caregivers of certain veterans. Feedback on draft legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries; approaches to improving chronic care for Medicare beneficiaries; discussion of chronic care and Special Needs Plans. S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Seniors Act of 2007- Support for Medicare premium protection and modifications to Medicare Savings Programs/Part D Low-Income Subsidy. S 1758 - Long-term care financing proposals, including the CLASS Act, a public LTC financing program. S. 3164 - Lobbied on Medicare Fraud bill (Martinez and Cornyn) - All provisions related to protecting participants and the Medicare program from fraud and abuse. S. 3118 - Lobbied in opposition to Grassley-McConnell bill - All provisions related to beneficiary access and Medicare improvements, including e-prescribing. S 3101- Urged support of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 to help improve Medicare. Long Term Care/Reverse Mortgages - To protect consumers when reverse mortgages are used as a LTC financing tool. Green Houses and culture change in LTC facilities. HR 2642 - To keep moratorium on all seven Medicaid regulations in the supplemental appropriations bill. Lobbied on appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans. S 1102 - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. S 3101/HR 6331 - (Medicare) Lobbied for legislation to protect part B premiums, increase LIS and MSP asset limits, and promote e-prescribing in Medicare. HR 2642 - (Medicaid) Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid regulation moratorium in Iraq Supplemental.
Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-MEDS) Act of 2007
S 2795/HR 5918 Small Business Health Options Program Act of 2008 - Discussed concerns on small business health insurance coverage. Discussed proposal for health insurance reinsurance. S 334 Healthy Americans Act - Discussed Senator Wyden's health care reform bill. Stakeholder meeting on health care quality. HR 3701/S 845 Keeping Seniors Safe from Falls Act of 2007- Lobbied for all provisions to direct the Secretary of HHS to conduct public and professional education, research, and demonstration grants to prevent falls among the elderly. SCR 70 - Lobbied in favor of Medicare premium protection language in the budget and for reserve funds for health. Divided We Fail, an initiative to give voice to millions of Americans who are tired of letting Washington gridlock stand in the way of affordable, quality health care and long-term financial security - the most pressing domestic issues facing our nation. Lobbied for spending levels for Rx comparative effectiveness, nursing education, NIH research, Falls Prevention and other similar accounts. Discussed the need for bipartisan action on health care reform legislation, and how AARP could be helpful in vetting such proposals with its members. Expressed concern about proposed regulation regarding reduction of annual reassignment of LIS population in Medicare Part D. HR 3800/S 1693 - Wired for Health Act/Promotion of Health Information Technology Act - Strongly promoted enactment of this legislation to promote adoption of health information technology. S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported this legislation to require e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. Lobbied for legislation to promote Health IT. Lobbied on structure of Health IT standard-setting body.
Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-MEDS) Act of 2007
S 3408 - Lobbying in favor of the Conrad-Baucus legislation to create an independent comparative effectiveness entity to conduct and desseminate independent comparative effectiveness research. SCR 70 - Lobbied in favor of Medicare premium protection language in the budget and for reserve funds for health. Lobbied for quality health care (no bill). Lobbied for spending levels for Rx comparative effectiveness, nursing education, NIH research, Falls Prevention and other similar accounts (no bill). Discussed the need for bipartisan action on health care reform legislation, and how AARP could be helpful in vetting such proposals with its members (no bill). Expressed concern about proposed regulation regarding reduction of annual reassignment of LIS population in Medicare Part D. HR 3800/S 1693 - Wired for Health Act/Promotion of Health Information Technology Act - Strongly promoted enactment of this legislation to promote adoption of health information technology. HR 6357 Pro(tech)t Act - Protecting Records, Optimizing Treatment, and Easing Communication through Healthcare Technology Act of 2008. Lobbied for the adoption of Health IT. S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported this legislation to require e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. Lobbied for legislation to promote Health IT (no bill). Lobbied on structure of Health IT standard-setting body (no bill). Health Care Reform - Inquiry on medical home or primary care home legislation. HR 6898 Health-e Information Technology Act - Lobbied to promote Health IT and on structure of Health IT standard-setting body.
Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-MEDS) Act of 2007
S 2337/HR 3363 - Discussion of and support for Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act that would make private long-term care insurance available through employer-sponsored flexible spending accounts and cafeteria plans and update and add consumer protections. S 1070/HR 1783 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation, strategy for how they might both move forward this year, bill markup, background for score on S.1577. S 2708 Caring for an Aging America Act of 2008 - Provisions related to increasing the number of professionals trained in geriatrics or gerontology, etc., providing input on legislation and encouraging offices to cosponsor the bill. Discussed draft legislation to make changes to Medicaid HCBS, including the Medicaid state plan option, spousal impoverishment, Medicaid Transformation Grants, etc. S 3230 Empowered at Home Act - Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid. HR 7110/S 3604 Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act - Lobbied for FMAP funding. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. HR 6331 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act - Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries, and promote e-prescriptions in medicare. S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641 Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act - Lobbied in support of the bill and to increase co-sponsors; criminal background checks for LTC employees; nursing home quality and proposed five star rating system cms; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving initiative, nursing home compliance guidelines, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid data reporting requirements), status of Nursing Home Value Based Purchasing Demonstration, Prepare to Care for use in innovative employer caregiving programs satellite broadcast, LTC Quality Alliance. HR 2642 - Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid Regulation Moratoriam in Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2008, and on supplemental appropriations bill. To build support and obtain sponsors for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no Bill). S 2838/HR 6126 - Lobbied to support the Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act and oppose amendments to weaken the bill. Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers (no bill). Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives (no bill). S 1577- Support for Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act (S 1577) and marking up the bill; provided feedback and in testimony. HR 7114/S3613 Independence at Home Act/Chronic Care Coordination - Feedback on and support for legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries. S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Seniors Act of 2007- Support for Medicare premium protection and modifications to Medicare Savings Programs/Part D Low-Income Subsidy. S. 3118 Preserving Access to Medicare Act - Lobbied in opposition to Grassley-McConnell bill - All provisions related to beneficiary access and Medicare improvements, including e-prescribing. S 3101- Urged support of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 to help improve Medicare. Green Houses and culture change in LTC facilities, person centered care and medical homes - testimony and input on draft bill - no bill number. Lobbied for appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans (no bill). S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Services - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 Prescription Coverage Now Act - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. HR 5702 End-of-Life Care Advance Directive Promotion Act - Discussed ideas for end-of-life care legislation and how to help ensure patient wishes are respected; Advance Directive Promotion Act. Provided feedback on draft legislation regarding physician orders for life sustaining treatment. S.334 - Discussed long-term care broadly and including it in health care reform, including the Healthy Americans Act. Discussed voting in LTC facilities, such as nursing homes, current status and law on the issue (no bill). S 3327 - Provided input and support for the Empowered at Home Act to make improvements in Medicaid HCBS; LTC insurance tax incentives and consumer protection improvements and a caregiver tax credit. Invitations and information about a solutions forum on balancing of state LTC systems. HR 3363/S 2337 - Discussed consumer protections for LTC insurance, premium increases and claims denials, support for family caregivers including assessment, consumer complaints and support for the LTC Affordability and Security Act. HR 6033 - Discussed provisions of Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act. H.Con.Res 133 - Provided input on and support for new LTC Awareness Week resolution. LTC - General discussion of LTC, home and community based services, family caregiving, chronic care, workforce, quality and financing options.(no bill) CMS - Lobbied on the Medicare Medical Home Demo implementation.
S 2337/HR 3363 Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act - Discussed consumer protections for LTC insurance. S 1070/HR 1783 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation, strategy for how they might both move forward next year. S 3327/HR 7212 - Empowered at Home Act - Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid and other improvements to bill. Also lobbied in support of the bill. HR 7110/S 3604 Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act - Lobbied for FMAP funding. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries, and promote e-prescriptions in medicare (no bill number). S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641 Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act and HR 7128 Nursing Home Transparency and Quality of Care Improvement Act - Discussed the bill and provided suggestions for changes to the bill, nursing home quality and proposed five star rating system cms; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving initiative, nursing home compliance guidelines, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid data reporting requirements), LTC Quality Alliance. To build support and obtain sponsors for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no bill number). Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers (no bill number). Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives (no bill number). HR 7114/S3613 Independence at Home Act/Chronic Care Coordination - Lobbied on and support for legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries. S 3101/HR 6331 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 - Discussed implementation to help improve Medicare. Lobbied for appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans (no bill number). S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Services - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 Prescription Coverage Now Act - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. HR 6033 - Discussed provisions of Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act and ways to improve bill.
HR 3001/ S 1340 - Shared and discusssed actuarial analysis of the CLASS Act regarding creation of a public insurance program for long-term services. S 2337/HR 3363 - Discussion of and support for Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act that would make private long-term care insurance available through employer-sponsored flexible spending accounts and cafeteria plans and update and add consumer protections. S 1070 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation and strategy for how they might both move forward this year. S 1340 Geriatric Assessment and Chronic Care Coordination Act of 2007- Discussed a demonstration version of this Medicare chronic care coordination and geriatric assessment bill. S 2708 Caring for an Aging America Act of 2008 - Provisions related to increasing the number of professionals trained in geriatrics or gerontology, etc., providing input on legislation and encouraging offices to cosponsor the bill. Discussed draft legislation to make changes to Medicaid HCBS, including the Medicaid state plan option, spousal impoverishment, Medicaid Transformation Grants, etc. HR 1174 Healthy Hospitals Act of 2007- Discussed with sponsors' staff potential endorsement of this legislation to require hospitals to report infection rates. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicaid Personal Assistance Services State Plan option- discussion of comment letter sending and receipt. Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries. S 2480/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641/ HR 5799 Nursing Home Quality and Transparency Legislation Act - To protect residents and support for the Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act. Discussion of provisions (civil monetary penalties and Special Focus Facilities) in nursing home transparency, accountability, and quality bill. Special Focus Facilities and disclosure of these facilities; criminal background checks for LTC employees; nursing home quality; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving, nursing home compliance guidelines, Real Choice Systems Change Grants and family caregiver assessments, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid), Aging and Disability Resource Centers (AoA), health care and the uninsured - steps HHS is taking to address this, Medicare Medical Adult Day Care Demonstration. HR 5702 Advance Directive Promotion Act of 2008 - Negotiated provisions on portability of advance directives. HR 2642 - Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid Regulation Moratoriam in Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2008, and on supplemental appropriations bill. To build support for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no Bill). S 2838/HR 6126 - Input on draft legislation to make arbitration clauses between LTC facilities and their residents or representatives unenforceable; support for this legislation once it was introduced as the Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act, including support letter. Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers. Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives. S 1577/HR 3078 - Support for Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act (S 1577) and moving the issue forward; provided feedback and in testimony. S 2921 Caring for Wounded Warriors Act of 2008 - Services and supports for family caregivers of certain veterans. Feedback on draft legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries; approaches to improving chronic care for Medicare beneficiaries; discussion of chronic care and Special Needs Plans. S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Seniors Act of 2007- Support for Medicare premium protection and modifications to Medicare Savings Programs/Part D Low-Income Subsidy. S 1758 - Long-term care financing proposals, including the CLASS Act, a public LTC financing program. S. 3164 - Lobbied on Medicare Fraud bill (Martinez and Cornyn) - All provisions related to protecting participants and the Medicare program from fraud and abuse. S. 3118 - Lobbied in opposition to Grassley-McConnell bill - All provisions related to beneficiary access and Medicare improvements, including e-prescribing. S 3101- Urged support of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 to help improve Medicare. Long Term Care/Reverse Mortgages - To protect consumers when reverse mortgages are used as a LTC financing tool. Green Houses and culture change in LTC facilities. HR 2642 - To keep moratorium on all seven Medicaid regulations in the supplemental appropriations bill. Lobbied on appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans. S 1102 - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. S 3101/HR 6331 - (Medicare) Lobbied for legislation to protect part B premiums, increase LIS and MSP asset limits, and promote e-prescribing in Medicare. HR 2642 - (Medicaid) Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid regulation moratorium in Iraq Supplemental.
S 2337/HR 3363 - Discussion of and support for Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act that would make private long-term care insurance available through employer-sponsored flexible spending accounts and cafeteria plans and update and add consumer protections. S 1070/HR 1783 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation, strategy for how they might both move forward this year, bill markup, background for score on S.1577. S 2708 Caring for an Aging America Act of 2008 - Provisions related to increasing the number of professionals trained in geriatrics or gerontology, etc., providing input on legislation and encouraging offices to cosponsor the bill. Discussed draft legislation to make changes to Medicaid HCBS, including the Medicaid state plan option, spousal impoverishment, Medicaid Transformation Grants, etc. S 3230 Empowered at Home Act - Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid. HR 7110/S 3604 Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act - Lobbied for FMAP funding. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. HR 6331 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act - Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries, and promote e-prescriptions in medicare. S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641 Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act - Lobbied in support of the bill and to increase co-sponsors; criminal background checks for LTC employees; nursing home quality and proposed five star rating system cms; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving initiative, nursing home compliance guidelines, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid data reporting requirements), status of Nursing Home Value Based Purchasing Demonstration, Prepare to Care for use in innovative employer caregiving programs satellite broadcast, LTC Quality Alliance. HR 2642 - Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid Regulation Moratoriam in Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2008, and on supplemental appropriations bill. To build support and obtain sponsors for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no Bill). S 2838/HR 6126 - Lobbied to support the Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act and oppose amendments to weaken the bill. Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers (no bill). Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives (no bill). S 1577- Support for Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act (S 1577) and marking up the bill; provided feedback and in testimony. HR 7114/S3613 Independence at Home Act/Chronic Care Coordination - Feedback on and support for legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries. S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Seniors Act of 2007- Support for Medicare premium protection and modifications to Medicare Savings Programs/Part D Low-Income Subsidy. S. 3118 Preserving Access to Medicare Act - Lobbied in opposition to Grassley-McConnell bill - All provisions related to beneficiary access and Medicare improvements, including e-prescribing. S 3101- Urged support of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 to help improve Medicare. Green Houses and culture change in LTC facilities, person centered care and medical homes - testimony and input on draft bill - no bill number. Lobbied for appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans (no bill). S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Services - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 Prescription Coverage Now Act - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. HR 5702 End-of-Life Care Advance Directive Promotion Act - Discussed ideas for end-of-life care legislation and how to help ensure patient wishes are respected; Advance Directive Promotion Act. Provided feedback on draft legislation regarding physician orders for life sustaining treatment. S.334 - Discussed long-term care broadly and including it in health care reform, including the Healthy Americans Act. Discussed voting in LTC facilities, such as nursing homes, current status and law on the issue (no bill). S 3327 - Provided input and support for the Empowered at Home Act to make improvements in Medicaid HCBS; LTC insurance tax incentives and consumer protection improvements and a caregiver tax credit. Invitations and information about a solutions forum on balancing of state LTC systems. HR 3363/S 2337 - Discussed consumer protections for LTC insurance, premium increases and claims denials, support for family caregivers including assessment, consumer complaints and support for the LTC Affordability and Security Act. HR 6033 - Discussed provisions of Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act. H.Con.Res 133 - Provided input on and support for new LTC Awareness Week resolution. LTC - General discussion of LTC, home and community based services, family caregiving, chronic care, workforce, quality and financing options.(no bill) CMS - Lobbied on the Medicare Medical Home Demo implementation.
S 623/HR 1038 (Access to Life Saving Medicine Act), HR 1956 (Patient Protection and Innovative Biologic Medicines Act of 2007), HR 5629 (Pathway for Biosimilars Act) - Lobbied to ensure that Waxman Biogenerics legislation is enacted particularly provisions related to ensuring a safe, effective pathway for the approval of comparable, interchangeable biologics. HR 1902 (Protecting Consumer Access to Generic Drugs Act of 2007)/ S 316 (Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act -Provisions related to preventing abuses in patent settlements between generic and brand name prescription drug manufactures. S 1145 Patient Reform Act of 2007- Ensuring that the existing inequitable conduct provisions in Patent Law Act are not weakened. Discussion regarding prescription drug affordability (no Bill). S 3230 Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations FY 2009 - Lobbying for spending levels for Rx comparative effectiveness. S 3289 Agriculture and Rural Development Appropriations, FY 2009 - Lobbied to reduce FDA generic drug processing backlog.
HR 3001/ S 1340 - Shared and discusssed actuarial analysis of the CLASS Act regarding creation of a public insurance program for long-term services. S 2337/HR 3363 - Discussion of and support for Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act that would make private long-term care insurance available through employer-sponsored flexible spending accounts and cafeteria plans and update and add consumer protections. S 1070 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation and strategy for how they might both move forward this year. S 1340 Geriatric Assessment and Chronic Care Coordination Act of 2007- Discussed a demonstration version of this Medicare chronic care coordination and geriatric assessment bill. S 2708 Caring for an Aging America Act of 2008 - Provisions related to increasing the number of professionals trained in geriatrics or gerontology, etc., providing input on legislation and encouraging offices to cosponsor the bill. Discussed draft legislation to make changes to Medicaid HCBS, including the Medicaid state plan option, spousal impoverishment, Medicaid Transformation Grants, etc. HR 1174 Healthy Hospitals Act of 2007- Discussed with sponsors' staff potential endorsement of this legislation to require hospitals to report infection rates. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicaid Personal Assistance Services State Plan option- discussion of comment letter sending and receipt. Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries. S 2480/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641/ HR 5799 Nursing Home Quality and Transparency Legislation Act - To protect residents and support for the Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act. Discussion of provisions (civil monetary penalties and Special Focus Facilities) in nursing home transparency, accountability, and quality bill. Special Focus Facilities and disclosure of these facilities; criminal background checks for LTC employees; nursing home quality; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving, nursing home compliance guidelines, Real Choice Systems Change Grants and family caregiver assessments, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid), Aging and Disability Resource Centers (AoA), health care and the uninsured - steps HHS is taking to address this, Medicare Medical Adult Day Care Demonstration. HR 5702 Advance Directive Promotion Act of 2008 - Negotiated provisions on portability of advance directives. HR 2642 - Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid Regulation Moratoriam in Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2008, and on supplemental appropriations bill. To build support for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no Bill). S 2838/HR 6126 - Input on draft legislation to make arbitration clauses between LTC facilities and their residents or representatives unenforceable; support for this legislation once it was introduced as the Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act, including support letter. Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers. Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives. S 1577/HR 3078 - Support for Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act (S 1577) and moving the issue forward; provided feedback and in testimony. S 2921 Caring for Wounded Warriors Act of 2008 - Services and supports for family caregivers of certain veterans. Feedback on draft legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries; approaches to improving chronic care for Medicare beneficiaries; discussion of chronic care and Special Needs Plans. S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Seniors Act of 2007- Support for Medicare premium protection and modifications to Medicare Savings Programs/Part D Low-Income Subsidy. S 1758 - Long-term care financing proposals, including the CLASS Act, a public LTC financing program. S. 3164 - Lobbied on Medicare Fraud bill (Martinez and Cornyn) - All provisions related to protecting participants and the Medicare program from fraud and abuse. S. 3118 - Lobbied in opposition to Grassley-McConnell bill - All provisions related to beneficiary access and Medicare improvements, including e-prescribing. S 3101- Urged support of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 to help improve Medicare. Long Term Care/Reverse Mortgages - To protect consumers when reverse mortgages are used as a LTC financing tool. Green Houses and culture change in LTC facilities. HR 2642 - To keep moratorium on all seven Medicaid regulations in the supplemental appropriations bill. Lobbied on appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans. S 1102 - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. S 3101/HR 6331 - (Medicare) Lobbied for legislation to protect part B premiums, increase LIS and MSP asset limits, and promote e-prescribing in Medicare. HR 2642 - (Medicaid) Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid regulation moratorium in Iraq Supplemental.
S 2337/HR 3363 - Discussion of and support for Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act that would make private long-term care insurance available through employer-sponsored flexible spending accounts and cafeteria plans and update and add consumer protections. S 1070/HR 1783 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation, strategy for how they might both move forward this year, bill markup, background for score on S.1577. S 2708 Caring for an Aging America Act of 2008 - Provisions related to increasing the number of professionals trained in geriatrics or gerontology, etc., providing input on legislation and encouraging offices to cosponsor the bill. Discussed draft legislation to make changes to Medicaid HCBS, including the Medicaid state plan option, spousal impoverishment, Medicaid Transformation Grants, etc. S 3230 Empowered at Home Act - Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid. HR 7110/S 3604 Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act - Lobbied for FMAP funding. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. HR 6331 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act - Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries, and promote e-prescriptions in medicare. S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641 Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act - Lobbied in support of the bill and to increase co-sponsors; criminal background checks for LTC employees; nursing home quality and proposed five star rating system cms; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving initiative, nursing home compliance guidelines, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid data reporting requirements), status of Nursing Home Value Based Purchasing Demonstration, Prepare to Care for use in innovative employer caregiving programs satellite broadcast, LTC Quality Alliance. HR 2642 - Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid Regulation Moratoriam in Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2008, and on supplemental appropriations bill. To build support and obtain sponsors for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no Bill). S 2838/HR 6126 - Lobbied to support the Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act and oppose amendments to weaken the bill. Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers (no bill). Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives (no bill). S 1577- Support for Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act (S 1577) and marking up the bill; provided feedback and in testimony. HR 7114/S3613 Independence at Home Act/Chronic Care Coordination - Feedback on and support for legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries. S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Seniors Act of 2007- Support for Medicare premium protection and modifications to Medicare Savings Programs/Part D Low-Income Subsidy. S. 3118 Preserving Access to Medicare Act - Lobbied in opposition to Grassley-McConnell bill - All provisions related to beneficiary access and Medicare improvements, including e-prescribing. S 3101- Urged support of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 to help improve Medicare. Green Houses and culture change in LTC facilities, person centered care and medical homes - testimony and input on draft bill - no bill number. Lobbied for appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans (no bill). S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Services - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 Prescription Coverage Now Act - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. HR 5702 End-of-Life Care Advance Directive Promotion Act - Discussed ideas for end-of-life care legislation and how to help ensure patient wishes are respected; Advance Directive Promotion Act. Provided feedback on draft legislation regarding physician orders for life sustaining treatment. S.334 - Discussed long-term care broadly and including it in health care reform, including the Healthy Americans Act. Discussed voting in LTC facilities, such as nursing homes, current status and law on the issue (no bill). S 3327 - Provided input and support for the Empowered at Home Act to make improvements in Medicaid HCBS; LTC insurance tax incentives and consumer protection improvements and a caregiver tax credit. Invitations and information about a solutions forum on balancing of state LTC systems. HR 3363/S 2337 - Discussed consumer protections for LTC insurance, premium increases and claims denials, support for family caregivers including assessment, consumer complaints and support for the LTC Affordability and Security Act. HR 6033 - Discussed provisions of Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act. H.Con.Res 133 - Provided input on and support for new LTC Awareness Week resolution. LTC - General discussion of LTC, home and community based services, family caregiving, chronic care, workforce, quality and financing options.(no bill) CMS - Lobbied on the Medicare Medical Home Demo implementation.
HR 5140 Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008 - Lobbied in favor of including senior rebate in the economic stimulus bill. HR 2167/ S 1141 Automatic IRA of 2007- Provisions related to establishing an auto IRA for workers not covered by pension plan. HR 5719 Taxpayer Assistance and Simplification Act of 2008 - Discussed various provisions that could be included in a bill drafted to make the administration of the tax code more effective and efficient. A general discussion of the political, economic and social conditions that would create the conditions necessary to reform the tax code and possible changes that would simplify the tax code and make it more equitable (no Bill). Meeting with House Small Business Committee to discuss the agenda for the Committee hearing scheduled for April 10, 2008 on small business taxes and impact on retirement security (no Bill). HR 1540 Civil Rights Tax Relief Act of 2007- Provisions related to excluding from gross income amounts received as damages due to discriminatory conduct. HR 6237 Tax Relief for Long-Term Care Act of 2008 - All provisions regarding tax relief for family caregivers and purchasers of LTC insurance, the Tax Relief Act of 2008.
HR 5140 Tax Relief, urging vote for Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008. HR 2167/ S 1141 Automatic IRA of 2007- Provisions related to establishing an auto IRA for workers not covered by pension plan. HR 5719 Taxpayer Assistance and Simplification Act of 2008 - Discussed various provisions that could be included in a bill drafted to make the administration of the tax code more effective and efficient. Discussed political, economic and social conditions that would create the conditions necessary to reform the tax code and possible changes that would simplify the tax code and make it more equitable (no Bill). HR 1540 Civil Rights Tax Relief Act of 2007- Provisions related to excluding from gross income amounts received as damages due to discriminatory conduct. HR 6237 Tax Relief for Long-Term Care Act of 2008 - All provisions regarding tax relief for family caregivers and purchasers of LTC insurance, the Tax Relief Act of 2008. S 3032/S 3532 Give Act HR 6283 Reimbursing Our American Drivers (ROAD) Act of 2008 - Lobbied in favor of allowing non-profit organizations to reimburse volunteers (without income tax consequences for mileage driven for charitable purposes up to the business mileage rate, and increasing the mileage deduction allowed for charitable purposes. S 3260 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations, FY 2009 - Lobbied for increased funding for IRS taxpayer assistance programs (Tax Counseling for the Elderly and VITA).
HR 3548 Plain Language in Government Communications Act - Provisions related to detering predatory lending practices and helping to protect older homeowners from foreclosure. HR 5818 Neighborhood Stablization Act - Lobbied to help prevent older homeowners from losing their homes to foreclosure. . S 2636 Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 - All provisions in Title IV related to allowing bankruptcy judges to restructure subprime mortgage debt for primary residences; lobbied the bill to help prevent older homeowners from losing their homes to foreclosure HR 3609 Emergency Home Ownership and Mortgage Equity Protection Act of 2007- Provisions related to allowing judges to modify the terms of mortages in bankruptcy to reduce foreclosures. S. 2684 Section 8 Voucher Reform Act of 2008 - Provisions related to stabilizing the funding formula for Section 8 Vouchers to provide more affordable housing options for our members and their families. HR 5758/S. 2490 Reverse Mortgage Proceeds Protection Act - Supported passage of this bill and House companion bill to better prevent reverse mortgage borrowers from fraud and abuse. HR 1852/S 2338 Expanding American Homeownership - Lobbied to expand the FHA-insured reverse mortgage program while limiting origination fees charged by lenders. HR 3221 Housing and Economic Recovery Act - discussed the implementation of the bill. HR 6076 Home Retention and Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 - Lobbied for a foreclosure deferral to help members workout loans in default or refinance into new loans. S 3261 Transportation and HUD Appropriations - Lobbied for affordable housing assistance spending including section 202-housing for the elderly program. HR 6033 Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act of 2008 - Lobbied to expand the bill to cover more types of housing and to ensure the competitive nature of the grants program, as well as other changes to the bill. S 2490 Reverse Mortgage Proceeds Protections Act - Lobbied to increase protections for Home Equity Conversion Mortgage loan recipients. HR 3997/HR 1424 - Emergency Economic Stabilization Act - Lobbied to include provisions to assist troubled homeowners, including the ability for bankruptcy judges to modify primary mortgage debt.
HR 3001/ S 1340 - Shared and discusssed actuarial analysis of the CLASS Act regarding creation of a public insurance program for long-term services. S 2337/HR 3363 - Discussion of and support for Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act that would make private long-term care insurance available through employer-sponsored flexible spending accounts and cafeteria plans and update and add consumer protections. S 1070 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation and strategy for how they might both move forward this year. S 1340 Geriatric Assessment and Chronic Care Coordination Act of 2007- Discussed a demonstration version of this Medicare chronic care coordination and geriatric assessment bill. S 2708 Caring for an Aging America Act of 2008 - Provisions related to increasing the number of professionals trained in geriatrics or gerontology, etc., providing input on legislation and encouraging offices to cosponsor the bill. Discussed draft legislation to make changes to Medicaid HCBS, including the Medicaid state plan option, spousal impoverishment, Medicaid Transformation Grants, etc. HR 1174 Healthy Hospitals Act of 2007- Discussed with sponsors' staff potential endorsement of this legislation to require hospitals to report infection rates. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicaid Personal Assistance Services State Plan option- discussion of comment letter sending and receipt. Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries. S 2480/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641/ HR 5799 Nursing Home Quality and Transparency Legislation Act - To protect residents and support for the Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act. Discussion of provisions (civil monetary penalties and Special Focus Facilities) in nursing home transparency, accountability, and quality bill. Special Focus Facilities and disclosure of these facilities; criminal background checks for LTC employees; nursing home quality; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving, nursing home compliance guidelines, Real Choice Systems Change Grants and family caregiver assessments, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid), Aging and Disability Resource Centers (AoA), health care and the uninsured - steps HHS is taking to address this, Medicare Medical Adult Day Care Demonstration. HR 5702 Advance Directive Promotion Act of 2008 - Negotiated provisions on portability of advance directives. HR 2642 - Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid Regulation Moratoriam in Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2008, and on supplemental appropriations bill. To build support for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no Bill). S 2838/HR 6126 - Input on draft legislation to make arbitration clauses between LTC facilities and their residents or representatives unenforceable; support for this legislation once it was introduced as the Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act, including support letter. Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers. Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives. S 1577/HR 3078 - Support for Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act (S 1577) and moving the issue forward; provided feedback and in testimony. S 2921 Caring for Wounded Warriors Act of 2008 - Services and supports for family caregivers of certain veterans. Feedback on draft legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries; approaches to improving chronic care for Medicare beneficiaries; discussion of chronic care and Special Needs Plans. S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Seniors Act of 2007- Support for Medicare premium protection and modifications to Medicare Savings Programs/Part D Low-Income Subsidy. S 1758 - Long-term care financing proposals, including the CLASS Act, a public LTC financing program. S. 3164 - Lobbied on Medicare Fraud bill (Martinez and Cornyn) - All provisions related to protecting participants and the Medicare program from fraud and abuse. S. 3118 - Lobbied in opposition to Grassley-McConnell bill - All provisions related to beneficiary access and Medicare improvements, including e-prescribing. S 3101- Urged support of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 to help improve Medicare. Long Term Care/Reverse Mortgages - To protect consumers when reverse mortgages are used as a LTC financing tool. Green Houses and culture change in LTC facilities. HR 2642 - To keep moratorium on all seven Medicaid regulations in the supplemental appropriations bill. Lobbied on appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans. S 1102 - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. S 3101/HR 6331 - (Medicare) Lobbied for legislation to protect part B premiums, increase LIS and MSP asset limits, and promote e-prescribing in Medicare. HR 2642 - (Medicaid) Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid regulation moratorium in Iraq Supplemental.
HR 3548 Plain Language in Government Communications Act - Provisions related to detering predatory lending practices and helping to protect older homeowners from foreclosure. HR 5818 Neighborhood Stablization Act - Lobbied to help prevent older homeowners from losing their homes to foreclosure. . S 2636 Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 - All provisions in Title IV related to allowing bankruptcy judges to restructure subprime mortgage debt for primary residences; lobbied the bill to help prevent older homeowners from losing their homes to foreclosure HR 3609 Emergency Home Ownership and Mortgage Equity Protection Act of 2007- Provisions related to allowing judges to modify the terms of mortages in bankruptcy to reduce foreclosures. S. 2684 Section 8 Voucher Reform Act of 2008 - Provisions related to stabilizing the funding formula for Section 8 Vouchers to provide more affordable housing options for our members and their families. HR 5758/S. 2490 Reverse Mortgage Proceeds Protection Act - Supported passage of this bill and House companion bill to better prevent reverse mortgage borrowers from fraud and abuse. HR 1852/S 2338 Expanding American Homeownership - Lobbied to expand the FHA-insured reverse mortgage program while limiting origination fees charged by lenders. HR 3221 Housing and Economic Recovery Act - discussed the implementation of the bill. HR 6076 Home Retention and Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 - Lobbied for a foreclosure deferral to help members workout loans in default or refinance into new loans. S 3261 Transportation and HUD Appropriations - Lobbied for affordable housing assistance spending including section 202-housing for the elderly program. HR 6033 Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act of 2008 - Lobbied to expand the bill to cover more types of housing and to ensure the competitive nature of the grants program, as well as other changes to the bill. S 2490 Reverse Mortgage Proceeds Protections Act - Lobbied to increase protections for Home Equity Conversion Mortgage loan recipients. HR 3997/HR 1424 - Emergency Economic Stabilization Act - Lobbied to include provisions to assist troubled homeowners, including the ability for bankruptcy judges to modify primary mortgage debt.
S 2795/HR 5918 Small Business Health Options Program Act of 2008 - Discussed concerns on small business health insurance coverage. Discussed proposal for health insurance reinsurance. S 334 Healthy Americans Act - Discussed Senator Wyden's health care reform bill. Stakeholder meeting on health care quality. HR 3701/S 845 Keeping Seniors Safe from Falls Act of 2007- Lobbied for all provisions to direct the Secretary of HHS to conduct public and professional education, research, and demonstration grants to prevent falls among the elderly. SCR 70 - Lobbied in favor of Medicare premium protection language in the budget and for reserve funds for health. Divided We Fail, an initiative to give voice to millions of Americans who are tired of letting Washington gridlock stand in the way of affordable, quality health care and long-term financial security - the most pressing domestic issues facing our nation. Lobbied for spending levels for Rx comparative effectiveness, nursing education, NIH research, Falls Prevention and other similar accounts. Discussed the need for bipartisan action on health care reform legislation, and how AARP could be helpful in vetting such proposals with its members. Expressed concern about proposed regulation regarding reduction of annual reassignment of LIS population in Medicare Part D. HR 3800/S 1693 - Wired for Health Act/Promotion of Health Information Technology Act - Strongly promoted enactment of this legislation to promote adoption of health information technology. S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported this legislation to require e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. Lobbied for legislation to promote Health IT. Lobbied on structure of Health IT standard-setting body.
S 2686/HR 5951- Complete Streets Act of 2008 - Lobbied for all provisions related to ensuring that future transportation investments made by state Departments of Transportation and Metropolitan Planning Organizations create appropriate and safe transportation facilities for all those using the road-motorists, transit vehicles and riders, bicyclists, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities. S 3261 Transportation/HUD Appropriations FY 2009 - Lobbied against transfer of public transportation funding to highway projects.
Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act of 2008
HR 3548 Plain Language in Government Communications Act - Provisions related to detering predatory lending practices and helping to protect older homeowners from foreclosure. HR 5818 Neighborhood Stablization Act - Lobbied to help prevent older homeowners from losing their homes to foreclosure. . S 2636 Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 - All provisions in Title IV related to allowing bankruptcy judges to restructure subprime mortgage debt for primary residences; lobbied the bill to help prevent older homeowners from losing their homes to foreclosure HR 3609 Emergency Home Ownership and Mortgage Equity Protection Act of 2007- Provisions related to allowing judges to modify the terms of mortages in bankruptcy to reduce foreclosures. S. 2684 Section 8 Voucher Reform Act of 2008 - Provisions related to stabilizing the funding formula for Section 8 Vouchers to provide more affordable housing options for our members and their families. HR 5758/S. 2490 Reverse Mortgage Proceeds Protection Act - Supported passage of this bill and House companion bill to better prevent reverse mortgage borrowers from fraud and abuse. HR 1852/S 2338 Expanding American Homeownership - Lobbied to expand the FHA-insured reverse mortgage program while limiting origination fees charged by lenders. HR 3221 Housing and Economic Recovery Act - discussed the implementation of the bill. HR 6076 Home Retention and Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 - Lobbied for a foreclosure deferral to help members workout loans in default or refinance into new loans. S 3261 Transportation and HUD Appropriations - Lobbied for affordable housing assistance spending including section 202-housing for the elderly program. HR 6033 Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act of 2008 - Lobbied to expand the bill to cover more types of housing and to ensure the competitive nature of the grants program, as well as other changes to the bill. S 2490 Reverse Mortgage Proceeds Protections Act - Lobbied to increase protections for Home Equity Conversion Mortgage loan recipients. HR 3997/HR 1424 - Emergency Economic Stabilization Act - Lobbied to include provisions to assist troubled homeowners, including the ability for bankruptcy judges to modify primary mortgage debt.
Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act of 2008
S 2337/HR 3363 - Discussion of and support for Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act that would make private long-term care insurance available through employer-sponsored flexible spending accounts and cafeteria plans and update and add consumer protections. S 1070/HR 1783 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation, strategy for how they might both move forward this year, bill markup, background for score on S.1577. S 2708 Caring for an Aging America Act of 2008 - Provisions related to increasing the number of professionals trained in geriatrics or gerontology, etc., providing input on legislation and encouraging offices to cosponsor the bill. Discussed draft legislation to make changes to Medicaid HCBS, including the Medicaid state plan option, spousal impoverishment, Medicaid Transformation Grants, etc. S 3230 Empowered at Home Act - Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid. HR 7110/S 3604 Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act - Lobbied for FMAP funding. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. HR 6331 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act - Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries, and promote e-prescriptions in medicare. S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641 Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act - Lobbied in support of the bill and to increase co-sponsors; criminal background checks for LTC employees; nursing home quality and proposed five star rating system cms; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving initiative, nursing home compliance guidelines, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid data reporting requirements), status of Nursing Home Value Based Purchasing Demonstration, Prepare to Care for use in innovative employer caregiving programs satellite broadcast, LTC Quality Alliance. HR 2642 - Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid Regulation Moratoriam in Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2008, and on supplemental appropriations bill. To build support and obtain sponsors for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no Bill). S 2838/HR 6126 - Lobbied to support the Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act and oppose amendments to weaken the bill. Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers (no bill). Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives (no bill). S 1577- Support for Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act (S 1577) and marking up the bill; provided feedback and in testimony. HR 7114/S3613 Independence at Home Act/Chronic Care Coordination - Feedback on and support for legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries. S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Seniors Act of 2007- Support for Medicare premium protection and modifications to Medicare Savings Programs/Part D Low-Income Subsidy. S. 3118 Preserving Access to Medicare Act - Lobbied in opposition to Grassley-McConnell bill - All provisions related to beneficiary access and Medicare improvements, including e-prescribing. S 3101- Urged support of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 to help improve Medicare. Green Houses and culture change in LTC facilities, person centered care and medical homes - testimony and input on draft bill - no bill number. Lobbied for appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans (no bill). S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Services - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 Prescription Coverage Now Act - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. HR 5702 End-of-Life Care Advance Directive Promotion Act - Discussed ideas for end-of-life care legislation and how to help ensure patient wishes are respected; Advance Directive Promotion Act. Provided feedback on draft legislation regarding physician orders for life sustaining treatment. S.334 - Discussed long-term care broadly and including it in health care reform, including the Healthy Americans Act. Discussed voting in LTC facilities, such as nursing homes, current status and law on the issue (no bill). S 3327 - Provided input and support for the Empowered at Home Act to make improvements in Medicaid HCBS; LTC insurance tax incentives and consumer protection improvements and a caregiver tax credit. Invitations and information about a solutions forum on balancing of state LTC systems. HR 3363/S 2337 - Discussed consumer protections for LTC insurance, premium increases and claims denials, support for family caregivers including assessment, consumer complaints and support for the LTC Affordability and Security Act. HR 6033 - Discussed provisions of Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act. H.Con.Res 133 - Provided input on and support for new LTC Awareness Week resolution. LTC - General discussion of LTC, home and community based services, family caregiving, chronic care, workforce, quality and financing options.(no bill) CMS - Lobbied on the Medicare Medical Home Demo implementation.
Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act of 2008
S 2337/HR 3363 Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act - Discussed consumer protections for LTC insurance. S 1070/HR 1783 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation, strategy for how they might both move forward next year. S 3327/HR 7212 - Empowered at Home Act - Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid and other improvements to bill. Also lobbied in support of the bill. HR 7110/S 3604 Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act - Lobbied for FMAP funding. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries, and promote e-prescriptions in medicare (no bill number). S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641 Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act and HR 7128 Nursing Home Transparency and Quality of Care Improvement Act - Discussed the bill and provided suggestions for changes to the bill, nursing home quality and proposed five star rating system cms; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving initiative, nursing home compliance guidelines, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid data reporting requirements), LTC Quality Alliance. To build support and obtain sponsors for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no bill number). Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers (no bill number). Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives (no bill number). HR 7114/S3613 Independence at Home Act/Chronic Care Coordination - Lobbied on and support for legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries. S 3101/HR 6331 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 - Discussed implementation to help improve Medicare. Lobbied for appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans (no bill number). S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Services - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 Prescription Coverage Now Act - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. HR 6033 - Discussed provisions of Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act and ways to improve bill.
HR 3548 Plain Language in Government Communications Act - Provisions related to detering predatory lending practices and helping to protect older homeowners from foreclosure. HR 5818 Neighborhood Stablization Act - Lobbied to help prevent older homeowners from losing their homes to foreclosure. . S 2636 Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 - All provisions in Title IV related to allowing bankruptcy judges to restructure subprime mortgage debt for primary residences; lobbied the bill to help prevent older homeowners from losing their homes to foreclosure HR 3609 Emergency Home Ownership and Mortgage Equity Protection Act of 2007- Provisions related to allowing judges to modify the terms of mortages in bankruptcy to reduce foreclosures. S. 2684 Section 8 Voucher Reform Act of 2008 - Provisions related to stabilizing the funding formula for Section 8 Vouchers to provide more affordable housing options for our members and their families. HR 5758/S. 2490 Reverse Mortgage Proceeds Protection Act - Supported passage of this bill and House companion bill to better prevent reverse mortgage borrowers from fraud and abuse. HR 1852/S 2338 Expanding American Homeownership - Lobbied to expand the FHA-insured reverse mortgage program while limiting origination fees charged by lenders. HR 3221 Housing and Economic Recovery Act - discussed the implementation of the bill. HR 6076 Home Retention and Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 - Lobbied for a foreclosure deferral to help members workout loans in default or refinance into new loans. S 3261 Transportation and HUD Appropriations - Lobbied for affordable housing assistance spending including section 202-housing for the elderly program. HR 6033 Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act of 2008 - Lobbied to expand the bill to cover more types of housing and to ensure the competitive nature of the grants program, as well as other changes to the bill. S 2490 Reverse Mortgage Proceeds Protections Act - Lobbied to increase protections for Home Equity Conversion Mortgage loan recipients. HR 3997/HR 1424 - Emergency Economic Stabilization Act - Lobbied to include provisions to assist troubled homeowners, including the ability for bankruptcy judges to modify primary mortgage debt.
HR 3001/ S 1340 - Shared and discusssed actuarial analysis of the CLASS Act regarding creation of a public insurance program for long-term services. S 2337/HR 3363 - Discussion of and support for Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act that would make private long-term care insurance available through employer-sponsored flexible spending accounts and cafeteria plans and update and add consumer protections. S 1070 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation and strategy for how they might both move forward this year. S 1340 Geriatric Assessment and Chronic Care Coordination Act of 2007- Discussed a demonstration version of this Medicare chronic care coordination and geriatric assessment bill. S 2708 Caring for an Aging America Act of 2008 - Provisions related to increasing the number of professionals trained in geriatrics or gerontology, etc., providing input on legislation and encouraging offices to cosponsor the bill. Discussed draft legislation to make changes to Medicaid HCBS, including the Medicaid state plan option, spousal impoverishment, Medicaid Transformation Grants, etc. HR 1174 Healthy Hospitals Act of 2007- Discussed with sponsors' staff potential endorsement of this legislation to require hospitals to report infection rates. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicaid Personal Assistance Services State Plan option- discussion of comment letter sending and receipt. Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries. S 2480/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641/ HR 5799 Nursing Home Quality and Transparency Legislation Act - To protect residents and support for the Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act. Discussion of provisions (civil monetary penalties and Special Focus Facilities) in nursing home transparency, accountability, and quality bill. Special Focus Facilities and disclosure of these facilities; criminal background checks for LTC employees; nursing home quality; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving, nursing home compliance guidelines, Real Choice Systems Change Grants and family caregiver assessments, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid), Aging and Disability Resource Centers (AoA), health care and the uninsured - steps HHS is taking to address this, Medicare Medical Adult Day Care Demonstration. HR 5702 Advance Directive Promotion Act of 2008 - Negotiated provisions on portability of advance directives. HR 2642 - Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid Regulation Moratoriam in Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2008, and on supplemental appropriations bill. To build support for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no Bill). S 2838/HR 6126 - Input on draft legislation to make arbitration clauses between LTC facilities and their residents or representatives unenforceable; support for this legislation once it was introduced as the Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act, including support letter. Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers. Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives. S 1577/HR 3078 - Support for Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act (S 1577) and moving the issue forward; provided feedback and in testimony. S 2921 Caring for Wounded Warriors Act of 2008 - Services and supports for family caregivers of certain veterans. Feedback on draft legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries; approaches to improving chronic care for Medicare beneficiaries; discussion of chronic care and Special Needs Plans. S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Seniors Act of 2007- Support for Medicare premium protection and modifications to Medicare Savings Programs/Part D Low-Income Subsidy. S 1758 - Long-term care financing proposals, including the CLASS Act, a public LTC financing program. S. 3164 - Lobbied on Medicare Fraud bill (Martinez and Cornyn) - All provisions related to protecting participants and the Medicare program from fraud and abuse. S. 3118 - Lobbied in opposition to Grassley-McConnell bill - All provisions related to beneficiary access and Medicare improvements, including e-prescribing. S 3101- Urged support of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 to help improve Medicare. Long Term Care/Reverse Mortgages - To protect consumers when reverse mortgages are used as a LTC financing tool. Green Houses and culture change in LTC facilities. HR 2642 - To keep moratorium on all seven Medicaid regulations in the supplemental appropriations bill. Lobbied on appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans. S 1102 - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. S 3101/HR 6331 - (Medicare) Lobbied for legislation to protect part B premiums, increase LIS and MSP asset limits, and promote e-prescribing in Medicare. HR 2642 - (Medicaid) Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid regulation moratorium in Iraq Supplemental.
S 2337/HR 3363 - Discussion of and support for Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act that would make private long-term care insurance available through employer-sponsored flexible spending accounts and cafeteria plans and update and add consumer protections. S 1070/HR 1783 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation, strategy for how they might both move forward this year, bill markup, background for score on S.1577. S 2708 Caring for an Aging America Act of 2008 - Provisions related to increasing the number of professionals trained in geriatrics or gerontology, etc., providing input on legislation and encouraging offices to cosponsor the bill. Discussed draft legislation to make changes to Medicaid HCBS, including the Medicaid state plan option, spousal impoverishment, Medicaid Transformation Grants, etc. S 3230 Empowered at Home Act - Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid. HR 7110/S 3604 Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act - Lobbied for FMAP funding. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. HR 6331 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act - Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries, and promote e-prescriptions in medicare. S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641 Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act - Lobbied in support of the bill and to increase co-sponsors; criminal background checks for LTC employees; nursing home quality and proposed five star rating system cms; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving initiative, nursing home compliance guidelines, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid data reporting requirements), status of Nursing Home Value Based Purchasing Demonstration, Prepare to Care for use in innovative employer caregiving programs satellite broadcast, LTC Quality Alliance. HR 2642 - Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid Regulation Moratoriam in Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2008, and on supplemental appropriations bill. To build support and obtain sponsors for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no Bill). S 2838/HR 6126 - Lobbied to support the Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act and oppose amendments to weaken the bill. Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers (no bill). Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives (no bill). S 1577- Support for Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act (S 1577) and marking up the bill; provided feedback and in testimony. HR 7114/S3613 Independence at Home Act/Chronic Care Coordination - Feedback on and support for legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries. S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Seniors Act of 2007- Support for Medicare premium protection and modifications to Medicare Savings Programs/Part D Low-Income Subsidy. S. 3118 Preserving Access to Medicare Act - Lobbied in opposition to Grassley-McConnell bill - All provisions related to beneficiary access and Medicare improvements, including e-prescribing. S 3101- Urged support of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 to help improve Medicare. Green Houses and culture change in LTC facilities, person centered care and medical homes - testimony and input on draft bill - no bill number. Lobbied for appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans (no bill). S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Services - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 Prescription Coverage Now Act - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. HR 5702 End-of-Life Care Advance Directive Promotion Act - Discussed ideas for end-of-life care legislation and how to help ensure patient wishes are respected; Advance Directive Promotion Act. Provided feedback on draft legislation regarding physician orders for life sustaining treatment. S.334 - Discussed long-term care broadly and including it in health care reform, including the Healthy Americans Act. Discussed voting in LTC facilities, such as nursing homes, current status and law on the issue (no bill). S 3327 - Provided input and support for the Empowered at Home Act to make improvements in Medicaid HCBS; LTC insurance tax incentives and consumer protection improvements and a caregiver tax credit. Invitations and information about a solutions forum on balancing of state LTC systems. HR 3363/S 2337 - Discussed consumer protections for LTC insurance, premium increases and claims denials, support for family caregivers including assessment, consumer complaints and support for the LTC Affordability and Security Act. HR 6033 - Discussed provisions of Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act. H.Con.Res 133 - Provided input on and support for new LTC Awareness Week resolution. LTC - General discussion of LTC, home and community based services, family caregiving, chronic care, workforce, quality and financing options.(no bill) CMS - Lobbied on the Medicare Medical Home Demo implementation.
HR 5140 Tax Relief, urging vote for Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008. HR 2167/ S 1141 Automatic IRA of 2007- Provisions related to establishing an auto IRA for workers not covered by pension plan. HR 5719 Taxpayer Assistance and Simplification Act of 2008 - Discussed various provisions that could be included in a bill drafted to make the administration of the tax code more effective and efficient. Discussed political, economic and social conditions that would create the conditions necessary to reform the tax code and possible changes that would simplify the tax code and make it more equitable (no Bill). HR 1540 Civil Rights Tax Relief Act of 2007- Provisions related to excluding from gross income amounts received as damages due to discriminatory conduct. HR 6237 Tax Relief for Long-Term Care Act of 2008 - All provisions regarding tax relief for family caregivers and purchasers of LTC insurance, the Tax Relief Act of 2008. S 3032/S 3532 Give Act HR 6283 Reimbursing Our American Drivers (ROAD) Act of 2008 - Lobbied in favor of allowing non-profit organizations to reimburse volunteers (without income tax consequences for mileage driven for charitable purposes up to the business mileage rate, and increasing the mileage deduction allowed for charitable purposes. S 3260 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations, FY 2009 - Lobbied for increased funding for IRS taxpayer assistance programs (Tax Counseling for the Elderly and VITA).
HR 5140 Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008 - Lobbied in favor of including senior rebate in the economic stimulus bill. HR 2167/ S 1141 Automatic IRA of 2007- Provisions related to establishing an auto IRA for workers not covered by pension plan. HR 5719 Taxpayer Assistance and Simplification Act of 2008 - Discussed various provisions that could be included in a bill drafted to make the administration of the tax code more effective and efficient. A general discussion of the political, economic and social conditions that would create the conditions necessary to reform the tax code and possible changes that would simplify the tax code and make it more equitable (no Bill). Meeting with House Small Business Committee to discuss the agenda for the Committee hearing scheduled for April 10, 2008 on small business taxes and impact on retirement security (no Bill). HR 1540 Civil Rights Tax Relief Act of 2007- Provisions related to excluding from gross income amounts received as damages due to discriminatory conduct. HR 6237 Tax Relief for Long-Term Care Act of 2008 - All provisions regarding tax relief for family caregivers and purchasers of LTC insurance, the Tax Relief Act of 2008.
HR 5140 Tax Relief, urging vote for Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008. HR 2167/ S 1141 Automatic IRA of 2007- Provisions related to establishing an auto IRA for workers not covered by pension plan. HR 5719 Taxpayer Assistance and Simplification Act of 2008 - Discussed various provisions that could be included in a bill drafted to make the administration of the tax code more effective and efficient. Discussed political, economic and social conditions that would create the conditions necessary to reform the tax code and possible changes that would simplify the tax code and make it more equitable (no Bill). HR 1540 Civil Rights Tax Relief Act of 2007- Provisions related to excluding from gross income amounts received as damages due to discriminatory conduct. HR 6237 Tax Relief for Long-Term Care Act of 2008 - All provisions regarding tax relief for family caregivers and purchasers of LTC insurance, the Tax Relief Act of 2008. S 3032/S 3532 Give Act HR 6283 Reimbursing Our American Drivers (ROAD) Act of 2008 - Lobbied in favor of allowing non-profit organizations to reimburse volunteers (without income tax consequences for mileage driven for charitable purposes up to the business mileage rate, and increasing the mileage deduction allowed for charitable purposes. S 3260 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations, FY 2009 - Lobbied for increased funding for IRS taxpayer assistance programs (Tax Counseling for the Elderly and VITA).
S 2337/HR 3363 Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act - Discussed consumer protections for LTC insurance. S 1070/HR 1783 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation, strategy for how they might both move forward next year. S 3327/HR 7212 - Empowered at Home Act - Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid and other improvements to bill. Also lobbied in support of the bill. HR 7110/S 3604 Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act - Lobbied for FMAP funding. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries, and promote e-prescriptions in medicare (no bill number). S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641 Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act and HR 7128 Nursing Home Transparency and Quality of Care Improvement Act - Discussed the bill and provided suggestions for changes to the bill, nursing home quality and proposed five star rating system cms; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving initiative, nursing home compliance guidelines, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid data reporting requirements), LTC Quality Alliance. To build support and obtain sponsors for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no bill number). Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers (no bill number). Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives (no bill number). HR 7114/S3613 Independence at Home Act/Chronic Care Coordination - Lobbied on and support for legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries. S 3101/HR 6331 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 - Discussed implementation to help improve Medicare. Lobbied for appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans (no bill number). S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Services - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 Prescription Coverage Now Act - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. HR 6033 - Discussed provisions of Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act and ways to improve bill.
HR 3001/ S 1340 - Shared and discusssed actuarial analysis of the CLASS Act regarding creation of a public insurance program for long-term services. S 2337/HR 3363 - Discussion of and support for Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act that would make private long-term care insurance available through employer-sponsored flexible spending accounts and cafeteria plans and update and add consumer protections. S 1070 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation and strategy for how they might both move forward this year. S 1340 Geriatric Assessment and Chronic Care Coordination Act of 2007- Discussed a demonstration version of this Medicare chronic care coordination and geriatric assessment bill. S 2708 Caring for an Aging America Act of 2008 - Provisions related to increasing the number of professionals trained in geriatrics or gerontology, etc., providing input on legislation and encouraging offices to cosponsor the bill. Discussed draft legislation to make changes to Medicaid HCBS, including the Medicaid state plan option, spousal impoverishment, Medicaid Transformation Grants, etc. HR 1174 Healthy Hospitals Act of 2007- Discussed with sponsors' staff potential endorsement of this legislation to require hospitals to report infection rates. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicaid Personal Assistance Services State Plan option- discussion of comment letter sending and receipt. Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries. S 2480/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641/ HR 5799 Nursing Home Quality and Transparency Legislation Act - To protect residents and support for the Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act. Discussion of provisions (civil monetary penalties and Special Focus Facilities) in nursing home transparency, accountability, and quality bill. Special Focus Facilities and disclosure of these facilities; criminal background checks for LTC employees; nursing home quality; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving, nursing home compliance guidelines, Real Choice Systems Change Grants and family caregiver assessments, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid), Aging and Disability Resource Centers (AoA), health care and the uninsured - steps HHS is taking to address this, Medicare Medical Adult Day Care Demonstration. HR 5702 Advance Directive Promotion Act of 2008 - Negotiated provisions on portability of advance directives. HR 2642 - Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid Regulation Moratoriam in Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2008, and on supplemental appropriations bill. To build support for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no Bill). S 2838/HR 6126 - Input on draft legislation to make arbitration clauses between LTC facilities and their residents or representatives unenforceable; support for this legislation once it was introduced as the Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act, including support letter. Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers. Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives. S 1577/HR 3078 - Support for Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act (S 1577) and moving the issue forward; provided feedback and in testimony. S 2921 Caring for Wounded Warriors Act of 2008 - Services and supports for family caregivers of certain veterans. Feedback on draft legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries; approaches to improving chronic care for Medicare beneficiaries; discussion of chronic care and Special Needs Plans. S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Seniors Act of 2007- Support for Medicare premium protection and modifications to Medicare Savings Programs/Part D Low-Income Subsidy. S 1758 - Long-term care financing proposals, including the CLASS Act, a public LTC financing program. S. 3164 - Lobbied on Medicare Fraud bill (Martinez and Cornyn) - All provisions related to protecting participants and the Medicare program from fraud and abuse. S. 3118 - Lobbied in opposition to Grassley-McConnell bill - All provisions related to beneficiary access and Medicare improvements, including e-prescribing. S 3101- Urged support of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 to help improve Medicare. Long Term Care/Reverse Mortgages - To protect consumers when reverse mortgages are used as a LTC financing tool. Green Houses and culture change in LTC facilities. HR 2642 - To keep moratorium on all seven Medicaid regulations in the supplemental appropriations bill. Lobbied on appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans. S 1102 - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. S 3101/HR 6331 - (Medicare) Lobbied for legislation to protect part B premiums, increase LIS and MSP asset limits, and promote e-prescribing in Medicare. HR 2642 - (Medicaid) Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid regulation moratorium in Iraq Supplemental.
S 2337/HR 3363 - Discussion of and support for Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act that would make private long-term care insurance available through employer-sponsored flexible spending accounts and cafeteria plans and update and add consumer protections. S 1070/HR 1783 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation, strategy for how they might both move forward this year, bill markup, background for score on S.1577. S 2708 Caring for an Aging America Act of 2008 - Provisions related to increasing the number of professionals trained in geriatrics or gerontology, etc., providing input on legislation and encouraging offices to cosponsor the bill. Discussed draft legislation to make changes to Medicaid HCBS, including the Medicaid state plan option, spousal impoverishment, Medicaid Transformation Grants, etc. S 3230 Empowered at Home Act - Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid. HR 7110/S 3604 Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act - Lobbied for FMAP funding. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. HR 6331 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act - Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries, and promote e-prescriptions in medicare. S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641 Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act - Lobbied in support of the bill and to increase co-sponsors; criminal background checks for LTC employees; nursing home quality and proposed five star rating system cms; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving initiative, nursing home compliance guidelines, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid data reporting requirements), status of Nursing Home Value Based Purchasing Demonstration, Prepare to Care for use in innovative employer caregiving programs satellite broadcast, LTC Quality Alliance. HR 2642 - Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid Regulation Moratoriam in Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2008, and on supplemental appropriations bill. To build support and obtain sponsors for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no Bill). S 2838/HR 6126 - Lobbied to support the Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act and oppose amendments to weaken the bill. Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers (no bill). Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives (no bill). S 1577- Support for Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act (S 1577) and marking up the bill; provided feedback and in testimony. HR 7114/S3613 Independence at Home Act/Chronic Care Coordination - Feedback on and support for legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries. S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Seniors Act of 2007- Support for Medicare premium protection and modifications to Medicare Savings Programs/Part D Low-Income Subsidy. S. 3118 Preserving Access to Medicare Act - Lobbied in opposition to Grassley-McConnell bill - All provisions related to beneficiary access and Medicare improvements, including e-prescribing. S 3101- Urged support of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 to help improve Medicare. Green Houses and culture change in LTC facilities, person centered care and medical homes - testimony and input on draft bill - no bill number. Lobbied for appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans (no bill). S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Services - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 Prescription Coverage Now Act - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. HR 5702 End-of-Life Care Advance Directive Promotion Act - Discussed ideas for end-of-life care legislation and how to help ensure patient wishes are respected; Advance Directive Promotion Act. Provided feedback on draft legislation regarding physician orders for life sustaining treatment. S.334 - Discussed long-term care broadly and including it in health care reform, including the Healthy Americans Act. Discussed voting in LTC facilities, such as nursing homes, current status and law on the issue (no bill). S 3327 - Provided input and support for the Empowered at Home Act to make improvements in Medicaid HCBS; LTC insurance tax incentives and consumer protection improvements and a caregiver tax credit. Invitations and information about a solutions forum on balancing of state LTC systems. HR 3363/S 2337 - Discussed consumer protections for LTC insurance, premium increases and claims denials, support for family caregivers including assessment, consumer complaints and support for the LTC Affordability and Security Act. HR 6033 - Discussed provisions of Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act. H.Con.Res 133 - Provided input on and support for new LTC Awareness Week resolution. LTC - General discussion of LTC, home and community based services, family caregiving, chronic care, workforce, quality and financing options.(no bill) CMS - Lobbied on the Medicare Medical Home Demo implementation.
S 3408 - Lobbying in favor of the Conrad-Baucus legislation to create an independent comparative effectiveness entity to conduct and desseminate independent comparative effectiveness research. SCR 70 - Lobbied in favor of Medicare premium protection language in the budget and for reserve funds for health. Lobbied for quality health care (no bill). Lobbied for spending levels for Rx comparative effectiveness, nursing education, NIH research, Falls Prevention and other similar accounts (no bill). Discussed the need for bipartisan action on health care reform legislation, and how AARP could be helpful in vetting such proposals with its members (no bill). Expressed concern about proposed regulation regarding reduction of annual reassignment of LIS population in Medicare Part D. HR 3800/S 1693 - Wired for Health Act/Promotion of Health Information Technology Act - Strongly promoted enactment of this legislation to promote adoption of health information technology. HR 6357 Pro(tech)t Act - Protecting Records, Optimizing Treatment, and Easing Communication through Healthcare Technology Act of 2008. Lobbied for the adoption of Health IT. S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported this legislation to require e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. Lobbied for legislation to promote Health IT (no bill). Lobbied on structure of Health IT standard-setting body (no bill). Health Care Reform - Inquiry on medical home or primary care home legislation. HR 6898 Health-e Information Technology Act - Lobbied to promote Health IT and on structure of Health IT standard-setting body.
S 3408 - Lobbying in favor of the Conrad-Baucus legislation to create an independent comparative effectiveness entity to conduct and desseminate independent comparative effectiveness research. SCR 70 - Lobbied in favor of Medicare premium protection language in the budget and for reserve funds for health. Lobbied for quality health care (no bill). Lobbied for spending levels for Rx comparative effectiveness, nursing education, NIH research, Falls Prevention and other similar accounts (no bill). Discussed the need for bipartisan action on health care reform legislation, and how AARP could be helpful in vetting such proposals with its members (no bill). Expressed concern about proposed regulation regarding reduction of annual reassignment of LIS population in Medicare Part D. HR 3800/S 1693 - Wired for Health Act/Promotion of Health Information Technology Act - Strongly promoted enactment of this legislation to promote adoption of health information technology. HR 6357 Pro(tech)t Act - Protecting Records, Optimizing Treatment, and Easing Communication through Healthcare Technology Act of 2008. Lobbied for the adoption of Health IT. S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported this legislation to require e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. Lobbied for legislation to promote Health IT (no bill). Lobbied on structure of Health IT standard-setting body (no bill). Health Care Reform - Inquiry on medical home or primary care home legislation. HR 6898 Health-e Information Technology Act - Lobbied to promote Health IT and on structure of Health IT standard-setting body.
S 2337/HR 3363 Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act - Discussed consumer protections for LTC insurance. S 1070/HR 1783 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation, strategy for how they might both move forward next year. S 3327/HR 7212 - Empowered at Home Act - Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid and other improvements to bill. Also lobbied in support of the bill. HR 7110/S 3604 Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act - Lobbied for FMAP funding. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries, and promote e-prescriptions in medicare (no bill number). S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641 Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act and HR 7128 Nursing Home Transparency and Quality of Care Improvement Act - Discussed the bill and provided suggestions for changes to the bill, nursing home quality and proposed five star rating system cms; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving initiative, nursing home compliance guidelines, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid data reporting requirements), LTC Quality Alliance. To build support and obtain sponsors for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no bill number). Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers (no bill number). Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives (no bill number). HR 7114/S3613 Independence at Home Act/Chronic Care Coordination - Lobbied on and support for legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries. S 3101/HR 6331 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 - Discussed implementation to help improve Medicare. Lobbied for appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans (no bill number). S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Services - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 Prescription Coverage Now Act - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. HR 6033 - Discussed provisions of Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act and ways to improve bill.
S 2337/HR 3363 - Discussion of and support for Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act that would make private long-term care insurance available through employer-sponsored flexible spending accounts and cafeteria plans and update and add consumer protections. S 1070/HR 1783 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation, strategy for how they might both move forward this year, bill markup, background for score on S.1577. S 2708 Caring for an Aging America Act of 2008 - Provisions related to increasing the number of professionals trained in geriatrics or gerontology, etc., providing input on legislation and encouraging offices to cosponsor the bill. Discussed draft legislation to make changes to Medicaid HCBS, including the Medicaid state plan option, spousal impoverishment, Medicaid Transformation Grants, etc. S 3230 Empowered at Home Act - Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid. HR 7110/S 3604 Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act - Lobbied for FMAP funding. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. HR 6331 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act - Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries, and promote e-prescriptions in medicare. S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641 Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act - Lobbied in support of the bill and to increase co-sponsors; criminal background checks for LTC employees; nursing home quality and proposed five star rating system cms; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving initiative, nursing home compliance guidelines, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid data reporting requirements), status of Nursing Home Value Based Purchasing Demonstration, Prepare to Care for use in innovative employer caregiving programs satellite broadcast, LTC Quality Alliance. HR 2642 - Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid Regulation Moratoriam in Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2008, and on supplemental appropriations bill. To build support and obtain sponsors for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no Bill). S 2838/HR 6126 - Lobbied to support the Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act and oppose amendments to weaken the bill. Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers (no bill). Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives (no bill). S 1577- Support for Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act (S 1577) and marking up the bill; provided feedback and in testimony. HR 7114/S3613 Independence at Home Act/Chronic Care Coordination - Feedback on and support for legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries. S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Seniors Act of 2007- Support for Medicare premium protection and modifications to Medicare Savings Programs/Part D Low-Income Subsidy. S. 3118 Preserving Access to Medicare Act - Lobbied in opposition to Grassley-McConnell bill - All provisions related to beneficiary access and Medicare improvements, including e-prescribing. S 3101- Urged support of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 to help improve Medicare. Green Houses and culture change in LTC facilities, person centered care and medical homes - testimony and input on draft bill - no bill number. Lobbied for appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans (no bill). S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Services - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 Prescription Coverage Now Act - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. HR 5702 End-of-Life Care Advance Directive Promotion Act - Discussed ideas for end-of-life care legislation and how to help ensure patient wishes are respected; Advance Directive Promotion Act. Provided feedback on draft legislation regarding physician orders for life sustaining treatment. S.334 - Discussed long-term care broadly and including it in health care reform, including the Healthy Americans Act. Discussed voting in LTC facilities, such as nursing homes, current status and law on the issue (no bill). S 3327 - Provided input and support for the Empowered at Home Act to make improvements in Medicaid HCBS; LTC insurance tax incentives and consumer protection improvements and a caregiver tax credit. Invitations and information about a solutions forum on balancing of state LTC systems. HR 3363/S 2337 - Discussed consumer protections for LTC insurance, premium increases and claims denials, support for family caregivers including assessment, consumer complaints and support for the LTC Affordability and Security Act. HR 6033 - Discussed provisions of Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act. H.Con.Res 133 - Provided input on and support for new LTC Awareness Week resolution. LTC - General discussion of LTC, home and community based services, family caregiving, chronic care, workforce, quality and financing options.(no bill) CMS - Lobbied on the Medicare Medical Home Demo implementation.
Lobbied to ensure that comparative effectiveness research is promoted (including appropriations financing for AHRQ's Section 1013 funding) and/or that Medicare Part D is not means tested (no bill). S 2063/HR 3655 Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action Act of 2007- Lobbied in favor of a health reform framework in the entitlement task force legislation. HR 3654 Safe Commission Act - Discussed AARP's position on entitlement commission legislation, including health care and revenue. Discussed AARP's concerns about healthcare key issues and funding impact of entitlement commission. S 3230 Labor-HHS Appropriations Act of FY 2009 - Lobbied for energy assistance, senior nutrition, Older Americans Act, Social Security Administration, comparative effectiveness and other social services programs. S 3261 Transportation-HUD Appropriations bill, FY2009 - Lobbied for senior housing and transit programs. HR 7110/S3604 Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act - Lobbied for SSA administrative expenses, weatherization and energy assistance and FMAP funding. S 3289 Agriculture and Rural Development Appropriation, FY 2009 - Lobbied for Commodity Supplemental Food Program, rural rental housing, and FDA generic drug processing. S 3260 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations - Lobbied for IRS taxpayer assistance program. S 3182 Commerce, Justice-Science Appropriations, FY 2009 - Lobbied for National Telecommunications and Information Administration, DTV transition converter box coupon program. S 3258 Energy and Water Development Appropriations, FY 2009 - Lobbied for weatherization assistance. Stimulus Legislation and Economic Recovery - Lobbied on proposed/draft legislation to increase funding for federal nutrition program (food stamps/SNAP,TEFAP,CSFP) Employment and Training Services (WIA, SCSEP); SSI benefits; Philanthropic & Civic Engagement programs, unemployment insurance; federal medical assistance percentage; weatherization assistance program; the promotion of health information technology; accredited nursing schools through grants; transportation infrastructure; and to allow bankruptcy judges to restructure subprime mortgage debt for primary residences.
S 2337/HR 3363 Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act - Discussed consumer protections for LTC insurance. S 1070/HR 1783 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation, strategy for how they might both move forward next year. S 3327/HR 7212 - Empowered at Home Act - Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid and other improvements to bill. Also lobbied in support of the bill. HR 7110/S 3604 Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act - Lobbied for FMAP funding. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries, and promote e-prescriptions in medicare (no bill number). S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641 Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act and HR 7128 Nursing Home Transparency and Quality of Care Improvement Act - Discussed the bill and provided suggestions for changes to the bill, nursing home quality and proposed five star rating system cms; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving initiative, nursing home compliance guidelines, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid data reporting requirements), LTC Quality Alliance. To build support and obtain sponsors for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no bill number). Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers (no bill number). Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives (no bill number). HR 7114/S3613 Independence at Home Act/Chronic Care Coordination - Lobbied on and support for legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries. S 3101/HR 6331 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 - Discussed implementation to help improve Medicare. Lobbied for appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans (no bill number). S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Services - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 Prescription Coverage Now Act - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. HR 6033 - Discussed provisions of Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act and ways to improve bill.
S 2337/HR 3363 - Discussion of and support for Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act that would make private long-term care insurance available through employer-sponsored flexible spending accounts and cafeteria plans and update and add consumer protections. S 1070/HR 1783 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation, strategy for how they might both move forward this year, bill markup, background for score on S.1577. S 2708 Caring for an Aging America Act of 2008 - Provisions related to increasing the number of professionals trained in geriatrics or gerontology, etc., providing input on legislation and encouraging offices to cosponsor the bill. Discussed draft legislation to make changes to Medicaid HCBS, including the Medicaid state plan option, spousal impoverishment, Medicaid Transformation Grants, etc. S 3230 Empowered at Home Act - Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid. HR 7110/S 3604 Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act - Lobbied for FMAP funding. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. HR 6331 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act - Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries, and promote e-prescriptions in medicare. S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641 Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act - Lobbied in support of the bill and to increase co-sponsors; criminal background checks for LTC employees; nursing home quality and proposed five star rating system cms; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving initiative, nursing home compliance guidelines, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid data reporting requirements), status of Nursing Home Value Based Purchasing Demonstration, Prepare to Care for use in innovative employer caregiving programs satellite broadcast, LTC Quality Alliance. HR 2642 - Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid Regulation Moratoriam in Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2008, and on supplemental appropriations bill. To build support and obtain sponsors for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no Bill). S 2838/HR 6126 - Lobbied to support the Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act and oppose amendments to weaken the bill. Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers (no bill). Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives (no bill). S 1577- Support for Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act (S 1577) and marking up the bill; provided feedback and in testimony. HR 7114/S3613 Independence at Home Act/Chronic Care Coordination - Feedback on and support for legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries. S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Seniors Act of 2007- Support for Medicare premium protection and modifications to Medicare Savings Programs/Part D Low-Income Subsidy. S. 3118 Preserving Access to Medicare Act - Lobbied in opposition to Grassley-McConnell bill - All provisions related to beneficiary access and Medicare improvements, including e-prescribing. S 3101- Urged support of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 to help improve Medicare. Green Houses and culture change in LTC facilities, person centered care and medical homes - testimony and input on draft bill - no bill number. Lobbied for appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans (no bill). S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Services - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 Prescription Coverage Now Act - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. HR 5702 End-of-Life Care Advance Directive Promotion Act - Discussed ideas for end-of-life care legislation and how to help ensure patient wishes are respected; Advance Directive Promotion Act. Provided feedback on draft legislation regarding physician orders for life sustaining treatment. S.334 - Discussed long-term care broadly and including it in health care reform, including the Healthy Americans Act. Discussed voting in LTC facilities, such as nursing homes, current status and law on the issue (no bill). S 3327 - Provided input and support for the Empowered at Home Act to make improvements in Medicaid HCBS; LTC insurance tax incentives and consumer protection improvements and a caregiver tax credit. Invitations and information about a solutions forum on balancing of state LTC systems. HR 3363/S 2337 - Discussed consumer protections for LTC insurance, premium increases and claims denials, support for family caregivers including assessment, consumer complaints and support for the LTC Affordability and Security Act. HR 6033 - Discussed provisions of Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act. H.Con.Res 133 - Provided input on and support for new LTC Awareness Week resolution. LTC - General discussion of LTC, home and community based services, family caregiving, chronic care, workforce, quality and financing options.(no bill) CMS - Lobbied on the Medicare Medical Home Demo implementation.
Nursing Home Transparency and Quality of Care Improvement Act of 2008
S 2337/HR 3363 Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act - Discussed consumer protections for LTC insurance. S 1070/HR 1783 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation, strategy for how they might both move forward next year. S 3327/HR 7212 - Empowered at Home Act - Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid and other improvements to bill. Also lobbied in support of the bill. HR 7110/S 3604 Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act - Lobbied for FMAP funding. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries, and promote e-prescriptions in medicare (no bill number). S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641 Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act and HR 7128 Nursing Home Transparency and Quality of Care Improvement Act - Discussed the bill and provided suggestions for changes to the bill, nursing home quality and proposed five star rating system cms; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving initiative, nursing home compliance guidelines, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid data reporting requirements), LTC Quality Alliance. To build support and obtain sponsors for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no bill number). Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers (no bill number). Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives (no bill number). HR 7114/S3613 Independence at Home Act/Chronic Care Coordination - Lobbied on and support for legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries. S 3101/HR 6331 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 - Discussed implementation to help improve Medicare. Lobbied for appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans (no bill number). S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Services - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 Prescription Coverage Now Act - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. HR 6033 - Discussed provisions of Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act and ways to improve bill.
S 2337/HR 3363 Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act - Discussed consumer protections for LTC insurance. S 1070/HR 1783 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation, strategy for how they might both move forward next year. S 3327/HR 7212 - Empowered at Home Act - Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid and other improvements to bill. Also lobbied in support of the bill. HR 7110/S 3604 Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act - Lobbied for FMAP funding. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries, and promote e-prescriptions in medicare (no bill number). S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641 Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act and HR 7128 Nursing Home Transparency and Quality of Care Improvement Act - Discussed the bill and provided suggestions for changes to the bill, nursing home quality and proposed five star rating system cms; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving initiative, nursing home compliance guidelines, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid data reporting requirements), LTC Quality Alliance. To build support and obtain sponsors for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no bill number). Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers (no bill number). Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives (no bill number). HR 7114/S3613 Independence at Home Act/Chronic Care Coordination - Lobbied on and support for legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries. S 3101/HR 6331 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 - Discussed implementation to help improve Medicare. Lobbied for appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans (no bill number). S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Services - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 Prescription Coverage Now Act - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. HR 6033 - Discussed provisions of Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act and ways to improve bill.
S 2337/HR 3363 - Discussion of and support for Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act that would make private long-term care insurance available through employer-sponsored flexible spending accounts and cafeteria plans and update and add consumer protections. S 1070/HR 1783 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation, strategy for how they might both move forward this year, bill markup, background for score on S.1577. S 2708 Caring for an Aging America Act of 2008 - Provisions related to increasing the number of professionals trained in geriatrics or gerontology, etc., providing input on legislation and encouraging offices to cosponsor the bill. Discussed draft legislation to make changes to Medicaid HCBS, including the Medicaid state plan option, spousal impoverishment, Medicaid Transformation Grants, etc. S 3230 Empowered at Home Act - Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid. HR 7110/S 3604 Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act - Lobbied for FMAP funding. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. HR 6331 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act - Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries, and promote e-prescriptions in medicare. S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641 Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act - Lobbied in support of the bill and to increase co-sponsors; criminal background checks for LTC employees; nursing home quality and proposed five star rating system cms; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving initiative, nursing home compliance guidelines, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid data reporting requirements), status of Nursing Home Value Based Purchasing Demonstration, Prepare to Care for use in innovative employer caregiving programs satellite broadcast, LTC Quality Alliance. HR 2642 - Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid Regulation Moratoriam in Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2008, and on supplemental appropriations bill. To build support and obtain sponsors for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no Bill). S 2838/HR 6126 - Lobbied to support the Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act and oppose amendments to weaken the bill. Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers (no bill). Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives (no bill). S 1577- Support for Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act (S 1577) and marking up the bill; provided feedback and in testimony. HR 7114/S3613 Independence at Home Act/Chronic Care Coordination - Feedback on and support for legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries. S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Seniors Act of 2007- Support for Medicare premium protection and modifications to Medicare Savings Programs/Part D Low-Income Subsidy. S. 3118 Preserving Access to Medicare Act - Lobbied in opposition to Grassley-McConnell bill - All provisions related to beneficiary access and Medicare improvements, including e-prescribing. S 3101- Urged support of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 to help improve Medicare. Green Houses and culture change in LTC facilities, person centered care and medical homes - testimony and input on draft bill - no bill number. Lobbied for appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans (no bill). S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Services - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 Prescription Coverage Now Act - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. HR 5702 End-of-Life Care Advance Directive Promotion Act - Discussed ideas for end-of-life care legislation and how to help ensure patient wishes are respected; Advance Directive Promotion Act. Provided feedback on draft legislation regarding physician orders for life sustaining treatment. S.334 - Discussed long-term care broadly and including it in health care reform, including the Healthy Americans Act. Discussed voting in LTC facilities, such as nursing homes, current status and law on the issue (no bill). S 3327 - Provided input and support for the Empowered at Home Act to make improvements in Medicaid HCBS; LTC insurance tax incentives and consumer protection improvements and a caregiver tax credit. Invitations and information about a solutions forum on balancing of state LTC systems. HR 3363/S 2337 - Discussed consumer protections for LTC insurance, premium increases and claims denials, support for family caregivers including assessment, consumer complaints and support for the LTC Affordability and Security Act. HR 6033 - Discussed provisions of Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act. H.Con.Res 133 - Provided input on and support for new LTC Awareness Week resolution. LTC - General discussion of LTC, home and community based services, family caregiving, chronic care, workforce, quality and financing options.(no bill) CMS - Lobbied on the Medicare Medical Home Demo implementation.
HR 3001/ S 1340 - Shared and discusssed actuarial analysis of the CLASS Act regarding creation of a public insurance program for long-term services. S 2337/HR 3363 - Discussion of and support for Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act that would make private long-term care insurance available through employer-sponsored flexible spending accounts and cafeteria plans and update and add consumer protections. S 1070 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation and strategy for how they might both move forward this year. S 1340 Geriatric Assessment and Chronic Care Coordination Act of 2007- Discussed a demonstration version of this Medicare chronic care coordination and geriatric assessment bill. S 2708 Caring for an Aging America Act of 2008 - Provisions related to increasing the number of professionals trained in geriatrics or gerontology, etc., providing input on legislation and encouraging offices to cosponsor the bill. Discussed draft legislation to make changes to Medicaid HCBS, including the Medicaid state plan option, spousal impoverishment, Medicaid Transformation Grants, etc. HR 1174 Healthy Hospitals Act of 2007- Discussed with sponsors' staff potential endorsement of this legislation to require hospitals to report infection rates. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicaid Personal Assistance Services State Plan option- discussion of comment letter sending and receipt. Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries. S 2480/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641/ HR 5799 Nursing Home Quality and Transparency Legislation Act - To protect residents and support for the Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act. Discussion of provisions (civil monetary penalties and Special Focus Facilities) in nursing home transparency, accountability, and quality bill. Special Focus Facilities and disclosure of these facilities; criminal background checks for LTC employees; nursing home quality; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving, nursing home compliance guidelines, Real Choice Systems Change Grants and family caregiver assessments, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid), Aging and Disability Resource Centers (AoA), health care and the uninsured - steps HHS is taking to address this, Medicare Medical Adult Day Care Demonstration. HR 5702 Advance Directive Promotion Act of 2008 - Negotiated provisions on portability of advance directives. HR 2642 - Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid Regulation Moratoriam in Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2008, and on supplemental appropriations bill. To build support for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no Bill). S 2838/HR 6126 - Input on draft legislation to make arbitration clauses between LTC facilities and their residents or representatives unenforceable; support for this legislation once it was introduced as the Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act, including support letter. Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers. Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives. S 1577/HR 3078 - Support for Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act (S 1577) and moving the issue forward; provided feedback and in testimony. S 2921 Caring for Wounded Warriors Act of 2008 - Services and supports for family caregivers of certain veterans. Feedback on draft legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries; approaches to improving chronic care for Medicare beneficiaries; discussion of chronic care and Special Needs Plans. S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Seniors Act of 2007- Support for Medicare premium protection and modifications to Medicare Savings Programs/Part D Low-Income Subsidy. S 1758 - Long-term care financing proposals, including the CLASS Act, a public LTC financing program. S. 3164 - Lobbied on Medicare Fraud bill (Martinez and Cornyn) - All provisions related to protecting participants and the Medicare program from fraud and abuse. S. 3118 - Lobbied in opposition to Grassley-McConnell bill - All provisions related to beneficiary access and Medicare improvements, including e-prescribing. S 3101- Urged support of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 to help improve Medicare. Long Term Care/Reverse Mortgages - To protect consumers when reverse mortgages are used as a LTC financing tool. Green Houses and culture change in LTC facilities. HR 2642 - To keep moratorium on all seven Medicaid regulations in the supplemental appropriations bill. Lobbied on appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans. S 1102 - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. S 3101/HR 6331 - (Medicare) Lobbied for legislation to protect part B premiums, increase LIS and MSP asset limits, and promote e-prescribing in Medicare. HR 2642 - (Medicaid) Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid regulation moratorium in Iraq Supplemental.
S 2337/HR 3363 Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act - Discussed consumer protections for LTC insurance. S 1070/HR 1783 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation, strategy for how they might both move forward next year. S 3327/HR 7212 - Empowered at Home Act - Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid and other improvements to bill. Also lobbied in support of the bill. HR 7110/S 3604 Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act - Lobbied for FMAP funding. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries, and promote e-prescriptions in medicare (no bill number). S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641 Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act and HR 7128 Nursing Home Transparency and Quality of Care Improvement Act - Discussed the bill and provided suggestions for changes to the bill, nursing home quality and proposed five star rating system cms; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving initiative, nursing home compliance guidelines, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid data reporting requirements), LTC Quality Alliance. To build support and obtain sponsors for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no bill number). Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers (no bill number). Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives (no bill number). HR 7114/S3613 Independence at Home Act/Chronic Care Coordination - Lobbied on and support for legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries. S 3101/HR 6331 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 - Discussed implementation to help improve Medicare. Lobbied for appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans (no bill number). S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Services - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 Prescription Coverage Now Act - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. HR 6033 - Discussed provisions of Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act and ways to improve bill.
S 2337/HR 3363 - Discussion of and support for Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act that would make private long-term care insurance available through employer-sponsored flexible spending accounts and cafeteria plans and update and add consumer protections. S 1070/HR 1783 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation, strategy for how they might both move forward this year, bill markup, background for score on S.1577. S 2708 Caring for an Aging America Act of 2008 - Provisions related to increasing the number of professionals trained in geriatrics or gerontology, etc., providing input on legislation and encouraging offices to cosponsor the bill. Discussed draft legislation to make changes to Medicaid HCBS, including the Medicaid state plan option, spousal impoverishment, Medicaid Transformation Grants, etc. S 3230 Empowered at Home Act - Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid. HR 7110/S 3604 Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act - Lobbied for FMAP funding. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. HR 6331 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act - Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries, and promote e-prescriptions in medicare. S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641 Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act - Lobbied in support of the bill and to increase co-sponsors; criminal background checks for LTC employees; nursing home quality and proposed five star rating system cms; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving initiative, nursing home compliance guidelines, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid data reporting requirements), status of Nursing Home Value Based Purchasing Demonstration, Prepare to Care for use in innovative employer caregiving programs satellite broadcast, LTC Quality Alliance. HR 2642 - Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid Regulation Moratoriam in Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2008, and on supplemental appropriations bill. To build support and obtain sponsors for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no Bill). S 2838/HR 6126 - Lobbied to support the Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act and oppose amendments to weaken the bill. Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers (no bill). Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives (no bill). S 1577- Support for Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act (S 1577) and marking up the bill; provided feedback and in testimony. HR 7114/S3613 Independence at Home Act/Chronic Care Coordination - Feedback on and support for legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries. S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Seniors Act of 2007- Support for Medicare premium protection and modifications to Medicare Savings Programs/Part D Low-Income Subsidy. S. 3118 Preserving Access to Medicare Act - Lobbied in opposition to Grassley-McConnell bill - All provisions related to beneficiary access and Medicare improvements, including e-prescribing. S 3101- Urged support of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 to help improve Medicare. Green Houses and culture change in LTC facilities, person centered care and medical homes - testimony and input on draft bill - no bill number. Lobbied for appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans (no bill). S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Services - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 Prescription Coverage Now Act - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. HR 5702 End-of-Life Care Advance Directive Promotion Act - Discussed ideas for end-of-life care legislation and how to help ensure patient wishes are respected; Advance Directive Promotion Act. Provided feedback on draft legislation regarding physician orders for life sustaining treatment. S.334 - Discussed long-term care broadly and including it in health care reform, including the Healthy Americans Act. Discussed voting in LTC facilities, such as nursing homes, current status and law on the issue (no bill). S 3327 - Provided input and support for the Empowered at Home Act to make improvements in Medicaid HCBS; LTC insurance tax incentives and consumer protection improvements and a caregiver tax credit. Invitations and information about a solutions forum on balancing of state LTC systems. HR 3363/S 2337 - Discussed consumer protections for LTC insurance, premium increases and claims denials, support for family caregivers including assessment, consumer complaints and support for the LTC Affordability and Security Act. HR 6033 - Discussed provisions of Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act. H.Con.Res 133 - Provided input on and support for new LTC Awareness Week resolution. LTC - General discussion of LTC, home and community based services, family caregiving, chronic care, workforce, quality and financing options.(no bill) CMS - Lobbied on the Medicare Medical Home Demo implementation.
HR 3001/ S 1340 - Shared and discusssed actuarial analysis of the CLASS Act regarding creation of a public insurance program for long-term services. S 2337/HR 3363 - Discussion of and support for Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act that would make private long-term care insurance available through employer-sponsored flexible spending accounts and cafeteria plans and update and add consumer protections. S 1070 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation and strategy for how they might both move forward this year. S 1340 Geriatric Assessment and Chronic Care Coordination Act of 2007- Discussed a demonstration version of this Medicare chronic care coordination and geriatric assessment bill. S 2708 Caring for an Aging America Act of 2008 - Provisions related to increasing the number of professionals trained in geriatrics or gerontology, etc., providing input on legislation and encouraging offices to cosponsor the bill. Discussed draft legislation to make changes to Medicaid HCBS, including the Medicaid state plan option, spousal impoverishment, Medicaid Transformation Grants, etc. HR 1174 Healthy Hospitals Act of 2007- Discussed with sponsors' staff potential endorsement of this legislation to require hospitals to report infection rates. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicaid Personal Assistance Services State Plan option- discussion of comment letter sending and receipt. Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries. S 2480/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641/ HR 5799 Nursing Home Quality and Transparency Legislation Act - To protect residents and support for the Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act. Discussion of provisions (civil monetary penalties and Special Focus Facilities) in nursing home transparency, accountability, and quality bill. Special Focus Facilities and disclosure of these facilities; criminal background checks for LTC employees; nursing home quality; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving, nursing home compliance guidelines, Real Choice Systems Change Grants and family caregiver assessments, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid), Aging and Disability Resource Centers (AoA), health care and the uninsured - steps HHS is taking to address this, Medicare Medical Adult Day Care Demonstration. HR 5702 Advance Directive Promotion Act of 2008 - Negotiated provisions on portability of advance directives. HR 2642 - Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid Regulation Moratoriam in Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2008, and on supplemental appropriations bill. To build support for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no Bill). S 2838/HR 6126 - Input on draft legislation to make arbitration clauses between LTC facilities and their residents or representatives unenforceable; support for this legislation once it was introduced as the Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act, including support letter. Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers. Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives. S 1577/HR 3078 - Support for Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act (S 1577) and moving the issue forward; provided feedback and in testimony. S 2921 Caring for Wounded Warriors Act of 2008 - Services and supports for family caregivers of certain veterans. Feedback on draft legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries; approaches to improving chronic care for Medicare beneficiaries; discussion of chronic care and Special Needs Plans. S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Seniors Act of 2007- Support for Medicare premium protection and modifications to Medicare Savings Programs/Part D Low-Income Subsidy. S 1758 - Long-term care financing proposals, including the CLASS Act, a public LTC financing program. S. 3164 - Lobbied on Medicare Fraud bill (Martinez and Cornyn) - All provisions related to protecting participants and the Medicare program from fraud and abuse. S. 3118 - Lobbied in opposition to Grassley-McConnell bill - All provisions related to beneficiary access and Medicare improvements, including e-prescribing. S 3101- Urged support of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 to help improve Medicare. Long Term Care/Reverse Mortgages - To protect consumers when reverse mortgages are used as a LTC financing tool. Green Houses and culture change in LTC facilities. HR 2642 - To keep moratorium on all seven Medicaid regulations in the supplemental appropriations bill. Lobbied on appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans. S 1102 - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. S 3101/HR 6331 - (Medicare) Lobbied for legislation to protect part B premiums, increase LIS and MSP asset limits, and promote e-prescribing in Medicare. HR 2642 - (Medicaid) Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid regulation moratorium in Iraq Supplemental.
S 2337/HR 3363 Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act - Discussed consumer protections for LTC insurance. S 1070/HR 1783 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation, strategy for how they might both move forward next year. S 3327/HR 7212 - Empowered at Home Act - Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid and other improvements to bill. Also lobbied in support of the bill. HR 7110/S 3604 Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act - Lobbied for FMAP funding. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries, and promote e-prescriptions in medicare (no bill number). S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641 Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act and HR 7128 Nursing Home Transparency and Quality of Care Improvement Act - Discussed the bill and provided suggestions for changes to the bill, nursing home quality and proposed five star rating system cms; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving initiative, nursing home compliance guidelines, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid data reporting requirements), LTC Quality Alliance. To build support and obtain sponsors for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no bill number). Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers (no bill number). Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives (no bill number). HR 7114/S3613 Independence at Home Act/Chronic Care Coordination - Lobbied on and support for legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries. S 3101/HR 6331 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 - Discussed implementation to help improve Medicare. Lobbied for appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans (no bill number). S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Services - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 Prescription Coverage Now Act - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. HR 6033 - Discussed provisions of Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act and ways to improve bill.
HR 5140 Tax Relief, urging vote for Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008. HR 2167/ S 1141 Automatic IRA of 2007- Provisions related to establishing an auto IRA for workers not covered by pension plan. HR 5719 Taxpayer Assistance and Simplification Act of 2008 - Discussed various provisions that could be included in a bill drafted to make the administration of the tax code more effective and efficient. Discussed political, economic and social conditions that would create the conditions necessary to reform the tax code and possible changes that would simplify the tax code and make it more equitable (no Bill). HR 1540 Civil Rights Tax Relief Act of 2007- Provisions related to excluding from gross income amounts received as damages due to discriminatory conduct. HR 6237 Tax Relief for Long-Term Care Act of 2008 - All provisions regarding tax relief for family caregivers and purchasers of LTC insurance, the Tax Relief Act of 2008. S 3032/S 3532 Give Act HR 6283 Reimbursing Our American Drivers (ROAD) Act of 2008 - Lobbied in favor of allowing non-profit organizations to reimburse volunteers (without income tax consequences for mileage driven for charitable purposes up to the business mileage rate, and increasing the mileage deduction allowed for charitable purposes. S 3260 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations, FY 2009 - Lobbied for increased funding for IRS taxpayer assistance programs (Tax Counseling for the Elderly and VITA).
HR 2167/ S 1141 Automatic IRA Act of 2007 - Provisions related to establishing an auto IRA for workers not covered by pension plan. HR 5140 Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008 - Discussed implementation of the economic stimulus package, including rebates for seniors and IRS funding for implementation. Divided We Fail, an initiative to give voice to millions of Americans who are tired of letting Washington gridlock stand in the way of affordable, quality health care and long-term financial security-the most pressing domestic issues facing our nation. Lobbied for adequate funding for Social Security Administration budget. S 2063/HR 3655- Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action Act of 2007 Senate Budget: Entitlement Task Force (could cut Social Security and Medicare benefits). Discussed options to strengthen and improve long term financing and operations of social security program (no Bill). Lobbying for increased spending to reduce SSA disability claim backlog (no Bill). Discussed increased bankruptcy among 50+ population (no Bill). HR 3185, HR 3765(Defined Contribution Plan Fee Transparency Act of 2007), S 2473 Defined Contribution Fee Disclosure Act of 2007- HR 3185 401(k) Fair Disclosure for Retirement Security Act of 2007 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 9 (ERISA) to prohibit an administrator of an individual account plan that includes a qualified cash or deferred arrangement to enter into any contract for services to the plan without a written statement that identifies who will be performing such services, describes each such service, and specifies the expected total annual cost of such services. Requires the Secretary of Labor to prescribe a model statement that may be used for purposes of satisfying such requirements. Limits the requirements for such a statement to contracts for services if the total cost for such services equals or exceeds $1,000. Discussed AARP's concerns about garnishment of Social Security checks by banks and payday lenders and check cashers. HR 2642 - Lobbying for funding for IRS/SSA and from IRS to implement Economic Stimulus Payment. S 3230 Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations FY 2009 - Lobbied for increased spending to reduce SSA disability claim backlog and in opposition to certain e-verify provisions without sufficient funding. HR 3654 Safe Act - All provisions related to strengthening Social Security and Medicare and reducing health care costs. S 2794 Senior Investor Protection Act - Lobbied in favor of provisions related to protecting seniors from fraudulent and misleading marketing practices.
HR 2167/ S 1141 Automatic IRA Act of 2007 - Provisions related to establishing an auto IRA for workers not covered by pension plan. HR 5140 Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008 - Discussed implementation of the economic stimulus package, including rebates for older Americans and IRS funding for implementation. Lobbied for long-term financial security (no bill). S 3230 Labor, HHS, Education, Appropriations - Lobbied for adequate funding for Social Security Administration budget. S 2063/HR 3655- Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action Act of 2007 Senate Budget: Entitlement Task Force (could cut Social Security and Medicare benefits). Discussed options to strengthen and improve long term financing and operations of social security program (no Bill). Lobbying for increased spending to reduce SSA disability claim backlog (no Bill). Discussed increased bankruptcy among 50+ population (no Bill). HR 3765(Defined Contribution Plan Fee Transparency Act of 2007), S 2473 Defined Contribution Fee Disclosure Act of 2007, HR 3185 401(k) Fair Disclosure for Retirement Security Act of 2007 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to prohibit an administrator of an individual account plan that includes a qualified cash or deferred arrangement to enter into any contract for services to the plan without a written statement that identifies who will be performing such services, describes each such service, and specifies the expected total annual cost of such services. Requires the Secretary of Labor to prescribe a model statement that may be used for purposes of satisfying such requirements. Limits the requirements for such a statement to contracts for services if the total cost for such services equals or exceeds $1,000. Discussed AARP's concerns about garnishment of Social Security checks by banks and payday lenders and check cashers. HR 2642 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act - Lobbied for funding for IRS/SSA and from IRS to implement Economic Stimulus Payment. S 3230 Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations FY 2009 - Lobbied for increased spending to reduce SSA disability claim backlog and in opposition to certain e-verify provisions without sufficient funding. HR 3654 Safe Commission Act - All provisions related to strengthening Social Security and Medicare and reducing health care costs. S 2794 Senior Investor Protection Act - Lobbied in favor of provisions related to protecting older Americans from fraudulent and misleading marketing practices.
HR 5140 Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008 - Lobbied in favor of including senior rebate in the economic stimulus bill. HR 2167/ S 1141 Automatic IRA of 2007- Provisions related to establishing an auto IRA for workers not covered by pension plan. HR 5719 Taxpayer Assistance and Simplification Act of 2008 - Discussed various provisions that could be included in a bill drafted to make the administration of the tax code more effective and efficient. A general discussion of the political, economic and social conditions that would create the conditions necessary to reform the tax code and possible changes that would simplify the tax code and make it more equitable (no Bill). Meeting with House Small Business Committee to discuss the agenda for the Committee hearing scheduled for April 10, 2008 on small business taxes and impact on retirement security (no Bill). HR 1540 Civil Rights Tax Relief Act of 2007- Provisions related to excluding from gross income amounts received as damages due to discriminatory conduct. HR 6237 Tax Relief for Long-Term Care Act of 2008 - All provisions regarding tax relief for family caregivers and purchasers of LTC insurance, the Tax Relief Act of 2008.
S 623/HR 1038 (Access to Life Saving Medicine Act), HR 1956 (Patient Protection and Innovative Biologic Medicines Act of 2007), HR 5629 (Pathway for Biosimilars Act) - Lobbied to ensure that Waxman Biogenerics legislation is enacted particularly provisions related to ensuring a safe, effective pathway for the approval of comparable, interchangeable biologics. HR 1902 (Protecting Consumer Access to Generic Drugs Act of 2007)/ S 316 (Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act -Provisions related to preventing abuses in patent settlements between generic and brand name prescription drug manufactures. S 1145 Patient Reform Act of 2007- Ensuring that the existing inequitable conduct provisions in Patent Law Act are not weakened. Discussion regarding prescription drug affordability (no Bill). S 3230 Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations FY 2009 - Lobbying for spending levels for Rx comparative effectiveness. S 3289 Agriculture and Rural Development Appropriations, FY 2009 - Lobbied to reduce FDA generic drug processing backlog.
HR 3001/ S 1340 - Shared and discusssed actuarial analysis of the CLASS Act regarding creation of a public insurance program for long-term services. S 2337/HR 3363 - Discussion of and support for Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act that would make private long-term care insurance available through employer-sponsored flexible spending accounts and cafeteria plans and update and add consumer protections. S 1070 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation and strategy for how they might both move forward this year. S 1340 Geriatric Assessment and Chronic Care Coordination Act of 2007- Discussed a demonstration version of this Medicare chronic care coordination and geriatric assessment bill. S 2708 Caring for an Aging America Act of 2008 - Provisions related to increasing the number of professionals trained in geriatrics or gerontology, etc., providing input on legislation and encouraging offices to cosponsor the bill. Discussed draft legislation to make changes to Medicaid HCBS, including the Medicaid state plan option, spousal impoverishment, Medicaid Transformation Grants, etc. HR 1174 Healthy Hospitals Act of 2007- Discussed with sponsors' staff potential endorsement of this legislation to require hospitals to report infection rates. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicaid Personal Assistance Services State Plan option- discussion of comment letter sending and receipt. Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries. S 2480/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641/ HR 5799 Nursing Home Quality and Transparency Legislation Act - To protect residents and support for the Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act. Discussion of provisions (civil monetary penalties and Special Focus Facilities) in nursing home transparency, accountability, and quality bill. Special Focus Facilities and disclosure of these facilities; criminal background checks for LTC employees; nursing home quality; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving, nursing home compliance guidelines, Real Choice Systems Change Grants and family caregiver assessments, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid), Aging and Disability Resource Centers (AoA), health care and the uninsured - steps HHS is taking to address this, Medicare Medical Adult Day Care Demonstration. HR 5702 Advance Directive Promotion Act of 2008 - Negotiated provisions on portability of advance directives. HR 2642 - Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid Regulation Moratoriam in Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2008, and on supplemental appropriations bill. To build support for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no Bill). S 2838/HR 6126 - Input on draft legislation to make arbitration clauses between LTC facilities and their residents or representatives unenforceable; support for this legislation once it was introduced as the Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act, including support letter. Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers. Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives. S 1577/HR 3078 - Support for Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act (S 1577) and moving the issue forward; provided feedback and in testimony. S 2921 Caring for Wounded Warriors Act of 2008 - Services and supports for family caregivers of certain veterans. Feedback on draft legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries; approaches to improving chronic care for Medicare beneficiaries; discussion of chronic care and Special Needs Plans. S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Seniors Act of 2007- Support for Medicare premium protection and modifications to Medicare Savings Programs/Part D Low-Income Subsidy. S 1758 - Long-term care financing proposals, including the CLASS Act, a public LTC financing program. S. 3164 - Lobbied on Medicare Fraud bill (Martinez and Cornyn) - All provisions related to protecting participants and the Medicare program from fraud and abuse. S. 3118 - Lobbied in opposition to Grassley-McConnell bill - All provisions related to beneficiary access and Medicare improvements, including e-prescribing. S 3101- Urged support of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 to help improve Medicare. Long Term Care/Reverse Mortgages - To protect consumers when reverse mortgages are used as a LTC financing tool. Green Houses and culture change in LTC facilities. HR 2642 - To keep moratorium on all seven Medicaid regulations in the supplemental appropriations bill. Lobbied on appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans. S 1102 - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. S 3101/HR 6331 - (Medicare) Lobbied for legislation to protect part B premiums, increase LIS and MSP asset limits, and promote e-prescribing in Medicare. HR 2642 - (Medicaid) Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid regulation moratorium in Iraq Supplemental.
S 2337/HR 3363 Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act - Discussed consumer protections for LTC insurance. S 1070/HR 1783 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation, strategy for how they might both move forward next year. S 3327/HR 7212 - Empowered at Home Act - Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid and other improvements to bill. Also lobbied in support of the bill. HR 7110/S 3604 Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act - Lobbied for FMAP funding. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries, and promote e-prescriptions in medicare (no bill number). S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641 Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act and HR 7128 Nursing Home Transparency and Quality of Care Improvement Act - Discussed the bill and provided suggestions for changes to the bill, nursing home quality and proposed five star rating system cms; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving initiative, nursing home compliance guidelines, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid data reporting requirements), LTC Quality Alliance. To build support and obtain sponsors for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no bill number). Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers (no bill number). Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives (no bill number). HR 7114/S3613 Independence at Home Act/Chronic Care Coordination - Lobbied on and support for legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries. S 3101/HR 6331 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 - Discussed implementation to help improve Medicare. Lobbied for appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans (no bill number). S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Services - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 Prescription Coverage Now Act - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. HR 6033 - Discussed provisions of Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act and ways to improve bill.
S. 584/H.R. 1443 Complete Streets Act of 2009-Directs States and Metropolitan Planning Organization to adopt complete Streets policies within two years to ensure improvements are made to federally-funded roadways to ensure that potential users of all ages and abilities can travel safely and conveniently. Discussed legislation to be introduced to provide a five-year reauthorization of the expiring SAFTEA-LU legislation. AARP interests include increasing funding for public transit and para-transit services, promotion of older driver and pedestrian safety, and strengthened connections between transportation and land use. (no bill) Older Driver and Pedestrian Safty and Roadway Enhancement Act - Discussed legislation to be introduced to provide funding to states to implement roadway safety recommendations for unsafe intersections and roadways based on the Federal Highway Administration's Highway Design Handbook for Older Drivers and Pedestrians. (no bill)
H.R.1/S.1 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 - AARP interest in the economic stimulus legislation included funding for Department of Transportation transit and paratransit programs, digital television conversion, DOE Weatherization program assistance, State energy efficiency grants and revenue decoupling proposals, public housing capital assistance, Neighborhood Revitalization Program funding and HUD assisted housing energy efficiency rehabilitation. Reached out for assistance in determining which children, if any, were excluded from receiving a $250 payment. Legislation would also provide $1.1 billion in funding for comparative effectiveness research and health information technology. Lobbied for Senior Community Service Employment program funding. H.R. 1388/S. 277 Edward M. Kennedy Service America Act - Will strengthen and expand civic engagement and volunteer opportunities to address pressing national, state and local needs, enhance service opportunities for persons age 50+ so that they can apply a lifetime of acquired skills; and improve the capacity of non-profit, service and philanthropic organizations to recruit, manage and apply volunteer skills to identified service needs. H.R. 476, Safeguarding America's Seniors and Veterans Act of 2009 - Strategized, assisted in drafting provisions, and drafted letter of support for legislation that would provide a recovery payment to retirees, people with disabilities, and veterans. S.Con.Res. 13/H.Con.Res. 85, Concurrent Budget Resolution for FY 2010 - Lobbied in support of federal budget for fiscal year 2010, particularly with regard to health care reform, transportation reauthorization and social security agency funding. Lobbied for nursing education funding (HRSA) in the conference negotiations for the economic stimulus package.
H.R.1256, Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act - Discussed legislation that would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide for the regulation of tobacco products by the Secretary of Health and Human Services through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including through disclosure, annual registration, inspection, recordkeeping, and user fee requirements. Provided information on the need for nursing education capacity and the retention of newer and older nurses in the workplace (no bill). Discussed the need for bipartisan action on health care reform legislation, such as affordable and accessible quality healthcare (no bill). Discussed healthcare reform and issues around the public plan option (no bill).
Filing targets: Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Federal Reserve System, Government Accountability Office (GAO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Office of the Vice President of the United States, SENATE, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Social Security Administration (SSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), Treasury, Dept of, White House Office
HR 3548 Plain Language in Government Communications Act - Provisions related to detering predatory lending practices and helping to protect older homeowners from foreclosure. HR 5818 Neighborhood Stablization Act - Lobbied to help prevent older homeowners from losing their homes to foreclosure. . S 2636 Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 - All provisions in Title IV related to allowing bankruptcy judges to restructure subprime mortgage debt for primary residences; lobbied the bill to help prevent older homeowners from losing their homes to foreclosure HR 3609 Emergency Home Ownership and Mortgage Equity Protection Act of 2007- Provisions related to allowing judges to modify the terms of mortages in bankruptcy to reduce foreclosures. S. 2684 Section 8 Voucher Reform Act of 2008 - Provisions related to stabilizing the funding formula for Section 8 Vouchers to provide more affordable housing options for our members and their families. HR 5758/S. 2490 Reverse Mortgage Proceeds Protection Act - Supported passage of this bill and House companion bill to better prevent reverse mortgage borrowers from fraud and abuse. HR 1852/S 2338 Expanding American Homeownership - Lobbied to expand the FHA-insured reverse mortgage program while limiting origination fees charged by lenders. HR 3221 Housing and Economic Recovery Act - discussed the implementation of the bill. HR 6076 Home Retention and Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 - Lobbied for a foreclosure deferral to help members workout loans in default or refinance into new loans. S 3261 Transportation and HUD Appropriations - Lobbied for affordable housing assistance spending including section 202-housing for the elderly program. HR 6033 Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act of 2008 - Lobbied to expand the bill to cover more types of housing and to ensure the competitive nature of the grants program, as well as other changes to the bill. S 2490 Reverse Mortgage Proceeds Protections Act - Lobbied to increase protections for Home Equity Conversion Mortgage loan recipients. HR 3997/HR 1424 - Emergency Economic Stabilization Act - Lobbied to include provisions to assist troubled homeowners, including the ability for bankruptcy judges to modify primary mortgage debt.
S 2337/HR 3363 Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act - Discussed consumer protections for LTC insurance. S 1070/HR 1783 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation, strategy for how they might both move forward next year. S 3327/HR 7212 - Empowered at Home Act - Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid and other improvements to bill. Also lobbied in support of the bill. HR 7110/S 3604 Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act - Lobbied for FMAP funding. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries, and promote e-prescriptions in medicare (no bill number). S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641 Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act and HR 7128 Nursing Home Transparency and Quality of Care Improvement Act - Discussed the bill and provided suggestions for changes to the bill, nursing home quality and proposed five star rating system cms; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving initiative, nursing home compliance guidelines, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid data reporting requirements), LTC Quality Alliance. To build support and obtain sponsors for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no bill number). Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers (no bill number). Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives (no bill number). HR 7114/S3613 Independence at Home Act/Chronic Care Coordination - Lobbied on and support for legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries. S 3101/HR 6331 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 - Discussed implementation to help improve Medicare. Lobbied for appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans (no bill number). S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Services - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 Prescription Coverage Now Act - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. HR 6033 - Discussed provisions of Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act and ways to improve bill.
Lobbied to ensure that comparative effectiveness research is promoted (including appropriations financing for AHRQ's Section 1013 funding) and/or that Medicare Part D is not means tested (no bill). S 2063/HR 3655 Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action Act of 2007- Lobbied in favor of a health reform framework in the entitlement task force legislation. HR 3654 Safe Commission Act - Discussed AARP's position on entitlement commission legislation, including health care and revenue. Discussed AARP's concerns about healthcare key issues and funding impact of entitlement commission. S 3230 Labor-HHS Appropriations Act of FY 2009 - Lobbied for energy assistance, senior nutrition, Older Americans Act, Social Security Administration, comparative effectiveness and other social services programs. S 3261 Transportation-HUD Appropriations bill, FY2009 - Lobbied for senior housing and transit programs. HR 7110/S3604 Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act - Lobbied for SSA administrative expenses, weatherization and energy assistance and FMAP funding. S 3289 Agriculture and Rural Development Appropriation, FY 2009 - Lobbied for Commodity Supplemental Food Program, rural rental housing, and FDA generic drug processing. S 3260 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations - Lobbied for IRS taxpayer assistance program. S 3182 Commerce, Justice-Science Appropriations, FY 2009 - Lobbied for National Telecommunications and Information Administration, DTV transition converter box coupon program. S 3258 Energy and Water Development Appropriations, FY 2009 - Lobbied for weatherization assistance. Stimulus Legislation and Economic Recovery - Lobbied on proposed/draft legislation to increase funding for federal nutrition program (food stamps/SNAP,TEFAP,CSFP) Employment and Training Services (WIA, SCSEP); SSI benefits; Philanthropic & Civic Engagement programs, unemployment insurance; federal medical assistance percentage; weatherization assistance program; the promotion of health information technology; accredited nursing schools through grants; transportation infrastructure; and to allow bankruptcy judges to restructure subprime mortgage debt for primary residences.
Filing targets: Administration on Aging, Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Federal Reserve System, Government Accountability Office (GAO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA), Treasury, Dept of, White House Office
S 2337/HR 3363 - Discussion of and support for Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act that would make private long-term care insurance available through employer-sponsored flexible spending accounts and cafeteria plans and update and add consumer protections. S 1070/HR 1783 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation, strategy for how they might both move forward this year, bill markup, background for score on S.1577. S 2708 Caring for an Aging America Act of 2008 - Provisions related to increasing the number of professionals trained in geriatrics or gerontology, etc., providing input on legislation and encouraging offices to cosponsor the bill. Discussed draft legislation to make changes to Medicaid HCBS, including the Medicaid state plan option, spousal impoverishment, Medicaid Transformation Grants, etc. S 3230 Empowered at Home Act - Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid. HR 7110/S 3604 Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act - Lobbied for FMAP funding. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. HR 6331 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act - Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries, and promote e-prescriptions in medicare. S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641 Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act - Lobbied in support of the bill and to increase co-sponsors; criminal background checks for LTC employees; nursing home quality and proposed five star rating system cms; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving initiative, nursing home compliance guidelines, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid data reporting requirements), status of Nursing Home Value Based Purchasing Demonstration, Prepare to Care for use in innovative employer caregiving programs satellite broadcast, LTC Quality Alliance. HR 2642 - Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid Regulation Moratoriam in Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2008, and on supplemental appropriations bill. To build support and obtain sponsors for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no Bill). S 2838/HR 6126 - Lobbied to support the Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act and oppose amendments to weaken the bill. Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers (no bill). Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives (no bill). S 1577- Support for Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act (S 1577) and marking up the bill; provided feedback and in testimony. HR 7114/S3613 Independence at Home Act/Chronic Care Coordination - Feedback on and support for legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries. S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Seniors Act of 2007- Support for Medicare premium protection and modifications to Medicare Savings Programs/Part D Low-Income Subsidy. S. 3118 Preserving Access to Medicare Act - Lobbied in opposition to Grassley-McConnell bill - All provisions related to beneficiary access and Medicare improvements, including e-prescribing. S 3101- Urged support of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 to help improve Medicare. Green Houses and culture change in LTC facilities, person centered care and medical homes - testimony and input on draft bill - no bill number. Lobbied for appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans (no bill). S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Services - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 Prescription Coverage Now Act - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. HR 5702 End-of-Life Care Advance Directive Promotion Act - Discussed ideas for end-of-life care legislation and how to help ensure patient wishes are respected; Advance Directive Promotion Act. Provided feedback on draft legislation regarding physician orders for life sustaining treatment. S.334 - Discussed long-term care broadly and including it in health care reform, including the Healthy Americans Act. Discussed voting in LTC facilities, such as nursing homes, current status and law on the issue (no bill). S 3327 - Provided input and support for the Empowered at Home Act to make improvements in Medicaid HCBS; LTC insurance tax incentives and consumer protection improvements and a caregiver tax credit. Invitations and information about a solutions forum on balancing of state LTC systems. HR 3363/S 2337 - Discussed consumer protections for LTC insurance, premium increases and claims denials, support for family caregivers including assessment, consumer complaints and support for the LTC Affordability and Security Act. HR 6033 - Discussed provisions of Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act. H.Con.Res 133 - Provided input on and support for new LTC Awareness Week resolution. LTC - General discussion of LTC, home and community based services, family caregiving, chronic care, workforce, quality and financing options.(no bill) CMS - Lobbied on the Medicare Medical Home Demo implementation.
HR 2167/ S 1141 Automatic IRA Act of 2007 - Provisions related to establishing an auto IRA for workers not covered by pension plan. HR 5140 Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008 - Discussed implementation of the economic stimulus package, including rebates for older Americans and IRS funding for implementation. Lobbied for long-term financial security (no bill). S 3230 Labor, HHS, Education, Appropriations - Lobbied for adequate funding for Social Security Administration budget. S 2063/HR 3655- Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action Act of 2007 Senate Budget: Entitlement Task Force (could cut Social Security and Medicare benefits). Discussed options to strengthen and improve long term financing and operations of social security program (no Bill). Lobbying for increased spending to reduce SSA disability claim backlog (no Bill). Discussed increased bankruptcy among 50+ population (no Bill). HR 3765(Defined Contribution Plan Fee Transparency Act of 2007), S 2473 Defined Contribution Fee Disclosure Act of 2007, HR 3185 401(k) Fair Disclosure for Retirement Security Act of 2007 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to prohibit an administrator of an individual account plan that includes a qualified cash or deferred arrangement to enter into any contract for services to the plan without a written statement that identifies who will be performing such services, describes each such service, and specifies the expected total annual cost of such services. Requires the Secretary of Labor to prescribe a model statement that may be used for purposes of satisfying such requirements. Limits the requirements for such a statement to contracts for services if the total cost for such services equals or exceeds $1,000. Discussed AARP's concerns about garnishment of Social Security checks by banks and payday lenders and check cashers. HR 2642 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act - Lobbied for funding for IRS/SSA and from IRS to implement Economic Stimulus Payment. S 3230 Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations FY 2009 - Lobbied for increased spending to reduce SSA disability claim backlog and in opposition to certain e-verify provisions without sufficient funding. HR 3654 Safe Commission Act - All provisions related to strengthening Social Security and Medicare and reducing health care costs. S 2794 Senior Investor Protection Act - Lobbied in favor of provisions related to protecting older Americans from fraudulent and misleading marketing practices.
S 623/HR 1038 (Access to Life Saving Medicine Act), HR 1956 (Patient Protection and Innovative Biologic Medicines Act of 2007), HR 5629 (Pathway for Biosimilars Act) - Lobbied to ensure that Waxman Biogenerics legislation is enacted particularly provisions related to ensuring a safe, effective pathway for the approval of comparable, interchangeable biologics. HR 1902 (Protecting Consumer Access to Generic Drugs Act of 2007)/ S 316 (Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act -Provisions related to preventing abuses in patent settlements between generic and brand name prescription drug manufactures. S 1145 Patient Reform Act of 2007- Ensuring that the existing inequitable conduct provisions in Patent Law Act are not weakened. Discussion regarding prescription drug affordability (no Bill). S 3230 Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations FY 2009 - Lobbying for spending levels for Rx comparative effectiveness. S 3289 Agriculture and Rural Development Appropriations, FY 2009 - Lobbied to reduce FDA generic drug processing backlog.
S 2686/HR 5951- Complete Streets Act of 2008 - Lobbied for all provisions related to ensuring that future transportation investments made by state Departments of Transportation and Metropolitan Planning Organizations create appropriate and safe transportation facilities for all those using the road-motorists, transit vehicles and riders, bicyclists, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities. S 3261 Transportation/HUD Appropriations FY 2009 - Lobbied against transfer of public transportation funding to highway projects.
HR 5140 Tax Relief, urging vote for Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008. HR 2167/ S 1141 Automatic IRA of 2007- Provisions related to establishing an auto IRA for workers not covered by pension plan. HR 5719 Taxpayer Assistance and Simplification Act of 2008 - Discussed various provisions that could be included in a bill drafted to make the administration of the tax code more effective and efficient. Discussed political, economic and social conditions that would create the conditions necessary to reform the tax code and possible changes that would simplify the tax code and make it more equitable (no Bill). HR 1540 Civil Rights Tax Relief Act of 2007- Provisions related to excluding from gross income amounts received as damages due to discriminatory conduct. HR 6237 Tax Relief for Long-Term Care Act of 2008 - All provisions regarding tax relief for family caregivers and purchasers of LTC insurance, the Tax Relief Act of 2008. S 3032/S 3532 Give Act HR 6283 Reimbursing Our American Drivers (ROAD) Act of 2008 - Lobbied in favor of allowing non-profit organizations to reimburse volunteers (without income tax consequences for mileage driven for charitable purposes up to the business mileage rate, and increasing the mileage deduction allowed for charitable purposes. S 3260 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations, FY 2009 - Lobbied for increased funding for IRS taxpayer assistance programs (Tax Counseling for the Elderly and VITA).
S 3408 - Lobbying in favor of the Conrad-Baucus legislation to create an independent comparative effectiveness entity to conduct and desseminate independent comparative effectiveness research. SCR 70 - Lobbied in favor of Medicare premium protection language in the budget and for reserve funds for health. Lobbied for quality health care (no bill). Lobbied for spending levels for Rx comparative effectiveness, nursing education, NIH research, Falls Prevention and other similar accounts (no bill). Discussed the need for bipartisan action on health care reform legislation, and how AARP could be helpful in vetting such proposals with its members (no bill). Expressed concern about proposed regulation regarding reduction of annual reassignment of LIS population in Medicare Part D. HR 3800/S 1693 - Wired for Health Act/Promotion of Health Information Technology Act - Strongly promoted enactment of this legislation to promote adoption of health information technology. HR 6357 Pro(tech)t Act - Protecting Records, Optimizing Treatment, and Easing Communication through Healthcare Technology Act of 2008. Lobbied for the adoption of Health IT. S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported this legislation to require e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. Lobbied for legislation to promote Health IT (no bill). Lobbied on structure of Health IT standard-setting body (no bill). Health Care Reform - Inquiry on medical home or primary care home legislation. HR 6898 Health-e Information Technology Act - Lobbied to promote Health IT and on structure of Health IT standard-setting body.
Filing targets: Administration on Aging, Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Federal Reserve System, Government Accountability Office (GAO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA), Treasury, Dept of, White House Office
HR 3001/ S 1340 - Shared and discusssed actuarial analysis of the CLASS Act regarding creation of a public insurance program for long-term services. S 2337/HR 3363 - Discussion of and support for Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act that would make private long-term care insurance available through employer-sponsored flexible spending accounts and cafeteria plans and update and add consumer protections. S 1070 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation and strategy for how they might both move forward this year. S 1340 Geriatric Assessment and Chronic Care Coordination Act of 2007- Discussed a demonstration version of this Medicare chronic care coordination and geriatric assessment bill. S 2708 Caring for an Aging America Act of 2008 - Provisions related to increasing the number of professionals trained in geriatrics or gerontology, etc., providing input on legislation and encouraging offices to cosponsor the bill. Discussed draft legislation to make changes to Medicaid HCBS, including the Medicaid state plan option, spousal impoverishment, Medicaid Transformation Grants, etc. HR 1174 Healthy Hospitals Act of 2007- Discussed with sponsors' staff potential endorsement of this legislation to require hospitals to report infection rates. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicaid Personal Assistance Services State Plan option- discussion of comment letter sending and receipt. Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries. S 2480/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641/ HR 5799 Nursing Home Quality and Transparency Legislation Act - To protect residents and support for the Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act. Discussion of provisions (civil monetary penalties and Special Focus Facilities) in nursing home transparency, accountability, and quality bill. Special Focus Facilities and disclosure of these facilities; criminal background checks for LTC employees; nursing home quality; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving, nursing home compliance guidelines, Real Choice Systems Change Grants and family caregiver assessments, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid), Aging and Disability Resource Centers (AoA), health care and the uninsured - steps HHS is taking to address this, Medicare Medical Adult Day Care Demonstration. HR 5702 Advance Directive Promotion Act of 2008 - Negotiated provisions on portability of advance directives. HR 2642 - Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid Regulation Moratoriam in Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2008, and on supplemental appropriations bill. To build support for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no Bill). S 2838/HR 6126 - Input on draft legislation to make arbitration clauses between LTC facilities and their residents or representatives unenforceable; support for this legislation once it was introduced as the Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act, including support letter. Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers. Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives. S 1577/HR 3078 - Support for Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act (S 1577) and moving the issue forward; provided feedback and in testimony. S 2921 Caring for Wounded Warriors Act of 2008 - Services and supports for family caregivers of certain veterans. Feedback on draft legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries; approaches to improving chronic care for Medicare beneficiaries; discussion of chronic care and Special Needs Plans. S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Seniors Act of 2007- Support for Medicare premium protection and modifications to Medicare Savings Programs/Part D Low-Income Subsidy. S 1758 - Long-term care financing proposals, including the CLASS Act, a public LTC financing program. S. 3164 - Lobbied on Medicare Fraud bill (Martinez and Cornyn) - All provisions related to protecting participants and the Medicare program from fraud and abuse. S. 3118 - Lobbied in opposition to Grassley-McConnell bill - All provisions related to beneficiary access and Medicare improvements, including e-prescribing. S 3101- Urged support of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 to help improve Medicare. Long Term Care/Reverse Mortgages - To protect consumers when reverse mortgages are used as a LTC financing tool. Green Houses and culture change in LTC facilities. HR 2642 - To keep moratorium on all seven Medicaid regulations in the supplemental appropriations bill. Lobbied on appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans. S 1102 - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. S 3101/HR 6331 - (Medicare) Lobbied for legislation to protect part B premiums, increase LIS and MSP asset limits, and promote e-prescribing in Medicare. HR 2642 - (Medicaid) Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid regulation moratorium in Iraq Supplemental.
HR 5140 Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008 - Lobbied in favor of including senior rebate in the economic stimulus bill. HR 2167/ S 1141 Automatic IRA of 2007- Provisions related to establishing an auto IRA for workers not covered by pension plan. HR 5719 Taxpayer Assistance and Simplification Act of 2008 - Discussed various provisions that could be included in a bill drafted to make the administration of the tax code more effective and efficient. A general discussion of the political, economic and social conditions that would create the conditions necessary to reform the tax code and possible changes that would simplify the tax code and make it more equitable (no Bill). Meeting with House Small Business Committee to discuss the agenda for the Committee hearing scheduled for April 10, 2008 on small business taxes and impact on retirement security (no Bill). HR 1540 Civil Rights Tax Relief Act of 2007- Provisions related to excluding from gross income amounts received as damages due to discriminatory conduct. HR 6237 Tax Relief for Long-Term Care Act of 2008 - All provisions regarding tax relief for family caregivers and purchasers of LTC insurance, the Tax Relief Act of 2008.
HR 2167/ S 1141 Automatic IRA Act of 2007 - Provisions related to establishing an auto IRA for workers not covered by pension plan. HR 5140 Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008 - Discussed implementation of the economic stimulus package, including rebates for seniors and IRS funding for implementation. Divided We Fail, an initiative to give voice to millions of Americans who are tired of letting Washington gridlock stand in the way of affordable, quality health care and long-term financial security-the most pressing domestic issues facing our nation. Lobbied for adequate funding for Social Security Administration budget. S 2063/HR 3655- Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action Act of 2007 Senate Budget: Entitlement Task Force (could cut Social Security and Medicare benefits). Discussed options to strengthen and improve long term financing and operations of social security program (no Bill). Lobbying for increased spending to reduce SSA disability claim backlog (no Bill). Discussed increased bankruptcy among 50+ population (no Bill). HR 3185, HR 3765(Defined Contribution Plan Fee Transparency Act of 2007), S 2473 Defined Contribution Fee Disclosure Act of 2007- HR 3185 401(k) Fair Disclosure for Retirement Security Act of 2007 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 9 (ERISA) to prohibit an administrator of an individual account plan that includes a qualified cash or deferred arrangement to enter into any contract for services to the plan without a written statement that identifies who will be performing such services, describes each such service, and specifies the expected total annual cost of such services. Requires the Secretary of Labor to prescribe a model statement that may be used for purposes of satisfying such requirements. Limits the requirements for such a statement to contracts for services if the total cost for such services equals or exceeds $1,000. Discussed AARP's concerns about garnishment of Social Security checks by banks and payday lenders and check cashers. HR 2642 - Lobbying for funding for IRS/SSA and from IRS to implement Economic Stimulus Payment. S 3230 Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations FY 2009 - Lobbied for increased spending to reduce SSA disability claim backlog and in opposition to certain e-verify provisions without sufficient funding. HR 3654 Safe Act - All provisions related to strengthening Social Security and Medicare and reducing health care costs. S 2794 Senior Investor Protection Act - Lobbied in favor of provisions related to protecting seniors from fraudulent and misleading marketing practices.
HR 3195 ADA Amendments Act of 2008 - Lobbied in favor of passage ADA restoration Act which restores original Congressional intent on ADA act. HR 2831/S 1843 - Educated and lobbied Hill staff on the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2007 which restores the paycheck rule for employment discrimination law suits.
S 2795/HR 5918 Small Business Health Options Program Act of 2008 - Discussed concerns on small business health insurance coverage. Discussed proposal for health insurance reinsurance. S 334 Healthy Americans Act - Discussed Senator Wyden's health care reform bill. Stakeholder meeting on health care quality. HR 3701/S 845 Keeping Seniors Safe from Falls Act of 2007- Lobbied for all provisions to direct the Secretary of HHS to conduct public and professional education, research, and demonstration grants to prevent falls among the elderly. SCR 70 - Lobbied in favor of Medicare premium protection language in the budget and for reserve funds for health. Divided We Fail, an initiative to give voice to millions of Americans who are tired of letting Washington gridlock stand in the way of affordable, quality health care and long-term financial security - the most pressing domestic issues facing our nation. Lobbied for spending levels for Rx comparative effectiveness, nursing education, NIH research, Falls Prevention and other similar accounts. Discussed the need for bipartisan action on health care reform legislation, and how AARP could be helpful in vetting such proposals with its members. Expressed concern about proposed regulation regarding reduction of annual reassignment of LIS population in Medicare Part D. HR 3800/S 1693 - Wired for Health Act/Promotion of Health Information Technology Act - Strongly promoted enactment of this legislation to promote adoption of health information technology. S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported this legislation to require e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. Lobbied for legislation to promote Health IT. Lobbied on structure of Health IT standard-setting body.
Filing targets: Administration on Aging, Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA), Treasury, Dept of, White House Office