VIZIENT, INC. for VIZIENT INC

Health Issues HCR

COVID-19 crisis - Engaged with Congress and the administration to advocate for greater regulatory flexibility and appropriate reimbursement for hospitals through development, passage and ongoing implementation of coronavirus relief legislation: Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act (H.R. 748) Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act (H.R. 6074) Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201) Paycheck Protection Act and Health Care Enhancement Act (H.R. 266) HEROES Act (HR 3) Hospital Group Purchasing - Offered recommendations and insights to support access to essential personal protective equipment, medications and supplies for hospitals treating patients and supply chain stability for the national response to the COVID-19 crisis. Provider Relief Fund - Urged Congress to increase funding available for the Provider Relief Fund, and encouraged HHS to rapidly deploy the funding for hospitals. Liability protections - Advocated for Congress to include liability protections for health care workers and facilities responding to the COVID-19 crisis. Prescription Drug Pricing - Monitored ongoing negotiations to reduce prescription drug prices. Engaged to clarify provisions in the House (H.R. 3) and Senate (S. 2543) drug pricing bills. 340B Drug Pricing Program - Supported legislation to ensure hospitals eligible for the 340B Drug Pricing Program do not lose eligibility due to changing patient mix during the COVID-19 crisis. Advocated for preserving the current structure of the program (S. 4160). Surprise Billing - Supported inclusion of provisions to provide for an independent dispute resolution process in legislation to address surprise bills (H.R. 3630; H.R. 2328; S. 1895).

Contacted: Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); SENATE; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Office of the Vice President of the United States

Bills named: H.R. 748 (116th), S. 1895 (116th), H.R. 2328 (116th), H.R. 6201 (116th), S. 4160 (116th), H.R. 6074 (116th), S. 2543 (116th), H.R. 266 (116th), H.R. 3 (116th), H.R. 3630 (116th)

Medicare/Medicaid MMM

COVID-19 crisis - Engaged with Congress and the administration to advocate for greater regulatory flexibility and appropriate reimbursement for hospitals through development, passage and ongoing implementation of coronavirus relief legislation: Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act (H.R. 748) Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act (H.R. 6074) Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201) Paycheck Protection Act and Health Care Enhancement Act (H.R. 266) HEROES Act (HR 3) Telehealth - Urged Congress and the administration to make permanent telehealth flexibilities related to distant site and geographic limitations, expanding provider types and services available to consumers and maintaining Medicare reimbursement parity. Accelerated and Advanced Payment Program - Advocated for Congress and the administration to offer forgiveness for accelerated and advanced payments during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Offered support for reduced interest rates, extended loan repayment period and reduced recoupment amounts (S. 3750/H.R. 6837) Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) Payments - Urged Congress to end implementation of Medicaid DSH payment cuts. Medicare Sequester - urged Congress to end ongoing Medicare sequestration reimbursement reductions. Site-neutral Payments - Urged Congress to end site-neutral payment reductions. Supported passage of the PLACE Act (H.R. 2552) which would reverse site-neutral payments cuts implemented by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Medicare Indirect Medical Education - Urged Congress to hold harmless teaching hospital IME funding to respond to the COVID-19 crisis. Urged Congress to expand enhanced Medicare reimbursement for COVID-19 patients for long-term care hospitals. Price Transparency - Urged Congress and the administration to delay implementation of regulation requiring hospitals to post payor-specific pricing information for goods and services. Enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) - Urged Congress to extend the increased Medicaid FMAP matching rate beyond the public health emergency and increase the enhanced percentage. Medicaid Fiscal Accountability Regulation - Urged CMS to withdraw the Medicaid Fiscal Accountability Regulation and advocated for Congress to rescind the proposal.

Contacted: Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Office of the Vice President of the United States; SENATE

Bills named: H.R. 2552 (116th), H.R. 3 (116th), H.R. 6201 (116th), H.R. 6837 (116th), H.R. 748 (116th), S. 3750 (116th), H.R. 266 (116th), H.R. 6074 (116th)