VIZIENT, INC. for VIZIENT INC

Taxation/Internal Revenue Code TAX

Hospital Tax-exemption and Community Benefit - Urged the IRS to extend compliance deadlines for tax-exempt hospitals to complete a Community Health Needs Assesment and implementation strategy during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Contacted: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE; Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Treasury, Dept of; Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

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: HEROES Act (H.R. 6800) Heroes Act 2.0 (H.R. 925) Health, Economic Assistance, Liability Protection and Schools (HEALS) Act S. 178 Hospital Provider Relief Fund - Urged Congress to increase funding available for the Provider Relief Fund and maintain established guidelines. Liability protections - Advocated for Congress to include liability protections for health care workers and facilities responding to the COVID-19 crisis. Front-line Health Care Worker Hazard Pay - Advocated for Congress to provide funding to enhance payment for essential health care workers. 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. Prescription Drug Safety - Supported passage of the Safe Drugs Act (S. 4492) 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). Urged HHS to act to enforce guidance regarding 340B discounts through contract pharmacies. 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). Urged Congress to oppose benchmark payment rates in COVID relief legislation. Stark and Antikickback Statute - Uged the administration to finalize regulations that offer new flexibilty for Stark and Antikickback Statute regulations for value-based arrangements.

Contacted: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); SENATE; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Treasury, Dept of; Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

Bills named: S. 178 (116th), S. 1895 (116th), H.R. 2328 (116th), S. 4492 (116th), H.R. 6800 (116th), H.R. 3630 (116th), H.R. 925 (116th), S. 4160 (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: HEROES Act (HR 6800) Heroes Act 2.0 (H.R. 925) Health, Economic Assistance, Liability Protection and Schools (HEALS) Act S. 178 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/ H.R. 8337). 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. 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. COVID-19 Data Reporting Requirements for Hospitals - requested HHS ease burden of COVID-19 mandatory reporting requirements and clarify aspects of reporting. Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act (S. 348) - Urged Congress to pass the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act.

Contacted: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); SENATE; Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Treasury, Dept of; Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

Bills named: S. 348 (116th), H.R. 6800 (116th), H.R. 8337 (116th), H.R. 925 (116th), H.R. 6837 (116th), S. 3750 (116th), S. 178 (116th), H.R. 2552 (116th)