VIZIENT, INC. for VIZIENT INC
What was lobbied
4 issue areas, each in the filer's own words, with who lobbied on it and where.
Medicare/Medicaid MMM
21st Century Cures Act: Establishment of Disincentives for Health Care Providers That Have Committed Information Blocking Proposed Rule - Urged CMS to refrain from finalizing the Proposed Rule. Encouraged CMS, ONC and OIG to provide additional clarity regarding several policies under consideration. Contract Year 2025 Policy and Technical Changes To The Medicare Advantage (MA Or Part C) and Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D) programs Proposed Rule - Encouraged CMS to consider the Vizient Vulnerability Index as the agency considers other potential social risk factors and urged CMS to continue monitoring patients out-of-pocket costs as formulary changes occur. Issues related to hospital and provider payment. Issues related to pharmacy benefit managers; monitoring the Modernizing and Ensuring PBM Accountability (MEPA) Act (S.2973). Lower Costs, More Transparency Act (H.R. 5378) - Opposed adoption of site-neutral payment policies for drug administration and increased fines related to price transparency requirements for hospitals. Urged Congress to redirect its focus from site-neutral payment policies to reducing administrative burdens and increasing, rather than reducing, payments for care delivery in rural areas. Medicaid Disproportionate Hospital (DSH) payment cuts - Urged Congress to avoid Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payment cuts scheduled to begin in FY 2024. Supported temporary delay of Medicaid DSH cuts in Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (H.R. 4366). Medicare-supported Graduate Medical Education - Supported passage of the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act (H.R. 2389/S. 1302). The Medicare Dependent Hospital (MDH) program and the Low Volume Hospital Payment Adjustment (LVA) - Supported passage of the Assistance for Rural Community Hospitals (ARCH) Act (H.R 6430).
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| ALEXANDRIA LEIGH ICENHOWER | — |
| SHOSHANA KRILOW | — |
| JENNA STERN | — |
| DARREN WEBB | — |
Health Issues HCR
340B Drug Pricing Program - Continued to urge action to ensure covered entities have access to 340B discounted prices through contract pharmacies. Highlighted critical importance of the 340B program for hospitals. Responded to the discussion draft of the Supporting Underserved and Strengthening Transparency, Accountability, and Integrity Now and for the Future of 340B Act (SUSTAIN 340B Act) and supplemental request for information (RFI). Buffer inventory - Engagements with CMS on reimbursement for hospitals that stockpile buffer supplies of essential medicines. Children's Hospital Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) - Continued to urge Congress to reauthorize CHGME program through the Childrens Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2023 (H.R. 3887). Offered support for providing $738 million in funding the CHGME program. Drug shortages -Supported elements to increase transparency in prescription drug supply chain and increase reimbursement for generic prescription drugs; issues related to compounding; issues related to buffer inventory. Engaged on recent FTC/HHS joint Request for Information related to generic drug shortages, as well as the January Senate Finance Committee White Paper Preventing and Mitigating Generic Drug Shortages: Policy Options Under Federal Health Programs. Continued supporting passage of The Drug Shortage Prevention Act (H.R. 3008) and The Drug Origin Transparency Act (H.R. 3810) and engaged on the Stop Drug Shortages Act (McMorris Rodgers, No Bill Number) discussion draft. Endorsed passage of legislation to address patent thickets (H.R. 6986/S.3583). Endorsed passage of the Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Act (S.150). Endorsed passage of the Mapping Americas Pharmaceutical Supply (MAPS) Act (H.R. 6992). Healthcare Workforce - Endorsed passage of the Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act (H.R. 2584/S. 2768). Monitored development of the Bipartisan Primary Care and Health Workforce Act (S.2840). Hospital Group Purchasing - Advocated to highlight the value that hospital group purchasing organizations provide to hospitals and suppliers. Provided education on how GPOs work in the healthcare supply chain and the role they play in delivering value to healthcare providers, as well as key differences between traditional GPOs and PBMs. Medical Device Sterilization - Conducted education and outreach on the potential negative impact on the healthcare supply chain of pending regulations limiting the use of Ethylene Oxide as a medical device sterilant. Mental and Behavioral Health - Highlighted the need for legislation to address significant challenges to mental and behavioral health treatment, including increased demand for services, limited access to treatment, and clinician shortages. Payer-mandated White Bagging - Urged support for policy updates related to payer-mandated white bagging for medications. Preparing for All Hazards and Pathogens Reauthorization Act (H.R. 4421) and Preparedness and Response Reauthorization Act (H.R. 4420) - Supported timely passage of legislation to reauthorize the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act. Advocated for including provisions to increase transparency in the healthcare supply chain and improve hospital and health system emergency preparedness. Social Determinants of Health - Encouraged Congress and agencies to ensure tools like the Vizient Vulnerability Index are being utilized to understand and identify social drivers of health at the neighborhood level. Supported an increase in the Physician Fee Schedule conversion factor in Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (H.R. 4366) to offset recent administrative payment cuts. Telehealth - Continued supporting passage of the CONNECT for Health Act (S. 2016/H.R. 4189). Continued to advocate for the adoption of permanent telehealth policies to extend flexibilities beyond the current 2024 expiration date.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| ALEXANDRIA LEIGH ICENHOWER | — |
| SHOSHANA KRILOW | — |
| JENNA STERN | — |
| DARREN WEBB | — |
Taxation/Internal Revenue Code TAX
Not-for-Profit Hospital Tax-exemption - Provided education and information on hospital tax exemption and what is required to justify and maintain tax-exempt status.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| ALEXANDRIA LEIGH ICENHOWER | — |
| SHOSHANA KRILOW | — |
| JENNA STERN | — |
| DARREN WEBB | — |
Tariff (miscellaneous tariff bills) TAR
Sec. 301 China Tariffs - Continued to advocate for clarity around the expiration of tariff exclusions for products necessary to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Supported extending exclusions for key healthcare products.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| ALEXANDRIA LEIGH ICENHOWER | — |
| SHOSHANA KRILOW | — |
| JENNA STERN | — |
| DARREN WEBB | — |
Shown as published by the Senate Office of Public Records and the House Clerk under the Lobbying Disclosure Act. The official filing is the record; open it for the full form.