UNITED SPINAL ASSOCIATION for UNITED SPINAL ASSOCIATION
What was lobbied
11 issue areas, each in the filer's own words, with who lobbied on it and where.
Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace LBR
Employment issues including Workforce Investment Act, including the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, encouraging federal government and federal contractors to live up to their obligation to be model employers of people with disabilities, proposed Commission on People with Disabilities, Employment, Economic Empowerment & Social Security, and other issues regarding employment and economic self-sufficiency of people with disabilities.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| MARGARET HATHAWAY | — |
| ANDREW JAMES MORRIS | — |
Medical/Disease Research/Clinical Labs MED
Stem Cell Research Improvement Act of 2009 allows for federal funding of embryonic stem cell research provided that certain ethical requirements are met (HR 873 and S 487).
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| MARGARET HATHAWAY | — |
| ANDREW JAMES MORRIS | — |
Health Issues HCR
Health care reform and issues in both health care reform and independent legislation. See following page. See also Medicare and Medicaid. In the House, HR 3962 (Affordable Care for America Act) and in the Senate HR 3590 (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) and Americas Healthy Future Act (Senate Finance Committee) and Affordable Health Choices Act (Senate HELP Committee). Support health care reform legislation and the related goals of reducing costs, improving quality and expanding health care coverage for Americans with disabilities and chronic conditions and all Americans (including those who lack health insurance). Issues with asterisks * indicate legislation pursued both as part of health care reform and independently. Issues include: Provide for health coverage that adequately meets the needs of people with disabilities and chronic conditions including -- Covering durable medical equipment, prosthetics and orthotics (DMEPOS) including but not limited to power wheelchairs that meet the individual needs of people with disabilities and chronic conditions, enable them to be as independent as possible, to live in their homes and participate in their communities, and enable them to be employed without fear of losing health care/services and supports they need. This includes retaining the first month purchase option for people who have permanent or long-term need for power wheelchairs and including DMEPOS as covered in essential health insurance benefits. Provide for insurance market reforms, such as those included in House and/or Senate bills, that could greatly improve the lives of people with disabilities and chronic conditions by allowing increased access to health care, such as: --Requiring health insurers to provide the same coverage, charge the same premiums and renew policies to people no matter what their disability or other pre-existing or newly acquired conditions. Currently, unless they have employer-sponsored plans, people with disabilities are often denied coverage altogether, the policies exclude needed services or the premiums are way too costly. --Prohibiting annual and lifetime caps on coverage. People with serious injuries or conditions often quickly exceed these caps due to lengthy hospital stays and/or extensive rehabilitation -- Requiring health insurance to cover rehabilitation and habilitative services. -- Providing for a temporary high risk pool through which people with disabilities and other pre-existing conditions may obtain health insurance pending full implementation of health insurance market reforms. Concerns about the medical device excise tax that is proposed in both the House and Senate bills. The excise tax on manufacturers would increase their costs and could potentially increase costs for medical equipment for people with disabilities and chronic conditions who depend on them. Provide for prevention and wellness including --Developing standards for accessible medical equipment; --Authorizing funds to establish a Prevention and Public Health Investment Fund; --Providing for community Transformation Grants that include focus on the needs of people with disabilities; -- Including disability status within data collection on health disparities; -- Proving training programs for primary care providers and dentistry professionals on how to treat individuals with disabilities; Concerns about well-intended wellness provisions that reward people for meeting health standards set by employers and insurance companies with potentially serious unintended onsequences that people with disabilities or other chronic conditions will be unable to meet the health or participation standards because of a limitation, and consequently they would have to pay more for their health coverage, including but not limited to higher deductibles, than people without disabilities or chronic conditions. Provide for comparative effectiveness research and using the resulting information in a way that respects that what works for many people will not work for all; Provide for home and community-based services and supports for people with disabilities and chronic conditions such as Community Living Assistance and Supports (CLASS) provisions* and the Community First ChoiceOption in health care reform. Support increasing Medicaid elibility to a nationwide standard for those whose incomes are up to 150% of the Federal Poverty Level. Since many people with disabilities have low incomes, this would extend Medicaid coverage to many people with disabilities, including childless adults. continued on next page Note -- Asterisk * indicates issue pursued both independently and as part of health care reform. CLASS Act* -- S. 697/H.R. 1721 included in HR 3590 (Senate health care reform bill) and HR 3962 (House health care reform bill) . Support legislation to establish a voluntary payroll deduction insurance plan so that people with disabilities will be able to pay for assistance with activities of daily living. This would enable them to remain in their homes and off of the Medicaid program. CBO estimates that the CLASS provisions will save Medicaid $2.5 billion in the first 10 years alone. Community Choice Act* (S. 683/H.R. 1670). Support legislation to make services in the home and community the norm under Medicaid - enabling people to stay in their homes and remain part of their communities rather than having to go into nursing homes or other institutions to receive needed services. Became Community First Choice Option in health care reform bills. End Medicares 24-month waiting period* - S 700/HR 1708. Support legislation to end the waiting period for Medicare for people who qualify for Title II Social Security disability benefits and people with life-threatening conditions. Comparative Effectiveness Research HR 2502/S 1213* Support legislation to create non-government independent entities to study the comparative effectiveness of treatments in health care. Mental Illness Chronic Care Improvement (MICCI) Act, S 1136* Support legislation to facilitate access to needed medical services. Amend the Medicare Savings Programs and the Low Income Subsidy* to align, simplify and increase income eligibility, eliminate or substantially increase asset limits, stabilize the programs and make administrative simplifications. First month purchase option* Advocated to maintain the current ability for Medicare beneficiaries to purchase their power wheelchair in the first month of use. Both the House and Senate included language in health reform that would require a beneficiary to rent a power wheelchair for 13 months before purchase. Supported inclusion in HR 3590 and HR 3962 of provisions to exempt Class III and higher power wheel chairs from the rental period and to retain the first-month purchase option under existing law. Community First Choice Option* would allow states to create Medicaid plans that would reverse the institutional bias in Medicaid. The option would provide a 6% increase in FMAP matching funds to states. Supported H.R.2575 to provide parity under group health plans and group health insurance coverage in the provision of benefits for prosthetic devices and orthotics devices, components and benefits for other medical and surgical services. See also Medicare and Medicaid.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| MARGARET HATHAWAY | — |
| ANDREW JAMES MORRIS | — |
Defense DEF
National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2010 -- extends benefits under the TRICARE and ECHO programs equally for all military family members with significant disabilities rather than selected disabilities. Suppported legislation that includes crimes against people with disabilities as hate crimes - included in HR 2647, the Dept of Defenses military appropriations bill for FY 2010 (originally introduced as H.R. 1913 and S. 909).
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| MARGARET HATHAWAY | — |
| OTHERS W LESS THAN 20% OF TIE OTHERS W LESS THAN 20% OF TIE | — |
Civil Rights/Civil Liberties CIV
Advocated that the Secretary of Education and the Office of Civil Rights in the Department of Education not allow use of seclusion and restraints in schools. Advocated that Treasury Secy Geithner, Health & Human Services Secy Sibelius, and Labor Secy Solis promptly enforce the Genetic Information and Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) and set an effective date of December 7, 2009 for the interim final rule on GINA to go into effect in December 2009.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| MARGARET HATHAWAY | — |
| ANDREW JAMES MORRIS | — |
Taxation/Internal Revenue Code TAX
Support HR 1205/S. 493, the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2009 (ABLE Act). This legislation will allow individuals with disabilities to have access to the same type of savings instruments that other Americans use through the use of 401K, IRA and College Savings Account Families could establish savings accounts for specified education, medical and community-based services, including housing, transportation, employment training, and supports without jeopardizing other benefits vital to beneficiaries.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| MARGARET HATHAWAY | — |
| ANDREW JAMES MORRIS | — |
Veterans VET
National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2010 -- extends benefits under the TRICARE and ECHO programs equally for all military family members with significant disabilities rather than selected disabilities. Met with senior VA officials and talked with other Administration officials regarding a VA publication that is offensive to people with disabilities that had been posted on VA website. continued S. 1964, Caregivers & Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2009, Title 1, Sections 101-104, and H.R. 3155 Caregiver Assistance and Resource Enhancement Act.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| MARGARET HATHAWAY | — |
| OTHERS W LESS THAN 20% OF TIE OTHERS W LESS THAN 20% OF TIE | — |
Medicare/Medicaid MMM
See next page and see also HCR - Health Care Issues. Medicare/Medicaid Community Choice Act (HR 1670 and S 683) (changed to Community First Choice Option in health reform) Advocated to end the institutional bias in Medicaid. The bill would amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide individuals with disabilities and older Americans with equal access to community-based attendant services and supports, and for other purposes. HR 3790 to repeal the Medicare competitive acquisition program for durable medical equipment and prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) in a budget neutral manner. Medicare In the Home restriction (HR 3184 and S 1186) - reintroduction of legislation to reverse the CMS rule that Medicare will pay for wheelchairs only as needed in the home rather than as needed for the individual to go to medical appointments, go to the pharmacy and grocery store, attend worship services, accompany children to school and other activities, vote and otherwise be independent and participate in the community. HR 2390, the Guidance, Understanding and Information for Dual Eligibles (GUIDE) Act to provide one-on-one counseling to people with cognitive impairments navigate and protect their rights with regard to the confusing Part D Prescription Drug Benefit Program authorized under the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) of 2003. S 700/HR 1708 to end the waiting period for Medicare for people who qualify for Title II Social Security disability benefits and people with life-threatening conditions. DME Competitive Bidding - Met with CMS officials to discuss implementation of the DMEPOS competitive bidding program to make the transition as easy as possible for members who are Medicare beneficiaries. S 1630 a bill to amend Medicare to improve prescription drug coverage under Medicare part D and to amend the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to improve prescription drug coverage under private health insurance Supported HR 3799 that would cap out of pocket prescription costs at a max of $200 per prescription and at $500 total for any group of prescriptions in Medicare Part D. For people with chronic conditions who participate in Medicare Part D the increasing costs of specialty medicines can cause hardships and make access to prescription drugs unattainable. Supported HR 3621, the Medicare Premium Fairness Act, to protect millions of seniors and people with disabilities who receive Social Security benefits from unfair increases in their 2010 Medicare Part B premiums. See also Health.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| MARGARET HATHAWAY | — |
| ANDREW JAMES MORRIS | — |
Housing HOU
Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Act of 2009, HR 1675, to make significant changes and improvements to the Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities program and authorize a demonstration program that fulfills the promise of true community integration as envisioned by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Support Inclusive Home Design Act, HR 2353, to advance housing accessibility by filling in gaps of Fair Housing Act & Sec 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Support HR 1408 - which requires all newly constructed, federally assisted, single-family houses and town houses to meet minimum standards of visitability for persons with disabilities Support the Preserving Homes and Community Act (HR 3766 and S 1731) which would use TARP funds for mortgage relief and making rent more affordable
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| MARGARET HATHAWAY | — |
| ANDREW JAMES MORRIS | — |
Budget/Appropriations BUD
Labor-HHS-Education and Related Agencies appropriations bill HR 3288-- for additional administrative funding for the Social Security Admininstration in order to reduce the tragic backlogs in Social Security disability applications and for support of many social service programs in appropriations. (continued) Amtrak Consolidated Appropriations bill, HR 3288, particularly provisions governing Amtrak's obligation to make its train stations accessible to people with disabilities. Supported legislation that includes crimes against people with disabilities as hate crimes -- included in HR 2647, the Department of Defense military activitites 2010 appropriations (originally introduced as H.R. 1913 and S. 909). Supported continuing resolution that allowed the government to continue running temporarily until permanent FY 2010 appropriations were enacted.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| MARGARET HATHAWAY | — |
| ANDREW JAMES MORRIS | — |
Insurance INS
Community Living Assistance and Supports Act (CLASS Act) to create a national insurance program financed by voluntary payroll deductions to provide services to assist people with activities of daily living in order to stay in their homes and communities if they become disabled. People would not be required to qualify for Medicaid or go into a nursing home or other institution in order to receive benefits. HR 1721, S.697, HR 3590 (Senate health care reform bill) and HR 3962 (House health care reform bill). Social Security: HR 1093 regarding fee caps to help make sure that attorneysand others representing Social Security disability claimants are paid in a timely manner and to index the allowed fees to the Cost of Living Adjustment. H.R. 2829, the Recidivism Reduction Act to expedite reinstatement of Social Security, SSI, and Medicaid benefits for eligible individuals after incarceration HR 3325 to reauthorize through fiscal 2010 the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance program and the Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security program, both of which provide employment-related services for people with disabilities. These provisions would have expired without reauthorization. Met with senior SSA officials, as well as Senators, Representatives and staff regarding policies and possible legislation to expedite obtaining and review of medical records of disability claimants while protecting privacy rights of people with disabilities. Supported proposed legislation to provide an additional stimulus payment in 2010 for people receiving Social Security retirement and disability benefits and participated in call with representative of White House Council of Economic Advisors on this proposal. Supported proposed legislation to renew the Social Security Administrations demonstration authority and to make permanent a successful demonstration that enables both attorneys and non-attorneys (who meet certain qualifications) representing Social Security disability claimants to be paid reasonable fees out of retroactive benefits. This practice enables many claimants (including those with mental illnesses and conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder) to have good representation rather than to navigate the esoteric and complex application process on their own (often to be denied for procedural rather than substantive reasons). Letter to Peter Orzag, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, urging sufficient administrative funding in FT 2010 for the Social Security Administration to continue reducing the tragic backlog in disability applications notwithstanding the recent unexpected surge in applications for both retirement and disability benefits.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| MARGARET HATHAWAY | — |
| ANDREW JAMES MORRIS | — |
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.