ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN MEDICAL COLLEGES for ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN MEDICAL COLLEGES

Medicare/Medicaid MMM

H.R. 2124/S. 1148, Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2015 Issues: Support lifting cap on number of residents Medicare will count when determining teaching hospitals' Medicare Direct Graduate Medical Education (DGME) and Indirect Medical Education (IME) payments H.R. 4774, The Training Tomorrows Doctors Today Act Issues: Support lifting cap on number of residents Medicare will count when determining teaching hospitals' Medicare Direct Graduate Medical Education (DGME) and Indirect Medical Education (IME) payments. Increases transparency and accountability measures. Issue: Oppose reduction of Medicare GME/IME payments Issue: Oppose reduction in Medicare hospital outpatient department reimbursement. Issue: Oppose inclusion of Medicare add-on payments in Hospital-Acquired Condition (HAC) program. Issue: Oppose Medicare hospital cuts as offsets for physician payment reform Issue: Support delay of Enforcement of new Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services inpatient criteria (e.g., "Two-Midnight" rule) in FY 2016 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) final rule. H.R. 4732/S.2671, Advancing Medical Resident Training in Community Hospitals Act Issue: Support Medicare Graduate Medical Education (GME) per resident amount technical corrections and administrative relief. H.R. 1343, Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmissions Program Act of 2015 S. 688, Hospital Readmission Accuracy and Accountability Act Issue: Support inclusion of socioeconomic status as part of hospital readmissions program. H.R. 3288, Strengthening DSH and Medicare through Subsidy Recapture and Payment Reform Act of 2015 Issue: Alter DSH payment methodology and increase DSH spending in non-Medicaid expansion states H.R. 3292, Medicare IME Pool Act of 2015 Issue: Oppose redesign of Medicare Indirect Medical Education financing and redistribution. H.R. 3291, Medicare Crosswalk Hospital Code Development Act of 2015 Issue: Create a crosswalk between Medicare Part A and Part B payments P.L. 114-10, Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015. Issues: Support repeal of Medicare's sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula; Medicare physician payment reform; extension of the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP); and extension of mandatory funding for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC). H.R. 1117, Creating Access to Residency Education Act of 2015 Issue: Create CMS grant program for new residency programs. Issue: Development and implementation of new Medicare Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) formula required under the ACA. Draft Hospital Improvements for Payment (HIP) Act of 2014 Issues: Support repeal of CMS Two-Midnights Rule, extending RAC audit moratorium for short stays, and permanent bundle program. Issue: Oppose further delays in the implementation of the ICD-10 system Issue: Support inclusion of socioeconomic status as part of hospital readmissions program including support for adoption of National Quality Forum (NQF) recommendations. Submitted comments to: CMS on the Medicare Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Shared Savings Program CMS regarding implementation of episode groups as required under MACRA CMS on the Quality Measure Development Plan for supporting the transition to the new Medicare Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Alternative Payment Models (APMs) CMS regarding certification of HIT, including EHR products used for reporting to certain CMS quality programs CMS on the Medicare Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems 0.2 Percent Reduction Rule CMS on the Revisions to Requirements for Discharge Planning for Hospitals, Critical Access Hospitals and Home Health Agencies Proposed Rule CMS on methods for assuring access to covered Medicaid service

Contacted: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); White House Office; Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ); Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA); Education, Dept of; Food & Drug Administration (FDA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); SENATE; Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

Bills named: H.R. 2124 (114th), S. 688 (114th), H.R. 4774 (114th), H.R. 3292 (114th), H.R. 1117 (114th), S. 2671 (114th), H.R. 4732 (114th), H.R. 1343 (114th), H.R. 3291 (114th), H.R. 3288 (114th), S. 1148 (114th)

Copyright/Patent/Trademark CPT

H.R. 9, Innovation Act S. 1137, Protecting American Talent and Entrepreneurship (PATENT) Act S. 2733, Venue Equity and Non-Uniformity Elimination Act of 2016 Issue: Support patent-litigation reform to curtail abusive patent practices. Oppose presumptive fee-shifting and involuntary joinder in light of recent judicial and administrative developments.

Contacted: Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); SENATE; Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Education, Dept of; Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ); Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; White House Office

Bills named: H.R. 9 (114th), S. 1137 (114th), S. 2733 (114th)

Animals ANI

Issue: Support the use of animals in medical research. H.R. 3136, Enforcement Transparency Act of 2015 Issue: Support transparency in the enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act

Contacted: Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); SENATE; Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC); Food & Drug Administration (FDA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); White House Office; Labor, Dept of (DOL); Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Education, Dept of

Bills named: H.R. 3136 (114th)

Immigration IMM

S. 1189, Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Act Issue: Support permanently reauthorization and expansion of the Conrad 30 J-1 visa waiver program for physicians.

Contacted: Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA); Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Education, Dept of; Food & Drug Administration (FDA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); SENATE; Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); White House Office

Bills named: S. 1189 (114th)

Law Enforcement/Crime/Criminal Justice LAW

Issue: Oppose False Claims Act use as a general enforcement mechanism for regulatory compliance, particularly administrative requirements related to participation in the Medicare program as opposed to payment requirements

Contacted: Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ); Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); SENATE; Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Education, Dept of; Food & Drug Administration (FDA); White House Office

Health Issues HCR

Issue: Educate congressional staff on academic medicines missions, including education, research, patient care, GME, workforce, and physician shortages in rural and urban communities. Issue: Support inclusion of socioeconomic status in Hospital Stars Ratings; delay public release of ratings until data is released and reviewed by hospital community. H.R. 1006/S. 2107, Building a Health Care Workforce for the Future Act Issue: Support bill to increase scholarship opportunities for medical students and encourage primary care workforce development Issue: Reauthorization of Title VII health professions programs Issue: Diversity of the health care workforce Issue: Training in substance abuse, pain management, and mental health in medical education Issue: Strategies to prevent, identify, and treat opioid dependence Issue: Concurrent and overlapping surgery practices S. 1455, TREAT Act Issue: Support legislation to expand cap on buprenorphine Issue: Implementation of 340B Drug Pricing Program Issue: Educate Congress on the impact of the self-referral (Stark law) on health care payment and delivery system reform, and how to promote development of alternative payment models Submitted comments to: CMS requesting a delay and modification to the Hospital Compare star ratings National Quality Forum (NQF) on Measure Applications Partnership (MAP)s 2016 Considerations for Implementing Measures in Federal Programs draft report.

Contacted: Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC); Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); White House Office; Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA); Education, Dept of; Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); SENATE; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ); Office of Management & Budget (OMB)

Bills named: H.R. 1006 (114th), S. 1455 (114th), S. 2107 (114th)

Veterans VET

P.L. 114-41, Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act of 2015 Issue: Support improved contracting with academic affiliates and increased VA GME funding. S. 1676/H.R. 4011, Delivering Opportunities for Care and Services (DOCs) for Veterans Act H.R. 3755, To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for the disregard of certain resident slots that include Department of Veterans Affairs training in determining payments for direct graduate medical education costs, and for other purposes. Issue: Support increased VA GME and Medicare GME funding for certain VA affiliates H.R. 3879, Enhanced Veterans Health Care Act Issue: Support VA authority for VA-academic joint ventures S. 2633, Improving Veterans Access to Care in the Community Act Issue: Support VA Plan to Consolidate Community Care Programs, including the proposed Core Network and sole source contracting with academic affiliates.

Contacted: Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); White House Office; Labor, Dept of (DOL); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); SENATE; Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA); Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC); Education, Dept of; Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

Bills named: H.R. 3879 (114th), S. 2633 (114th), S. 1676 (114th), H.R. 3755 (114th), H.R. 4011 (114th)

Budget/Appropriations BUD

Presidents Budget, FY 2017 P.L. 114-113, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016, Division H, Title II Draft House and Senate Labor, HHS, Education and Related Agencies Act, 2017, Title II Issues: Support funding for National Institutes of Health (NIH), Title VII and Title VIII health professions and nursing education programs, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), National Health Service Corps (NHSC), Childrens Hospitals Graduate Medical Education (CHGME), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Prevention and Public Health Fund (PPHF), Hospital Preparedness Program, and biodefense and public health preparedness programs. Maintain NIH salary cap at Executive Level II. Encourage the highest possible allocation for the Labor-HHS Subcommittee. President's Budget, FY 2017 Issues: Oppose proposed reductions in Medicare Direct Graduate Medical Education (DGME) and Indirect Medical Education (IME) payments; oppose use of Medicare GME funding for creation of new GME grant program. Oppose Independent Payment Advisory Panel (IPAB) and site-neutral payment policy. President's Budget, FY 2017 Draft House and Senate Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 Issues: Support funding for Veterans Affairs medical research, research infrastructure, and health care. S. 289/H.R. 2104, American Cures Act Issue: Increases budget authority for National Institutes of Health (NIH), Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Defense Health Program, and the VA Medical and Prosthetics Research Program S. 318/H.R. 531, Accelerating Biomedical Research Act Issue: Increases discretionary spending cap to increase funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). H.R. 777, Permanent Investment in Health Research Act Issue: Creates mandatory appropriation for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), adjusted annually for inflation. S. 2624, National Biomedical Research Act. Issue: Support establishment of a Biomedical Innovation Fund to support the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Issue: Oppose Medicare payment reductions as offsets for non-Medicare spending. P.L. 114-74, H.R. 1314, Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 Issue: Oppose Medicare site-neutral payment policy. Oppose extension of Medicare sequester Issue: Support mandatory funding for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) authorized under P.L. 114-10, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) Issue: Support supplemental funding to prevent and combat Zika virus.

Contacted: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); White House Office; Labor, Dept of (DOL); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Food & Drug Administration (FDA); SENATE; Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Education, Dept of; Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ); Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA); Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); Natl Institutes of Health (NIH)

Bills named: S. 289 (114th), H.R. 531 (114th), H.R. 2104 (114th), S. 2624 (114th), S. 318 (114th), H.R. 777 (114th), H.R. 1314 (114th)

Education EDU

Presidents Budget, FY 2017 Issues: Oppose cuts to graduate/professional student loan benefits, including Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). Oppose taxation of federal loan repayment programs. Draft Debt in Health Education Loan Programs (DebtHELP) legislative proposal Issues: Expand National Health Service Corps State Loan Repayment program, and align Department of Education and HRSA student loan programs. Draft Higher Education Act Reauthorization S. 108, Financial Aid Simplification and Transparency Act of 2014 (FAST Act) S. 85, Repay Act of 2015 Issues: Oppose cuts to graduate/professional student loan benefits, including Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). Support transparency for U.S. and international medical schools. H.R. 4223, POST GRAD Act Issue: Support restoring the interest subsidy on graduate and professional student loans Issue: Support global health learning opportunities.

Contacted: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC); Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA); SENATE; Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Education, Dept of; Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); White House Office; Office of Management & Budget (OMB)

Bills named: S. 85 (114th), H.R. 4223 (114th), S. 108 (114th)

Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace LBR

S.2707/H.R. 4773, Protecting Workplace Advancement and Opportunity Act Issue: Support NIH stipend as threshold for Fair Labor Standards Act employee overtime and exemption of postdoctoral scientists as learned professionals.

Contacted: Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ); White House Office; Education, Dept of; Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Labor, Dept of (DOL); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); SENATE; Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA); Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

Bills named: S. 2707 (114th), H.R. 4773 (114th)

Medical/Disease Research/Clinical Labs MED

H.R. 6, 21st Century Cures Act Senate HELP Committee Innovation Initiative Issue: Support increased funding for medical research, reduce administrative and regulatory burden on scientists and research institutions, and support young investigators. Issue: Support federal funding for research using fetal tissue and promote security of individuals involved with fetal tissue research. H.R. 3466/S. 2014, Next Generation Research Act Issue: Support National Institutes of Health programs for new and young scientists, reauthorization of NIH loan repayment program. H.R. 2102, Research for All Act of 2015 Issue: Support inclusion of male and female cells and animals in basic research, and NIH updating its guidelines on inclusion of women in clinical research. S. 2742, Promoting Biomedical Research and Public Health for Patients Act. Issue: Support reducing regulatory burden on research institutions and scientists. Issue: Support NIHs protection of researchers from sexual harassment Issue: FDA regulation of Laboratory Developed Tests (LDTs) Submitted comments to: NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) on the institutions strategic planning process HHS Office for Human Research Protections regarding the 1991 Common Rule, which governs federally supported research involving human subjects

Contacted: Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Education, Dept of; Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA); Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC); Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); White House Office; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE; Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Commerce, Dept of (DOC)

Bills named: H.R. 6 (114th), S. 2014 (114th), H.R. 2102 (114th), H.R. 3466 (114th), S. 2742 (114th)

Science/Technology SCI

Issue: Support the use of a competitive peer review process for federal research grants and programs

Contacted: Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA); SENATE; Education, Dept of; Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC); White House Office