VIZIENT, INC. for VIZIENT INC

Taxation/Internal Revenue Code TAX

Not-for-profit hospital tax exemption issues - monitored proposals in the House and Senate health care reform legislation to expand requirements for not-for-profit hospitals to obtain and maintain tax exempt status. Advocated for reasonable requirements that would be managable for tax-exempt hospitals to implement.

Contacted: SENATE; Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

Health Issues HCR

Health Care Reform Legislation (H.R. 3590, H.R. 3962 ) - monitored the development and negotiations over the health care reform bills considered in the House and Senate. Supported proposals that would have reduced the number of uninsured Americans. Expressed opposition to the creation of a public insurance option that was based on Medicare rates. Group Purchasing Organizations - monitored the negotiations of the health care reform bills being considered in Congress for proposals that would negatively impact hospital group purchasing organizations. General outreach to illustrate the value that group purchasing organizations deliver to hospitals. Health Care Information Technology - monitored the health care reform legislation for proposals that would expand privacy requirements beyond those established in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) passed in early 2009. Supported proposals to expand funding opportunities for health care information technology for hospitals. Monitored the development of "meaningful use" regulations, and supported efforts that would provide hospitals greater opportunities to invest in health IT and receive reimbursement under ARRA. Unique Device Identification - Supported legislative language in the House health reform bill (H.R. 3962) that would require the Food and Drug Administration to issue regulations requiring Unique Device Identification for medical devices. Supported the utilization of a single supply chain standard for UDI and endorsed GS1 standards. 340B (of the Public Health Services Act) Drug Pricing - monitored proposal in H.R. 3590 that would expand the 340B drug discount program to inpatient drugs for eligible hospitals.

Contacted: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Food & Drug Administration (FDA); SENATE; Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

Bills named: H.R. 3590 (111th), H.R. 3962 (111th)

Medicare/Medicaid MMM

Health Care Reform (H.R. 3962, H.R. 3590) - monitored negotiations and legislative action on the major health reform bills. Advocated for limiting reductions in Medicare reimbursement to hospitals to the level agreed to by key hospital organizations and White House and Congress. Tracked the inclusion of several payment reform initiatives included in both bills, specifically provisions on Medicare Value Based Purchasing, denying Medicare payments for hospital readmissions, proposals to bundle hospital and post acute payments. Gainsharing - tracked legislative and regulatory efforts to implement gainsharing arrangements that align financial incentives for hospitals and physicians. Tracked and engaged on the implementation of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Acute Care Episode (ACE) demonstration project. Expansion of Medicaid - monitored proposals in the House and Senate to expand Medicaid to 150% and 133% of Federal Poverty Level respectively. Monitored proposals in the Senate Health Reform bill (H.R. 3590) to create an independent Medicare Advisory Body, which would have great authority to make changes to Medicare payment policy. Medicare buy-in - (H.R. 3590) - expressed opposition to proposals that would have allowed individuals aged 55-64 to buy in to the Medicare program.

Contacted: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Food & Drug Administration (FDA); SENATE

Bills named: H.R. 3590 (111th), H.R. 3962 (111th)