Pending Dialysis-related Legislation

FEDERAL LEGISLATION 112th CONGRESS (2013-2014)

HR 36 - Health Care Safety Net Enhancement Act of 2013
To improve access to emergency medical services, and for other purposes.

Text: HR 36
Summary & Status: HR 36

S 39 - Healthy Lifestyles and Prevention America Act
To improve the health of Americans and reduce health care costs by reorienting the Nation's health care system toward prevention, wellness, and health promotion.

Text: S 39
Summary & Status: S 39

HR 45 - To repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010

Text: HR 45
Summary & Status: HR 45

HR 79 - Medicaid Payment Fairness to the Territories Act of 2013
To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to increase the Federal medical assistance percentage for the territories.

Text: HR 79
Summary & Status: HR 79

HR 81 - To amend subtitle B of title I of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to extend the temporary high-risk insurance pool program to the territories.

Text: HR 81
Summary & Status: HR 81

HR 132 & S 177 - ObamaCare Repeal Act
To repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.

Text: HR 132 & S 177
Summary & Status: HR 132 & S 177

HR 162 - Medicaid Integrity Act of 2013
To amend section 1932 of the Social Security Act to require independent audits and actuarial services under Medicaid managed care programs, and for other purposes.

Text: HR 162
Summary & Status: HR 162

HR 1102 & S 117 - Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act of 2013
To amend part D of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate covered part D drug prices on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries.

Text: HR 1102 & S 117
Summary & Status: HR 1102 & S 117

HR 485 - National Nurse Act of 2013
To establish the position of National Nurse for Public Health, to be filled by the same individual serving as the Chief Nurse Officer of the Public Health Service.

Text: HR 485
Summary & Status: HR 485

HR 698 & S 330 - HIV Organ Policy Equity Act
To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish safeguards and standards of quality for research and transplantation of organs infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Text: HR 698 & S 330
Summary & Status: HR 698 & S 330

HR 1325 & S 323 - Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for extended months of Medicare coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for kidney transplant patients and other renal dialysis provisions.

Text: HR 1325 & S 323
Summary & Status: HR 1325 & S 323

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LOBBYING AND LETTER WRITING

It is important to convince Senators and Representatives to cosponsor the bill through grassroots letters and lobbying. A bill that has wide, bipartisan support in both the House and Senate has a better chance of being enacted into law. When the House and Senate leaders choose bills to include in a Medicare package, they will look for bills that have cosponsors from a variety of geographic locations, from both political parties, and support from Members on the Committees that have jurisdiction over the program being effected.

Do not e-mail your Member of Congress, but instead take the time to type or hand write a letter. ("Copy and paste" the sample letters to save time and then edit them appropriately.) It will get a much better response from your Senators and Representatives. Messages coming from the people who elected them really do receive the most attention and are an effective educational tool.

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CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES

THOMAS - Legislative Information on the Internet from the Library of Congress

House of Representatives - Homepage

Ways and Means Committee: Homepage
- Subcommittee on Health: Homepage
Energy and Commerce: Homepage
- The Subcommittee on Health: Homepage

Senate - Homepage

Finance Committee: Homepage
- Subcommittee on Healthcare: Member list
Special Committee on Aging: Homepage
Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee: Homepage

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OTHER RESOURCES

	Advocacy & Government Relations from the National Kidney Foundation web site
	Kidney Care Partners web site

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	Harkin Withdraws Hold On Tavenner; Reid Says Timing For Vote Is Unclear - News item and news summary from Kaiser Health News. - May 7, 2013
	Democrat Says Constitution Implies Right to Healthcare, Education - May 6, 2013
	Left Boils as Obama Floats Major Change to Medicare Parts A and B - Article from The Hill. - May 4, 2013
	Medicare Misperceptions Create Tougher Task For Lawmakers - News summary from Kaiser Health News. - April 4, 2013
	Administration Delays Health Law Provision For Small Businesses - April 2, 2013
	Study: Claims Costs Could Increase 32 Percent Under Affordable Care Act - News item from HFMA. Related article from Reuters. - March 27, 2013
	The Affordable Care Act At Three: Paying For Quality Saves Health Care Dollars - Article by Kathleen Sebelius. - March 20, 2013
	Medicare Would Negotiate Drug Prices under Dem Bill - March 12, 2013
	Reps. Jim McDermott (WA) and Tom Marino (PA) Lead Home Dialysis Push on Capitol Hill - Letters sent this week to congressional representatives and HHS Secretary Sibelius. - March 11, 2013
	Dueling Budgets Will Show Partisan Differences On Medicare And Medicaid - News summary from Kaiser Health News. - March 11, 2013
	Rep. Ryan Says Republican Budget Plan Will Assume Repeal Of Health Law - News summary from Kaiser Health News. - March 10, 2013
	House Ways And Means Committee Chair Says 'Doc Fix' Is On His To-Do List - February 27, 2013
	Latest Simpson Bowles Health Plan Stirs Worry but Lacks Detail - Article from Reuters. - February 24, 2013
	Health Care Law Allows Consumers to Easily Find and Compare Options Starting in 2014 - Press release from CMS. News summary from Kaiser Health News. - February 20, 2013
	GOP Lawmakers Don't Fear Political Impact of Sequester Taking Effect - Article from The Hill. - February 19, 2013
	Guest Opinion: Fiscal Cliff Provision Good for Dialysis Patients - Opinion piece from the Billing Gazette. - February 13, 2013
	Guest Opinion: Taxpayer Relief from Amgen Hospitality Suite - Letter to the Editor from the Billings Gazette. - February 13, 2013 "The Senate Finance Committee’s web site applauds Section 632 as “ . . . the result of year-long discussions between the government and the nephrology community”. The nephrology community? Lobbyists from drug makers, distributers and dialysis clinics. Add an altruistic, angelic advocacy chorus: “Kidney Care Partners”, “American Nephrology Nurses ”, “Dialysis Patient Citizens“, “National Kidney Foundation”, all singing the same tune . All funded by the drug makers, their distributers, and the dialysis clinics."
	Insurance Exchange 'Navigators,' New Payment Models Claim Roles In Health Law Implementation - News summary from Kaiser Health News. - February 6, 2013
	House Bill Could Create New 'National Nurse' Public Health Position - Article from The Hill. - February 5, 2013
	Affordable Care Act "Sunshine Rule" for Physician Payment Increases Transparency in Healthcare - Press release. - February 4, 2013
	Tick, Tock: Administration Misses Some Health Law Deadlines - Article from Kaiser Health News. Related article from The Hill. - February 1, 2013
	Lawmakers See No Deal in Sight To Stop Sequester - Article from The Washington Post. - January 30, 2013
	As Congressman Works To Repeal Amgen Medicare Drug Exemption, Lobbyists Face Scrutiny - Article from Ventura County Star. - January 29, 2013
	Amgen Pushes Back on Charges of Special Deal in 'Fiscal Cliff' Bill - Article from The Hill. Related article from Los Angeles Times. - January 25, 2013
	Sen. Harkin Prepares Sweeping Public Health Legislation To Combat Obesity - News summary from Kaiser Health News. - January 24, 2013
	Cracks Appearing In GOP Opposition To Health Law - Article from Kaiser Health News and USA Today. - January 19, 2013
	GOP House Members Back Plan To Raise Debt Ceiling But Still Expect Entitlement Cuts - News summary from Kaiser Health News. - January 22, 2013
	Fiscal Cliff Bill Benefits Amgen - Article from The Boston Globe. - January 20, 2013
	Sen. McConnell to Take Entitlement Talks Lead, Speaker Boehner in Back Seat - Article from The Hill. - January 9, 2013
	Clear Battle Lines Emerge On Budget Issues - News summary from Kaiser Health News. - January 7, 2013
	Kidney Care Partners' Reaction to 'Fiscal Cliff' Legislation - Press release. - January 3, 2013
	Fiscal Deal Political Fallout Will Likely Shape Future Medicare, Entitlement Spending Battles - News summary from Kaiser Health News. - January 3, 2013
	Counting Health Care Changes In The 'Fiscal Cliff' Deal - Audio interview with transcript and news summary from Kaiser Health News. - January 2, 2013
	'Fiscal Cliff' Legislation Contains Section on End-Stage Renal Disease - (WARNING: 154-page pdf file.) See Section 632 on pages 107-110. - January 1, 2013 The legislation reduces the Medicare bundle payment in 2014 to reflect reduced utilitzation of EPO , calls for a 2-year delay in implementing the inclusion of oral meds into the bundle, requires a new analysis of case mix payment adjustments, and calls for an updated GAO report.
	Senate Approves 'Fiscal Cliff' Deal With 'Doc Fix'; GOP House Members Skeptical - News summary from Kaiser Health News. Article from HealthDay. - January 1, 2013

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