Government watch 2012 health and family archive

THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE HEALTH CARE CONCERNS OF PEOPLE 50-PLUS AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE PRESENTED IN REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER. NOVEMBER C: On November 6, 2012, AARP submitted

comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the proposed revisions to form CMS-10003, the Notice of Denial of Medical Coverage or Payment. The comments highlight the

importance for older Americans to receive clear and concise information from their Medicare or Medicaid plans, especially if it is regarding denial of coverage or payment. (November 6) PDF

SEPTEMBER C: To the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on a proposed rule. In this notice of proposed rulemaking, the CMS proposes an update to the Home Health Prospective

Payment System (HH PPS) rates and addresses other Medicare home health proposed changes. (Sept. 4) PDF C: Regarding the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule.

(Sept. 4) PDF C: Regarding the proposed changes to the Medicare physician fee schedule and other revisions to Part B for calendar year 2013. (Sept. 4) PDF   C: Regarding the summary of

proposed collection rule – specifically the single streamlined application for determining eligibility for individuals applying for coverage through the Exchanges, and for affordability

assistance. (Sept. 4) PDF GOVERNMENT WATCH ARCHIVE LEGEND L = LETTER         C = COMMENT         S = statement for the record GOVERNMENT WATCH MAIN PAGE Photo by Getty Images AUGUST C: To

IRS Commissioner Shulman comments on the rule on “Health Insurance Premium Tax Credit.” (Aug. 21) PDF JULY C: To the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the

“Solicitation of Public Input on Conversion of Net Income Standards to Equivalent Modified Adjusted Gross Income Standards.” (July 30) PDF C: To the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid

Services (CMS) regarding the opportunity to comment on the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO) “Verification of Access to Employer-Sponsored Coverage Bulletin.”

(July 30) PDF C: To the State Administration Branch regarding the proposed rule by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to amend Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). (July 30)

PDF C: To the IRS regarding the proposed rule on “Regulations Pertaining to the Disclosure of Return Information to Carry Out Eligibility Requirements for Health Insurance Affordability

Programs.” (July 30) PDF L: To Senator Conrad (D-ND) endorsing his legislation entitled the "Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act of 2011" (S. 1680). (July 23) PDF

L: Response to Rep. Roe's (R-TN) letter seeking AARP’s opinion regarding the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB). (July 17) PDF L: To Senator Rockefeller (D-WV) thanking him for

his leadership on the issue of Medicaid and ensuring our continued commitment to advocate at the federal and state levels for the nation's Medicaid population. (July 13) PDF L: To

Representatives Langevin (D-RI) and McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), in support of the bipartisan legislation, the “Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act” (H.R. 3266), which would reauthorize

the important Lifespan Respite Care Act that helps support family caregivers who need respite care. (July 10) PDF L: To the members of the U.S. House of Representatives expressing AARP’s

opposition to the repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). (July 9) PDF C: To Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding the notice of proposed rulemaking for the

“Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Data Collection to Support Standards JUNE C: Comment letter on the proposed definition of a home and community-based “setting” as defined in

section 441.530 of the Medicaid Program with the Center for Excellence in Assisted Living (CEAL), a nonprofit collaborative of 11 national organizations (including AARP) that represent a

unique blend of key stakeholders in assisted living. (June 29) PDF L: To Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) and Ranking Member Orrin Hatch (R-UT) of the Senate Finance Committee regarding Medicare

and Medicaid programs and to offer ideas for improving program integrity. (June 29) PDF C: To the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on proposed regulations regarding how to

define a home and community-based setting in Medicaid, and thus where Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) can be provided. (June 29) PDF L: To Senators Cornyn (R-TX) (PDF) and

Klobuchar (D-MN) (PDF) supporting “The Guardian Accountability and Senior Protection Act” (S. 1744). (June 26) C: To Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the Hospital

Inpatient Prospective Payment System proposed rule. The letter was spearheaded by the Consumer-Purchaser Disclosure Project. (June 25) PDF L: To all the senators who supported Senator

Kirsten Gillibrand’s (D-NY) bipartisan Senate floor amendment #2156 that aimed to restore over $4.5 billion dollars to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) under the Senate

Farm Bill reauthorization bill (S. 3240 — The Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2012). (June 22) (PDF) ***Sen. Akaka attached as a sample. This letter was also sent to Senators

Begich, Blumenthal, Boxer, Cantwell, Cardin, Casey, Coons, Feinstein, Gillibrand, Heller, Kerry, Lautenberg, Leahy, Levin, Lieberman, Menendez, Merkley, Mikulski, Murkowski, Murray, Reed,

Reid, Rockefeller, Sanders, Schumer, Scott Brown, Shaheen, Sherrod Brown, Snowe, Tom Udall, Whitehouse and Wyden. C: Comment letterto the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' 

(CMS) proposed rule to implement the Affordable Care Act (ACA) increased Medicaid payment rate for primary care providers. (June 11) PDF L: Sign on letter to the Chairmen and Ranking Members

of the Senate HELP and House Energy & Commerce Committees in support of the Senate FDA bill provision to prohibit branded companies from misusing the REMS process or restricted access

programs to avoid generic and biosimilar competition. (June 6) PDF