SOCIAL SECURITY see also Public Welfare Programs

Addresses

State of the Union: President Obama, S277S281 [20JA], H419H424 [20JA]

White House Health Care Summit: Senator Alexander, S8215 [1DE]

Amendments

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: clarify waiver authority for Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) (S. 1362), S6425 [5AU]

Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act: repeal health-care related provisions (H.R. 596), consideration (H. Res. 70), H721 [3FE]

Medicaid: allow for greater State flexibility relative to excluding providers who are involved in abortions (H.R. 3495), consideration (H. Res. 444), H6322 [29SE]

——— extend and expand emergency psychiatric demonstration project (S. 599), S6979 [28SE]

Medicare: extend the enforcement instruction on supervision requirements for outpatient therapeutic services in critical access and small rural hospitals (S. 1461), S6610 [10SE]

——— increase limit on length of an agreement under the Medicare independence at home medical practice demonstration program (S. 971), S2319, S2358 [22AP]

——— repeal the sustainable growth rate and improve payments for physicians and other professionals (H.R. 2), S2156, S2158, S2159, S2176, S2178, S2179, S2180 [14AP]

——— treatment of patient encounters in ambulatory surgical centers in determining meaningful electronic health records use (S. 1347), S6425 [5AU]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: repeal (H.R. 596), consideration (H. Res. 70), H721 [3FE]

——— repeal provisions providing for the Independent Payment Advisory Board (H.R. 1190), consideration (H. Res. 319), H4455 [17JN]

——— use of budget reconciliation to repeal (H.R. 3762), S8233, S8245 [1DE], S8254, S8308, S8309, S8310, S8311, S8313, S8318 [2DE], S8343, S8344, S8348, S8350, S8351, S8352, S8353, S8354, S8383, S8385, S8387, S8389, S8390, S8392, S8393, S8394, S8395, S8400, S8402, S8403, S8405, S8415, S8420, S8422, S8424 [3DE]

——— use of budget reconciliation to repeal (H.R. 3762), consideration (H. Res. 483), H7107 [22OC]

——— use of budget reconciliation to repeal (H.R. 3762), corrections in engrossment (H. Res. 526), H8257 [17NO]

State Children’s Health Insurance Program: extend (H.R. 2), S2156, S2158, S2159, S2176, S2178, S2179, S2180 [14AP]

Articles and editorials

Faces of Health Care—Joanne W., H7163 [23OC]

Fewer Patients Have Been Dying From Hospital Errors Since Obamacare Started, S8248 [2DE]

Health Spending Rises Only Modestly, E30 [8JA]

Health-Care Law Will Cost Taxpayers Less Than Expected, CBO Says (excerpt), S1344 [10MR]

John Boehner’s Last Deal Leaves Congress Better Off, H7269 [28OC]

Nobody Said That, S2419 [27AP]

Republicans Target Social Security Disability, H436 [21JA]

Why Washington State’s Health Reform Faltered After Loss of Mandates, H7149 [23OC]

Bills and resolutions

Abortion: ensure affordable abortion coverage for every woman (see H.R. 2972), H4954 [8JY]

Anniversary (see S. Res. 246), S6381 [5AU]

Benefits: adjust amount of monthly old-age, survivors, and disability insurance payments based on locality-based comparability payment rates (see H.R. 4115), H8411 [19NO]

——— allow choice of benefit payment method relative to computation rule application to workers attaining age 65 between 1982 and 1992 (see S. 99), S59 [7JA] (see H.R. 314), H357 [13JA]

——— credit prospectively individuals serving as caregivers of dependent relatives with deemed wages for up to five years of such service (see H.R. 3377), H5766 [29JY]

——— enhance and ensure long-term solvency (see S. 731), S1494 [12MR]

——— enhance for children, divorced spouses, and widows and widowers (see S. 2293), S8020 [17NO]

——— ensure contributions made by workers are available to pay all benefits which they have earned (see S. 2090), S6975 [28SE] (see H.R. 3621), H6306 [28SE]

——— ensure prompt access to SSI, disability, and Medicaid benefits for persons released from certain public institutions (see H.R. 2806), H4491 [17JN]

——— improve old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program, provide cash relief for years when annual cost-of-living increases do not take effect, and provide benefit protection (see S. 960), S2220 [15AP] (see H.R. 1811), H2268 [15AP]

——— prohibit recovery of certain overpayments through tax refund offsets and prohibit application of the earnings test relative to child’s insurance benefits (see H.R. 2774), H4381 [15JN]

——— protect system and improve benefits (see S. 1904), S6186 [30JY] (see H.R. 1391), H1720 [17MR]

——— strengthen by reforming the benefit formula and the calculation of cost-of-living adjustments and improving the long-term condition of the trust fund (see S. 1940), S6379 [5AU]

——— support policies to protect and expand and secure long-term future (see H. Res. 393), H5769 [29JY]

BLS: establish a consumer price index for elderly consumers to compute cost-of-living increases for Social Security (see H.R. 3074), H5236 [15JY]

Budget: alleviate effects of sequestration by restoring certain cuts, providing offsets, enacting a Chained Consumer Price Index for Social Security and means testing for Medicare, and providing for tax reform (see H. Con. Res. 71), H5782 [31JY]

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: adjust the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program in order to avoid disproportionate penalties for hospitals treating vulnerable populations (see S. 688), S1383 [10MR] (see H.R. 1343), H1625 [10MR]

——— clarify waiver authority for Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) (see S. 1362), S2971 [18MY] (see H.R. 3243), H5588 [28JY]

——— delay enforcement of physician supervision regulations for critical access hospitals pending completion of analysis of impact of such regulations (see H.R. 170), H42 [6JA]

——— test effect of including telehealth services in Medicare health care delivery reform models (see S. 2343), S8306 [2DE] (see H.R. 4155), H8970 [2DE]

Children and youth: improve childhood outcomes in well-being and reduce childhood poverty (see S. 473), S982 [12FE]

——— invest child welfare funds to help keep children safe and supported at home with their families to reduce the prevalence and length of foster care (see S. 1964), S6380 [5AU]

Commission on Americans Living Abroad: establish (see H.R. 3078), H5236 [15JY]

Commission on Long Term Social Security Solvency: establish (see H.R. 1578), H1899 [24MR]

Compact of Free Association: provide for adequate impact aid to affected States and territories (see H.R. 854), H917 [10FE]

Correctional institutions: remove limitations on Medicaid, Medicare, SSI, and State Children’s Health Insurance Program benefits for inmates in custody pending disposition of charges (see H.R. 4201), H9205 [9DE]

Crime: prevent identity theft and tax fraud (see S. 676), S1336 [9MR] (see H.R. 3832), H7188 [26OC] (see H.R. 3981), H8151 [5NO]

——— prohibit an individual who is the subject of an outstanding arrest warrant for a felony from receiving various cash benefits (see S. 1758), S5061 [14JY] (see H.R. 2504), H3558 [21MY]

Death and dying: increase maximum amount of the lump-sum death benefit (see H.R. 1109), H1368 [26FE]

Dept. of Education: adjust for inflation amounts exempted from administrative offsets for defaulted student loans (see H.R. 3747), H6974 [9OC]

——— provide guidance on how dependent students with noncitizen parents without Social Security numbers may obtain Federal student assistance for college (see H.R. 1833), H2305 [16AP]

Dept. of HHS: address health, hygiene, and limited child care options available for infants and toddlers who lack sufficient diapers (see H.R. 4055), H8359 [18NO]

——— assure that a nonemergency department physician is available to hospital patients at all times in all non-Federal hospitals with a certain number of beds (see H.R. 1638), H2033 [25MR]

——— consider, within the annual rulemaking processes, the effect of regulatory changes to certain Medicare payment systems on provider consolidation (see H.R. 1373), H1661 [16MR]

——— establish the Transition to Independence Medicaid Buy-In Option demonstration program (see S. 1604), S4297 [18JN]

——— extend the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Programs (see H.R. 1372), H1661 [16MR]

——— include court-appointed guardianship and oversight activities under elder justice programs (see S. 1614), S4298 [18JN]

——— increase access to Medicare data (see S. 679), S1336 [9MR] (see H.R. 804), H855 [5FE]

——— prohibit applicants from enrolling in a health plan on an exchange, in Medicaid, or in a child health plan if their self-attested personal information is inconsistent with Federal data sources (see S. 42), S57 (see S. 118), S59 [7JA]

——— prohibit replacement of existing coding system for disease and diagnosis classifications in implementing Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act standards (see H.R. 2126), H2767 [30AP]

——— provide grants to promote responsible fatherhood and strengthen low-income families (see H.R. 3005), H5029 [9JY]

——— provide grants to support job creation initiatives under the Social Services Block Grants Program (see H.R. 3368), H5766 [29JY]

——— provide States with flexibility to use certain Federal foster care funding for child welfare programs to improve safety, permanency, and well-being outcomes for all children needing welfare services (see S. 1932), S6296 [4AU]

Dept. of HUD: provide that nursing homes receiving poor ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are ineligible for federally-insured mortgage loans (see H.R. 3796), H7089 [21OC]

Dept. of Justice: provide effective criminal prosecutions and increase penalties for tax return identity thefts (see H.R. 1110), H1368 [26FE]

Dept. of Labor: provide for demonstration projects designed to expedite reemployment of unemployed workers (see H.R. 2509), H3558 [21MY]

Disabled: eliminate waiting period for disability insurance benefits for terminally ill individuals (see H.R. 2585), H3641 [1JN]

——— exclude certain medical sources of evidence in making disability determinations (see S. 1198), S2650 [5MY] (see H.R. 1936), H2415 [22AP]

——— implement various reforms to the disability insurance program (see H.R. 3482), H5942 [10SE]

——— provide for a phased-in payment of disability insurance benefits during the waiting period for individuals with a terminal illness (see S. 2010), S6532 [9SE]

——— provide for treatment of disability rated and certified as total by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs as disability for purposes of disability titles (see H.R. 3499), H5974 [11SE]

——— revise medical criteria for evaluating disability in a person with Huntington’s disease and waive Medicare waiting period for individuals disabled by Huntington’s disease (see S. 968), S2244 [16AP] (see H.R. 842), H916 [10FE]

Diseases: disregard, for purposes of eligibility for SSI and Medicaid, compensation for participation in clinical trials for rare diseases or conditions (see S. 139), S100 [8JA] (see H.R. 209), H154 [8JA]

——— improve coverage of colorectal cancer screening tests under Medicare and private health insurance (see S. 1079), S2400 [23AP] (see H.R. 2035), H2474 [27AP]

——— improve understanding of, and promote access to treatment for, chronic kidney disease (see H.R. 1130), H1369 [26FE]

——— protect Medicare and VA benefits for medical device treatments for male incontinence and impotence resulting from treatment for prostate cancer and other diseases (see H. Res. 106), H982 [11FE]

Drugs: encourage development and use of new antimicrobial drugs in order to treat antibiotic-resistant infections (see H.R. 512), H532 [22JA]

Elder Justice Act: reauthorize (see H.R. 988), H1068 [13FE]

Families and domestic relations: enhance pre- and post-adoptive support services (see H.R. 2068), H2497 [28AP]

——— invest in funding prevention and family services to help keep children safe and supported at home with their families (see H.R. 3781), H7088 [21OC]

——— provide for equal treatment of individuals in same-sex marriages (see H.R. 2025), H2464 [23AP]

——— require States to follow certain procedures in placing a child who has been removed from the custody of his or her parents (see H.R. 1868), H2306 [16AP]

Federal agencies and departments: reduce duplication and increase efficiency (see H.R. 614), H662 [28JA]

——— reduce waste and implement cost savings and revenue enhancement (see S. 1888), S6136 [29JY] (see H.R. 3300), H5763 [29JY]

Federal Agency Sunset Commission: establish (see H.R. 183), H103 [7JA]

Federal aid programs: merge the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund (see H.R. 3150), H5401 [22JY]

——— prevent concurrent receipt of unemployment benefits and Social Security disability insurance (see S. 343), S736 [3FE] (see S. 499), S982 [12FE] (see S. 2005), S6434 [6AU] (see H.R. 918), H1033 [12FE]

——— prohibit administrative offset of Social Security, railroad retirement, and black lung benefit payments with respect to claims arising from Federal debts (see S. 2387), S8602 [10DE]

——— prohibit administrative offset of Social Security benefit payments with respect to claims arising from Federal student loans (see H.R. 3967), H8151 [5NO]

——— provide for a one-time supplementary payment to Social Security beneficiaries and recipients of veterans benefits (see H.R. 4140), H8859 [1DE]

——— provide for a supplementary payment to Social Security beneficiaries, SSI beneficiaries, and recipients of veterans benefits (see S. 2251), S7814 [5NO] (see H.R. 4012), H8239 [16NO] (see H.R. 4144), H8859 [1DE]

Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund: establish a Social Security Surplus Protection Account and suspend investment of such funds until certain legislation is enacted (see H.R. 603), H661 [28JA] (see H.R. 1520), H1803 [19MR]

GAO: study feasibility of modifying waiting period for entitlement to Social Security disability benefits in cases of terminally ill beneficiaries (see H.R. 4110), H8411 [19NO]

Government: restore the 10-year statute of limitations applicable to collection of debt by administrative offset (see H.R. 112), H39 [6JA]

GSA: establish a program to sell Federal buildings that are not utilized to provide revenue for increases in Social Security benefits and military retirement pay (see H.R. 4071), H8360 [18NO]

Guam: provide for increased flexibility in the extension of the Social Security program to Guam (see H.R. 3642), H6704 [29SE]

Health: clarify application of antitrust laws to negotiations between groups of health care professionals and health plans and health care insurance issuers (see H.R. 105), H39 [6JA]

——— ensure access to qualified acupuncturist services for military members and dependents, veterans, and Medicare beneficiaries, and allow acupuncturists as officers in the Public Health Service (see H.R. 3849), H7331 [28OC]

——— improve access to oral health care for vulnerable populations (see S. 570), S1118 [25FE] (see H.R. 1055), H1162 [25FE]

——— improve provision of telehealth services under Medicare and other Federal health care programs (see H.R. 691), H755 [3FE] (see H.R. 2066), H2497 [28AP]

——— national policy to provide health care, control costs, and enhance the quality of the health care system (see H.R. 1200), H1525 [2MR]

——— national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures (see H.R. 676), H755 [3FE] (see H.R. 2653), H3913 [4JN]

——— prohibit denial of coverage under Federal health care programs based on comparative effectiveness research data and ensure research accounts for advancements in health care and different treatment options (see S. 484), S982 [12FE]

——— protect rights of conscience relative to requirements for coverage of specific items and services and prohibit certain abortion-related discrimination in government activities (see S. 1919), S6296 [4AU] (see H.R. 940), H1034 [12FE]

——— provide protection for retiree health benefits (see H.R. 1856), H2306 [16AP]

——— reform provision of insurance coverage by promoting health savings accounts, State-based alternatives, and price transparency if tax-credit subsidies for coverage are lost under King v. Burwell (see S. 1531), S3925 [9JN] (see H.R. 2756), H4343 [12JN]

——— require certain drug manufacturers entering into settlement agreements for violations of law to make supplemental payments to be used to increase medical research funding (see S. 320), S653 [29JA] (see H.R. 744), H812 [4FE]

Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act: repeal (see S. 336, 339), S697 [2FE] (see H.R. 132), H40 [6JA]

——— repeal health-care related provisions (see H.R. 138), H40 [6JA] (see H.R. 370), H405 [14JA] (see H.R. 596), H661 [28JA] (see H.R. 2300), H2957 [13MY] (see H.R. 2653), H3913 [4JN] (see H.R. 2829), H4541 [18JN]

——— repeal health-care related provisions (H.R. 596), consideration (see H. Res. 70), H702 [2FE]

Health care professionals: exempt continuing medical education events and the distribution of medical textbooks and peer-reviewed journals from manufacturer transparency reporting requirements (see H.R. 293), H356 [13JA]

——— require applicable manufacturers to include information on payments made to physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and other advance practice nurses in certain transparency reports (see S. 2153), S7219 [7OC]

Hunger: increase support for income support and food programs to address hunger in communities (see H. Con. Res. 80), H6749 [30SE]

Immigration: exclude from creditable wages income earned by aliens for services illegally performed in the U.S. or derived from an illegal trade or business (see H.R. 1716), H2110 [26MR]

——— expand access to health care services, including sexual, reproductive, and maternal health services, for immigrants by removing legal barriers to health insurance coverage (see H.R. 1974), H2417 [22AP]

——— prohibit assignment of account numbers and payment of disability benefits to, and deny credit toward benefits for earnings from unauthorized work by, certain illegal aliens (see H.R. 1996), H2463 [23AP]

Income: repeal Government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions (see S. 1651), S4544 [23JN] (see H.R. 973), H1067 [13FE]

——— repeal the windfall elimination provision and protect the retirement of public servants (see H.R. 711), H810 [4FE]

Insurance: eliminate two-year waiting period for divorced spouse’s benefits following the divorce under the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program (see H.R. 2780), H4382 [15JN]

——— expand eligibility for reimbursement for smoking cessation services to include copayments for such services by covered beneficiaries under TRICARE who are eligible for Medicare (see S. 1313), S2849 [13MY]

——— provide for full benefits for disabled widows and widowers without regard to age under the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program (see H.R. 2781), H4382 [15JN]

——— provide for increases in widow’s and widower’s insurance benefits by reason of delayed retirement under the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program (see H.R. 2782), H4382 [15JN]

——— repeal seven-year restriction on eligibility for widow’s and widower’s insurance benefits based on disability under the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program (see H.R. 2779), H4382 [15JN]

IRS: allow withholding of Social Security numbers on Form 990 from public disclosure (see H.R. 4064), H8360 [18NO]

——— extend authority to require truncated Social Security numbers on Form W-2 wage and tax statements (see H.R. 3568), H6178 [18SE]

——— prohibit hiring of additional employees to implement, administer, or enforce health insurance reform (see H.R. 683), H755 [3FE]

Johnson, Lyndon B.: award Congressional Gold Medal (see H.R. 3290), H5763 [29JY]

Medicaid: allow for greater State flexibility relative to excluding providers who are involved in abortions (see S. 2159), S7219 [7OC] (see H.R. 3495), H5974 [11SE]

——— allow for greater State flexibility relative to excluding providers who are involved in abortions (H.R. 3495), consideration (see H. Res. 444), H6306 [28SE]

——— allow for payments to States for substance abuse services furnished to inmates in public institutions (see H.R. 4076), H8360 [18NO]

——— allow States to determine if providers are qualified under Medicaid State plans to perform services (see H.R. 3597), H6227 [24SE]

——— anniversary (see S. Res. 25), S100 [8JA] (see H. Res. 400), H5769 [29JY]

——— audit States to determine if such States used Medicaid funds in violation of any Federal prohibitions on funding for abortions (see H.R. 610), H661 [28JA]

——— clarify treatment of certain enrollment brokers (see H.R. 2107), H2653 [29AP]

——— clarify treatment of lottery winnings and other lump sum income for purposes of income eligibility (see H.R. 2339), H3212 [14MY]

——— count portions of income from annuities of a community spouse as income available to institutionalized spouses for purposes of medical assistance eligibility (see H.R. 1771), H2209 [14AP]

——— cover physician services delivered by podiatric physicians to ensure access by beneficiaries to appropriate quality foot and ankle care (see S. 626), S1246 [3MR] (see H.R. 1221), H1565 [3MR]

——— eliminate State option to reduce the home equity exemption amount for purposes of eligibility for long-term care assistance (see H.R. 1361), H1635 [13MR]

——— encourage States to adopt administrative procedures relative to nonmedical exemptions from immunization requirements (see S. 1921), S6296 [4AU]

——— ensure health insurance continuity for former foster youth (see S. 1852), S5526 [23JY] (see H.R. 3641), H6704 [29SE]

——— ensure Medicare restriction on physician self-referral applies to Medicaid health services claims (see H.R. 1083), H1163 [25FE]

——— extend and expand emergency psychiatric demonstration project (see S. 599), S1161 [26FE] (see H.R. 3681), H6792 [2OC]

——— extend application of Medicare payment rate floor to primary care services for women, children, and families (see S. 737), S1495 [12MR] (see S. 2118), S7102 [1OC] (see H.R. 2253), H2876 [12MY]

——— extend rules regarding supplemental needs trusts for beneficiaries to trusts established by such beneficiaries (see S. 349), S736 [3FE] (see H.R. 670), H754 [3FE]

——— extend to physician assistants eligibility for incentive payments for adoption and use of certified electronic health records (see H.R. 1345), H1625 [10MR]

——— improve calculation, oversight, and accountability of non-disproportionate share hospital (DSH) supplemental payments (see H.R. 2151), H2768 [30AP]

——— increase Federal medical assistance percentage for the District of Columbia (see H.R. 3930), H7742 [4NO]

——— permit States to impose workforce requirements for individuals receiving medical assistance (see H.R. 886), H981 [11FE]

——— promote program integrity relative to enrollment of certain immigrants in State plans (see H.R. 2348), H3251 [15MY]

——— provide a standard definition of therapeutic foster care services (see S. 429), S900 [10FE] (see H.R. 835), H916 [10FE]

——— provide for the waiver of institutions for mental diseases (IMD) limitation in order to permit coverage for community-based inpatient substance use disorder treatment (see H.R. 1988), H2463 [23AP]

——— provide for updated and alternative certification requirements for participation in the case of certain facilities treating infants under one year of age with neonatal abstinence syndrome (see H.R. 3865), H7346 [29OC]

——— provide greater clarity for States relative to excluding providers whose actions a State suspects causes termination of fetuses born alive (see H.R. 3494), H5974 [11SE]

——— provide incentives for education on the risk of renal medullary carcinoma in individuals with sickle cell disease (see H.R. 3347), H5765 [29JY]

——— redistribute Federal funds that would otherwise be made available to States that do not provide for Medicaid expansion to States electing to provide those benefits (see H.R. 778), H854 [5FE]

——— require applications for State plan waivers only be approved if applications are budget neutral (see H.R. 2119), H2654 [29AP]

——— require approval of waivers relative to State provider taxes that exempt certain retirement communities (see S. 459), S926 [11FE] (see H.R. 536), H582 [26JA]

——— require payment of an additional rebate to State plans in the case of increase in the price of a generic drug at a rate that is greater than the rate of inflation (see S. 1364), S2971 [18MY] (see H.R. 2391), H3308 [18MY]

——— require publication of a provider directory in the case of States providing for medical assistance on a fee-for-service basis or through a primary care case-management system (see H.R. 3821), H7174 [23OC]

——— require States to provide to the Dept. of HHS certain information with respect to provider terminations (see H.R. 3716), H6935 [8OC]

——— require States to report information on payments to abortion providers (see H.R. 489), H531 [22JA]

——— require States to submit an annual report on sources of funds used to finance the non-Federal share of expenditures (see H.R. 1362), H1635 [13MR]

——— require States to suspend, rather than terminate, an individual’s eligibility for medical assistance while such individual is an inmate of a public institution (see S. 1409), S3237 [21MY]

——— require use of electronic visit verification for personal care services (see H.R. 2446), H3388 [19MY]

——— restore coverage for citizens of the Freely Associated States lawfully residing in the U.S. under the Compacts of Free Association with Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau (see S. 1301), S2794 [12MY] (see H.R. 2249), H2876 [12MY]

——— restore regular matching rate for newly eligible individuals under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and apply savings to the Highway Trust Fund (see H.R. 2565), H3561 [21MY]

——— strengthen Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program clinics through improved reimbursement and expanded workforce and operations (see S. 2097), S7005 [29SE] (see H.R. 3637), H6704 [29SE]

——— transition the thresholds applied for determining acceptable provider taxes (see H.R. 1400), H1721 [17MR]

Medicare: add physical therapists to the list of providers allowed to utilize locum tenens arrangements (see S. 313), S653 [29JA] (see H.R. 556), H638 [27JA]

——— adjust wage index determination for certain hospitals near State borders to ensure they are treated in the same manner as nearby facilities in other States (see H.R. 2513), H3559 [21MY]

——— allow certain hospitals in Puerto Rico to qualify for incentives for adoption and meaningful use of certified electronic health record (EHR) technology (see S. 1602), S4250 [17JN] (see H.R. 1225), H1566 [3MR]

——— allow chiropractors to provide items and services through private contracts (see H.R. 3745), H6974 [9OC]

——— allow individuals to elect to receive Medicare Summary Notice electronically and increase flexibility and transparency of contracts with Medicare administrative contractors (see S. 584), S1161 [26FE] (see H.R. 289), H356 [13JA]

——— allow physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists to supervise cardiac, intensive cardiac, and pulmonary rehabilitation programs (see S. 488), S982 [12FE] (see H.R. 3355), H5765 [29JY]

——— amend the application of secondary payer rules to workers’ compensation settlement agreements and set-asides under such agreements (see H.R. 2649), H3912 [4JN]

——— anniversary (see S. Res. 25), S100 [8JA] (see H. Res. 400), H5769 [29JY]

——— apply budget neutrality on a State-specific basis in the calculation of hospital wage index floor for non-rural areas (see H.R. 1479), H1802 [19MR]

——— apply exceptions process fairly for tiered formulary drugs in prescription drug plans (see S. 1488), S3678 [3JN] (see H.R. 2624), H3877 [3JN]

——— apply secondary payer rules to certain workers’ compensation settlement agreements and qualified set-aside provisions (see S. 1514), S3776 [4JN]

——— authorize a blanket significant hardship exception for meaningful electronic health records use due to delay in timely publication of certain meaningful use rules (see H.R. 3940), H8150 [5NO]

——— change method of determining disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments (see H.R. 3288), H5762 [29JY]

——— change rules relative to enrollment of residents of Puerto Rico (see S. 1453), S3238 [21MY] (see H.R. 1418), H1767 [18MR]

——— clarify policy relative to physician supervision of therapeutic hospital outpatient services (see S. 257), S541 [27JA] (see H.R. 1611), H2032 [25MR]

——— count a period of receipt of outpatient observation services in a hospital toward satisfying the 3-day inpatient hospital stay requirement for coverage of skilled nursing facility services (see S. 843), S1780 [24MR] (see H.R. 1571), H1899 [24MR]

——— cover marriage and family therapist services and mental health counselor services (see S. 1830), S5455 [22JY] (see H.R. 2759), H4343 [12JN]

——— cover screening computed tomography colonography as a colorectal screening test (see S. 2262), S7912 [10NO]

——— cover supplies associated with insulin injection, home needle removal, decontamination, and disposal devices, and disposal of needles and syringes through a sharps-by-mail or similar program (see S. 1066), S2400 [23AP] (see H.R. 1727), H2111 [26MR]

——— coverage of extended care services without regard to 3-day prior hospitalization requirement (see H.R. 290), H356 [13JA]

——— coverage of high cost durable medical equipment (see H.R. 2437), H3387 [19MY]

——— create alternative sanctions for technical noncompliance with the Stark rule limiting certain physician referrals (see H.R. 776), H854 [5FE]

——— delay authority to terminate Medicare Advantage contracts for plans failing to achieve minimum quality ratings (see H.R. 2506), H3558 [21MY]

——— deliver a meaningful drug benefit and lower prescription drug prices (see S. 1884), S6136 [29JY] (see H.R. 3261), H5589 [28JY]

——— designate Rural Emergency Hospitals to sustain emergency services in rural areas (see S. 1648), S4544 [23JN]

——— develop a crosswalk between Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) and Medicare Severity Diagnosis Related Groups (MS-DRG) codes for similar hospital services (see H.R. 3291), H5763 [29JY]

——— disregard certain resident slots that include Dept. of Veterans Affairs training in determining payments for direct graduate medical education costs (see H.R. 3755), H6974 [9OC]

——— distribute additional residency positions (see S. 1148), S2567 [30AP] (see H.R. 2124), H2767 [30AP]

——— eliminate Medicare Advantage provision that inadvertently penalizes Medicare Advantage plans for providing high quality care to beneficiaries (see H.R. 4275), H9374 [16DE]

——— enable hospital-based nursing programs that are affiliated with a hospital to maintain payments to hospitals for the costs of such programs (see S. 629), S1246 [3MR] (see H.R. 977), H1067 [13FE] (see H.R. 1784), H2209 [14AP]

——— encourage beneficiaries to voluntarily adopt advance directives guiding the medical care they receive (see S. 2297), S8079 [18NO] (see H.R. 4059), H8359 [18NO]

——— enhance beneficiary and provider protections and improve transparency in the Medicare Advantage market (see S. 2392), S8602 [10DE] (see H.R. 4227), H9270 [10DE]

——— ensure appropriate coverage of ventricular assist devices (see H.R. 3053), H5171 [14JY]

——— ensure continued access of beneficiaries to diagnostic imaging services (see S. 1020), S2300 [21AP] (see H.R. 2043), H2496 [28AP]

——— ensure equal access of beneficiaries to community pharmacies in underserved areas as network pharmacies under Medicare prescription drug coverage (see S. 1190), S2650 [5MY] (see H.R. 793), H855 [5FE]

——— ensure more timely access to home health services for beneficiaries (see S. 578), S1161 [26FE] (see H.R. 1342), H1623 [6MR]

——— establish a Community-Based Institutional Special Needs Plan demonstration program to target home and community-based care to eligible beneficiaries (see S. 704), S1438 [11MR] (see H.R. 2704), H4001 [9JN] (see H.R. 4212), H9269 [10DE]

——— establish a national Oncology Medical Home Demonstration Project to change the Medicare payment for cancer care in order to enhance the quality of care and to improve cost efficiency (see H.R. 1934), H2415 [22AP]

——— establish a payment option to freely contract, without penalty, for fee-for-service items and services, while allowing beneficiaries to use their benefits (see S. 1849), S5526 [23JY] (see H.R. 1650), H2107 [26MR]

——— establish a program to improve care for the most costly fee-for-service beneficiaries through use of comprehensive and effective care management while reducing Government costs for these beneficiaries (see H.R. 3244), H5588 [28JY]

——— establish annual rulemaking schedule for payment rates under Medicare Advantage (see H.R. 2507), H3558 [21MY]

——— establish payment parity for ambulatory cancer care services furnished in hospital outpatient departments and physician office settings (see H.R. 2895), H4769 [25JN]

——— establish smart card pilot program (see S. 1871), S5928 [27JY] (see H.R. 3220), H5523 [27JY]

——— establish Value-Based Insurance Design demonstration program for use under Medicare Advantage plans, preserve beneficiary choice, and revise treatment of infusion drugs furnished through durable medical equipment (see H.R. 2581), H3581 [29MY]

——— establish Value-Based Insurance Design demonstration program to show that reduced copayments or coinsurance can increase utilization, improve clinical outcomes, and lower health care expenditures (see S. 1396), S3183 [20MY] (see H.R. 2570), H3573 [22MY]

——— exclude coverage of advanced care planning services (see H.R. 3251), H5588 [28JY]

——— exclude customary prompt pay discounts from manufacturers to wholesalers from the average sales price for drugs and biologicals (see S. 506), S983 [12FE] (see H.R. 696), H756 [3FE]

——— expand access to stroke telehealth services (see S. 1465), S3310 [22MY] (see H.R. 2799), H4490 [17JN]

——— expand coverage to include eyeglasses, hearing aids, and dental care (see H.R. 3308), H5763 [29JY]

——— extend annual comment period for payment rates under Medicare Advantage (see S. 2351), S8378 [3DE] (see H.R. 3831), H7188 [26OC]

——— extend certain long-term care hospital payment rules and the moratorium on establishment of certain hospitals and facilities (see S. 2108), S7046 [30SE]

——— extend Medicare-dependent hospital (MDH) program and increase payments under the Medicare low-volume hospital program (see S. 332), S697 [2FE] (see H.R. 663), H703 [2FE]

——— extend the enforcement instruction on supervision requirements for outpatient therapeutic services in critical access and small rural hospitals (see S. 1461), S3309 [22MY] (see H.R. 2878), H4650 [24JN]

——— extend the rural add-on payment in the home health benefit (see S. 839), S1708 [23MR] (see S. 2389), S8602 [10DE]

——— extend the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program (see S. 607), S1201 [27FE] (see H.R. 672), H754 [3FE]

——— facilitate increased coordination and alignment between public and private sector relative to quality and efficiency measures (see S. 1427), S3237 [21MY]

——— facilitate transition for individuals enrolled in group health plans and establish an open enrollment period under Medicare Advantage (see H.R. 2476), H3505 [20MY]

——— improve access to, and utilization of, bone mass measurement benefits under part B by establishing a minimum payment amount under such part for bone mass measurement (see H.R. 2461), H3505 [20MY]

——— improve access to hospice care (see H.R. 3037), H5116 [13JY]

——— improve access to medication therapy management (see S. 776), S1628 [18MR]

——— improve access to mental health services (see S. 2173), S7272 [8OC] (see H.R. 3712), H6935 [8OC]

——— improve efficiency of appeals process (see S. 2368), S8494 [8DE]

——— improve formulary requirements for prescription drug plans and Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans relative to certain categories or classes of drugs (see S. 648), S1302 [4MR]

——— improve how beneficiaries are assigned under the shared savings program by also basing such assignment on primary care services from federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics (see S. 2261), S7860 [9NO]

——— improve how beneficiaries are assigned under the shared savings program by also basing such assignment on primary care services from nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and clinical nurse specialists (see S. 2259), S7860 [9NO]

——— improve integrity (see H.R. 1021), H1112 [24FE]

——— improve process of recovery audit contractors and recovery of overpayments (see H.R. 2568), H3573 [22MY]

——— improve risk adjustment under Medicare Advantage program (see S. 2197), S7470 [22OC] (see H.R. 2579), H3581 [29MY]

——— improve risk adjustment under Medicare Advantage program and delay authority to terminate Medicare Advantage contracts of plans failing to achieve minimum quality ratings (see H.R. 2582), H3581 [29MY]

——— improve the provision of items and services to beneficiaries in rural areas (see H.R. 1012), H1073 [17FE]

——— improve the way beneficiaries are assigned under the shared savings program by also basing such assignment on primary care services furnished by certain Federally qualified providers (see S. 1456), S3309 [22MY]

——— include recreational therapy among the therapy modalities that constitute an intensive rehabilitation therapy program in an inpatient rehabilitation hospital or unit (see H.R. 1906), H2354 [21AP]

——— increase access to ambulance services and reform payments for such services (see S. 377), S772 [4FE] (see H.R. 745), H812 [4FE]

——— increase limit on length of an agreement under the Medicare independence at home medical practice demonstration program (see S. 971), S2244 [16AP] (see H.R. 2196), H2791 [1MY]

——— make adjustments relative to competitive bidding program and durable medical equipment and establish a durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) market pricing program project (see H.R. 4185), H9079 [8DE]

——— make changes to home health face-to-face encounter requirements (see S. 1650), S4544 [23JN]

——— make premium and cost-sharing subsidies available to low-income beneficiaries in Puerto Rico or other territories (see S. 2342), S8306 [2DE] (see H.R. 4163), H8970 [2DE]

——— make publicly available on the official Medicare Internet site payment rates for frequently reimbursed hospital inpatient procedures, hospital outpatient procedures, and physicians’ services (see H.R. 795), H855 [5FE]

——— modernize payments for ambulatory surgical centers (see S. 2071), S6938 [24SE] (see H.R. 1453), H1769 [18MR]

——— modify coverage requirements for diabetic shoes (see S. 626), S1246 [3MR] (see H.R. 1221), H1565 [3MR]

——— modify payment for outpatient department procedures that utilize drugs as supplies (see S. 1466), S3310 [22MY] (see H.R. 1178), H1499 [27FE]

——— modify payment policies for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and prosthetic devices (see H.R. 1526), H1847 [23MR]

——— modify requirements for payment for ambulance services furnished by critical access hospitals (see H.R. 3609), H6227 [24SE]

——— permit certain providers licensed in a State to provide telemedicine services to certain beneficiaries in a different State (see S. 1778), S5129 [15JY] (see H.R. 3081), H5236 [15JY]

——— permit eligible seniors to elect to receive a voucher for a health savings account, for high deductible health insurance plan premiums, or both and suspend certain late enrollment penalties (see H.R. 4090), H8410 [19NO]

——— permit occupational therapists to conduct initial assessment visits under a home health plan of care for certain rehabilitation cases (see S. 2364), S8494 [8DE]

——— permit review of certain payment determinations for disproportionate share hospitals (see S. 2228), S7722 [3NO] (see H.R. 3024), H5088 [10JY]

——— preserve access to rehabilitation innovation centers (see S. 1168), S2568 [30AP] (see H.R. 2292), H2956 [13MY]

——— prevent application of budget sequestration to payment for certain physician-administered drugs (see H.R. 1416), H1767 [18MR]

——— prevent increase in part B premiums and deductibles (see S. 2148), S7219 [7OC] (see H.R. 3696), H6892 [7OC]

——— prevent surprise billing practices (see H.R. 3770), H7026 [20OC]

——— promote health care technology innovation and access to medical devices and services for which patients choose to self-pay (see S. 1757), S5061 [14JY] (see H.R. 2597), H3641 [1JN]

——— protect coverage for screening mammography (see H.R. 3339), H5765 [29JY]

——— provide a technical change to long-term care hospital moratorium exception (see S. 202), S347 [21JA] (see H.R. 441), H479 [21JA] (see H.R. 2580), H3581 [29MY]

——— provide beneficiary access to eye tracking accessories for speech generating devices and remove the rental cap for durable medical equipment relative to speech generating devices (see S. 768), S1628 [18MR] (see S. 984), S2244 [16AP] (see H.R. 628), H667 [30JA] (see H.R. 1919), H2354 [21AP]

——— provide comprehensive audiology services to beneficiaries (see H.R. 1116), H1369 [26FE]

——— provide comprehensive cancer care planning coverage and coordination (see H.R. 2846), H4591 [23JN]

——— provide coverage of an initial comprehensive care plan for beneficiaries newly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (see S. 857), S1891 [25MR] (see H.R. 1559), H1898 [24MR]

——— provide coverage of certain disposable medical technologies (see S. 1253), S2730 [7MY] (see H.R. 1018), H1084 [20FE]

——— provide coverage of certain lymphedema compression treatment items as items of durable medical equipment (see S. 2373), S8494 [8DE] (see H.R. 1608), H2032 [25MR]

——— provide coverage of certified adult day care services (see H.R. 1383), H1661 [16MR]

——— provide coverage of hearing aids and related hearing services (see H.R. 2748), H4343 [12JN]

——— provide coverage of pharmacist services in medically underserved areas (see S. 314), S653 [29JA] (see H.R. 592), H660 [28JA]

——— provide for a pharmaceutical and technology ombudsman (see H.R. 2325), H3211 [14MY]

——— provide for a phased-in expansion of telehealth coverage (see H.R. 2948), H4861 [7JY]

——— provide for advanced illness care coordination services for beneficiaries (see S. 1549), S4021 [10JN]

——— provide for an established provider system under which providers of services and suppliers representing a low risk for submitting fraudulent claims are provided certain claim review protections (see H.R. 4077), H8360 [18NO]

——— provide for bundled payments for certain episodes of care surrounding a hospitalization (see H.R. 2502), H3558 [21MY]

——— provide for bundled payments for post-acute care services (see H.R. 1458), H1801 [19MR]

——— provide for coverage and payment for complex rehabilitation technology items (see S. 1013), S2272 [20AP] (see H.R. 1516), H1803 [19MR]

——— provide for coverage of continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGMS) (see S. 804), S1660 [19MR] (see H.R. 1427), H1768 [18MR]

——— provide for coverage of home as a site of care for infusion therapy (see S. 275), S589 [28JA] (see H.R. 605), H661 [28JA]

——— provide for demonstration project to evaluate the fiscal impact of covering low vision devices as durable medical equipment (see H.R. 729), H811 [4FE]

——— provide for expert advisory panel regarding relative value scale process under the physician fee schedule (see H.R. 2614), H3757 [2JN]

——— provide for fairness in hospital payments (see S. 1135), S2530 [29AP]

——— provide for patient protection by establishing safe nurse staffing levels at certain Medicare providers (see S. 1132), S2530 [29AP] (see H.R. 2083), H2652 [29AP]

——— provide for pharmacy benefits manager standards under the prescription drug program and transparency of payment methodology of pharmacies (see H.R. 244), H187 [9JA]

——— provide for site-of-service price transparency (see H.R. 2299), H2957 [13MY]

——— provide for the coordination of programs to prevent and treat obesity (see S. 1509), S3776 [4JN] (see H.R. 2404), H3309 [18MY]

——— provide for the non-application of competitive acquisition rates to complex rehabilitative wheelchairs and accessories (see S. 2196), S7470 [22OC] (see H.R. 3229), H5523 [27JY]

——— provide for transparent testing to assess the transition under the fee-for-service claims processing system from the ICD–9 to the ICD–10 standard (see H.R. 2247), H2876 [12MY]

——— provide for treatment of clinical psychologists as physicians for purposes of furnishing clinical psychologist services (see H.R. 4277), H9374 [16DE]

——— provide for value-based purchasing of post-acute care services (see H.R. 3298), H5763 [29JY]

——— provide parity to Puerto Rico hospitals relative to inpatient hospital payments (see H.R. 1417), H1767 [18MR]

——— provide payment for anesthesia services by anesthesiologists in certain rural hospitals in the same manner as for services by anesthesiologist assistants and certified registered nurse anesthetists (see H.R. 2138), H2767 [30AP]

——— provide payment incentives to transition from traditional x-ray imaging to digital radiography (see H.R. 2550), H3560 [21MY]

——— provide programs to prevent prescription drug abuse (see S. 1913), S6187 [30JY] (see H.R. 2298), H2957 [13MY]

——— provide relief to Medicare Advantage plans with a significant number of dually eligible or low-income subsidy beneficiaries and prevent termination of two star plans (see S. 2104), S7046 [30SE]

——— provide that payments made to a long-term care hospital for inpatient services shall not be made at the applicable site neutral payment rate for certain discharges involving severe wounds (see S. 1211), S2687 [6MY] (see H.R. 1250), H1609 [4MR]

——— recognize attending physician assistants as attending physicians to serve hospice patients (see S. 1354), S2933 [14MY] (see H.R. 1202), H1525 [2MR]

——— recognize certain certified diabetes educators as certified providers for purposes of outpatient diabetes self-management training services (see S. 1345), S2933 [14MY] (see H.R. 1726), H2111 [26MR]

——— reduce incidence of diabetes among beneficiaries (see S. 1131), S2530 [29AP] (see H.R. 2102), H2653 [29AP]

——— reduce occurrence of diabetes in beneficiaries by extending coverage for medical nutrition therapy services to beneficiaries with pre-diabetes or with risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes (see H.R. 1686), H2109 [26MR]

——— refine payment for orthotics and prosthetics and improve beneficiary experience and outcomes with orthotic and prosthetic care (see S. 829), S1708 [23MR] (see H.R. 1530), H1847 [23MR]

——— reform practices of recovery audit contractors (see H.R. 2156), H2768 [30AP]

——— remove enrollment restriction on certain physicians and practitioners prescribing covered outpatient drugs under the prescription drug program (see H.R. 4062), H8359 [18NO]

——— remove exclusion of coverage for hearing aids and examinations (see H.R. 1653), H2108 [26MR]

——— remove the physician certification requirement for inpatient critical access hospital services (see S. 258), S541 [27JA] (see H.R. 169), H42 [6JA]

——— repeal changes to exception to the prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals (see H.R. 976), H1067 [13FE]

——— repeal outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps (see S. 539), S1074 [24FE] (see H.R. 775), H854 [5FE]

——— repeal requirement for employer disclosure of information on health care coverage of employees who are beneficiaries (see H.R. 943), H1034 [12FE]

——— repeal the sustainable growth rate and improve payments for physicians and other professionals (see S. 810), S1660 [19MR] (see H.R. 2), H1898 [24MR] (see H.R. 1470), H1801 [19MR]

——— repeal the sustainable growth rate and improve payments for physicians and other professionals (H.R. 2), consideration (see H. Res. 173), H2031 [25MR]

——— require drug manufacturers to provide rebates for drugs dispensed to low-income individuals under the prescription drug benefit program (see S. 1083), S2400 [23AP] (see H.R. 2005), H2464 [23AP]

——— require hospitals to establish and implement security procedures to reduce the likelihood of infant patient abduction and baby switching (see H.R. 42), H37 [6JA]

——— require hospitals to provide certain notifications to individuals classified by such hospitals under observation status rather than admitted as inpatients of such hospitals (see S. 1349), S2933 [14MY] (see H.R. 876), H980 [11FE]

——— require Medicare Advantage organizations to disclose changes made to plans required by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act (see H.R. 626), H667 [30JA]

——— require reporting of certain data by providers and suppliers of air ambulance services for purposes of reforming reimbursements for such services (see S. 1149), S2567 [30AP] (see H.R. 822), H915 [10FE]

——— require State licensure and bid surety bonds for entities submitting bids under the durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) competitive acquisition program (see S. 148), S151 [12JA] (see H.R. 284), H224 [12JA]

——— require the annual reporting of data on enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans (see S. 2349), S8378 [3DE] (see H.R. 2505), H3558 [21MY]

——— require the Dept. of HHS to determine covered part D prescription drug prices for beneficiaries (see H.R. 4207), H9205 [9DE]

——— require the Dept. of HHS to negotiate lower covered part D prescription drug prices for beneficiaries (see S. 31), S11 [6JA] (see H.R. 3061), H5172 [14JY]

——— revise coverage and payment for advanced surgical dressings in skilled nursing facilities and home health settings (see H.R. 1184), H1499 [27FE]

——— revise payment for indirect medical education (IME) costs in teaching hospitals (see H.R. 3292), H5763 [29JY]

——— strengthen and protect hospice programs (see H.R. 2208), H2791 [1MY]

——— strengthen intensive cardiac rehabilitation programs (see S. 2382), S8547 [9DE]

——— strengthen rules applied in case of competition for diabetic testing strips (see H.R. 771), H853 [5FE]

——— sunset certain penalties relating to meaningful electronic health records use by eligible professionals and hospitals (see H.R. 3780), H7088 [21OC]

——— suspend implementation of zip code reclassifications for payment for ambulance services (see H.R. 817), H866 [9FE]

——— treat audiologists as physicians for purposes of furnishing services, improve access to audiology services available for coverage, and enable beneficiaries to have their choice of audiologists (see H.R. 2519), H3559 [21MY]

——— treatment of patient encounters in ambulatory surgical centers in determining meaningful electronic health records use (see S. 1347), S2933 [14MY] (see H.R. 887), H981 [11FE]

——— waive coinsurance for colorectal cancer screening tests, regardless of whether therapeutic intervention is required during the screening (see S. 624), S1246 [3MR] (see H.R. 1220), H1565 [3MR]

Medicare/Medicaid: amend qualifications of the director of food services of a skilled nursing facility (see H.R. 3356), H5765 [29JY]

——— continue use of quarterly reporting period for health care providers to demonstrate meaningful uses under electronic health records incentive payment programs (see H.R. 270), H223 [12JA]

——— curb waste, fraud, and abuse (see S. 861), S1891 [25MR] (see H.R. 818), H866 [9FE] (see H.R. 3718), H6935 [8OC]

——— enhance payments to rural health care providers (see H.R. 3225), H5523 [27JY]

——— establish minimum direct care registered nurse staffing levels at nursing and skilled nursing facilities (see H.R. 952), H1035 [12FE]

——— implement a demonstration project to examine costs and benefits of providing payments for health care services provided by purpose-built, continuing care retirement communities to beneficiaries (see S. 395), S833 [5FE] (see H.R. 837), H916 [10FE]

——— improve electronic health records meaningful use programs (see H.R. 3309), H5764 [29JY]

——— improve payments for complex rehabilitation technology and radiation therapy services, extend hardship exemptions from electronic health record meaningful use requirements, and strengthen Medicaid integrity (see S. 2425), S8883 [18DE]

——— improve payments for durable medical equipment (see S. 2312), S8160 [19NO]

——— improve payments for hospital outpatient department services and complex rehabilitation technology and improve program integrity (see S. 2409), S8725 [16DE] (see H.R. 4273), H9374 [16DE]

——— make improvements to the treatment of the U.S. territories (see S. 1961), S6380 [5AU] (see H.R. 2635), H3877 [3JN]

——— provide a grace period for physicians and other health care providers in transitioning from the ICD–9 to the ICD–10 standard (see H.R. 2652), H3913 [4JN]

——— provide a safe harbor period for physicians and other health care providers in transitioning from the ICD–9 to the ICD–10 standard (see H.R. 3018), H5088 [10JY]

——— require use of electronic visit verification systems for home health and personal care services (see S. 2416), S8793 [17DE]

National Retirement Security Week: support goals and ideals (see S. Res. 263), S6894 [22SE] (see H. Res. 488), H7138 [22OC]

National Strategic Agenda: establish and include goals of job creation, balanced budget, securing Medicare and Social Security, and energy security (see S. Res. 199), S4104 [11JN] (see H. Res. 207), H2307 [16AP]

Office of the Special Inspector General for Monitoring the Affordable Care Act: establish (see S. 1368), S3059 [19MY] (see H.R. 2400), H3309 [18MY]

Older Americans Act: reauthorize (see S. 192), S283 [20JA]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: provide greater flexibility for waivers granted to States (see H.R. 3352), H5765 [29JY]

——— repeal (see S. 77), S58 [7JA] (see S. 336, 339), S697 [2FE] (see H.R. 132, 138), H40 [6JA] (see H.R. 370), H405 [14JA] (see H.R. 596), H661 [28JA] (see H.R. 2300), H2957 [13MY] (see H.R. 2653), H3913 [4JN] (see H.R. 2829), H4541 [18JN]

——— repeal certain provisions that have the effect of rationing health care (see S. 1718), S4840 [8JY]

——— repeal Federal mandate to purchase insurance (see S. 203), S347 [21JA]

——— repeal (H.R. 596), consideration (see H. Res. 70), H702 [2FE]

——— repeal provisions providing for the Independent Payment Advisory Board (see S. 141), S100 [8JA] (see H.R. 1190), H1524 [2MR]

——— repeal provisions providing for the Independent Payment Advisory Board (H.R. 1190), consideration (see H. Res. 319), H4430 [16JN]

——— repeal provisions relative to annual period for disenrollment from Medicare Advantage plans to elect to receive original Medicare fee-for-service benefits (see H.R. 588), H660 [28JA] (see H.R. 2488), H3557 [21MY]

——— use of budget reconciliation to repeal (see H.R. 3762), H6980 [16OC]

——— use of budget reconciliation to repeal (H.R. 3762), consideration (see H. Res. 483), H7088 [21OC]

——— use of budget reconciliation to repeal (H.R. 3762), corrections in engrossment (see H. Res. 526), H8239 [16NO]

Pensions: raise the retirement benefits age for certain individuals (see H.R. 1366), H1660 [16MR]

Pharmaceuticals: ensure greater affordability of prescription drugs (see S. 2023), S6604 [10SE] (see H.R. 3513), H6074 [16SE]

Privacy: prohibit the display of account numbers on Medicare cards (see H.R. 380), H405 [14JA]

——— restrict inclusion of Social Security account numbers on documents sent by mail by the Federal Government (see H.R. 3779), H7088 [21OC]

Public debt: prioritize obligations if the debt ceiling is reached by treating public debt payments, Social Security benefits, and Armed Forces allowances equally (see S. 2181), S7304 [19OC] (see H.R. 164), H42 [6JA]

——— prioritize obligations on the debt held by the public and payment of Social Security benefits in the event that the debt ceiling is reached (see S. 69), S58 [7JA]

Public welfare programs: clarify authority of tribal governments relative to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (see H.R. 3026), H5088 [10JY]

——— conduct demonstration projects to provide coordinated case management services for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program recipients (see H.R. 2968), H4954 [8JY]

——— ensure that mental health screenings and assessments are provided to children and youth upon entry into foster care (see S. 2166), S7272 [8OC]

——— increase number of months of vocational training that may be counted as work to satisfy Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program work requirements (see H.R. 1281), H1611 [4MR]

——— prevent States from counting certain expenditures as State spending to reduce Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program work requirements (see H.R. 2959), H4861 [7JY]

——— prohibit assistance under Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program from being accessed through an electronic benefit transfer card at stores that sell marijuana (see H.R. 2331), H3211 [14MY] (see H.R. 3010), H5029 [9JY]

——— prohibit waivers relative to compliance with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program work requirements (see H.R. 1179), H1499 [27FE]

——— provide payments to States for increasing employment, job retention, and earnings of former Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program recipients (see H.R. 2952), H4861 [7JY]

——— reauthorize and amend the program of block grants to States under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (see H.R. 3486), H5942 [10SE]

——— require States to implement a cash withdrawal daily limit for recipients of cash assistance under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (see S. 1288), S2793 [12MY]

——— require States to implement drug testing program for applicants and recipients of assistance under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (see S. 64), S58 [7JA]

Reform (see H.R. 1756), H2152 [13AP]

Religion: ensure organizations with religious or moral convictions are allowed to provide child welfare services (see S. 667), S1303 [4MR] (see H.R. 1299), H1612 [4MR]

Senior citizens: eliminate the payroll tax on individuals who have attained retirement age and repeal limits on outside income earned while receiving Social Security benefits (see S. 767), S1585 [17MR] (see H.R. 1395), H1721 [17MR]

——— establish a consumer price index for elderly consumers to compute cost-of-living increases for Social Security (see H.R. 3588), H6188 [22SE]

——— establish a consumer price index for elderly consumers to compute cost-of-living increases for Social Security and Medicare benefits (see H.R. 3961), H8150 [5NO]

——— increase Social Security and military retirement benefits and base future cost-of-living increases on the Consumer Price Index for the elderly (see H.R. 3761), H6980 [16OC]

——— provide for cost-of-living increases for certain Federal benefits programs based on increases in the Consumer Price Index for the elderly (see H.R. 3351), H5765 [29JY]

Social Security and Medicare Part A Investment Commission: establish (see H.R. 1520), H1803 [19MR]

Social Security Investment Commission: establish (see H.R. 603), H661 [28JA]

SSA: confer spousal benefits to any legally married individual regardless of marriage laws in the State of residence (see S. 753), S1585 [17MR] (see H.R. 1404), H1721 [17MR]

——— enhance pre- and post-adoptive support services (see S. 369), S772 [4FE]

——— implement certain recordkeeping recommendations (see H.R. 2777), H4382 [15JN]

——— improve ability to fight fraud, prevent errors, and protect the Social Security Trust Fund (see H.R. 1419), H1767 [18MR]

——— make on-line tools available to allow individuals to assess the impact of earnings on eligibility for, and amount of, disability benefits received through Federal and State programs (see S. 1197), S2650 [5MY] (see H.R. 1795), H2268 [15AP]

——— prevent disability fraud (see S. 1929), S6296 [4AU] (see H.R. 2359), H3251 [15MY]

——— prohibit issuance of Social Security numbers to individuals given deferred action under immigration Executive actions (see S. 748), S1528 [16MR]

——— prohibit seizing of tax refunds to repay overpayments, restore statute of limitations applicable to debt collection through administrative offset, and prevent recovery of overpayments to children (see S. 204), S347 [21JA] (see H.R. 409), H430 [20JA]

——— prohibit the furnishing of names in a report to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System unless a Federal court has determined the individual to be mentally defective (see H.R. 3126), H5329 [21JY]

——— prohibit use of determinations to consider an individual to be adjudicated as mentally defective relative to the sale or transfer of firearms (see H.R. 3516), H6074 [16SE]

——— provide certain individuals with information on employment support services (see S. 1923), S6296 [4AU] (see H.R. 2135), H2767 [30AP]

——— provide for quality reviews of benefit decisions (see S. 1922), S6296 [4AU] (see H.R. 2136), H2767 [30AP]

——— provide payment for fees associated with obtaining birth certificate or State identification card for purposes of obtaining replacement Social Security card for certain victims of domestic violence (see H.R. 3679), H6787 [1OC]

——— reissue Social Security numbers to children in cases in which the confidentiality of the number has been compromised (see H.R. 1474), H1801 [19MR]

——— require the President to transmit the annual budget without revisions to Congress and clarify process for closure of field offices (see H.R. 2169), H2768 [30AP]

——— update medical-vocational guidelines used in disability determinations (see S. 1194), S2650 [5MY] (see H.R. 1800), H2268 [15AP]

SSI: authorize extension to Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa (see H.R. 1822), H2269 [15AP]

——— condition eligibility of disabled children aged 16 or 17 for benefits on school attendance (see H.R. 2511), H3559 [21MY]

——— update eligibility (see S. 1387), S3060 [19MY] (see H.R. 2442), H3387 [19MY]

State Children’s Health Insurance Program: extend (see S. 522), S983 [12FE] (see H.R. 2), H1898 [24MR]

——— extend and improve (see H.R. 919), H1033 [12FE]

——— extend (H.R. 2), consideration (see H. Res. 173), H2031 [25MR]

States: improve quality, health outcomes, and value of maternity care under Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Program (see S. 466), S926 [11FE]

——— provide for 12-month continuous enrollment of individuals under Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Program (see S. 428), S900 [10FE] (see H.R. 700), H810 [4FE]

——— provide with the option of providing services to children with medically complex conditions under Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Program through a care coordination program (see S. 298), S590 [28JA] (see H.R. 546), H638 [27JA]

Taxation: allow seniors with Social Security and pension income to file income tax form 1040SR without regard to amount of interest or taxable income (see S. 716), S1438 [11MR] (see H.R. 1397), H1721 [17MR]

——— limit the earned income tax credit to citizens and lawful permanent residents and require a valid Social Security number to claim the refundable portion of the child tax credit (see H.R. 2956), H4861 [7JY]

——— permit the Dept. of the Treasury and the SSA to disclose certain return information relative to identity theft (see S. 1323), S2849 [13MY] (see H.R. 2398), H3308 [18MY]

——— prevent claims of the earned income tax credit and child tax credit by individuals receiving Social Security numbers and work authorizations pursuant to certain deferred action programs (see H.R. 1332), H1613 [4MR]

——— prevent claims of the earned income tax credit by individuals receiving Social Security numbers and work authorizations pursuant to certain deferred action programs (see S. 686), S1383 [10MR] (see H.R. 1182), H1499 [27FE] (see H.R. 1223), H1566 [3MR] (see H.R. 1249), H1609 (see H.R. 1298), H1612 (see H.R. 1328), H1613 [4MR] (see H.R. 1657), H2108 [26MR] (see H.R. 2389), H3252 [15MY]

——— prohibit inclusion of Social Security numbers of donors in charitable contribution substantiation acknowledgements (see H.R. 4281), H9690 [17DE]

——— repeal inclusion of Social Security benefits in gross income (see H.R. 589), H660 [28JA]

——— repeal limitation on imposition of employment taxes on wages in excess of the Social Security contribution and benefit base (see H.R. 2078), H2497 [28AP]

——— require individuals to include their Social Security numbers on the income tax return as a condition of claiming the refundable portion of the child tax credit (see H.R. 2334), H3211 [14MY]

——— require student Social Security numbers and employer identification numbers for education tax credits (see S. 75), S58 [7JA]

——— require students to be lawfully present and to provide their Social Security number and the educational institution employer identification number for purposes of the education tax credit (see H.R. 2973), H4955 [8JY]

Territories: provide greater transparency and information relative to Federal expenditures under Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (see H.R. 1570), H1899 [24MR]

——— reduce Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Program fraud in U.S. territories (see H.R. 3444), H5847 [8SE]

Trust funds: ensure that receipts and disbursements are not included in a unified Federal budget and protect solvency by mandating that trust fund monies not be diverted to private accounts (see H.R. 1983), H2462 [23AP]

——— establish a procedure to safeguard (see S. 20), S11 [6JA]

——— protect Social Security and Medicare trust funds from the public debt ceiling (see H.R. 111), H39 [6JA]

——— repeal cap on compensation subject to payroll tax, reallocate payroll taxes to trust funds, and improve cost-of-living adjustments (see H.R. 1984), H2463 [23AP]

Unemployment: prevent payment of benefits to incarcerated individuals (see H.R. 2503), H3558 [21MY]

——— require drug testing as a condition for application and receipt of unemployment compensation (see H.R. 1136), H1369 [26FE]

——— require substance abuse risk assessment and targeted drug testing as a condition for receipt of unemployment compensation (see H.R. 2148), H2767 [30AP]

Women: promote economic security and safety of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking victims (see H.R. 3841), H7254 [27OC]

Letters

Bipartisan Budget Act: Conservative Action Project (organization), S7644 [29OC]

Budget 2016–2025: Dan Weber, Association of Mature American Citizens, H1891 [24MR]

——— Grover G. Norquist, Americans for Tax Reform (organization), H1890 [24MR]

——— James L. Martin, 60 Plus Association, Inc., H1891 [24MR]

Ensure more timely access to home health services for Medicare beneficiaries: several organizations, S1163 [26FE]

Ensuring Access to Clinical Trials Act: several health and medical research organizations, H6277 [28SE]

Financial effects of elimination of cap on income subject to Social Security payroll taxes: Stephen C. Goss, SSA, S815 [5FE]

Health care reform: several organizations, H4477 [17JN]

Means-tested direct spending and non-means-tested direct spending programs: Douglas W. Elmendorf, CBO, H1716 [17MR]

Medicare Advantage Coverage Transparency Act: Representative Paul Ryan, Committee on Ways and Means (House), H4484 [17JN]

——— Representative Upton, Committee on Energy and Commerce (House), H4484 [17JN]

Medicare beneficiary access to eye tracking accessories for speech generating devices and remove the rental cap for durable medical equipment relative to speech generating devices: Steve Gibson, ALS Association, S2284 [21AP]

Medicare budget sequestration elimination extension: several health organizations, H4266 [12JN]

Medicare coverage of continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGMS): several medical technology and health organizations, S1664 [19MR]

Notice of Observation Treatment and Implication for Care Eligibility (NOTICE) Act: Joyce A. Rogers, AARP (organization), H1645 [16MR]

——— Mark Parkinson, American Health Care Association, H1645 [16MR]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: Senator Alexander, S8216 [1DE]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act health-care related provisions repeal: Georges C. Benjamin, American Public Health Association, H736 [3FE]

——— Katherine Beh Neas, Easter Seals Inc., H735 [3FE]

——— Mary Kay Henry, Service Employees International Union, H735 [3FE]

——— Max Richtman, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, H735 [3FE]

——— Reid B. Blackwelder, American Academy of Family Physicians, H736 [3FE]

——— Shereen Arent, American Diabetes Association, H736 [3FE]

——— William Samuel, AFL–CIO, H735 [3FE]

Protecting Seniors’ Access to Medicare Act: Representative Paul Ryan, Committee on Ways and Means (House), H4529 [18JN]

——— Representative Upton, Committee on Energy and Commerce (House), H4529 [18JN]

Protecting the Integrity of Medicare Act: Representative Paul Ryan, Committee on Ways and Means (House), H2081 [26MR]

Reallocate funds from Old-Age and Survivors Disability Insurance Fund to Social Security Disability Insurance program: Joyce A. Rogers, AARP, S813 [5FE]

——— Leadership Council of Aging Organizations, S814 [5FE]

Repeal Medicare sustainable growth rate and improve payments for physicians and other professionals and extend State Children’s Health Insurance Program: Mary Kay Henry, Service Employees International Union, H2043 [26MR]

——— Rich Umbdenstock, American Hospital Association, H2043 [26MR]

——— Richard C. Pieters, Massachusetts Medical Society, H2042 [26MR]

Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act: Brent Gardner, Americans for Prosperity (organization), H7162 [23OC]

——— Bruce Siegel, America’s Essential Hospitals (organization), H7159 [23OC]

——— David French, National Retail Federation, H7161 [23OC]

——— Karen Kerrigan, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council, H7162 [23OC]

——— R. Bruce Josten, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, H7162 [23OC]

——— Scott Frey, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, H7158 [23OC]

——— William Samuel, AFL–CIO, H7159 [23OC]

Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act relative to Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc., funding: Carol Tobias, David N. O’Steen, and Douglas D. Johnson, National Right to Life Committee, Inc., H7161 [23OC]

——— Charmaine Yoest, Americans United for Life (organization), H7162 [23OC]

——— David Christensen, Family Research Council, H7161 [23OC]

——— Marjorie Dannenfelser, Susan B. Anthony List, Inc., H7160 [23OC]

Women’s Public Health and Safety Act: Hilary O. Shelton, NAACP, H6318 [29SE]

——— Karin Johanson and Georgeanne M. Usova, ACLU, H6317 [29SE]

——— Mark S. DeFranceso, American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, H6317 [29SE]

——— Reid B. Blackwelder, American Academy of Family Physicians, H6325 [29SE]

Lists

Organizations supporting H.R. 2, repeal Medicare sustainable growth rate and improve payments for physicians and other professionals and extend State Children’s Health Insurance Program, S2152 [14AP], H2042, H2079 [26MR]

Organizations supporting H.R. 1314, Bipartisan Budget Act, H7309 [28OC]

Messages

Social Security Agreement with the Czech Republic: President Obama, S7159 [6OC], H6800 [6OC]

Motions

Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act: repeal health-care related provisions (H.R. 596), H740 [3FE]

Medicaid: allow for greater State flexibility relative to excluding providers who are involved in abortions (H.R. 3495), H6334 [29SE]

——— extend and expand emergency psychiatric demonstration project (S. 599), S8175 [19NO]

Medicare: repeal the sustainable growth rate and improve payments for physicians and other professionals (H.R. 2), S2158, S2159, S2160, S2161 [14AP]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: repeal (H.R. 596), H740 [3FE]

——— use of budget reconciliation to repeal (H.R. 3762), S8233 [1DE], S8341, S8343, S8344, S8345, S8346, S8347, S8348, S8349, S8350, S8354, S8355, S8356 [3DE]

State Children’s Health Insurance Program: extend (H.R. 2), S2158, S2159, S2160, S2161 [14AP]

Press releases

CCAGW Praises FY 2016 House Balanced Budget Resolution: Council for Citizens Against Government Waste, H1891 [24MR]

House Budget Proposal: Americans for Prosperity (organization), H1891 [24MR]

Repeal Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate and Improve Payments for Physicians and Other Professionals and Extend State Children’s Health Insurance Program: Bipartisan Policy Center (organization), H2044 [26MR]

——— Massachusetts Hospital Association, H2042 [26MR]

Remarks in House

Abortion: ensure affordable abortion coverage for every woman (H.R. 2972), H5606 [29JY]

Benefits: protect system and improve benefits (H.R. 1391), H2029H2031 [25MR]

——— support policies to protect, expand, and secure long-term future, H7262 [28OC]

BLS: establish a consumer price index for elderly consumers to compute cost-of-living increases for Social Security, H7037 [21OC]

Budget: allocation of funds, H710 [3FE], H6969 [9OC]

——— reform entitlement programs, H1554H1556 [3MR], H1701H1704 [17MR], H1754 [18MR], H3379H3382 [19MY], H10703H10706 [18DE]

——— revise defense and non-defense spending levels, provide offsets, and temporarily extend the public debt ceiling, H7257, H7258, H7268H7312 [28OC], H7954 [5NO]

Business and industry: exempt from manufacturer transparency reporting certain Social Security benefit transfers used for educational purposes, H4977 [9JY]

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: clarify waiver authority for Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) (S. 1362), H7079, H7080 [21OC]

Commission on Americans Living Abroad: establish (H.R. 3078), E1075 [15JY]

Commission on Long Term Social Security Solvency: establish (H.R. 1578), H9385, H9388 [17DE]

Congressional Progressive Caucus: budget priorities, H1934H1938 [25MR], E421 [25MR]

Correctional institutions: remove limitations on Medicaid, Medicare, SSI, and State Children’s Health Insurance Program benefits for inmates in custody pending disposition of charges (H.R. 4201), E1748 [9DE]

Democratic Party: national agenda, H1054H1057 [13FE]

Dept. of HUD: ensure Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services quality rating is included in the criteria for eligibility for Federal loan insurance for nursing homes and elder-care facilities, H6983 [20OC]

Disabled: disability insurance funding, H6967 [9OC]

——— eliminate waiting period for disability insurance benefits for terminally ill individuals (H.R. 2585), H3881 [4JN]

——— reform budget treatment of disability trust fund, H5860 [9SE]

——— reform budget treatment of Social Security disability trust fund, H1666 [17MR], H3316 [19MY]

Diseases: disregard, for purposes of eligibility for SSI and Medicaid, compensation for participation in clinical trials for rare diseases or conditions (S. 139), H6276H6279 [28SE]

——— improve coverage of colorectal cancer screening tests under Medicare and private health insurance (H.R. 2035), E592 [28AP]

Drugs: encourage development and use of new antimicrobial drugs in order to treat antibiotic-resistant infections, H5075 [10JY]

Elder Justice Act: anniversary, E384 [23MR]

Families and domestic relations: enhance pre- and post-adoptive support services (H.R. 2068), H2491, H2492 [28AP]

Federal agencies and departments: exempt major rules relative to Social Security and Medicare benefits protection from requirement of a congressional joint resolution of approval, H5570 [28JY]

——— reduce duplication and increase efficiency (H.R. 614), H644 [28JA]

Federal aid programs: merge the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund (H.R. 3150), E1100 [22JY]

——— prevent concurrent receipt of unemployment benefits and Social Security disability insurance, H927 [11FE]

Guam: provide for increased flexibility in the extension of the Social Security program to Guam (H.R. 3642), E1388 [29SE]

Health: ensure access to qualified acupuncturist services for military members and dependents, veterans, and Medicare beneficiaries, and allow acupuncturists as officers in the Public Health Service (H.R. 3849), H7266 [28OC]

——— national policy to provide health care, control costs, and enhance the quality of the health care system (H.R. 1200), E286 [2MR]

——— national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures, H801 [4FE]

——— national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures (H.R. 2653), H4961 [9JY], H9358 [16DE]

Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act: repeal health-care related provisions (H.R. 2300), H7106 [22OC], H7158 [23OC]

——— repeal health-care related provisions (H.R. 2653), H4961 [9JY], H9358 [16DE]

——— repeal health-care related provisions (H.R. 596), H672 [2FE], H711, H713, H723H742 [3FE], H815 [5FE], H992 [12FE], E168 [5FE], E197 [11FE], E203 [12FE]

——— repeal health-care related provisions (H.R. 596), consideration (H. Res. 70), H713H722 [3FE]

——— repeal health-care related provisions (H.R. 596), motion to recommit, H740 [3FE]

House of Representatives: legislative priorities, H5542 [28JY], H7149 [23OC]

Immigration: prohibit assignment of account numbers and payment of disability benefits to, and deny credit toward benefits for earnings from unauthorized work by, certain illegal aliens, H2365 [22AP]

Johnson, Lyndon B.: award Congressional Gold Medal (H.R. 3290), E1189 [29JY]

Medicaid: allow for greater State flexibility relative to excluding providers who are involved in abortions (H.R. 3495), H6160 [18SE], H6324H6337 [29SE], E1395 [30SE]

——— allow for greater State flexibility relative to excluding providers who are involved in abortions (H.R. 3495), consideration (H. Res. 444), H6316H6324 [29SE]

——— allow for greater State flexibility relative to excluding providers who are involved in abortions (H.R. 3495), motion to recommit, H6334, H6335 [29SE]

——— anniversary, H5519 [27JY], H5534, H5573 [28JY], H5599, H5607, H5609 [29JY], E1159, E1173, E1176 [29JY], E1195 [31JY]

——— ensure Medicare restriction on physician self-referral applies to Medicaid health services claims (H.R. 1083), E251 [25FE]

——— extend and expand emergency psychiatric demonstration project (S. 599), H8176H8180 [16NO]

——— extend rules regarding supplemental needs trusts for beneficiaries to trusts established by such beneficiaries (H.R. 670), H5601 [29JY]

——— funding, H1880 [24MR], H6969 [9OC]

——— increase Federal medical assistance percentage for the District of Columbia (H.R. 3930), E1592 [4NO]

——— provide for updated and alternative certification requirements for participation in the case of certain facilities treating infants under one year of age with neonatal abstinence syndrome (H.R. 3865), H8974 [3DE]

——— require payment of an additional rebate to State plans in the case of increase in the price of a generic drug at a rate that is greater than the rate of inflation, H7304 [28OC]

Medicare: anniversary, H5519 [27JY], H5534, H5573 [28JY], H5599, H5607, H5609 [29JY], E1159, E1173, E1176 [29JY], E1195 [31JY]

——— change rules relative to enrollment of residents of Puerto Rico (H.R. 1418), H1728 [18MR], H5596 [29JY]

——— ensure equal access of beneficiaries to community pharmacies in underserved areas as network pharmacies under Medicare prescription drug coverage (H.R. 793), H7019, H7020 [20OC]

——— ensure more timely access to home health services for beneficiaries (H.R. 1342), H7199 [27OC]

——— establish annual rulemaking schedule for payment rates under Medicare Advantage (H.R. 2507), H4447, H4481H4483 [17JN]

——— establish drug management program under part D to protect at-risk beneficiaries from controlled substance abuse, H4980 [9JY]

——— establish smart card pilot program, H739 [3FE]

——— establish Value-Based Insurance Design demonstration program to show that reduced copayments or coinsurance can increase utilization, improve clinical outcomes, and lower health care expenditures, H739 [3FE]

——— establish Value-Based Insurance Design demonstration program to show that reduced copayments or coinsurance can increase utilization, improve clinical outcomes, and lower health care expenditures (H.R. 2570), H4447, H4479H4483 [17JN]

——— extend annual comment period for payment rates under Medicare Advantage (H.R. 3831), H9217, H9218 [10DE]

——— extend the enforcement instruction on supervision requirements for outpatient therapeutic services in critical access and small rural hospitals (S. 1461), H9062 [8DE]

——— funding, H4211, H4215 [11JN], H6967 [9OC]

——— impact of proposed changes to rules relative to coverage of advanced prosthetics medical technology, H5862 [9SE]

——— improve risk adjustment under Medicare Advantage program and delay authority to terminate Medicare Advantage contracts of plans failing to achieve minimum quality ratings (H.R. 2582), H4447, H4485H4487 [17JN]

——— include information on the coverage of intensive behavioral therapy for obesity in the ‘‘Medicare and You Handbook’’ and coordinate programs to prevent and treat obesity, H2889 [13MY]

——— include recreational therapy among the therapy modalities that constitute an intensive rehabilitation therapy program in an inpatient rehabilitation hospital or unit (H.R. 1906), H2364 [22AP]

——— increase diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias to improve care and outcomes, H904 [10FE]

——— increase limit on length of an agreement under the Medicare independence at home medical practice demonstration program (S. 971), H5217H5219 [15JY]

——— prevent increase in part B premiums and deductibles (H.R. 3696), H6921 [8OC]

——— proposed rules limiting access to medical technology, H8436 [30NO]

——— provide beneficiary access to eye tracking accessories for speech generating devices and remove the rental cap for durable medical equipment relative to speech generating devices (H.R. 628), H961 [11FE]

——— provide beneficiary access to eye tracking accessories for speech generating devices and remove the rental cap for durable medical equipment relative to speech generating devices (S. 984), H5214H5217 [15JY], H8436 [30NO]

——— provide coverage of an initial comprehensive care plan for beneficiaries newly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (H.R. 1559), H2129 [13AP], H4425, H4427 [16JN], H4657 [25JN]

——— provide coverage of pharmacist services in medically underserved areas (H.R. 592), H7017, H7019, H7021 [20OC]

——— provide for coverage of continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGMS) (H.R. 1427), H5408 [23JY]

——— provide for coverage of home as a site of care for infusion therapy (H.R. 605), H4483 [17JN], E133 [28JA]

——— provide for demonstration project to evaluate the fiscal impact of covering low vision devices as durable medical equipment (H.R. 729), E164 [4FE]

——— provide for expert advisory panel regarding relative value scale process under the physician fee schedule (H.R. 2614), E820 [2JN]

——— provide for pharmacy benefits manager standards under the prescription drug program and transparency of payment methodology of pharmacies (H.R. 244), H7017H7019, H7021H7023 [20OC], H9029 [8DE]

——— provide for the coordination of programs to prevent and treat obesity (H.R. 2404), H7399 [3NO]

——— provide parity to Puerto Rico hospitals relative to inpatient hospital payments (H.R. 1417), H1728 [18MR]

——— provide programs to prevent prescription drug abuse, E1037 [10JY]

——— reform, H1914 [25MR], H2171H2178 [14AP], H6895 [8OC]

——— reform sustainable growth rate payment system for physicians, H1087 [24FE]

——— reimbursement rates for hospital-affiliated facilities considered as outpatient departments, H7270 [28OC]

——— remove exclusion of coverage for hearing aids and examinations, H5302 [21JY]

——— repeal the sustainable growth rate and improve payments for physicians and other professionals (H.R. 2), H2038, H2045H2084, H2091, H2098 [26MR], H2118, H2133 [13AP], H2293 [16AP], H2321 [21AP], E451 [13AP]

——— repeal the sustainable growth rate and improve payments for physicians and other professionals (H.R. 2), consideration (H. Res. 173), H2038H2045 [26MR]

——— require hospitals to provide certain notifications to individuals classified by such hospitals under observation status rather than admitted as inpatients of such hospitals (H.R. 876), H1644H1646 [16MR]

——— require State licensure and bid surety bonds for entities submitting bids under the durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) competitive acquisition program (H.R. 284), H1646, H1647 [16MR]

——— require the annual reporting of data on enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans (H.R. 2505), H4447, H4483H4485 [17JN]

——— solvency, H5474 [27JY]

——— treatment of patient encounters in ambulatory surgical centers in determining meaningful electronic health records use, H4480, H4481 [17JN]

Medicare/Medicaid: establish minimum direct care registered nurse staffing levels at nursing and skilled nursing facilities (H.R. 952), H2825 [12MY]

——— improve payments for complex rehabilitation technology and radiation therapy services, extend hardship exemptions from electronic health record meaningful use requirements, and strengthen Medicaid integrity (S. 2425), H10706 [18DE]

——— make improvements to the treatment of the U.S. territories (H.R. 2635), H3769 [3JN]

——— provide coverage of voluntary advance care planning consultation, H108 [8JA], H739 [3FE], H4959 [9JY]

Office of the Special Inspector General for Monitoring the Affordable Care Act: establish (H.R. 2400), H7150 [23OC]

Older Americans Act: anniversary, E1066 [14JY]

——— reauthorize (S. 192), E1179 [29JY]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: encourage certain States to accept expanded Medicaid coverage, H4363 [15JN]

——— Health Center Fund funding, H2082 [26MR]

——— impact of implementation on health care, coverage, costs, and accessibility, H724H741 [3FE], H801 [4FE], H815 [5FE], H1842H1845 [23MR], H2023 [25MR], H2824 [12MY], H3649 [2JN], H4350 [15JN], H4596 [24JN], H4762H4765 [25JN], H4961 [9JY], H7095 [22OC], H7159, H7160 [23OC], H7402 [3NO], H9084 [9DE], H9299 [11DE], H10694 [18DE], E1196 [31JY], E1650 [18NO]

——— impact on job creation and hiring, H736H738 [3FE]

——— implementation, H1638 [16MR]

——— protect women, seniors, and middle class families from harmful effects of repeal, H740 [3FE]

——— repeal, H644 [28JA], H1555 [3MR], H1754 [18MR], H1853, H1877, H1878 [24MR]

——— repeal (H.R. 596), H672 [2FE], H711, H713, H723H742 [3FE], H815 [5FE], H992 [12FE], E168 [5FE], E197 [11FE], E203 [12FE]

——— repeal (H.R. 596), consideration (H. Res. 70), H713H722 [3FE]

——— repeal (H.R. 596), motion to recommit, H740 [3FE]

——— repeal (H.R. 2300), H7106 [22OC], H7158 [23OC]

——— repeal (H.R. 2653), H4961 [9JY], H9358 [16DE]

——— repeal provisions providing for the Independent Payment Advisory Board (H.R. 1190), H4447 [17JN], H4528H4535 [18JN], H4549, H4584 [23JN], H4604 [24JN], E922 [18JN], E952 [23JN], E963 [24JN], E991 [25JN]

——— repeal provisions providing for the Independent Payment Advisory Board (H.R. 1190), consideration (H. Res. 319), H4449H4455 [17JN]

——— use of budget reconciliation to repeal, H6781 [1OC]

——— use of budget reconciliation to repeal (H.R. 3762), H7098 [22OC], H7143H7164, H7165, H7167, H7168 [23OC], H9084 [9DE], H9358 [16DE]

——— use of budget reconciliation to repeal (H.R. 3762), consideration (H. Res. 483), H7101H7107 [22OC]

——— use of budget reconciliation to repeal (H.R. 3762), corrections in engrossment (H. Res. 526), H8254H8259 [17NO]

Puerto Rico: Medicaid funding, H2887 [13MY]

Religion: ensure organizations with religious or moral convictions are allowed to provide child welfare services, H3555 [21MY]

Solvency, H9364H9367 [16DE]

SSA: improve ability to fight fraud, prevent errors, and protect the Social Security Trust Fund (H.R. 1419), E356 [18MR]

——— prohibit the furnishing of names in a report to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System unless a Federal court has determined the individual to be mentally defective, H5342 [22JY]

——— update medical-vocational guidelines used in disability determinations (H.R. 1800), H2219 [15AP]

SSI: authorize extension to Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa (H.R. 1822), H2217 [15AP]

——— importance, H54 [7JA], H114 [8JA], H436 [21JA]

State Children’s Health Insurance Program: extend (H.R. 2), H2038, H2045H2084, H2091, H2098 [26MR], H2118, H2133 [13AP], H2293 [16AP], H2321 [21AP], E451 [13AP]

——— extend (H.R. 2), consideration (H. Res. 173), H2038H2045 [26MR]

——— funding, H727 [3FE]

Taxation: eliminate cap on income subject to Social Security payroll taxes, E181 [10FE]

——— prevent claims of the earned income tax credit and child tax credit by individuals receiving Social Security numbers and work authorizations pursuant to certain deferred action programs (H.R. 1332), H1854 [24MR]

——— prevent claims of the earned income tax credit by individuals receiving Social Security numbers and work authorizations pursuant to certain deferred action programs, H966 [11FE]

——— prevent claims of the earned income tax credit by individuals receiving Social Security numbers and work authorizations pursuant to certain deferred action programs (H.R. 1657), E1695 [2DE]

——— require individuals to include their Social Security numbers on the income tax return as a condition of claiming the refundable portion of the child tax credit, H2890 [13MY]

Trust funds: budget treatment, H1087 [24FE]

Women: expand Medicare and Social Security relative to women’s retirement security, H2972 [14MY]

Remarks in Senate

Anniversary, S6365 [5AU]

Anniversary (S. Res. 246), S6404 [5AU]

Benefits: ensure contributions made by workers are available to pay all benefits which they have earned (S. 2090), S6976 [28SE], S7604 [29OC]

——— establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to expand and protect benefits, S2012 [26MR]

——— establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to protect and strengthen, S1767 [24MR]

——— establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to protect beneficiaries from benefit cuts, S2209, S2210 [15AP]

——— improve old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program, provide cash relief for years when annual cost-of-living increases do not take effect, and provide benefit protection (S. 960), S7443 [22OC]

Budget: allocation of funds, S704 [2FE], S1592 [18MR]

——— comparison between Senate and Obama administration proposals, S1591 [18MR]

——— create a point of order against any legislation that would cut benefits, raise the retirement age, or privatize, S1762S1764, S1767 [24MR]

——— establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund against any legislation that would cut benefits, raise the retirement age, or privatize, S2199 [15AP]

——— reform entitlement programs, S760 [4FE], S7629 [29OC]

——— revise defense and non-defense spending levels, provide offsets, and temporarily extend the public debt ceiling, S7497 [27OC], S7551S7553, S7558 [28OC], S7601S7605, S7608S7611, S7616S7620, S7623S7652 [29OC], S7665S7673 [30OC], S7802 [5NO]

——— treatment of trust funds and disability insurance program, S7617S7620 [29OC]

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: clarify waiver authority for Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) (S. 1362), S6425 [5AU]

Children and youth: impact of budget cuts on Federal aid programs for children, S1775S1777 [24MR]

——— improve childhood outcomes in well-being and reduce childhood poverty (S. 473), S1839 [25MR]

——— invest child welfare funds to help keep children safe and supported at home with their families to reduce the prevalence and length of foster care (S. 1964), S6386 [5AU]

Committee on Aging (Senate, Special): priorities, S136 [12JA]

Committee on Finance (Senate): accomplishments during 114th Congress, S8765S8768 [17DE]

Committee on the Budget (Senate): revision of budgetary allocations, aggregates, and levels, S8841 [18DE]

Congress: accomplishments of the 114th Congress, S8433S8435 [7DE], S8469 [8DE], S8657S8659, S8660 [15DE], S8838, S8841 [18DE]

Crime: prevent identity theft and tax fraud, S3273 [22MY]

——— prohibit an individual who is the subject of an outstanding arrest warrant for a felony from receiving various cash benefits (S. 1758), S5153 [16JY], S7629 [29OC]

Dept. of HHS: approval of Healthy Indiana Plan expansion to provide health insurance to more low-income Indiana residents, S502 [27JA]

——— better enable State child welfare agencies to prevent human trafficking of children and serve the needs of victims under adoption assistance and foster care programs, S1408 [11MR]

——— increase access to Medicare data, S6171 [30JY]

Disabled: prevent disability fraud, S4126 [15JN], S8208 [1DE]

——— protect the Social Security Disability Insurance program, S968S970 [12FE]

Diseases: disregard, for purposes of eligibility for SSI and Medicaid, compensation for participation in clinical trials for rare diseases or conditions (S. 139), S105 [8JA], S5175 [16JY]

——— improve coverage of colorectal cancer screening tests under Medicare and private health insurance (S. 1079), S2403 [23AP]

Economy: national objectives priority assignments, S575 [28JA], S1690S1694 [23MR], S2705S2708 [7MY]

Federal aid programs: prevent concurrent receipt of unemployment benefits and Social Security disability insurance, S1086 [25FE]

——— prevent concurrent receipt of unemployment benefits and Social Security disability insurance (S. 499), S7629 [29OC]

——— prohibit administrative offset of Social Security, railroad retirement, and black lung benefit payments with respect to claims arising from Federal debts (S. 2387), S8604 [10DE]

——— provide for a supplementary payment to Social Security beneficiaries, SSI beneficiaries, and recipients of veterans benefits (S. 2251), S7782S7785 [5NO], S8218S8223 [1DE]

——— restore program integrity funding to combat waste, fraud, and abuse, S1973 [26MR], S2424, S2425 [27AP]

GAO: release of report on senior citizen hunger, S4196 [16JN]

Health: improve women’s access to quality health care, S2158, S2159 [14AP]

——— national policy to provide health care, control costs, and enhance the quality of the health care system, S7642 [29OC]

——— national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures, S970 [12FE], S4937 [9JY], S7568S7570 [28OC], S8231 [1DE]

——— reform provision of insurance coverage by promoting health savings accounts, State-based alternatives, and price transparency if tax-credit subsidies for coverage are lost under King v. Burwell (S. 1531), S3928S3931 [9JN]

——— require certain drug manufacturers entering into settlement agreements for violations of law to make supplemental payments to be used to increase medical research funding (S. 320), S657 [29JA]

Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act: repeal, S5710 [26JY], S5921 [27JY]

——— repeal health-care related provisions (H.R. 596), S732 [3FE], S799 [4FE], S803 [5FE], S876 [10FE]

——— repeal (S. 339), S702 [2FE], S707 [3FE]

Homosexuality: establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to ensure equal treatment of same-sex married couples under Social Security and the Dept. of Veterans Affairs, S2005, S2006 [26MR], S2200, S2210 [15AP]

Income: repeal Government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions (S. 1651), S4547, S4548 [23JN]

Insurance: extend special rule for seniors relative to the income level for deduction of medical care expenses, S8352 [3DE]

——— protect victims of violence or disease, veterans, workers who have lost health insurance and jobs, and other vulnerable populations from repeal of the advance premium tax credit, S8355 [3DE]

——— strike reinstatement of tax on employee health insurance premiums and health plan benefits, S8354 [3DE]

Medicaid: anniversary, S6103, S6125, S6126 [29JY], S6148S6151, S6166, S6170S6175, S6181 [30JY], S6365 [5AU]

——— anniversary (S. Res. 25), S50S53 [7JA], S109 [8JA]

——— create demonstration program to provide incentives to States to achieve more integrated employment for people with disabilities, S4236 [17JN]

——— establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to improve health outcomes and lower the costs of caring for medically complex children, S1741, S1744, S1750, S1751 [24MR]

——— establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to improve Medicaid based on successful and bipartisan State demonstration projects, S1882 [25MR]

——— establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to improve oral health care for pregnant women and children, S1967 [26MR]

——— establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to protect beneficiaries from benefit cuts, S1744, S1750 [24MR]

——— establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to provide States the flexibility needed to implement innovative reforms to improve care and enhance access, S1865 [25MR]

——— extend and expand emergency psychiatric demonstration project (S. 599), S1168 [26FE], S6979 [28SE]

——— extend and expand emergency psychiatric demonstration project (S. 599), House amendment, S8175 [19NO]

——— extend rules regarding supplemental needs trusts for beneficiaries to trusts established by such beneficiaries (S. 349), S6539 [9SE]

——— funding, S1755 [24MR], S2645 [5MY]

——— make enhanced Federal medical assistance percentage reimbursement permanent, S8275 [2DE], S8342 [3DE]

——— protect beneficiaries from benefit cuts, S1985 [26MR]

——— States voluntary expansion of coverage under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, S733 [3FE]

Medicare: anniversary, S6103, S6125, S6126 [29JY], S6148S6151, S6166, S6170S6175, S6181 [30JY], S6365 [5AU]

——— anniversary (S. Res. 25), S50S53 [7JA], S109 [8JA]

——— change rules relative to enrollment of residents of Puerto Rico (S. 1453), S7517 [27OC]

——— create a point of order against any legislation that would privatize Medicare, cut benefits, increase out-of-pocket spending, or turn Medicare into a premium support plan, S1844, S1870 [25MR]

——— deliver a meaningful drug benefit and lower prescription drug prices (S. 1884), S7119 [5OC]

——— designate Rural Emergency Hospitals to sustain emergency services in rural areas (S. 1648), S4546 [23JN], S4625 [25JN]

——— ensure more timely access to home health services for beneficiaries (S. 578), S1163 [26FE]

——— establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relative to reforming sustainable growth rate payment system for physicians, S1855, S1870 [25MR]

——— extend annual comment period for payment rates under Medicare Advantage (H.R. 3831), S8728 [16DE]

——— extend the enforcement instruction on supervision requirements for outpatient therapeutic services in critical access and small rural hospitals (S. 1461), S6610 [10SE]

——— extend the rural add-on payment in the home health benefit (S. 839), S1711 [23MR]

——— extend the rural add-on payment in the home health benefit (S. 2389), S8604 [10DE]

——— funding, S1999 [26MR], S2630 [5MY]

——— impact of improper payments, S7370 [21OC]

——— improve access to curative care and hospice care, S6171 [30JY]

——— improve efficiency of appeals process (S. 2368), S8496 [8DE]

——— improve how beneficiaries are assigned under the shared savings program by also basing such assignment on primary care services from federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics (S. 2261), S8834, S8835 [17DE]

——— increase limit on length of an agreement under the Medicare independence at home medical practice demonstration program (S. 971), S2318 [22AP]

——— permit occupational therapists to conduct initial assessment visits under a home health plan of care for certain rehabilitation cases (S. 2364), S8496 [8DE]

——— prevent increase in part B premiums and deductibles (S. 2148), S7604 [29OC]

——— prohibit privatizing Medicare, cutting benefits, increasing out-of-pocket spending, or turning Medicare into a premium support plan, S2206, S2212 [15AP]

——— protect relative to reconciliation involving changes to the program and prevent eligibility age increase, privatization, and conversion to a voucher system, S50 [7JA]

——— provide a technical change to long-term care hospital moratorium exception (S. 202), S349 [21JA]

——— provide beneficiary access to eye tracking accessories for speech generating devices and remove the rental cap for durable medical equipment relative to speech generating devices (S. 984), S2255 [16AP], S2261 [20AP], S2284 [21AP], S2319 [22AP], S2471 [28AP]

——— provide coverage of an initial comprehensive care plan for beneficiaries newly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (S. 857), S4594, S4610 [24JN]

——— provide for advanced illness care coordination services for beneficiaries, S2241 [16AP]

——— provide for coverage of continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGMS) (S. 804), S1663 [19MR]

——— provide steady updates of payment rates under the Medicare physician fee schedule, S2159 [14AP]

——— reform, S8285 [2DE]

——— reimbursement rates for hospital-affiliated facilities considered as outpatient departments, S7637 [29OC]

——— repeal outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps (S. 539), S1076 [24FE]

——— repeal the sustainable growth rate and improve payments for physicians and other professionals, S1974S1976, S2022 [26MR]

——— repeal the sustainable growth rate and improve payments for physicians and other professionals (H.R. 2), S2094, S2100S2103 [13AP], S2141, S2144, S2145S2152, S2154S2161, S2163, S2164 [14AP], S2392 [23AP]

——— repeal the sustainable growth rate and improve payments for physicians and other professionals (H.R. 2), unanimous-consent agreement, S2156 [14AP]

——— repeal the therapy cap and provide for medical review of outpatient therapy services, S2154, S2160 [14AP]

——— require hospitals to provide certain notifications to individuals classified by such hospitals under observation status rather than admitted as inpatients of such hospitals (H.R. 876), S5920, S5921 [27JY]

——— treatment of patient encounters in ambulatory surgical centers in determining meaningful electronic health records use (S. 1347), S6425 [5AU]

Medicare/Medicaid: anniversary, S6108 [29JY]

——— deliver a meaningful drug benefit and lower prescription drug prices, S6171 [30JY]

——— ensure more timely access to home health services for beneficiaries, S6171 [30JY]

——— improve payments for complex rehabilitation technology and radiation therapy services, extend hardship exemptions from electronic health record meaningful use requirements, and strengthen Medicaid integrity (S. 2425), S8859 [18DE]

——— make improvements to the treatment of the U.S. territories (S. 1961), S6887 [22SE]

Mental health: expand access to community mental health centers and improve the quality of mental health care, S3277 [22MY], S6119 [29JY], S7239 [8OC], S7887 [10NO], S8516 [9DE], S8566 [10DE]

National Healthcare Decisions Day: observance, S2241 [16AP]

National Retirement Security Week: support goals and ideals (S. Res. 263), S6907 [22SE]

Older Americans Act: reauthorize (S. 192), S4196 [16JN], S5154, S5158S5163 [16JY], S5206 [21JY]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: GAO investigation of application and subsidy approval process, S5481 [23JY]

——— impact of implementation on health care, coverage, costs, and accessibility, S35 [7JA], S70S73, S91 [8JA], S617 [29JA], S732 [3FE], S822 [5FE], S873, S876 [10FE], S911S913 [11FE], S1270S1272, S1291S1293 [4MR], S1344 [10MR], S1399, S1401, S1413 [11MR], S1468S1471 [12MR], S1560 [17MR], S1675, S1676, S1681S1687 [23MR], S2093 [13AP], S2419 [27AP], S2494 [29AP], S2636 [5MY], S2897S2899 [14MY], S3096 [20MY], S3217S3221 [21MY], S3731S3733, S3741, S3760 [4JN], S3889S3894 [9JN], S3977S3979 [10JN], S4219, S4243 [17JN], S4260S4262 [18JN], S4336, S4340, S4341 [22JN], S4576S4582 [24JN], S4621S4625, S4638S4640 [25JN], S4937 [9JY], S5481 [23JY], S6057 [28JY], S6175 [30JY], S6365 [5AU], S6775 [17SE], S6986 [29SE], S7027 [30SE], S7369 [21OC], S7568S7570 [28OC], S7603 [29OC], S7775, S7800 [5NO], S7851 [9NO], S8203, S8210S8220, S8230 [1DE], S8247S8255, S8258, S8259, S8262, S8265, S8268S8286, S8289S8293, S8295S8298, S8319S8321 [2DE], S8324S8327, S8330S8335, S8339S8344, S8366 [3DE], S8535S8538 [9DE]

——— impact of regulations on ability of certain entities to exercise religious beliefs, S7902 [10NO]

——— impact on job creation and hiring, S321 [21JA]

——— repeal, S1843 [25MR], S1962 [26MR], S5672 [24JY], S5705, S5710 [26JY], S5921 [27JY]

——— repeal (H.R. 596), S732 [3FE], S799 [4FE], S803 [5FE], S876 [10FE]

——— repeal (S. 339), S702 [2FE], S707 [3FE]

——— tax liability relative to repayment of cost-sharing subsidy, S2143 [14AP]

——— use of budget reconciliation to repeal, S1675, S1676, S1695, S1697, S1701 [23MR], S1755 [24MR]

——— use of budget reconciliation to repeal (H.R. 3762), S7800 [5NO], S8112 [18NO], S8114 [19NO], S8197, S8198, S8201, S8203, S8210S8220, S8230S8234 [1DE], S8247S8266, S8268S8286, S8289S8293, S8295S8298, S8319S8321 [2DE], S8324S8335, S8339S8357, S8366 [3DE], S8566 [10DE]

——— use of budget reconciliation to repeal (H.R. 3762), unanimous-consent agreement, S8234 [1DE], S8350 [3DE]

Pharmaceuticals: ensure greater affordability of prescription drugs (S. 2023), S6997, S6998 [29SE]

Public debt: prioritize obligations if the debt ceiling is reached by treating public debt payments, Social Security benefits, and Armed Forces allowances equally (S. 2181), S7306 [19OC], S7310 [20OC], S7627, S7647 [29OC]

Public welfare programs: ensure that mental health screenings and assessments are provided to children and youth upon entry into foster care (S. 2166), S8059 [18NO]

Puerto Rico: status of economic crisis, S8183S8186 [30NO]

Reform, S1482 [12MR], S4821 [8JY]

Republican Party: national agenda, S6328 [5AU]

Solvency, S815 [5FE], S5485 [23JY]

SSA: enhance pre- and post-adoptive support services (S. 369), S8059 [18NO]

——— prevent disability fraud (S. 1929), S6298 [4AU]

——— prohibit the publishing of Social Security numbers of deceased individuals in the Death Master File, S1520 [16MR]

——— provide certain individuals with information on employment support services (S. 1923), S6297S6299 [4AU]

——— provide for quality reviews of benefit decisions (S. 1922), S6297S6299 [4AU]

State Children’s Health Insurance Program: extend (H.R. 2), S2094, S2100S2103 [13AP], S2141, S2144, S2145S2152, S2154S2161, S2163, S2164 [14AP], S2392 [23AP]

——— extend (H.R. 2), unanimous-consent agreement, S2156 [14AP]

——— extend (S. 522), S997 [12FE], S1341 [9MR], S1555 [16MR], S1777 [24MR]

——— funding, S635 [29JA], S686 [2FE], S906 [10FE], S2646 [5MY]

Taxation: eliminate cap on income subject to Social Security payroll taxes, S815 [5FE]

——— establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to extend certain expiring tax provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, S1875 [25MR]

——— prevent claims of the earned income tax credit by individuals receiving Social Security numbers and work authorizations pursuant to certain deferred action programs (S. 686), S1386 [10MR], S1596 [18MR]

——— provide for reduction in payroll tax for enrollment in a private disability insurance plan, S7629 [29OC]

——— require individuals to include their Social Security numbers on the income tax return as a condition of claiming the refundable portion of the child tax credit, S2232 [16AP]

Trust funds: budget treatment, S7674 [30OC]

——— budget treatment relative to continued funding for Medicare and Medicaid, S6166 [30JY]

——— reallocate funds from the Old-Age and Survivors Disability Insurance fund to the Social Security Disability Insurance program, S813 [5FE], S885 [10FE], S1482 [12MR], S7610 [29OC]

Reports filed

Audit & Appeals Fairness, Integrity, and Reforms in Medicare (AFIRM) Act: Committee on Finance (Senate) (S. 2368) (S. Rept. 114–177), S8492 [8DE]

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) Waiver Authority Clarification: Committee on Finance (Senate) (S. 1362) (S. Rept. 114–108), S6186 [30JY]

Community Based Independence for Seniors Act: Committee on Finance (Senate) (S. 704) (S. Rept. 114–103), S6186 [30JY]

Consideration of H.R. 2, Repeal Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate and Improve Payments for Physicians and Other Professionals and Extend State Children’s Health Insurance Program: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 173) (H. Rept. 114–50), H2031 [25MR]

Consideration of H.R. 160, Protect Medical Innovation Act and H.R. 1190, Protecting Seniors’ Access to Medicare Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 319) (H. Rept. 114–157), H4430 [16JN]

Consideration of H.R. 596, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act Health-Care Related Provisions Repeal: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 70) (H. Rept. 114–13), H702 [2FE]

Consideration of H.R. 3495, Women’s Public Health and Safety Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 444) (H. Rept. 114–269), H6306 [28SE]

Consideration of H.R. 3762, Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 483) (H. Rept. 114–303), H7088 [21OC]

Consideration of Senate Amendment to H.R. 1314, Bipartisan Budget Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 495) (H. Rept. 114–315), H7253 [27OC]

Corrections in Engrossment of H.R. 3762, Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 526) (H. Rept. 114–340), H8239 [16NO]

Electronic Health Fairness Act: Committee on Finance (Senate) (S. 1347) (S. Rept. 114–106), S6186 [30JY]

——— Committee on Ways and Means (House) (H.R. 887) (H. Rept. 114–40), H1635 [13MR]

Improving Access to Emergency Psychiatric Care Act: Committee on Finance (Senate) (S. 599) (S. Rept. 114–101), S6186 [30JY]

Increasing Regulatory Fairness Act: Committee on Ways and Means (House) (H.R. 2507) (H. Rept. 114–159), H4430 [16JN]

LTCH Technical Correction Act: Committee on Ways and Means (House) (H.R. 2580) (H. Rept. 114–156), H4430 [16JN]

Medicare Advantage Coverage Transparency Act: Committee on Ways and Means (House) (H.R. 2505) (H. Rept. 114–152), H4342 [12JN]

Medicare Beneficiary Access to Eye Tracking Accessories for Speech Generating Devices and Removal of Rental Cap for Medical Equipment Speech Generating Devices: Committee on Ways and Means (House) (S. 984) (H. Rept. 114–178), H4650 [24JN]

Medicare DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Improvement Act: Committee on Ways and Means (House) (H.R. 284) (H. Rept. 114–38), H1635 [13MR]

Medicare Enforcement Instruction on Supervision Requirements for Outpatient Therapeutic Services in Critical Access and Small Rural Hospitals Extension: Committee on Finance (Senate) (S. 1461) (S. Rept. 114–109), S6186 [30JY]

Medicare Independence at Home Medical Practice Demonstration Improvement Act: Committee on Ways and Means (House) (S. 971) (H. Rept. 114–172), H4591 [23JN]

Notice of Observation Treatment and Implication for Care Eligibility (NOTICE) Act: Committee on Finance (Senate) (S. 1349) (S. Rept. 114–107), S6186 [30JY]

——— Committee on Ways and Means (House) (H.R. 876) (H. Rept. 114–39), H1635 [13MR]

Older Americans Act Reauthorization: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Senate) (S. 192), S736 [3FE]

Patient Access to Disposable Medical Technology Act: Committee on Finance (Senate) (S. 1253) (S. Rept. 114–105), S6186 [30JY]

Preservation of Access for Seniors in Medicare Advantage Act: Committee on Ways and Means (House) (H.R. 2581) (H. Rept. 114–161), H4430 [16JN]

Prevent Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act: Committee on Finance (Senate) (S. 313) (S. Rept. 114–98), S6186 [30JY]

Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures (PRIME) Act: Committee on Finance (Senate) (S. 861) (S. Rept. 114–104), S6186 [30JY]

Protecting Seniors’ Access to Medicare Act: Committee on Ways and Means (House) (H.R. 1190) (H. Rept. 114–150), H4342 [12JN]

Protecting the Integrity of Medicare Act: Committee on Ways and Means (House) (H.R. 1021) (H. Rept. 114–46), H1767 [18MR]

Quality Care for Moms and Babies Act: Committee on Finance (Senate) (S. 466) (S. Rept. 114–100), S6186 [30JY]

Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act: Committee on the Budget (House) (H.R. 3762) (H. Rept. 114–293), H6980 [16OC]

Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Extension Act: Committee on Finance (Senate) (S. 607) (S. Rept. 114–102), S6186 [30JY]

Securing Care for Seniors Act: Committee on Ways and Means (House) (H.R. 2579) (H. Rept. 114–160), H4430 [16JN]

Seniors’ Health Care Plan Protection Act: Committee on Ways and Means (House) (H.R. 2506) (H. Rept. 114–158), H4430 [16JN]

Special Needs Trust Fairness Act: Committee on Finance (Senate) (S. 349) (S. Rept. 114–99), S6186 [30JY]

Statements

Elder Justice Coalition: Bob Blancato, E384 [23MR]

Health Information Exchange—A Path Towards Improving the Quality and Value of Health Care for Patients: Senator Alexander, Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Senate), S4100 [11JN]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act Health-Care Related Provisions Repeal (H.R. 596): Executive Office of the President, H732 [3FE]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Is Working for Us, E198 [11FE]

Protecting Seniors’ Access to Medicare Act: Executive Office of the President, H4530 [18JN]

Repeal Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate and Improve Payments for Physicians and Other Professionals and Extend State Children’s Health Insurance Program: Center for American Progress, H2043 [26MR]

——— Executive Office of the President, H2040 [26MR]

——— Speaker Boehner, S2152 [14AP]

Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act Relative to Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc., Funding: Representative Castor, E1542 [27OC]

Tables

Budgetary effects of H.R. 3762, Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act, S8251 [2DE]

Committee on Ways and Means (House) and Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) allocations relative to Protecting Seniors’ Access to Medicare Act, H4489 [17JN]

Direct spending and revenue effects of H.R. 3762, Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act, S8252 [2DE]

Direct spending and revenue effects of McConnell substitute amendment to H.R. 3762, Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act, S8252 [2DE]

Mandatory outlays in CBO’s baseline (2014–2024), H1718 [17MR]

Mandatory outlays since 2005, H1719 [17MR]

Texts of

H. Res. 70, consideration of H.R. 596, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act health-care related provisions repeal, H713 [3FE]

H. Res. 173, consideration of H.R. 2, repeal Medicare sustainable growth rate and improve payments for physicians and other professionals and extend State Children’s Health Insurance Program, H2038 [26MR]

H. Res. 319, consideration of H.R. 160, Protect Medical Innovation Act and H.R. 1190, Protecting Seniors’ Access to Medicare Act, H4449 [17JN]

H. Res. 444, consideration of H.R. 3495, Women’s Public Health and Safety Act and same-day consideration of resolutions allowing consideration of certain legislation, H6316 [29SE]

H. Res. 495, consideration of Senate amendment to H.R. 1314, Bipartisan Budget Act, H7268 [28OC]

H. Res. 526, corrections in engrossment of H.R. 3762, Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act, H8254 [17NO]

H.R. 2, repeal Medicare sustainable growth rate and improve payments for physicians and other professionals and extend State Children’s Health Insurance Program, H2045H2070 [26MR]

H.R. 284, Medicare DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Improvement Act, H1646 [16MR]

H.R. 596, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act health-care related provisions repeal, H723 [3FE]

H.R. 876, Notice of Observation Treatment and Implication for Care Eligibility (NOTICE) Act, H1644 [16MR]

H.R. 1190, Protecting Seniors’ Access to Medicare Act, H4528 [18JN]

H.R. 2505, Medicare Advantage Coverage Transparency Act, H4483 [17JN]

H.R. 2507, Increasing Regulatory Fairness Act, H4481 [17JN]

H.R. 2570, Strengthening Medicare Advantage Through Innovation and Transparency for Seniors Act, H4479 [17JN]

H.R. 2582, Seniors’ Health Care Plan Protection Act, H4485 [17JN]

H.R. 3495, Women’s Public Health and Safety Act, H6324 [29SE]

H.R. 3762, Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act, H7143 [23OC]

H.R. 3831, Securing Fairness in Regulatory Timing Act, H9217 [10DE]

S. 139, Ensuring Access to Clinical Trials Act, S105 [8JA], S5175 [16JY], H6276 [28SE]

S. 141, Protecting Seniors’ Access to Medicare Act, S107 [8JA]

S. 192, Older Americans Act reauthorization, S5158S5162 [16JY]

S. 202, provide a technical change to long-term care hospital moratorium exception, S349 [21JA]

S. 349, Special Needs Trust Fairness Act, S6539 [9SE]

S. 539, Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act, S1077 [24FE]

S. 599, Improving Access to Emergency Psychiatric Care Act, S1169 [26FE], S6979 [28SE], H8176 [16NO]

S. 971, increase limit on length of an agreement under the Medicare independence at home medical practice demonstration program, S2319 [22AP]

S. 971, Medicare Independence at Home Medical Practice Demonstration Improvement Act, H5217 [15JY]

S. 984, provide beneficiary access to eye tracking accessories for speech generating devices and remove the rental cap for durable medical equipment relative to speech generating devices, S2319 [22AP]

S. 984, provide Medicare beneficiary access to eye tracking accessories for speech generating devices and remove the rental cap for durable medical equipment relative to speech generating devices, H5214 [15JY]

S. 1079, Supporting Colorectal Examination and Education Now (SCREEN) Act, S2403S2405 [23AP]

S. 1347, Electronic Health Fairness Act, S6425 [5AU]

S. 1362, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) waiver authority clarification, S6425 [5AU]

S. 1461, extend Medicare enforcement instruction on supervision requirements for outpatient therapeutic services in critical access and small rural hospitals, S6610 [10SE]

S. 1461, Medicare enforcement instruction on supervision requirements for outpatient therapeutic services in critical access and small rural hospitals extension, H9063 [8DE]

S. 1884, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act, S6139 [29JY]

S. 2261, Rural ACO Provider Equity Act, S8835 [17DE]

S. 2364, Medicare Home Health Flexibility Act, S8496 [8DE]

S. 2387, Protection of Social Security Benefits Restoration Act, S8604 [10DE]

S. 2425, Patient Access and Medicare Protection Act, S8859S8861 [18DE], H10706 [18DE]

S. Res. 25, Medicare/Medicaid anniversary, S109 [8JA]

S. Res. 199, National Strategic Agenda establishment with goals of job creation, balanced budget, securing Medicare and Social Security, and energy security, S4109 [11JN]

S. Res. 246, anniversary, S6404 [5AU]

S. Res. 263, support goals and ideals of National Retirement Security Week, S6899 [22SE]