DARREN WEBB

340B Drug Pricing Program - Continued to urge action to ensure covered entities have access to 340B discounted prices through contract pharmacies. Highlighted critical importance of the 340B program for hospitals. Children's Hospital Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) - Continued to urge Congress to reauthorize CHGME program Drug shortages - Supported elements to increase transparency in prescription drug supply chain and increase reimbursement for generic prescription drugs; issues related to compounding; issues related to buffer inventory. Continued supporting passage of The Drug Shortage Prevention Act (H.R. 3008) and The Drug Origin Transparency Act (H.R. 3810) Hospital Group Purchasing - Advocated to highlight the value that hospital group purchasing organizations provide to hospitals and suppliers. Provided education on how GPOs work in the healthcare supply chain and the role they play in delivering value to healthcare providers, as well as key differences between traditional GPOs and PBMs. Monitored development of the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act (H.R. 5378) Medical Device Sterilization - Conducted education and outreach on the potential negative impact on the healthcare supply chain of pending regulations limiting the use of Ethylene Oxide as a medical device sterilant. Mental and Behavioral Health - Highlighted the need for legislation to address significant challenges to mental and behavioral health treatment, including increased demand for services, limited access to treatment, and clinician shortages. Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) - Encouraged the reauthorization of PAHPA Payer-mandated White Bagging - Urged support for policy updates related to payer-mandated white bagging for medications. Rural healthcare - Encouraged passage of the Save Rural Hospitals Act (S. 803) ; the Rural Hospital Closure Relief Act (S. 1571) and the Assistance for Rural Community Hospitals Act (H.R. 6430) Social Determinants of Health - Encouraged Congress and agencies to ensure tools like the Vizient Vulnerability Index are being utilized to understand and identify social drivers of health at the neighborhood level. Specifications, Standards and Ecolabels for Federal Purchasing - Responded to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on EPAs Recommendations of Specifications, Standards and Ecolabels for Federal Purchasing. Encouraged EPA to use a standard, ecolabel or certification that is recognized by the Environmental Sustainability Program. Telehealth - Continued supporting passage of the CONNECT for Health Act (S. 2016/H.R. 4189). Continued to advocate for the adoption of permanent telehealth policies to extend flexibilities beyond the current 2024 expiration date. Telemedicine prescribing - Encouraged Congress to pass a two-year extension of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) prescribing flexibilities without requiring an in-person medical evaluation Workforce - Monitored development of the Bipartisan Primary Care and Health Workforce Act (S.2840) ; Encouraged passage of the Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act (S. 2768/H.R. 2584) ; the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3679/H.R. 7153) ; the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act (S.3211/H.R.6205) ; the Resident Physician Workforce Shortage Reduction Act of 2023 (S. 1302/H.R. 2389) ; and the Substance Use Disorder Workforce Act (H.R.7050)

Acute Hospital Care at Home - Recommended Congress make certain flexibilities related to the Acute Hospital Care at Home Program permanent or, pass an extension before flexibilities expired. Home Infusion - Shared concerns regarding changes to Medicare reimbursement for certain Home Infusion Treatments, encouraged passage of the Preserving Patient Access to Home Infusion Act (S.1976/H.R.4104) Issues related to hospital and provider payment Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) Program - Urged Congress to avert the cuts to Medicaid DSH payments set to take place at the end of the year; encouraged passage of legislation to preserve DSH payments on a longer-term basis, endorsed passage of the Supporting Safety Net Hospitals Act (H.R.2665) Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program (MDPNP) - Responded to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on CMSs ICR on implementation of Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program. Encouraged the agency to continue considering provider perspectives as it works to implement the MDPNP Medicare Prospective Payment System Updates - Urged Congress to consider additional financial support for hospitals beyond increases in the IPPS and OPPS payment rules to more adequately adjust for increased provider costs. PAYGO Budget Cuts - Encouraged congress to act to avert statutory Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) cuts set to go into effect in 2025 Physician Payment - Encouraged Congress to avoid enacting the reimbursement reduction for physicians and other clinicians treating Medicare patients included in the CY 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) Proposed Rule; Urged Congress to consider long-term legislative solutions to refine the current Medicare physician payment system Prior Authorization - Provided feedback to improve prior authorization (PA) processes for various plans and payers, including Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations and Medicaid managed care plans. Endorsed legislation to streamline the prior authorization process in the Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act (S.4532/H.R.8702) Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) Designation - Urged corrective action to allow REHs to bill both the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Advocated for increased eligibility among REHs to allow for future Medicaid DSH payments to certain hospital facilities. Site-Neutral Payment Policies - Opposed adoption of site-neutral payment policies for drug administration and increased fines related to price transparency requirements for hospitals. Urged Congress to redirect its focus from site-neutral payment policies to reducing administrative burdens and increasing, rather than reducing, payments for care delivery in rural areas. Monitoring development of the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act (H.R. 5378)

Not-for-Profit Hospital Tax-exemption - Provided education and information on hospital tax exemption and what is required to justify and maintain tax-exempt status.

Sec. 301 China Tariffs - Continued to advocate for clarity around the expiration of tariff exclusions for products necessary to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Supported extending exclusions for key healthcare products.

21st Century Next-Generation Cures Initiative: Responded to congressional request for information (RFI) on biomedical research and innovation. Encouraged Congress to consider whether use of the Vizient Vulnerability Index is appropriate as stakeholders consider innovative approaches to advance further technological progress. CMS Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program: Draft Guidance - Encouraged CMS to consider minimizing provider burden, including avoiding disruptions to current purchasing and reimbursement practices; urged CMS to avoid final guidance that enables a retrospective payment of the 340B discount. Issues related to hospital and provider payment. Issues related to pharmacy benefit managers; monitoring the Modernizing and Ensuring PBM Accountability (MEPA) Act (S.2973). Lower Costs, More Transparency Act (H.R. 5378) - Opposed adoption of site-neutral payment policies for drug administration and increased fines related to price transparency requirements for hospitals. Urged Congress to redirect its focus from site-neutral payment policies to reducing administrative burdens and increasing, rather than reducing, payments for care delivery in rural areas. Medicare and Medicaid Programs; CMS CY 2025 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems proposed rule (CMS-1809-P) - Responded to various issues and proposals provided in the Proposed Rule and offered our responses to the agencys various requests for information. Medicare and Medicaid Programs; CMS CY 2025 Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B Payment and Coverage Policies; Medicare Shared Savings Program Requirements; Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program; and Medicare Overpayments proposed rule - Responded to various issues and proposals provided in the Proposed Rule and offered our responses to the agencys various requests for information. Telehealth - Continued to advocate for the adoption of permanent telehealth policies to extend flexibilities beyond the current 2024 expiration date.

340B Drug Pricing Program - Continued to urge action to ensure covered entities have access to 340B discounted prices through contract pharmacies. Highlighted critical importance of the 340B program for hospitals. Buffer inventory - Engagements with CMS on reimbursement for hospitals that stockpile buffer supplies of essential medicines. Children's Hospital Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) - Continued to urge Congress to reauthorize CHGME program through the Childrens Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2023 (H.R. 3887). Offered support for providing $738 million in funding the CHGME program. Drug shortages -Supported elements to increase transparency in prescription drug supply chain and increase reimbursement for generic prescription drugs; issues related to compounding; issues related to buffer inventory. Continued supporting passage of The Drug Shortage Prevention Act (H.R. 3008) and The Drug Origin Transparency Act (H.R. 3810). Provided feedback on the Senate Finance Committee discussion draft on the Drug Shortage Prevention and Mitigation Act (No Bill Number) legislation. Healthcare Workforce - Monitored development of the Bipartisan Primary Care and Health Workforce Act (S.2840) and the Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act (H.R. 2584/S. 2768). Hospital Group Purchasing - Advocated to highlight the value that hospital group purchasing organizations provide to hospitals and suppliers. Provided education on how GPOs work in the healthcare supply chain and the role they play in delivering value to healthcare providers, as well as key differences between traditional GPOs and PBMs. Interchangeability Status - Responded to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) draft guidance on Considerations for Demonstrating Interchangeability with a Reference Product: Update. Urged FDA to promptly finalize the Draft Guidance. Medical Device Sterilization - Conducted education and outreach on the potential negative impact on the healthcare supply chain of pending regulations limiting the use of Ethylene Oxide as a medical device sterilant. Mental and Behavioral Health - Highlighted the need for legislation to address significant challenges to mental and behavioral health treatment, including increased demand for services, limited access to treatment, and clinician shortages. Payer-mandated White Bagging - Urged support for policy updates related to payer-mandated white bagging for medications. Social Determinants of Health - Encouraged Congress and agencies to ensure tools like the Vizient Vulnerability Index are being utilized to understand and identify social drivers of health at the neighborhood level. Telehealth - Continued supporting passage of the CONNECT for Health Act (S. 2016/H.R. 4189). Continued to advocate for the adoption of permanent telehealth policies to extend flexibilities beyond the current 2024 expiration date. Telemedicine prescribing - Encouraged Congress to pass a two-year extension of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) prescribing flexibilities without requiring an in-person medical evaluation. Workforce - Encouraged passage of The Health Workforce Innovation Act (S.4957).

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