DUSTIN WATSON

Advocating for a ban on Trichloroethylene (TCE) and paraquat. H.R.9233 - The Harmonizing Environmental Analyses and Launching Therapeutic Hubs to Yield Bolstered Research And Innovation in Neurological Science (HEALTHY BRAINS) Act of 2024 - a bill to create a Centers of Excellence grant program within the National Institute of Health to focus on the intersection between environmental risk factors and neurodegenerative disease.

FY 2025 Appropriations bills including funding requests for Parkinson's research within: H.R.8774/ S.4921: The Department of Defense within the FY 2025 Defense Appropriation bill. Funding for the Parkinson's Research Program (PRP) under the Department of Defense's Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). H.R.9029/S.4942: The National Institute of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention within the FY 2025 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriation bill. Possible funding to implement the National Plan to End Parkinson's Act (HR 2365/ PL 118-66) within LHHS appropriations. H.R.9027/ S.4690: The Food and Drug Administration within the FY 2025 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriation bill. H.R.8580/ S.4677: The Department of Veterans Affairs within the FY 2025 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriation bill. Support funding for Neurology Centers of Excellence and medical care and research through Veterans Health Administration, including the Parkinson's Disease Research, Education and Clinical Centers. H.R.9029/S.4942: General advocacy in support of robust non-defense discretionary investments in Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies appropriations bill for FY 2025. Funding for discretionary, non-defense priorities including overall investment in the National Institute of Health, ARPA-H, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention within the FY 2025 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriation bills. Funding for the Parkinson's Research Program (PRP) under the Department of Defense's Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). Increased funding for NIEHS (no bill introduced).

General education on the importance of the Department of Defense medical research programs for military service personnel and Veterans living with Parkinson's disease. H.R.8774/ S.4921: FY25 Defense Appropriations bills to support increased funding for DOD Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs Parkinson's Research Program. H.R.542/S.141 - The Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act: Increases access to home care and caregiver programs provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and seeks to address VA home health workforce shortages. Inclusion of Parkinson's disease and PD-related diseases as presumptive conditions when military Veterans are exposed to associated toxins. H.R.8580 / S.4677 - FY25 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations bill: Supports increased funding for the VA's Parkinson's Disease Research, Education and Clinical Center as part of Neurology Centers of Excellence. General education regarding the importance of the Department of Defense medical research programs for military service personnel and Veterans living with Parkinson's disease.

H.R.2365/S.1064 - National Plan to End Parkinson's Act: A bill to create an advisory council comprising members of federal agencies that support research, care, and services for Parkinson's disease, as well as patients, care partners, researchers, clinicians, and other non-federal experts, to ensure efficient and effective coordination among all federal entities responsible for managing, treating, and curing Parkinson's disease. General Parkinson's Disease Information: Covers symptoms, triggers, health coverage, health costs, social determinants of health, data collection, research, environmental risks, and health access for underserved communities, particularly through the CDC's National Neurological Conditions Surveillance System (NNCSS). H.R.2630/S.652/S.1339 - Safe Step Act: Requires group health plans to provide an exception process for any medication step therapy protocol to ensure that individuals living with Parkinson's disease can access treatments safely and efficiently. Establishing Parkinson's Disease ICD-10-CM Codes: Aims to assist in the coordination of care for Parkinson's patients who experience OFF episodes and to allow researchers to gather data to study disease progression. S.1544/H.R.1199 - Facilitating Innovative Nuclear Diagnostics Act of 2023: A bill to establish separate payment requirements for diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals, including DaTscans, which aid in confirming a Parkinson's diagnosis under the Medicare prospective payment system for hospital outpatient services. H.R.3432 - Telemental Health Care Access Act of 2023: Permanently removes Medicare's originating site requirements for mental health services furnished via telehealth. Parkinson's non-motor symptoms include mental health conditions, and many people with Parkinson's are Medicare beneficiaries who may face barriers due to in-person requirements. H.R.830/S.1375 - Help Ensure Lower Patient Copays Act: A bill requiring health insurance plans to apply certain payments, including third-party payments, financial assistance, and product vouchers, toward a plan's cost-sharing requirements. This helps Parkinson's patients afford medications for managing symptoms. The Medicare Part D Six Protected Classes Policy: Requires Part D plans to cover all drugs in six protected classes, including antidepressants and antipsychotics. For individuals with Parkinson's disease, these medications are crucial for managing non-motor symptoms such as depression and psychosis. H.R.4752/S.2379 - CHANGE Act of 2023: A bill to improve early screening, detection, and diagnosis of Alzheimer's and related dementias, including Parkinson's disease dementia, during Medicare wellness visits. H.R.4942/S.655 - Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act: Reauthorizes the Conrad State 30 program and improves policies to address health care provider shortages, supporting neurological care for Parkinson's patients. H.R.8702/S.4532 - Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act: Establishes requirements regarding the use of prior authorization under Medicare Advantage plans. H.R.9233/S.- The HEALTHY Brains Act: Draft legislation to create a Centers of Excellence grant program within the National Institutes of Health to focus on the intersection between environmental risk factors and neurodegenerative diseases. General Outreach for Establishing an ""Office of Caregiver Health"": Supports the creation of an Office of Caregiver Health within the Department of Health and Human Services to address the needs of caregivers, particularly in relation to Parkinson's disease care.

Lobbying to Improve Prescription Drug Affordability and Accessibility: Advocacy for people living with Parkinson's via Medicare Part D redesign and benefits, including expanding the low-income subsidy (LIS) program, capping out-of-pocket costs, implementing a smoothing mechanism, and streamlining utilization management processes. Medicare Part D Six Protected Classes Policy: Requires Part D plans to cover all drugs in six classes: immunosuppressants, antidepressants, antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, antiretrovirals, and antineoplastics. Access to a wide range of treatment options for antidepressants and antipsychotics is essential for Parkinson's patients due to non-motor symptoms such as depression and psychosis. Advocacy includes coalition meetings and letters to CMS in response to Medicare Prescription Payment Plan Part One Guidance to support continued protection for the six protected classes. H.R.2360/S.652/S.1339 - Safe Step Act: A bill requiring group health plans to provide an exception process for any medication step therapy protocol to ensure that Parkinson's patients can access treatments safely and efficiently. Led a digital campaign to allow constituents to write to members of Congress in support of the legislation. H.R.830/S.1375 - Help Ensure Lower Patient Copays Act: This bill requires health insurance plans to apply third-party payments, financial assistance, discounts, and other reductions in out-of-pocket expenses toward a plan's cost-sharing requirements. Many Parkinson's patients rely on such payments to afford medications, and this legislation ensures they count toward out-of-pocket costs. S.1544/H.R.1199 - Facilitating Innovative Nuclear Diagnostics Act of 2023: A bill to establish separate payment requirements for diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals, including DaTscans, under the Medicare prospective payment system for hospital outpatient department services. This will help confirm Parkinson's diagnoses more efficiently. CMS-1809-P (2025 Medicare Outpatient Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule): Supported CMS's proposal to separate payment for certain diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals, including those used to diagnose Parkinson's disease and atypical parkinsonisms, from the procedure payment and reimburse them separately. H.R.8702/S.4532 - Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act: A bill to establish requirements regarding the use of prior authorization under Medicare Advantage plans. Lobbying CMS: Advocacy efforts to direct Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractors to provide clarification on the use of claim modifiers for DME therapies administered via an external infusion pump to expedite patient access to new Parkinson's therapies once they are approved by the FDA.

Lobbying to Increase Prescription Drug Affordability and Accessibility: Advocacy for Medicare Part D redesign and benefits for people living with Parkinson's, including expanding the low-income subsidy (LIS) program, capping out-of-pocket costs, implementing a smoothing mechanism, and streamlining utilization management processes. The Medicare Part D Six Protected Classes Policy: Requires Part D plans to cover all drugs in six classes: immunosuppressants, antidepressants, antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, antiretrovirals, and antineoplastics. For people living with Parkinson's, most of whom are Medicare beneficiaries, it is essential to have access to a wide range of treatment options for antidepressants and antipsychotics, which are crucial for managing non-motor symptoms like depression and psychosis. Signed Coalition Letters: - Medicare Access for Prescription Rx (MAPRx): Comment letter in response to Medicare Prescription Payment Plan Part One Guidance. - Patient and Provider Advocates for Telehealth: Comment letter in response to CMS CY 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) supporting expanded access to telehealth. - Alliance for Aging Research: Coalition letter in response to Medicare Prescription Payment Plan Part One Guidance supporting proposed beneficiary protections. H.R.4752/S.2379 - CHANGE Act of 2023: A bill to better utilize existing Medicare wellness visits for early screening, detection, and diagnosis of Alzheimer's and related dementias, including Parkinson's disease dementia. S.1544/H.R.1199 - Facilitating Innovative Nuclear Diagnostics Act of 2023: A bill to establish separate payment requirements for diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals, including DaTscans used to confirm Parkinson's diagnoses, under the Medicare outpatient prospective payment system. CMS-1809-P (2025 Medicare OPPS Proposed Rule): Comment supporting CMS's proposal to separately reimburse certain diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals used in diagnosing Parkinson's disease and atypical parkinsonisms. H.R.8702/S.4532 - Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act: Establishes requirements for the use of prior authorization under Medicare Advantage plans to ensure timely access to care for seniors, including those with Parkinson's. S.3109/H.R.8018 - Alleviating Barriers for Caregivers (ABC) Act: Requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and Social Security to simplify processes and communications for family caregivers to assist individuals in accessing and utilizing benefits. S.3766/H.R.7274 - Connecting Caregivers to Medicare Act: Amends the Social Security Act to provide outreach and education to Medicare beneficiaries and simplify access to information for family caregivers through 1-800-MEDICARE. Advocacy for Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Access: Lobbying CMS to direct Medicare contractors to clarify claims procedures for DME therapies requiring administration via external infusion pumps, ensuring quick access to new Parkinson's therapies after FDA approval.

THE MICHAEL J. FOX FOUNDATION FOR PARKINSON'S RESEARCH

THE MICHAEL J. FOX FOUNDATION FOR PARKINSON'S RESEARCH

THE MICHAEL J. FOX FOUNDATION FOR PARKINSON'S RESEARCH