| LOBBYING REPORT |
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (Section 5) - All Filers Are Required to Complete This Page
2. Address
| Address1 |
901 NEW YORK AVENUE, NW
| Address2 |
Suite 510 E
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| City |
WASHINGTON
| State |
DC
| Zip Code |
20001
| Country |
USA
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3. Principal place of business (if different than line 2)
| City |
Irving
| State |
TX
| Zip Code |
75039
| Country |
USA
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| 5. Senate ID# 40021-00012
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| 6. House ID# 313240000
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| TYPE OF REPORT | 8. Year |
2011
| Q1 (1/1 - 3/31) | Q2 (4/1 - 6/30) | Q3 (7/1 - 9/30) | Q4 (10/1 - 12/31) |
9. Check if this filing amends a previously filed version of this report
| 10. Check if this is a Termination Report | Termination Date |
| 11. No Lobbying Issue Activity |
| INCOME OR EXPENSES - YOU MUST complete either Line 12 or Line 13 | |||||||||
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| 12. Lobbying | 13. Organizations | ||||||||
| INCOME relating to lobbying activities for this reporting period was: | EXPENSE relating to lobbying activities for this reporting period were: | ||||||||
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| Provide a good faith estimate, rounded to the nearest $10,000, of all lobbying related income from the client (including all payments to the registrant by any other entity for lobbying activities on behalf of the client). | 14. REPORTING Check box to indicate expense accounting method. See instructions for description of options. | ||||||||
| Method A.
Reporting amounts using LDA definitions only
Method B. Reporting amounts under section 6033(b)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code Method C. Reporting amounts under section 162(e) of the Internal Revenue Code |
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| Signature |
Digitally Signed By: Michael J. Regier Senior Vice President Legal and Corporate Affairs and General Counsel
| Date |
04/15/2011
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LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code MMM
16. Specific lobbying issues
Accountable Care Organizations - Tracked the release of regulations to create the Medicare Shared Savings Program, which allows
the creation of ACOs. Advocated for an approach that would allow flexibility for providers in establishing an ACO.
Medicaid Maintenance of Effort Requirements - Advocated against changes to Medicaid MOE requirements that were included in the Affordable Care Act.
Hospital Value Based Purchasing - Monitored the release of regulations establishing a hospital value based purchasing program as required under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Provided input about the implications of the proposed CMS rule for hospitals.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
| First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
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Edward
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Goodman
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Cidette
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Perrin
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Steven
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Rixen
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code HCR
16. Specific lobbying issues
Hospital Group Purchasing - Conducted outreach and education efforts on the value of group purchasing organizations for hospitals. Monitored and expressed support for draft proposals to create greater transparency in the pricing of medical devices.
H.R. 5 - Monitored the legislative movement of Medical Liability reform legislation. Advocated for policies that would ease the burden of liability costs on health care providers and promote competition in the insurance marketplace.
Unique Device Identification - Advocated for the release of FDA regulations to establish a unique device identification system for medical devices as required by the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007.
H.R. 2 - Monitored efforts to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Advocated against eliminating expanded insurance coverage and wholesale changes, while encouraging an approach that would allow fixing pieces of the law while maintaining any improvements.
S. 296 - Monitored legislation that would require drug manufacturers to report to the FDA on potential drug shortages.
H.R. 452, S. 668 - Tracked the release of legislation that would repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board created under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Patient Safety Initiative - monitored the release of a possible patient safety initiative from HHS. Engaged in policy discussions as to how VHA may be suited to engage policy makers in support of improving patient safety.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S. SENATE, Health & Human Services - Dept of (HHS)
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
| First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
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Edward
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Goodman
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Cidette
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Perrin
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Steven
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Rixen
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code TAX
16. Specific lobbying issues
Not-For-Profit Hospital Tax Exemption - Monitored effort to expand hospital reporting obligations as required under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Tracked efforts to expand the IRS Form 990 Schedule H reporting requirements for hospitals. Advocated for policies that would not substantially increase reporting burden for hospitals.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S. SENATE, Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
| First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
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Edward
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Goodman
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Cidette
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Perrin
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Steven
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Rixen
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
Information Update Page - Complete ONLY where registration information has changed.
20. Client new address
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21. Client new principal place of business (if different than line 20)
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22. New General description of client’s business or activities
LOBBYIST UPDATE
23. Name of each previously reported individual who is no longer expected to act as a lobbyist for the client
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ISSUE UPDATE
24. General lobbying issue that no longer pertains
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AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS
25. Add the following affiliated organization(s)
Internet Address:
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Principal Place of Business (city and state or country) |
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26. Name of each previously reported organization that is no longer affiliated with the registrant or client
| 1 | 2 | 3 |
FOREIGN ENTITIES
27. Add the following foreign entities:
| Name | Address | Principal place of business (city and state or country) | Amount of contribution for lobbying activities | Ownership percentage in client | ||||||||||
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28. Name of each previously reported foreign entity that no longer owns, or controls, or is affiliated with the registrant, client or affiliated organization
| 1 | 3 | 5 |
| 2 | 4 | 6 |