Schoolhouse Rock 201:Some States are More Equal Than Others!

Oregon Hospice Association PPESeptember 2015

Tony KudnerProgram Manager, Grassroots Advocacy

NHPCO Hospice Action Network

What I hope to cover while you’re grabbing lunch:

• Provide some congressional context around Jennifer Kennedy’s awesome plenary (go NHPCO!)

• Discuss what the legislative future might hold for hospice & palliative care

• Talk about Oregon’s unique and outsized role in the hospice policy process

• Talk about stewardship of Congressional Champions

Congressional Context

• How did we get to the new 2 tiered RHC rate?• Affordable Care Act gave HHS Authority ‘…no

sooner than FY2014’.• What are NHPCO’s views on new payment

method?• What about Congress?• HR 3037 and Senate Sign-On Letter

• January 1 could be very, very interesting.

Hospice Policy- What’s Next?

• Rollout of new payment method• HR 3037, our ace in the hole• A reminder about budget neutrality & the laws of

unintended consequences in the out years• Aforementioned MCCM• New ACP Codes for Physicians• Care Planning Act• Hospice & Medicare Advantage

Hospice Policy- What’s Next?

• Fall Government Shutdown?• The effect on hospice

• 2016 Presidential Circus Election• Senate could also shift to Democratic control (24

Republican Senators up, many in ‘purple’ states)• House stays Republican for foreseeable future• NHPCO & HAN don’t endorse candidates, but will

speak to national issues as appropriate

The Importance of Oregon, aka ‘Why Tony Took The Red-Eye’.

Some states matter more than others!

The Importance of Oregon, aka ‘Why Tony Took The Red-Eye’.

The ‘Hospice Map’

The Importance of Oregon, aka ‘Why Tony Took The Red-Eye’.

Senator Ron WydenRanking Member, Senate

Finance Committee

Congressman Earl Blumenauer, OR-3rd

House Ways and Means Committee

Both are HUGE hospice champions!

The Importance of Oregon, aka ‘Why Tony Took The Red-Eye’.

Senator Ron WydenKnow anything about the

‘MCCM’? Thank the Senator!

Congressman Earl Blumenauer, OR-3rd

Glad about ACP Codes for Physicians?Thank the Congressman!

The Senate Finance Committee

• Committees have immense control over their issue areas

• Government Agencies like CMS and HHS pay close attention

• Senator has unique ability to sway hospice policy

OK, so now what?

• Oregon has long been at the forefront of the Hospice & Palliative Care movement

• Senator Wyden and Congressman Blumenauer have a deep affinity for our issues

• We can’t take this for granted!• Oregon’s hospices need to keep the entire state

congressional delegation informed• More than most providers, you get to start every

conversation with ‘thanks!’

OK, so now what?

• HAN and OHA are here to help!• Have a policy or advocacy question? Let us know.

• Making sure Senator & Congressman (and their staff) hear from you on a consistent basis is key.

• Host site visits, attend town halls, try to catch Congressman Blumenauer on the bike trails of Portland, whatever it takes!

Thank you for your Advocacy!

Tony KudnerProgram Manager, Grassroots Advocacy

NHPCO Hospice Action Networkakudner@nhpco.org

@GrassrootsTony