<div>Toomey Introduces Alternative to Grassley-Wyden Health Care Extender Package December 9, 2019                        Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), who chairs the Senate Finance Committee's Subcommittee on Health Care, announced an alternative proposal to the Grassley-Wyden health care extender package. Generally, health extender legislation lengthens an expiring program, tax break, and other initiatives set to expire. "The Grassley-Wyden proposal neglects to address multiple health care related taxes, dramatically expands and extends the authorization of some well-intentioned programs without any real improvements to protect taxpayers or improve health outcomes for patients, and relies on price controls for prescription drugs - an idea that was rejected by a majority of Republican members of the Senate Finance Committee earlier this year," said Senator Toomey. "In contrast, my proposal makes permanent tax policies that help patients, consumers, and businesses without adding to the burden our safety net programs are shouldering. "While I appreciate Chairman Grassley and Ranking Member Wyden's work on these issues, their proposal should be debated and considered by the other members of this committee. Time is short, but my proposal gives health care providers certainty around expiring programs so the committee can work through regular order on a bipartisan package." Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), who is cosponsoring Senator Toomey's health care extender package, said the following: "Senator Toomey's health extender package addresses various provisions necessary to fund important, expiring health care programs," said Senator Crapo. "It fully repeals the medical device tax, which has stifled innovation, cost American jobs and driven up health care costs for millions of Americans relying on critical devices needed to improve their lives. I look forward to continue working on fiscally-responsible solutions to fixing our broken health care system." You can review a draft of Senator Toomey's health care extender package <a href="https://www.toomey.senate.gov/files/documents/Sen.%20Toomey%20extenders%20bill%20draft.pdf">here </a>and a summary <a href="https://www.toomey.senate.gov/files/documents/SECTION%20BY%20SECTION%20-%20PERMANENT%20RELIEF%20FOR%20SENIORS%20AND%20MEDICARE%20MEDICAID%20HUMAN%20SERVICES%20EXTENSION%20ACT.pdf">here.</a>  <div class="indented"><div class="indented">S. XXXX PERMANENT RELIEF FOR SENIORS AND MEDICARE, MEDICAID, HUMAN SERVICES EXTENSION ACT OF 2019</div></div> Section by Section TITLE I – MISCELLANEOUS SEC. 101. REPEAL OF MEDICAL DEVICE EXCISE TAX. Permanently repeals the excise tax on medical device sales after December 31, 2019.  SEC. 102. PERMANENT EXTENSION OF REDUCTION IN MEDICAL EXPENSE DEDUCTION FLOOR. Permanently extends the reduction in the medical expense deduction floor to 7.5 percent of a filer’s adjusted gross income beginning in taxable years after December 31, 2018. SEC. 103. MORATORIUM ON ANNUAL FEE ON HEALTH INSURANCE PROVIDERS. Temporarily delays the health insurance tax from January 1, 2021, through December 31, 2022. TITLE II – MEDICARE EXTENDERS SEC. 201. EXTENSION OF THE WORK GEOGRAPHIC INDEX FLOOR UNDER THE MEDICARE PROGRAM. Boosts payments for the work component of physician fees in areas where labor cost is lower than the national average. Extends the existing 1.0 floor on the “physician work” cost index through December 21, 2020. SEC. 202. AUTHORIZATION OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR QUALITY MEASURE ENDORSEMENT, INPUT AND SELECTION. Funds the National Quality Forum (NQF) to carry out specified duties related to performance improvement and measurement. This provision discontinues the transfers from the Medicare Trust Funds, which are intended to pay for the medical benefits of Medicare beneficiaries, and authorizes $30 million to be appropriated through December 20, 2020. SEC. 203. AUTHORIZATION OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR OUTREACH AND ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME PROGRAMS. Provides funding for outreach and education activities for Medicare beneficiaries, including State Health Insurance Programs, Area Agencies on Aging, Aging and Disability Centers, and the National Center for Benefits Outreach and Enrollment. This provision discontinues the transfers from the Medicare Trust Funds, which are intended to pay for the medical benefits of Medicare beneficiaries, and authorizes the same level funding provided in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, a combined $37.5 million, to be appropriated through December 20, 2020. SEC. 204. EXTENSION AND AUTHORIZATION OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO THE PATIENT-CENTERED OUTCOMES RESEARCH TRUST FUND. Provides funding to the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), the entity created by the Affordable Care Act, which is responsible for coordinating and supporting comparative clinical effectiveness research. This provision discontinues the transfers from the Medicare Trust Funds, which are intended to pay 1  for the medical benefits of Medicare beneficiaries. Further, it authorizes funds to be appropriated through December 20, 2020, using the same calculation previously determined in statute. It does not reinstate the tax on health insurers to fund PCORI activities. TITLE III – MEDICAID EXTENDERS SEC.301. DELAY OF DSH REDUCTIONS. Medicaid DSH payments are intended to provide additional payments to hospitals that serve a disproportionate number of low-income patients. This provision would delay $8 billion in Medicaid DSH cuts until December 20, 2020.  SEC.302. EXTENSION OF SPOUSAL IMPOVERISHMENT PROTECTIONS. Extends spousal impoverishment eligibility rules that provide special treatment of married couples’ assets when one spouse needs Medicaid-covered, community-based, long-term care services and supports through December 20, 2020. Requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report to Congress evaluating the effects of these rules on individuals who qualify. SEC.303. EXTENSION OF COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM. Extends the Certified Community Behavioral Health Center (CCBHC) Medicaid demonstration, which was created to help individuals with serious mental illness like schizophrenia, through March 31, 2021 while gradually winding down the temporary enhanced Federal Matching Percentage (e-FMAP). Provides states the authority to recover overpayments to participating CCBHCs. Requires GAO to report to Congress on the participants’ quality and performance not later than December 31, 2020. TITLE IV – HUMAN SERVICES EXTENDERS SEC.401. EXTENSION OF SEXUAL RISK AVOIDANCE EDUCATION PROGRAM. Provides the same level of funding provided in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 for abstinence education to teens and young adults. SEC.402. JOBS AND OPPORTUNITY WITH BENEFITS AND SERVICES FOR SUCCESS ACT. Extends the State Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, as well as child welfare related programs. Includes important reforms to the program such as requirements states engage with every individual, measures work outcomes to hold states accountable, ensures funds are going to those who truly need it the most, and focuses on work and activities that lead to work.             2</div>

Toomey Announces Healthcare Extender Alternative

U.S. Senate

New draft legislation would make permanent “tax policies that help patients, consumers, and businesses without adding to the burden our safety net programs are shouldering,” Senate Finance Committee member Patrick J. Toomey, R-Pa., announced in a December 9 release.

New draft legislation would make permanent “tax policies that help patients, consumers, and businesses without adding to the burden our safety net programs are shouldering,” Senate Finance Committee member Patrick J. Toomey, R-Pa., announced in a December 9 release.

New <a href="/lr/resolve//2bnwh">draft legislation</a> would make permanent “tax policies that help patients, consumers, and businesses without adding to the burden our safety net programs are shouldering,” Senate Finance Committee member Patrick J. Toomey, R-Pa., announced in a December 9 release.

New draft legislation would make permanent “tax policies that help patients, consumers, and businesses without adding to the burden our safety net programs are shouldering,” Senate Finance Committee member Patrick J. Toomey, R-Pa., announced in a December 9 release.