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LOBBYING REPORT |
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (Section 5) - All Filers Are Required to Complete This Page
2. Address
Address1 | 1616 H. Street, NW |
Address2 | Suite 902 |
City | Washington |
State | DC |
Zip Code | 20006 |
Country | USA |
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5. Senate ID# 11025-12
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6. House ID# 318530000
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TYPE OF REPORT | 8. Year | 2017 |
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 |
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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 for 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 |
Signature | Digitally Signed By: Thair Phillips |
Date | 11/13/2017 2:11:42 PM |
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
RetireSafe joined with the Healthcare Leadership Council and others to support the Protecting Seniors Access to Medicare Act, (H.R. 849 and S. 360) to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), authorized under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Visited multiple House and Senate offices in Washington and in their state and districts is support of IPAB repeal.
As part of the PACT coalition lobbied in support of HR 1920 and S 1304 to cancel the prompt pay discount for Part B medicines. Worked with the Protect Medicare Part D Working Group and others to protect Medicare Part D by opposing the elimination of the non-interference and opposing recommendations to allow the importation of medicines.
RetireSafe joined with the Alliance for Safe Biological Medicines to influence the regulations and rules at FDA to ensure that biosimilars are safe and trusted. Worked specifically to prevent the non-medical switching of biologics and/or biosimilars. RetireSafe lobbied against proposed legislation that would allow the importation of prescription drugs and against the repeal of the non-interference clause. Joined with AIR340b to advocate for reform of the 340b drug discount program.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services - Dept of (HHS), Food & Drug Administration (FDA)
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 |
Thair |
Phillips |
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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
Support the quick implementation of the 21st Century Cures Act, specifically the provisions in the Act designed to speed up the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) process through an established timeline so that much-needed new vaccines can be approved for coverage and use. Joined with numerous patient advocate organizations to urge Congress to maintain a strong and secure patent system that recognizes the rights of legitimate patent owners and addresses the new forms of abuses that have emerged in both the courts and at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (PTO), especially in consideration of the critical nature of strong patent protection in the development of new therapies and treatments that could benefit millions of patients suffering with substantial unmet medical needs. RetireSafe supported maintaining 12 years of data exclusivity for biologic drugs under the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TTP) trade agreement as a key U.S. priority. With National Health Council, urged CMS to include accurate drug-specific out-of-pocket (OOP) costs in the proposed OOP cost estimator under development for the federally-facilitated marketplaces. RetireSafe encouraged Members of Congress to hold a formal hearing to review FDA policy and guidance regarding the safe usage of biosimilar drugs. And, with other patient groups, advocated Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) and other rigorous safeguards to ensure the safe use of biosimilar drugs, especially for any federally mandated use. Those comments included support for the proposed Standard Benefit Option (SBO) that will better enable consumers to compare plans and make informed choices. While we generally supported the SBO design, we expressed concern over the use of the Specialty Drug Tier and its use as a broad catch-all class insurers use to increase patient costs. We urged HHS to make all medications not subject to a deductible in all metal levels and tier levels, as we strongly believe that prescription medications should not be subject to a plans deductible. We also support the proposal that patient cost-sharing for most tiers and metal levels utilize reasonable cost-sharing, and oppose the use of coinsurance for the Specialty Drug Tier. We also repeated previous recommendations, and some new ones that would better protect enrollees access to needed prescription drugs, in addition to recommendations that would better ensure critical continuity of care. In addition, RetireSafe joined with 197 patient and community organizations to comment on the Office for Civil Rights, ACA Non-discrimination Proposed Rule (RIN 0945-AA02). We were especially interested in one key ACA provision, Section 1557, which prohibits discrimination in the health care system on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability RetireSafe continues to join with other patient groups to urge the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to require distinct, unique naming for any and all biosimilar drugs approved for use in the United States. We support the FDAs leadership in creating a system of distinguishable names for all biologic medicines, including biosimilars and interchangeable products. This system recognizes the fact that biosimilars are not exact copies of their reference products, enhances patient safety and promotes pharmacovigilance. RetireSafe supports HR 1920 which will correct the reduced payments to community oncologists. RetireSafe joined with the Osteoporosis Foundation in a letter to Congress asking them to preserve Medicare part D by not eliminating the non-interference clause. Singed onto a letter to President Trump with other organizations highlighting and promoting the value of vaccines. As member of the Patients for Biologics Safety & Access (PBSA) coalition we supported two letters sent to CMS in regard to biologic interchangeable products. As a member of the Partnership for Safe Medicines, we supported a letter to Senators reminding them of the safety aspects involved with drug importation. As part of Alliance for Safe Biologics we encouraged the release of final guidance that supported the safe introductions of biosimilars.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Food & Drug Administration (FDA), 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 |
Thair |
Phillips |
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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
RetireSafe spoke out on the need to reduce the corporate tax in America and in favor of HR 2016 CPI for Seniors Act.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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 |
Thair |
Phillips |
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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 CPT
16. Specific lobbying issues
RetireSafe continues its support of protecting our intellectual property world wide.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE
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 |
Thair |
PHILLIPS |
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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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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:
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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 |