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LOBBYING REPORT |
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (Section 5) - All Filers Are Required to Complete This Page
2. Address
Address1 | 228 Oakland Park Avenue |
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City | Columbus |
State | OH |
Zip Code | 43214 |
Country | USA |
3. Principal place of business (if different than line 2)
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5. Senate ID# 401104840-12
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6. House ID# 440410001
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TYPE OF REPORT | 8. Year | 2019 |
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: Carol Nolan Drake |
Date | 7/22/2019 4:33:25 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 BUD
16. Specific lobbying issues
In March, President Trump released the A Budget for a Better America. Promises Kept. Taxpayers First. The budget narrative included provisions for changes to Medicare, Medicaid, prescription drug costs, Department of Education, including school safety recommendations and funding,
H.R. 2740, a bill for appropriations for Labor, HHS, Education, and Related Agencies, was introduced. The bill contained language to encourage HHS/CMS to extend or make permanent limited wraparound plans. The bill was voted out of the House in June.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S. SENATE, 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 |
Carol |
Nolan Drake |
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Federal Liaison |
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 FIN
16. Specific lobbying issues
H.R.658, the National Infrastructure Development Bank Act of 2019, introduced on January 17, by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) could be a vehicle to finance a National Infrastructure Development Bank for private and public pension funds to invest up to $300 billion in long duration bonds.
Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH) was named the Chairwoman of the new Financial Services Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Subcommittee to look into diversity and inclusion in the Financial Services Industry. Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH) serves on the Subcommittee. Hearings were held this quarter in the Committee on Financial Services and the Subcommittee to consider the issues and discuss ways to improve diversity. Reports and related information was provided to their offices.
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 |
Carol |
Nolan Drake |
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Federal Liaison |
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
Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Chairman, and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member, of the Senate Committee on Health, Education and Labor (HELP) introduced S.1895, the Lower Health Care Costs Act of 2019, on June 19, a bipartisan piece of legislation to deliver better health care at lower cost.
Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT) introduced a bill to repeal the Cadillac tax, the Affordable Care Act's forty percent tax on high-cost health plans. H.R. 748, entitled the Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the excise tax on high cost employer-sponsored health coverage.
A bill, S.61, the Safe and Affordable Drugs from Canada Act of 2019, sponsored by Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), was introduced. The bill would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to allow for the personal importation of safe and affordable drugs from approved pharmacies in Canada.
S. 489, a bill to establish a State public option through Medicaid to provide Americans with the choice of a high-quality, low-cost health insurance plan, was introduced by Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI). A companion bill has been introduced in the House, which is H.R. 1277. Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH) is a cosponsor.
S.692, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the excise tax on medical devices, was introduced by Senator Pat Toomey.
S.684, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the excise tax on high cost employer-sponsored health coverage, the Cadillac Tax was introduced by Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM). A similar House bill has been introduced.
H.R. 1398, a bipartisan bill to delay the re-imposition of the annual fee on health insurance providers, aka the Health Insurance Tax (HIT) until after 2021 was introduced. The bill was introduced by Rep. Ami Bera. (D-CA). Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH) introduced H.R. 1366, the Responsible Additions and Increases to Sustain Employee Health Benefits Act, RAISE Act to put flexibility back in Flexible Spending Accounts and to help families pay for out of pocket health care costs.
H.R. 965, the CREATES Act, was reintroduced in Congress by Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI). The bill would promote competition in the market for drugs and biological products by facilitating the timely entry of lower-cost generic and biosimilar versions of those drugs and biological products.
Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) introduced the Biologic Patent Transparency Act. The bill would require companies to publicly disclose the web of patents that protect their biologics, making it easier for competitors to evaluate and plan for the development of generic versions of these drugs.
S.516, the Prescription Drug Monitoring Act of 2019, was introduced by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). The bill would require the use of prescription drug monitoring programs.
Senate bill, S.475, the RxCAP Act of 2019, was introduced by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR). The bill would amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to prevent catastrophic out-of-pocket spending on prescription drugs for seniors and individuals with disabilities.
Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) introduced S. 378, the Stop Price Gouging Act. The bill would penalize pharmaceutical companies that engage in price gouging without cause, leading to price spikes for patients who rely on medication to treat illnesses. H.R. 1091 is the companion House bill, which has been cosponsored by Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH).
Senator Sherrod Brown introduced legislation to address prescription drug affordability. The bill, S. 377, entitled, "The Medicare Negotiation and Competitive Licensing Act," would authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate drug prices and if a drug company refuses to negotiate in good faith, the secretary would be enabled to issue a competitive, compulsory license to another company that is willing and able to produce the medication as a generic.
Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced S.476, a bill for Creating Transparency to Have Drug Rebates Unlocked (C-THRU) Act of 2019. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) is one of the cosponsors. The bill would amend titles XI and XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide greater transparency of discounts provided by drug manufacturers.
At the end of January 2019, the Health and Human Services Department issued a proposed rule, Fraud and Abuse; Removal of Safe Harbor Protection for Rebates Involving Prescription Pharmaceuticals and Creation of New Safe Harbor Protection for Certain Point-of-Sale Reductions in Price on Prescription Pharmaceuticals and Certain Pharmacy Benefit Manager Service Fees. The proposed rule has been interpreted to eliminate safe harbor protection for rebates paid by drug manufacturers to pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), Medicare Part D plans and Medicaid managed care plans; create a new safe harbor for drug discounts offered to patients at the point of sale, and
create a new safe harbor for PBM fees charged to drug manufacturers. The proposed rule would cost the federal government over $170 billion and approximately $20 million for a plan sponsor. EGWPS plans were excluded from the proposal. A meeting with HHS occured to ask questions and provide background and a letter was sent to CMS Administrator Verma.
H.R. 965, the CREATES Act of 2019, which aims to increase competition by cracking down on brand-name drug manufacturers using tactics to keep generic manufacturers from entering the market, was advanced out of the Committee on Energy and Commerce and will be considered by the Committee on the Judiciary. Members of the Ohio delegation are co-sponsors.
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), 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 |
Carol |
Nolan Drake |
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Federal Liaison |
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 RET
16. Specific lobbying issues
H.R. 860, the Social Security 2100 Act, to protect our Social Security system and improve benefits for current and future generations, was introduced. The bill would provide an across-the-board benefit increase equivalent to about 2 percent of the average Social Security benefit amd make other substantial changes.
S.521, the Social Security Fairness Act, was introduced by Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) on February 14. The bill has eight cosponsors and would amend title II of the Social Security Act to repeal the Government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions.
H.R. 141, the companion bill, was introduced.
Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA), the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, introduced H.R.397, the Rehabilitation for Multiemployer Pensions Act. It is important to distinguish private and public multiemployer pension plans. On June 11, the House Committee on Education and Labor marked up H.R. 397, the Rehabilitation for Multiemployer Pensions Act, known as the Butch Lewis Act. It amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to create a Pension Rehabilitation Trust Fund and to establish a Pension Rehabilitation Administration within the Department of the Treasury to make loans to multiemployer defined benefit plans.
Chairman Neal indicated that the Committee or Subcommittee on Social Security would consider holding a hearing on the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) this year.
Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA) announced the passage of a bipartisan bill out of Committee on April 2 that would provide enhanced retirement security measures for Americans. The bill, H.R. 1994, is the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act of 2019. The bill passed in the House in May and was sent to the Senate.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Ranking Member Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) have introduced a bill, known as the RESA Act, that compliments the Houses version of the SECURE Act. Their bill does not include the provisions relating to 529 plans.
Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) introduced S. 1431, the Retirement Security and Savings Act, on May 20. It is another bill to help Americans save more for retirement.
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 |
Carol |
Nolan Drake |
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Federal Liaison |
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 GOV
16. Specific lobbying issues
H.R. 1346, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for an option for individuals who are ages 50 to 64 to buy into Medicare, to provide for health insurance market stabilization, and for other purposes, was introduced. The bill, the Medicare Buy-In and Health Care Stabilization Act of 2019, was sponsored by Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY).
Senator Sherrod Brown has cosponsored S.470, the Medicare at 50 Act, which was introduced by Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). The bill would amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for an option for any citizen or permanent resident of the United States age 50 to 64 to buy into Medicare.
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 |
Carol |
Nolan Drake |
Carlow |
Federal Liaison |
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 |
CONVICTIONS DISCLOSURE
29. Have any of the lobbyists listed on this report been convicted in a Federal or State Court of an offense involving bribery,
extortion, embezzlement, an illegal kickback, tax evasion, fraud, a conflict of interest, making a false statement, perjury, or money laundering?
Lobbyist Name | Description of Offense(s) |