When faced with a problem, clients often have ideas about how Medicare or Medicaid program officials could change current policy to solve that problem. The Applied Policy team listens to our client’s policy problems and proposed solutions and help them identify an actionable pathway to change the government’s policies. We can help clients identify the root-cause of the policy problem, whether it is in statute, regulation, or agency guidance. We can also help determine if the problem can be solved by CMS contractors, CMS rules, regulations or guidance, or if the solution requires new legislation. Our staff has experience in researching and writing white papers to explain current policies, the problems caused by those policies and the proposed solution. We can further inform and develop those policies through meetings with agency staff and non-governmental stakeholders with an interest in the issue.
Our decades of experience working for and with CMS, HHS, and other federal agencies gives Applied Policy a unique perspective on what motivates the “other side of the table.” Our clients frequently come to us with an existing problem and have already developed a potential solution. What sets the Applied Policy team apart from others is our ability to get to the root of the problem and ensure that the proposed solution will solve the underlying issue. Taking this extra step helps us more thoroughly determine whether the problem is something that can be solved directly with CMS staff or contractors, via the regulatory process, or whether legislation is required.
Once an actionable pathway is identified, Applied Policy is there to help our clients complete the task. Meetings with federal agencies, whether at the client’s request or the government’s, can be a tremendous opportunity to discuss your company’s priorities directly with policymakers. Because every minute with agency staff counts, Applied Policy helps our clients tailor their message to deliver maximum impact and develop a lasting collaborative relationship with federal officials. Our team excels at making sure meetings are productive uses of everyone’s time and not just a meeting for the sake of a meeting.
The Applied Policy team also has experience in researching and writing white papers and reports to explain current policies, the problems caused by those policies, and a proposed solution. We make sure the information is presented in the most accessible format for busy staff. We can help develop presentations and leave-behind materials that make your case, and streamline clinical data to increase understanding and drive action.
Examples of previous successes include:
- Our team analyzed over 20 years of medical equipment fee schedule pricing to present the White House Office of Management and Budget with a compelling challenge to CMS’ proposed fee schedule;
- We developed a public statement for presentation to a Presidential advisory board which resulted in an invitation for the company to join a working group on matters directly related to their product;
- We prepared a rebuttal presentation, including video and associated documentation, or CMS’ initial denial of a product coding request which resulted in a granted application; and
- We facilitated countless discussions directly with the government officials with relevant knowledge and authority to help our clients meet their goals and serve the patients who benefit from their products and services.