Time is running out for getting things accomplished in the 109th Congress, which comes to an end this fall. That means any bill that has not passed will expire.
Thanks to coordinated efforts by hundreds of home care stakeholders around the country, we are making real progress in Congress on competitive bidding and oxygen policy. As an industry, we're lucky to have so many committed individuals, companies, state associations and organizations like VGM and The Med Group to fight for home care.
But home care still has much to accomplish and needs all shoulders to the wheel.
During the remaining months of this congressional session, we need to promote a fix to the competitive bidding program in the form of the Hobson-Tanner bill, H.R. 3559. Introduced by Reps. David Hobson, R-Ohio, and John Tanner, D-Tenn., this bill includes important patient-access provisions and small business protections. It now has about 130 co-sponsors with solid support from both Republicans and Democrats.
We hope to announce a Senate companion bill by the time this article appears in print. A Senate companion to H.R. 3559 would give home care providers a firm footing for moving this bill forward in both the House and the Senate during August and September.
We also need to promote the Home Oxygen Patient Protection Act, or H.R. 5513, introduced by two physicians, Reps. Joe Schwarz, R-Mich., and Tom Price, R-Ga., along with several other representatives. This bill would repeal the radical change to oxygen policy enacted in the Deficit Reduction Act, which forces beneficiaries to assume ownership and responsibility for oxygen equipment after 36 months.
At press time, about 35 members of the House had signed on to the bill, again with a good mix of Republicans and Democrats. We also are working to secure a Senate companion bill for H.R. 5513 so we can move this issue forward in both houses of Congress.
Again, both bills are truly bipartisan in their support, but we will need to focus on signing on more Republicans in the weeks ahead.
In addition to promoting good policy through H.R. 3559 and H.R. 5513, we need to prevent any attempt to further erode oxygen therapy in Medicare. We must continue to educate members of Congress about the problems of forced ownership of oxygen. And we must get their assurance we will not see oxygen policy erode any further. Broad support for the oxygen bill introduced by Congressman Schwarz could help prevent that erosion.
A roadmap for the remaining months of this Congress presents several key milestones:
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August: Many members will be in their home districts and states campaigning for re-election. So, it's a critical time for getting home care front and center, securing co-sponsors for our bills and warning against further cuts to home care.
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September: This will be the last full month for members of Congress to focus on legislation before they leave for final campaign efforts leading up to the November elections.
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October: The entire U.S. House of Representatives and one-third of the U.S. Senate will probably spend most of this month campaigning for re-election back in their home states.
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November and December: After the election, there is a good chance Congress will come back for a lame-duck session to complete business on major bills. There will be intense pressure to find ways of cutting Medicare spending. It is likely that home care categories, such as oxygen therapy, will be targets.
At the American Association for Homecare June legislative fly-in, I mentioned to those in attendance that part of their mission is to take their experience and energy back home and help get more providers and patients to contact Congress about the importance of home care. I ask you to do the same.
The fact that you're reading this probably means that you already “get it.” You have contacted your members of Congress. To some degree, you have already incorporated government relations into your job description.
Thank you! Please spread the word.
Tom Ryan is chairman of the board of directors of the American Association for Homecare, Alexandria, Va., and CEO of Homecare Concepts in Farmingdale, N.Y. For more information about AAHomecare, call 703/836-6263 or visit www.aahomecare.org.
