WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 15, 2019)—AAHomecare and other home medical equipment industry leaders are looking to quickly build co-sponsor support for the recently introduced SMART Act (HR 4945) in the coming weeks to position the bill for inclusion in any potential healthcare omnibus legislation that takes shape in December or January.
The HME community, respiratory stakeholders and a broad range of patient groups were successful in enlisting 180 House members to sign on to a letter asking CMS to reconsider plans to include non-invasive ventilators (NIV) in competitive bidding Round 2021. If you are represented by one of these 180 Representatives, please call and/or email health
care staff in these offices before the Thanksgiving recess (Nov. 22 through Dec. 2), remind them of their legislator’s support for the June 2019 sign-on letter, and ask them to co-sponsor HR 4945. If calling, offer to send a copy of their sign-on letter with the legislator’s signature (noting the page number, if possible).
Here is a link to the letter with signatures.
The complete list of 180 signees by state can be found here.
See updated co-sponsor list here.
The HME community and patient groups made a strong case for keeping NIV out of the bidding program as demonstrated by the strong support for the sign-on letter.
Contact Gordon Barnes at gordonb@aahomecare.org for contact information for House health care staffers and assistance with your messaging.
