WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 20, 2018)—Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) has released a Congressional sign-on letter to leadership at CMS, HHS and OMB asking for additional relief for the HME community in the proposed ESRD/DMEPOS Rule currently under consideration. The letter is expected to close by Friday, September 28. AAHomecare asd HME providers and other stakeholders to ask their Representatives in the House to join the letter.
The letter, found here, expresses support for several policies currently contained in the Proposed Rule, including the suspension of the bidding program to allow time to develop and implement new methodology as well as extending relief for rural and non-contiguous areas through 2020.
The letter also advocates for these additional improvements to the Proposed Rule:
- Increasing reimbursement rates in CBAs during gap period—The letter notes that “Since CMS has recognized these SPAs are deficient due to the bid program’s median price methodology, we are concerned that these rates are inadequate, particularly when there no longer remains the increased market share that was the balancing rationale for the lower bid prices in the first place,” and asks for an increase in CBA reimbursement rates in competitive bidding areas until the next bidding round is implemented.
- Extending relief to all non-competitive bidding areas—Recounting Congressional intent expressed in the 21st Century Cures Act, the letter urges CMS to provide the 50/50 blended rate to all non-competitive areas until the end of 2020.
- Improving access to liquid oxygen—The letter asks CMS to consider a more comprehensive effort to modernize its Medicare oxygen policies, including those for liquid oxygen, and expresses interest in working together if legislative action is necessary to improve access for oxygen.
Other original signers on the letter include Representatives Brett Guthrie (R-K.Y.), Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) and Dave Loebsack (D-Iowa).
Please contact Gordon Barnes at gordonb@aahomecare.org for contact information for the health care staffer in your Representative's office or with any other questions/requests. A pre-written letter to Representatives is available in the AAHomecare Action Center, here.
Visit aahomecare.org for more information.
