ITEM Coalition Asks Congress to Include 75-25 Relief in Year-End Legislation

WASHINGTON—The Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid (ITEM) Coalition, a patient and disability advocacy group, has sent a letter to Congress urging Congressional leadership to include the 75-25 blended relief rate in its year-end legislative package, the American Associaton for Homecare (AAHomecare) wrote in a recent e-newsletter to members. The letter includes the support of more than 30 patient advocacy organizations that have weighed in on including provisions from HR 5555 and S 1294 in any legislative package that moves prior to the end of the 118th Congress.

In its letter, which was sent on Monday, Dec. 2, the ITEM coalition said that the 20% decrease in reimbursements for the most-utilized durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS) products has resulted in a “crushing blow to DMEPOS suppliers and providers, threatening to decimate the infrastructure that enables Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities and chronic conditions to manage their medical and functional needs at home.”

The support from this group, which includes national organizations such as the ALS Association, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Spina Bifida Association and United Spinal Association, aims to advocate for reimbursement policy. 

“The ITEM Coalition typically does not address reimbursement issues and tends to focus on coverage and coding of assistive devices and technologies,” the letter reads. “However, when reimbursement policies materially impact patient access to care, we feel we must weigh-in with our members’ concerns.”

Final Advocacy Push on 75-25 Legislation

As Congressional leaders are negotiating the size and scope of year-end legislative packages, including government funding legislation that must be passed by Dec. 20, the letter aims to advocate for the benefits of the 75-25 relief rate.

AAHomecare recommends touching base again with your Senators’ and Representative’s health care staff to ask for their support moving these provisions forward. Additionally, AAHomecare asks for the letter to be shared, in order to spread word on the importance of restoring the 75-25 rates to protect individuals with disabilities and other profound health care challenges.