National Groups Send Letters to Congressional Leaders Urging Passage of PADME Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 26, 2016)—A group of national and state associations sent a letter to Congressional leaders today urging passage of the Patient Access to Durable Medical Equipment Act of 2016 (S.2736 and H.R. 5210), bipartisan legislation that would ensure continued patient access to vital health care technology.

“The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has implemented an aggressive timeline to phase-in prices for DMEPOS established in competitively bid areas to those areas that have not been subject to competitive bidding, mostly in rural areas. The first phase of implementing these new payment rates took effect January 1, 2016, with final phase-in by July 1, 2016. Six months is not enough time to monitor disruption in Medicare beneficiaries’ access to the DME items they need, and to evaluate what impact major reductions in payment have on their access to life-sustaining equipment and services.”

The Patient Access to Durable Medical Equipment Act of 2016 would delay these reimbursement cuts until Oct. 1, 2017. This delay will provide more time for Congress to evaluate the effects of the first rate reduction from January 1, 2016 on beneficiary access.

Find the full letter here.

Groups on the letter include:

National Associations
Advanced Medical Technology Association
American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare)
Council for Quality Respiratory Care
Health Industry Distributors Association
The MED Group
National Association for the Support of Long Term Care
National Coalition for Assistive and Rehab Technology (NCART) National Home Infusion Association
The VGM Group

State Associations
Alabama Durable Medical Equipment Association (ADMEA)
Arizona Medical Equipment Suppliers Association (AZMESA)
Association for Tennessee Home Oxygen & Medical Equipment Services (ATHOMES)
Big Sky Association of Medical Equipment Services
California Association of Medical Product Suppliers
Colorado Association for Medical Equipment Services (CAMES)
Florida Alliance of Home Care Services (FAHCS)
Florida Association of Medical Equipment Suppliers (FAMES)
Georgia Association of Medical Equipment Suppliers (GAMES)Great Lakes Home Medical Services Association
Healthcare Association of Hawaii
Home Medical Equipment and Services Association of New England (HOMES)
Jersey Association of Medical Equipment Suppliers (JAMES)
Kentucky Medical Equipment Suppliers Association (KMESA)
Michigan Association for Home Care
Midwest Association for Medical Equipment Services (MAMES)
New York Medical Equipment Providers Association (NYMEP)
Nevada Association of Medical Products Suppliers (NAMPS)
North Carolina Association of Medical Equipment Services (NCAMES)
Pennsylvania Association of Medical Suppliers (PAMS)
South Carolina Medical Equipment Services Association (SCMESA)
Virginia Association for Durable Medical Equipment Companies (VADMEC)
West Virginia Medical Equipment Suppliers Association (WVMESA)
Wisconsin Association of Medical Equipment Services (WAMES)