Advocacy Efforts Renew as Committees Take Shape

WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 24, 2019)—While the budget impasse and government shutdown continue to dominate the headlines, AAHomecare continues engagement with industry champions on Capitol Hill and staffers on House and Senate committees with jurisdiction over Medicare and health care-related issues. 

Discussions with these members of Congress and staff indicate that there is still significant interest in working on further reforms and improvements for the bidding program, addressing outdated budget neutrality provisions affecting oxygen rates in rural areas, and ensuring that access to CRT and ventilators is not diminished for the patient groups who depend on these products.

AAHomecare reports that the HME community made a strong impression on Capitol Hill in the last Congressional session, generating impressive co-sponsorship for bidding reform and CRT legislation as well as sustained outreach from Senators and House members to CMS, HHS and OMB in support of regulatory relief for the industry. Engagement from Capitol Hill was essential for the relief and reforms achieved in the IFR, the ESRD/HME Final Rule, and a policy change permanently exempting Group 3 CRT accessories from the bidding program.

Suppliers, manufacturers and other industry stakeholders will need to build on these efforts in the 116th Congress to sustain additional relief and reforms for the industry, according to AAHomecare.

Membership Set on Committees of Jurisdiction
Congressional leaders have finalized committee assignments for the three committees that oversee Medicare and health care legislation. Providers represented by any of the members of the Senate Finance Committee, House Energy & Commerce Committee, or House Ways & Means Committees, are urged to make a commitment to engage these legislators on industry advocacy priorities this year. See committee of jurisdiction rosters here.

Additionally, consider attending the 2019 Washington Legislative Conference, May 22-23. Click here for more details.

Visit aahomecare.org for more information.