Dear Colleague Letter Released for HR 2771

WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 27, 2019)—Reps. Cathy McMorris Rogers (R-Wash.) and Dave Loebsack (D-Iowa) have sent a “Dear Colleague” letter to their House peers urging them to co-sponsor H.R. 2771, the Protecting Home Oxygen and Medical Equipment Act of 2019.

The letter points out that the measure of relief provided by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) last year was due to the high-level of congressional support for H.R. 4229 in the previous congressional session. It goes on to note that H.R. 2771 “is similar to H.R. 4229 in the 115th Congress, but has been streamlined and is more focused because of the relief that has been provided by CMS.”

This letter can be another tool to use in outreach to your Representatives to co-sponsor H.R. 2771—and it should be especially helpful in efforts to recruit members who co-sponsored H.R. 4229. There are more than 80 Representatives who signed on to H.R. 4229 who are not yet co-sponsors for H.R. 2771. The complete list of those legislators can be found here.

The lead sponsors for H.R. 2771 are redoubling their efforts to build support for this bill, which would provide long-term relief for both rural and other non-bid area suppliers. Additionally, the bill addresses an outdated budget neutrality offset from the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 which has the effect of reducing oxygen reimbursements in rural communities even further below rates for suppliers in urban areas.

Visit aahomecare.org for more information, and find the dear colleague letter here.