WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 1, 2021)—AAHomecare’s first-ever virtual legislative conference saw 140 durable medical equipment (DME) industry advocates engage more than 220 Congressional offices on DME priorities, including addressing Medicare rates that don’t reflect the market realities and rising costs currently facing suppliers.
Advocacy momentum on reimbursement policy got a boost when Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) and Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) released a congressional sign-on letter asking the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to release the DME Rule, extend 50/50 blended rates in rural areas and address outdated Medicare rates for most products in former competitive bidding areas the day before the conference. Conference attendees showed impressive flexibility by making the sign-on letter a priority in their meetings on short notice and securing commitments from legislators.
AAHomecare expressed appreciation for the strong participation from all segments in the DME industry in the conference. Constituents directly engaging legislators and congressional staff, explaining the challenges they face, and asking for their support is critical to moving the needle on policy priorities.
Kam Yuricich, executive director for the Ohio Association of Medical Equipment Suppliers (OAMES) and the Great Lakes Association shared her perspectives on the efforts.
“It was wonderful to connect with the DC Congressional offices and shed light and urgency on the incredible efforts and challenges HME providers are facing today, including our partners in manufacturing and distribution,” Yuricich said. “I sensed Hill staff had a more keen understanding and appreciation for DME services and homecare recognizing the front-line role our providers are playing in the public health emergency and the need to ensure products and services remain available to patients. Access will only be preserved by attaining sustainable Medicare rates and investing long-term in home-based care and we’re optimistic we’re positioned to achieve these critical objectives.”
Ginny Cate, vice president of Managed Care Field Operations with Apria said, “The 2021 virtual Washington legislative conference was a huge success! I was able to meet with the health care policy staff for all of my legislators in New Hampshire and was impressed with the level of preparation, engagement and commitment to carry our ‘plea’ forward to the respective Representatives and Senators. While brief, the dialogue was active and participatory, leading me to believe our advocacy efforts focused on protecting Medicare reimbursements in rural and nonbid areas, realizing meaningful adjustments to Medicare fee schedule, and extending the moratorium on the 2% Medicare sequester cut have been heard! The House sign-on letter lent itself to prompting a commitment from my Senators’ staff to exploring getting behind a similar letter in the Senate. I am confident my virtual sessions reinforced our DME issues with the New Hampshire Legislators and greased the skids for keeping DME issues front and center in Washington.”
You can see issue briefs and other documents attendees shared with legislators and staff in the meetings here.
More Support Sought for Sign-On Letter
Please help reinforce the work at the legislative conference by asking your Representative in the House to add their name to the sign-on letter on the DME Rule and Medicare reimbursement policy.
The most effective way to do this is to send a link to the sign-on letter to the staffer who handles health care issues for your Representative and ask that they join the letter by Tuesday, Oct. 5. You can also note how current Medicare rates haven’t kept up with your rising product or operational costs; if you are a rural supplier, you can make it clear that keeping the 50/50 blended rate is critical to allowing you to serve your patients.
Use the AAHomecare Action Center to send a pre-written email on the letter.
Contact Gordon Barnes at gordonb@aahomecare.org if you would like contact information for the staffer handling health care for your Representative in the House. No Senate outreach is needed at this time.
