WASHINGTON, DC – Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) have released a Senate Sign-On Letter in support of extending relief for all non-CBAs through 2020. The letter, which can be seen here, notes that: Ensuring all Medicare beneficiaries in non-CBAs have access to the medical equipment they need has always been Congress’ intent.  As you know, Congress legislatively extended the transitional blended rate established by CMS through Section 16007 of P.L. 114-255, without creating any distinction regarding the location of the non-CBA.  Similarly, in 2017, nearly half of the United States Senate urged CMS to take regulatory action to provide relief to DME providers in non-CBAs, again, without indicating a preference that there should be different treatment for rural or non-contiguous non-CBAs versus all other non-CBAs. 

This letter is only expected to be open through Thursday, Oct. 4, so action is needed immediately. AAHomecare officials ask that providers call their Senators and ask to speak to the individual who handles healthcare-related issues. Urge them to add their name to the Congressional sign-on letter from Senators Thune and Heitkamp on the ESRD/DMEPOS Proposed Rule, and offer to send them a copy if they haven’t seen it. They can contact Sen. Thune’s or Heitkamp’s office to sign on. Providers can also send a pre-written note to Senators via the Action Center here (note: this is a different letter than the House Action Center letter referenced below).

Best prospects to join the letter would be the 49 Senators who joined a July 2017 sign-on letter urging relief for rural and non-bid area providers.

79 Members Currently on House Letter – Help Us Continue to Build on that Strong Showing Next Week

Latest reports show that 79 House members have agreed to add their names to the Congressional sign-on letter on the ESRD/DMEPOS Proposed Rule as of last week. Champions on Capitol Hill have decided to keep the letter open this week to give more House offices an opportunity to join the letter. 

If you have not yet contacted your Representative in the U.S. House, please do so today – ask that they support the ESRD/DMEPOS Proposed Rule Sign-On Letter being circulated by Reps. McMorris Rodgers, DeGette, Guthrie, and Loebsack as soon as possible. You can also send a pre-written note via the Action Center here.

Take advantage of this additional opportunity to ask your Representatives to sign onto the letter – and encourage your peers to do the same.

House Sign-On Letter Also An Opportunity to Advocate for Better CBA Rates

As noted in the update on Wednesday, AAHomecare and other HME stakeholders have also asked that CMS provide CPI adjustments to rates in Competitive Bid Areas during the gap period between the next bidding round.  If you are a supplier serving patients in a CBA, please ask your Representative to join the sign-on letter.

Additional Resources

• Congressional sign-on letter text
• Top prospects to join letter: 155 current co-sponsors of HR 4229, legislation to extend relief for non-bid area HME suppliers and the 104 House memberswho signed on to a September 2017 letter to OMB in support of clearing the IFR providing relief for non-bid areas.
• Find contact information for your Representative’s Office here