WASHINGTON, D.C. – CRT stakeholders recently made a face-to-face case on Capitol Hill for legislation that would provide Medicare beneficiaries and other individuals improved access to titanium or carbon fiber wheelchairs.
The group met with legislators and staff from 49 Congressional offices to move H.R. 5371 forward and seek support for a similar Senate bill that is expected to be introduced soon.
“Our CRT leaders made a strong impression across The Hill that included reaching a high proportion of meetings with members of committees of jurisdiction for Federal healthcare finance issues,” noted Alexis Ward, AAHomecare senior director of payer relations. “Our advocates covered a lot of ground, with most of them meeting with five or more Congressional offices. This effort demonstrates the great commitment of the leaders on our Complex Rehab & Mobility Council and the CRT industry at-large who took part in the fly-in.”
Suppliers, manufacturers, and consumer advocates can be a force multiplier for the recent advocacy by reaching out to Representatives’ healthcare staffers to ask for support in moving H.R. 5371 forward before the end of this Congressional session. Find additional guidance on messaging and reaching out to Capitol Hill here. AAHomecare will update providers on prospects for Senate bill introduction.
Find materials that advocates shared with legislators and staff, along with other resources, at aahomecare.org/CRT-Hill-Day-2024.
Editorial: Keep Pressure For 75-25 Blended Rate Relief
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House and Senate are both currently set to start their recess on Sept. 28, so your direct outreach on restoring 75-25 blended rate relief this week and next week can make a strong and timely impression on Capitol Hill.
We need every HME advocate to contact healthcare staff for Senators and Representatives with this request: Please work to make sure that Congressional leadership makes restoring the 75/25 blended Medicare reimbursement rates a priority for the next appropriate healthcare or Omnibus legislative package. You can find additional messaging guidance at aahomecare.org/Impact-Advocacy.
The AAHomecare team is happy to help you craft your note, find the appropriate contact, respond to any feedback you get from the Hill, or answer any other questions on this issue. Please email Gordon Barnes ([email protected]) for assistance.
Voter Voice Outreach on 75-25 Relief Nears 10k Level
While direct contact with healthcare staffers on Capitol Hill makes the strongest impression, you can also send a pre-drafted letter on restoring 75-25 relief through our Voter Voice advocacy tool. HME advocates have sent more than 9,000 letters asking for our relief to be included in an Omnibus/budget package since our legislation cleared the House Energy & Commerce Committee and Senate Finance Committee near the end of 2023.
Please encourage your friends, colleagues, and other contacts to send a message through the Voter Voice system and help push us past 10,000 letters in less than one year! Thank you for your advocacy – it truly makes a difference.
