WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Paul Tonko (D-NY), and Randy Feenstra (R-IA) have released a sign-on letter to CMS and HHS on reestablishing the Medicare 75/25 blended rate for DME in non-rural/non-competitive bid areas for 2025.
The letter points out that CMS has taken action in the past to ensure access to DME, including applying the 50/50 blended rate for HME in rural areas on a permanent basis and also highlights the disconnect between DME Medicare rates and the rising costs suppliers face. The letter also cites recent AAHomecare survey data, including a recent 75-25 Impact Survey, in supporting footnotes.
Ask Your Reps To Join The Letter
Please reach out to your Representative in the House and ask them to join the sign-on letter. The most effective way to ask for their signature is to reach out to the staffer who handles healthcare issues in your Representative’s office, share the sign-on letter, and include perspective on how current reimbursement rates are impacting your company and the patients you serve.
You should also note that Republican offices should contact Rep. Miller-Meeks’ office to sign on; Democratic offices should contact Rep. Tonko’s office to join the letter.
Contact Gordon Barnes at [email protected] for contact information for your Representative’s healthcare staffer, assistance in crafting/delivering your message, and to share any responses you get from the Hill. Please note: this is a House sign-on letter only – do not contact your Senators about it.
Voter Voice Message Also Available
While a personally drafted email to your legislator’s healthcare staffer makes the strongest impact, you can also send a pre-drafted letter to your Representative asking them to join the letter. Find the new letter here, and please share that link with your colleagues and contacts as well.
Passing 75-25 Provisions Remains the Priority
The new sign-on letter is an opportunity for us to raise awareness and buzz on Capitol Hill for the need to provide this relief, and to convey Congressional support to CMS. The letter does not represent any shift away from our efforts to include provisions from H.R. 5555 and S. 1294 in end-of-year legislation, and we will continue our direct lobbying, grassroots advocacy, and media work in support of securing this relief before the end of the 118th Congress.
AAHomecare Submits Comments to CMS NIPPV NCA
WASHINGTON, D.C. – AAHomecare has submitted comments in connection with CMS’ opening of the Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV) in the Home for the Treatment of Chronic Respiratory Failure—consequent to the COPD National Coverage Analysis (NCA).
In the comments, AAHomecare strongly urged CMS to establish clear and objective medical need criteria for coverage of NIPPV in the home for the treatment of chronic respiratory failure consequent to COPD. When medical professionals prescribe this therapy for their patients, it is important that the clinician community can provide objective medical record documentation that DME suppliers can rely upon to substantiate the individual’s medical need for the therapy. Without coverage criteria clarity, prescribers will not be able to know whether Medicare will support coverage for the individual’s particular medical need, and DME suppliers will be financially liable in the event of later audits. You can find AAHomecare’s full comments here.
