It’s EASY to Contact Ohio's US Senators to Support S.1294!

Special Message from Eric Blake, BBA, RCP, Shrivers Home Medical; OAMES Treasurer/Secretary

HME provider and stakeholders nationwide need to continue to press for support of S.1294 with their US Senators. The end of the year will be here before we know it with devastating Medicare rate reductions if we don’t act now!  By using AAHomecare’s Voter Voice grassroots tool, you can reach your elected official and send your request for support with just the click of a button! 

If you have no idea where to begin drafting a letter to your elected officials asking that they support a certain proposed Congressional bill, this tool does it for you!  AAHomecare's Voter Voice system offers a pre-drafted letter specific to S.1294 but it is editable to allow you to add your own thoughts and personalize for your business and the patients you serve. All you need to do is fill in your contact information and hit submit!  It is vital that we continue to ask Sen. Sherrod Brown and Sen. JD Vance for support for S.1294 Competitive Bidding Relief Act of 2023 and now it has never been easier!  We need all hands on deck to prevent these cuts!

What’s at stake:

• Without S.1294, HME providers will experience dramatic rate reductions starting January 2024.  Some examples in the Great Lakes region (including Ohio) outlined by AAHomecare are:  39.7% cut to CPAP, 44.5% cut to oxygen, 40.4% cut to manual standard wheelchairs and 32% average cut across the top 25 HCPCS codes.

Important details:

• Sen. Brown was a signer on a Senate letter to HHS and CMS in July 2017 on this issue so he has a record of past support. Cosponsoring S.1294 is part of the 2017 effort to obtain reimbursement relief for HME providers in non- competitive bidding areas. 
• This bill does NOT ADD any spending to the new fiscal year.  The bill is only extending the rates that are currently in effect. 
• The extension is only for ONE YEAR while the HME industry continues to talk with CMS about a more permanent fee structure. 

Contact tips:

• You can visit the AAHomecare Medicare Reimbursement Legislative Campaign Central for more information and resources.
• If you prefer to contact Ohio’s Senators directly, reach out to the following staff members and copy OAMES executive director Kam Yuricich at kam@oames.org so she can reinforce your “ask” on behalf of OAMES:  Sen. Vance’s office - Patrick Brennan patrick_brennan@vance.senate.gov; Sen. Brown’s office - Abigail Duggan Abigail_Duggan@brown.senate.gov.
• If you need any assistance or have questions, contact Kam Yuricich at kam@oames.org.

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Join us at OAMES 42^nd Annual Meeting & Exhibition this fall!

October 18-19, 2023 - The Grand Event Center in Columbus, Ohio.

Click here for hotel reservations.  Group discount expires Sept. 29.

Watch for conference details and registration information coming soon!