11/03/2023

S. 1294 Provisions Included in Finance Committee Healthcare Legislation Draft

Breaking News from American Association for Homecare

Language that would extend the 75/25 blended Medicare reimbursement rate in non-CB areas through 2024 is included in the discussion draft of omnibus healthcare legislation in advance of a Senate Finance Committee mark-up session that could take place as early as next week.

Inclusion in this initial draft of legislative language to be considered by the committee does not guarantee the 75/25 provisions from S. 1294 will ultimately pass into law, but it's a significant step forward in the legislative process.

HME advocates in states with Senate Finance Committee members are urged to send an email to healthcare committee staffers this week with this message (in your own words, if possible):

Please support language from S. 1294 to extend the 75/25 blended Medicare reimbursement rate for DME through 2024 in upcoming Senate Finance Committee consideration of healthcare legislation (section 405 of related legislative discussion draft). This measure will help DME suppliers continue to provide cost-effective, patient-preferred home-based care and send a message to CMS that a longer-term, market-based solution is needed.

You’re encouraged to add any perspectives about the value of your company’s products/services for the patients you support and how these rates will help you in those efforts.

If you live in one of these states, you are represented by a Senator on the Finance Committee:  Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.  Senators John Thune (South Dakota) and Debbie Stabenow (Michigan) are also on the Finance Committee, but there is no need to contact their offices, as they are the original sponsors of S. 1294 and fully supportive. The full list of Senate Finance Committee members can be found here.

You can call your Senator’s office and ask for the name and email of the individual who handles healthcare issues; most offices will readily share that information. You can also email Gordon Barnes at gordonb@aahomecare.org for staff contact info and for any additional assistant you need developing your message.

The related language can be found in Section 405 of the discussion draft (page 117).

You can also send a pre-drafted email to Senate Finance Committee members using our Voter Voice system: see the message here. 

Nov. 2, 2023