03/19/2024

Legislative Update from AAHomecare: Healthcare Package Stalled

Source:  AAHomecare Alert 3/18/2024

Our lobbyists and HME advocates continue to make the case for the importance of extending Medicare 75/25 reimbursement relief on Capitol Hill while also gathering intelligence on the state of healthcare legislative deliberations.

Supporters on the Hill had been working to get 75/25 relief included as part of another healthcare package with a range of measures that weren’t included in recently passed appropriations legislation, but over the weekend, our lobbyists learned that this separate healthcare package won’t be moving forward at this time. We also understand that there is not going to be an opportunity for the 75/25 relief to be part of a second segment of appropriations legislation that needs to be enacted by Mar. 22 to prevent another government shutdown. 

Grassroots Message: 75/25 Relief Remains a Priority

We will continue to look for other legislative opportunities to move the 75/25 measures forward in the near term. We encourage advocates to continue to reach out to healthcare staffers for your Senators and Representative to let them know this is still an important priority and ask for their support in making sure Congressional leaders understand this.

If you’re among the sizable cohort of suppliers impacted by the Change Healthcare disruption, you can note that the current lowered reimbursement rates and narrow (or negative) margins have made it even harder to withstand shocks like this one.

If you haven’t reached out to your legislators yet, you can still help raise the visibility and urgency to address reimbursement rates!  See messaging and guidance here.  Email AAHomecare staff Gordon Barnes at gordonb@aahomecare.org for contact information for Congressional healthcare staffers and other assistance in shaping and sharing your message. 

**OAMES Note -- If you need any assistance contacting members of the Ohio Congressional delegation or have questions about the issue, email OAMES executive director Kam Yuricich at kam@oames.org.