Please ask your legislators to ensure that provisions from HR 8158 and HR 8840 are supported in year-end legislation!
1) Oxygen Budget Neutrality Fix, HR 8158 – According to an alert from AAHomecare, a measure to address outdated budget neutrality requirements that have resulted in additional rate cuts for oxygen products in rural areas is under possible consideration for inclusion in year-end Omnibus legislation. Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Dave Loebsack (D-IA) introduced HR 8158, legislation to fix the problems that outdated budget neutrality requirements enacted 23 years ago are causing for rural oxygen rates. That bill was approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee in September and is now among the measures being considered for lame-duck session legislative package. Please ask your legislators to weigh in with House and Senate leaders to support language from HR 8158 in a legislative package before the end of the year.
>> Click here for AAHomecare’s Action Center to find your legislator and to send your message for HR 8158.
2) COVID-19 Medicare Relief Extension, HR 8840 – Reps. Brad Schneider (D-IL) and David McKinley (R-WV) have just introduced legislation to prevent Medicare reimbursement cuts to healthcare providers through the duration of COVID-19 public health emergency. The Medicare Sequester COVID Moratorium Act (HR 8840) would continue a pause of 2% Medicare sequester cuts set to expire 12/31/20 through the duration of the public health emergency. Last month, AAHomecare joined major healthcare organizations calling on Capitol Hill to extend this relief for the duration of the COVID-19 PHE. Now that Congress has responded with legislation, we need strong grassroots efforts to pass this critical relief. Please ask your legislators to weigh in with House and Senate leaders to include this policy in a legislative package before the end of the year.
>> Click here for AAHomecare’s Action Center to find your legislator and to send your message for HR 8840.
These measures are very time-sensitive so please take action ASAP! Contact Gordon Barnes at gordonb@aahomecare.org or Kam Yuricich at kam@oames.org if you need any assistance or have questions about the message.