09/30/2017

Congress Asks OMB to Clear HME-Related Interim Final Rule

104 Lawmakers Ask OMB to Clear Pending IFR, Ohio Leads Support

Nearly one fourth of the members of the U.S. House of Representatives have asked the Office of Management & Budget (OMB) to clear an HME-related Interim Final Rule (IFR) currently under review at OMB.  The IFR, titled “Durable Medical Equipment Fee Schedule, Adjustments to Resume the Transitional 50/50 Blended Rates to Provide Relief in Non-Competitive Bidding Areas” has been at OMB since late August.

See the final copy of the letter with signatures and full list of Congressional signees.

"This is an unmistakable signal of bipartisan Congressional support for clearing this rule and providing additional relief for suppliers in rural areas,” said Tom Ryan, president & CEO of the American Association for Homecare.  “This is a remarkable showing when you take into account that this letter was only open for eight days.”

OAMES grassroots outreach secured support from half of Ohio's Congressional delegation with a total of eight signers, the most from an individual state.  We'd like to thank these Members of Congress and their staff for their continued efforts to address the escalating problems with the Medicare bidding program and urging the agencies responsible to take action.  Those legislators are:  Rep. Bob Gibbs, Rep. Bill Johnson, Rep. Jim Jordan, Rep. David Joyce, Rep. Bob Latta, Rep. Tim Ryan, Rep. Pat Tiberi and Rep. Mike Turner.