03/21/2022

Contact Needed Now to Move Medicare Relief Bill HR 6641 Forward

The American Association for Homecare has issued an important message to HME providers to gain support for HR 6641.  AAHomecare has been in contact with multiple Congressional offices since the bill was introduced on Feb. 8 and while many are familiar with our challenges, they’re indicating that they are not hearing from providers and other stakeholders with a co-sponsor ask.  

We are asking every OAMES member to make a direct contact (and follow-up, if needed) with a specific request that their Representative in the House co-sponsor HR 6641 over the next two weeks.  The list of co-sponsors is available here; note that that are currently no Ohio representatives on this important relief legislation. 

AAHomecare has pulled together concise advice on messaging and emailing healthcare staffers at their Medicare Reimbursement Legislation Campaign Central.  You can make a phone call or schedule a virtual meeting.  You can also request an in-person meeting with your Representative when they are back in home districts during the next recess period (Apr. 11-22). Key targets include the 95 Members who joined the October 2021 House sign-on letter encouraging CMS to address Medicare payment rates.  This includes the following Ohio legislators:  Rep. Troy Balderson, Rep. Anthony Gonzalez, Rep. Marcy Kaptur, Rep. Brad Wenstrup and Rep. Bill Johnson.

Contact Gordon Barnes at AAHomecare gordonb@aahomecare.org or Kam Yuricich at OAMES at kam@oames.org for any assistance.  Our challenge is significant; passing legislation with a sizable budgetary impact will require a sustained and powerful advocacy effort.  We need everyone on board to move HR 6641 forward!