12/09/2024

ITEM Coalition Letter Urges 75/25 Relief in Year End Legislative Packages; Take Action Now to Gain Support in Congress!

AAHomecare released an alert last week reporting that the ITEM Coalition has sent a letter to Congressional leadership urging their support to include provisions from HR 5555 and S. 1294 in any legislative package that moves prior to the end of the 118th Congress.

In a Dec. 2 letter from the ITEM Coalition, the patient and disability advocacy groups representing more than 30 organizations, assert that the 20% decrease in reimbursements for the most-utilized DME products has resulted in a “crushing blow to DMEPOS suppliers and providers”. This letter offers a great reason to touch base again with your Senators’ and Representative’s healthcare staff to ask for their support moving our provisions forward. Ohio's Congressional healthcare staff contact information is available here.

We urge HME providers to take immediate action and share the letter as a testimonial to the importance of restoring the 75/25 rates to protect individuals with disabilities and other profound healthcare challenges. Negotiations are expected to wrap up soon, so please reach out to your legislators as soon as possible! 

If you have any questions or need assistance with your outreach or messaging, contact Heidi Moss at OAMES or Gordon Barnes at the American Association for Homecare.