The industry’s champions in the Senate affirmed that they would help the industry advance a post-implementation delay to the July 1national bidding expansion cuts when Congress returns to Capitol Hill in September.
The pledges of support were voiced by legislative staff for those Senators, who met with representatives of the American Association for Homecare, the VGM Group, and the Council for Quality Respiratory Care, as well as other Washington, D.C.-based HME lobbyists and advocates.
Congress looked to poised to pass rural relief legislation not once, but twice. However, in what amounted to a last-minute heartbreak for the industry, the House and Senate failed to approve rural relief legislation before the House and Senate recessed for the summer on July 15.
The industry still has the ability to fight for some form of rural relief reform when lawmakers return from their summer recess. There is a window of opportunity between lawmakers’ return to Washington in early September and the November elections to push through some form of relief, so the industry is already working with its Senate and House champions to determine a plan.
“Important details remain to be worked out, including potential legislative vehicles and how to pay for the legislation,” a statement from AAHomecare read. “One interesting takeaway from the meeting was the staffers’ view that making the delay retroactive to July 1 would help the legislation’s prospects.”
In the meantime, various industry legislative experts have said that it is important for providers to should remain in contact with their Representatives and Senators.
“Our Senate champions also asked that the HME community remain engaged in advocating for rural relief legislation, especially in making clear how deep cuts for rural and non-bid area suppliers will affect both your own business and the patients that you serve,” the AAHomecare statement noted. “Similar meetings with our leading House advocates are slated for next week.”