The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) is rallying support for S. 1294, The Competitive Bidding Relief Act of 2023.

The bill is co-sponsored by Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.).

In a May 31 bulletin to stakeholders, AAHomecare noted that the summer will be an important opportunity to add co-sponsors to the bill and said the next two months would be “critical for the potential success of the legislation. The Senate is scheduled to be in session for about six weeks during June and July and then will recess until after Labor Day.”

The association encouraged stakeholders to send e-mails to Senate staffers who handle healthcare issues to ask for their support. “Senate offices can be deliberate when it comes to adding their names as a co-sponsor to legislation, so HME advocates must be prepared to make a determined and consistent case for extending 75/25 blended rates through 2024,” the announcement said.

AAHomecare described the bill as legislation that would extend relief “granted in the 2022 Omnibus budget legislation, keeping 75/25 rates for an additional year.” The bill “provides more stability for suppliers in these areas,” AAHomecare’s informational Web page said, adding, “The bill would also impact rates from other payers who are influenced by Medicare rates, including TRICARE and Medicaid programs in more than 20 states.”