As efforts from a variety of industry stakeholders have pushed congressional support for H.R. 4229 to 110 co-sponsors, the American Association for Homecare publicly recognized one such advocate in particular: provider QMES.
The company, which operates multiple locations, has implemented a company-wide effort to engage lawmakers and win their support. Examples of those advocacy efforts include:
- More than 400 email and phone contacts from QMES employees to their Representatives.
- QMES hosted Rep. Ryan Costello (R-Penn.) at its Oaks, Pa. location in mid-December, which prompted Costello to co-sponsor H.R. 4229 as well as urge the Office of Management and Budget to release the HME-related Interim Final Rule (IFR) it has been considering.
- QMES contacts also helped encourage Rep. Brian Higgins (R-N.Y.) to co-sponsor H.R. 4229.
- QMES joined in-district meetings with two lawmakers sitting on committees of jurisdiction for HME-related legislation: Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, and Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.), chairman of the House Energy & Commerce Committee.
Also, QMES will host a Feb. 8 Town Hall Meeting that will include Rep. Carlie Dent (R-Penn.) at its Bethlehem, Pa. location.
“QMES appreciates AAHomecare’s efforts to secure a more sustainable reimbursement environment for our industry though H.R. 4229 and the IFR, and we feel that it is our responsibility to lend grassroots support with these two initiatives,” says David Chester, executive vice president of business development for QMES. “These grassroots activities really do play a significant role in educating legislators about the challenges we face and enlisting their support to help protect both our businesses and our patients.”
Providers wishing to share their advocacy stories with AAHomecare can contact Gordon Barnes at gordonb@aahomecare.org.