American Association for Homecare to drive support for H.R. 2771 has convinced nine additional Representatives to co-sponsor the bill, bringing the total number of co-sponsors to 43 lawmakers.
Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) and Dave Loebsack (D-Iowa) have launched H.R. 2771, bipartisan legislation in the House that aims to extend rural and non-bid area relief, as well as protect oxygen funding.
Dubbed the Protecting Home Oxygen & Medical Equipment Act of 2019, the bill would:
- Permanently implement the blended, 50/50 rural relief rate after 2020.
- Provides additional relief for non-rural, non-bid areas with a 75/25 blended rate (75 percent competitive bidding rates and 25 percent unadjusted fee schedule rates).
- Remove the budget neutrality offset for oxygen that was implemented in 2017.
In related news, AAHomecare has launched an industry sign-on letter with 27 HME national, regional and state organizations officially endorsing H.R. 2771. A statement from AAHomecare noted the letter was developed to assist H.R. 2771’s lead sponsors, Reps. McMorris Rodgers and Loebsack, in their efforts to build additional co-sponsor support.
“You can also use the letter in your grassroots outreach to Capitol Hill healthcare legislative staff,” AAHomecare’s statement read. “… Let’s keep the pressure on!”