Providers Urged to Help End-of-Year DME Reimbursement Relief

AAHomecare calls on HME providers to tell their Senators and Representatives to include two key DME reimbursement provisions in any year-end omnibus spending legislation.

• By David Kopf
• Nov 17, 2022

The American Association for Homecare is calling on HME providers to contact their Senators and Representatives in support of adding Medicare reimbursement relief for DME to an anticipated year-end budget legislation.

Specifically, the association is asking that providers contact their lawmakers’ offices and urge them to support adding two key provisions:

• Including language from H.R. 6641, which was introduced into the House by Reps. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) and Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), and provides a 90/10 blended Medicare reimbursement rate for DME for suppliers in former competitive bidding areas (CBAs).
• Extending the CARES Act’s 75/25 blended rate for Medicare reimbursement for DME suppliers in non-competitive bid areas beyond the end of the current COVID-19 PHE.

In support of asking lawmakers to back to those two providers, AAHomecare provided sample language that providers can use as part of their outreach:

“Please support Medicare reimbursement relief for DME suppliers that reflects the increased costs for products, shipping, labor, local delivery/gas, personal protective equipment, and other rising costs associated with serving patients who depend on high-quality, home-based care.

DME rates have not received a meaningful adjustment since 2016, thanks to CMS’ decision not to move forward with results from the latest CB round because results from the bidding process ‘did not achieve expected savings.’ Please support these measures to give DME suppliers Medicare reimbursement rates that reflect the market and cost environment facing them. This long-overdue relief is critically needed to effectively serve patients in our community.”

The association underscored the value of direct email and personalized outreach to healthcare staffers (especially any staff that providers met during September’s Virtual Legislative Conference), saying it is “the most effective way to make a strong impression.”

AAHomecare also advised providers to encourage their colleagues and other HME stakeholders to send a pre-drafted email to lawmakers using its Voter Voice grassroots advocacy site at www.votervoice.net.

“Your outreach is especially needed now as Congressional leaders and legislators on key committees of jurisdiction negotiate what will be included in the final bill,” a statement from the association read. “Our sources on the Hill tell us that this is expected to be a narrower-than-usual package, so it is imperative that we make a strong impression on legislators now for DME priorities to be considered.”