Omnibus bill contains several HME provisions
By HME News Staff
Updated 11:48 AM CST, Wed December 21, 2022
.jpg)
WASHINGTON – Lawmakers have released a draft of an omnibus legislative package that includes two major HME policy priorities: an extension for the 75/25 blended Medicare rate for non-CBA/non-rural suppliers through the end of 2023; and the prevention of across-the-board 4% Medicare cuts for 2023 and 2024 that would have been triggered by the application of provisions in 2010 “PAYGO” budget legislation.
- Provisions from H.R. 6641, which would apply a 90/10 blended rate in former competitive bidding areas, are not part of the 4,155-page bill.
- The bill specifically extends the 75/25 blended rates “through the remainder of the duration of the public health emergency period described as Dec. 31, 2023, whichever is later.”
The bill also grants a two-year extension for telehealth waivers established during the COVID-19 PHE.
“This is a major win for the home medical equipment community,” said Tom Ryan, AAHomecare president and CEO. “The relief granted for non-rural/non-CBA suppliers, taken with the 50/50 blended rate in rural areas granted to rural suppliers by CMS in the 2021 DMEPOS Final Rule, will impact bottom lines for a large swath of the industry. Preventing potentially ruinous 4% PAYGO cuts on every single Medicare transaction for HME is obviously very consequential across our industry, as well.”
Read the omnibus bill.
Read a summary of Medicare-related provisions.
Comments