AAHomecare, NHIA urge lawmakers to act 

WASHINGTON – AAHomecare and the National Home Infusion Association (NHIA) testified before the House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee on Jan. 8 to make the case for industry bills that would protect access to home medical equipment (HME) and home infusion therapy. 

Tom Ryan discusses ‘troubling’ competitive bidding program 

In addition to discussing H.R. 2005, which would re-establish 75/25 blended Medicare reimbursement rates in non-rural/non-bid areas, AAHomecare President and CEO Tom Ryan discussed CMS’s plans for the next round of the competitive bidding program (CBP). He answered questions about the flawed methodology for the program, including how geographies are classified and how prices fail to reflect market costs. 

"Even more troubling, CMS intends to reduce the number of suppliers for key product categories to fewer than ten nationwide,” he told committee members. “That would devastate small businesses and destabilize the national home medical equipment infrastructure that patients rely on. And finally, the proposed bidding methodology will artificially drive payment rates to unsustainable levels, leaving too few suppliers to meet the needs of Medicare beneficiaries.” 

Ryan also discussed the need for Congress to move forward with H.R. 1703, the Choices for Increased Mobility Act of 2025; and H.R. 2902, the Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform (SOAR) Act of 2025. 

"Home medical equipment keeps people safe, independent, and at home – and it saves Medicare money,” he told committee members. “The three bipartisan bills before you today – H.R. 1703, H.R. 2005, and H.R. 2902 – are practical, targeted solutions that will protect access to care for millions of Medicare beneficiaries." 

• View the full hearing here. Ryan's opening remarks start at 28:53. 
• AAHomecare’s written testimony and supporting documents can be found here (expand the "View Agenda" tab). 

Connie Sullivan sees recognition from lawmakers 

NHIA President and CEO Connie Sullivan testified in support of the Preserving Patient Access to Home Infusion Act, H.R. 2172, which would modernize the home infusion benefit. The association says the hearing marked a major milestone for the legislation, with members of both parties emphasizing the need to strengthen Medicare and remove barriers that keep seniors from receiving clinically appropriate infusion care at home. 

“The strong bipartisan engagement we saw today is exactly the momentum seniors and families have been waiting for,” said Sullivan. “Congress is increasingly recognizing that Medicare’s home infusion benefit is incomplete and, as a result, too many beneficiaries are pushed into facilities even when receiving therapy at home is safe and workable.” 

H.R. 2171 would modernize the home infusion benefit to reflect the full scope of services, expand the benefit to improve access to IV anti-infective therapies, bundle disposables and supplies into the services payment, and recognize nurse practitioners and physician assistants in ordering home infusion therapy. Learn more about the legislation here.