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Omnibus bill contains several HME provisions

Omnibus bill contains several HME provisions

Tom RyanWASHINGTON – 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.

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