Reimbursement relief: 'Please follow up,’ AAH says 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives passed a short-term spending bill on Jan. 18 to keep the government funded until the beginning of March, AAHomecare reports, but the bill does not contain various health care extender measures, including the industry’s provision to extend the 75/25 blended Medicare reimbursement rates in non-rural areas. 

“We are continuing to work with our champions, as well as influential legislators and committee staff, to pass our legislation in the next funding package, which would need to be passed by March 1, and are emphasizing to members of the House and Senate that the cuts have now gone into effect and are impacting suppliers,” the association stated in a bulletin. 

As currently structured, the funding for different government agencies would need to be approved by March 1 and March 8, according to AAHomecare. 

The association is pushing stakeholders to “keep the volume up” on extending the 75/25 blended reimbursement rates through 2024. 

“The impacts of losing this relief will be keenly felt by a large segment of the supplier community, and we must communicate the urgency of restoring the 75/25 blended rate to legislators,” AAHomecare stated. “In discussions with Congressional offices, our lobbyists report that legislators and staff continue to hear from our industry and that this grassroots advocacy makes a difference.  Please follow up with your legislators next week to share the urgency of ensuring this relief is part of the next funding package.” 

Stakeholders can send a pre-drafted message to their senators and representatives using AAHomecare’s Voter Voice advocacy tool. The association has updated the draft text to reflect the current state of the budget legislation.