Tag: H.R. 2005
Sens. Lankford, Hassan lead bipartisan effort to adjust DMEPOS Medicare payments
October 3, 2025HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., has introduced S. 2951 to provide adjustments to Medicare payment rates for durable medical equipment (DME) that were previously included in Round 2021 of Medicare’s competitive bidding program.
At press time, the specific text for S. 2951 wasn’t available, but VGM says it is a companion bill to H.R. 2005, which would re-establish 75/25 blended Medicare reimbursement rates in non-rural/non-bid areas.
Sen. Maggie Hassan,...
Grassroots efforts heated up during August recess, support builds for H.R. 2005
September 17, 2025HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – During the August recess, DME suppliers across the country seized the opportunity to engage with lawmakers and advocate for critical DMEPOS legislation, according to VGM Government Relations.
From West...
In Dallas, Laurie Bachorek, director of rehab at Baxter Management/MetroCare, hosted U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Texas, a member of the influential House Energy and Commerce Committee. Veasey spent the day working alongside the MetroCare team to gain firsthand...
Stakeholders mobilize against CMS bidding rule, rally behind H.R. 2005
July 25, 2025Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON – Industry stakeholders are telling lawmakers they have big issues with CMS’s plans for the next round of competitive bidding. They’re also using the program as a vehicle for continuing conversations about H.R. 2005.
“We want to use the opportunity to speak to our health care champions about the concerns there, the most egregious being the overreach of CMS in trying to get urological supplies included,” said Tom Ryan, president and CEO of AAHomecare....
Upcoming Legislative Conference: Office visits, watercooler chats boost support
April 11, 2025Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON – AAHomecare’s first in-person Washington Legislative Conference in several years will allow attendees to not only line up support for industry causes but also set the stage for years to come with new members on committees of jurisdiction.
“We have a number of freshman lawmakers that have been appointed to these committees,” said Jay Witter, senior vice president of government relations. “This is a great opportunity for our folks to establish these...
In brief: Stakeholders push back, Owens & Minor upsizes offering, Merits expands
April 4, 2025HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – AAHomecare, the Council for Quality Respiratory Care and VGM are raising concerns with CMS and lawmakers about the access issues and the negative health outcomes that could result from a recent draft proposal for noninvasive positive pressure ventilation.
CMS on March 11 released a proposed decision in response to the request to reconsider NCD 280.1 to establish coverage policies for the use of noninvasive home mechanical ventilators and respiratory assist devices for...
ITEM Coalition supports H.R. 2005
April 3, 2025HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – The ITEM Coalition has lent its support to H.R. 2005, a bill to reestablish 75/25 blended Medicare DME reimbursement rates in non-rural/non-competitive bidding areas. In a letter to the bill’s lead sponsors, the coalition states: “H.R. 2005 is squarely in line with the goals of the ITEM Coalition to ensure that all people can access the specialized devices and services they need to ensure their health and independent function. For these reasons, we are proud to support...