Tag: H.R. 2771
UPDATED: House committee approves new oxygen-related bill
September 8, 2020HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - The House Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday approved new legislation that seeks to address unsustainable oxygen reimbursement for stationary oxygen products, including oxygen concentrators, furnished in rural areas.Introduced Friday by Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., and Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa, H.R. 8158 would amend both the Social Security Act and the 1997 Balanced Budget Act to waive the budget neutrality offset for stationary oxygen products. CMS began applying the...
Event puts HME in front of influential senator
October 11, 2019Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - A fundraising event for Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., netted nearly $17,000 for the senator's campaign fund and gave HME providers a chance to re-engage with the longtime industry champion.
The industry is looking to Thune, a member of the influential Senate Finance Committee, to introduce a companion bill to H.R. 2771.
“He was attentive and listened to what everybody had to say,” said Rose Schafhauser, executive director of the Midwest Association of Medical...
Twenty-seven groups support bid bill
October 3, 2019HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - AAHomecare has released a sign-on letter with 27 HME stakeholder groups officially endorsing H.R. 2771, a bill that would provide relief from Medicare's competitive bidding program.The association developed the letter to support the bill's lead sponsors Reps. Cathy McMorris Rogers, R-Wash., and Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa, as they circulate a “Dear Colleague” letter asking for co-sponsors for H.R. 2771 and work to move the bill forward.“Over the last few years, Congress and...
In brief: Champions re-double efforts, Methodist Alliance named Provider of the Year
September 27, 2019HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - Reps. Cathy McMorris Rogers, R-Wash., and Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa, have sent a “Dear Colleague” letter to their peers in the House of Representatives urging them to co-sponsor H.R. 2771, the Protecting Home Oxygen and Medical Equipment Act of 2019.
The letter states that the relief provided by CMS last year was due to the high level of Congressional support for H.R. 4229, similar legislation introduced in 2017 that had 53 original co-sponsors.
“We...
Champions re-double efforts on bid relief
September 26, 2019HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - Reps. Cathy McMorris Rogers, R-Wash., and Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa, have sent a “Dear Colleague” letter to their peers in the House of Representatives urging them to co-sponsor H.R. 2771, the Protecting Home Oxygen and Medical Equipment Act of 2019. The letter states that the relief provided by CMS last year was due to the high level of Congressional support for H.R. 4229, similar legislation introduced in 2017 that had 53 original co-sponsors.“We urge...
In brief: Stakeholders issue bid challenge, Invacare appoints new board member
September 20, 2019HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - AAHomecare asks providers to zero in on lawmakers who have previously co-sponsored bid-relief legislation and ask them to support H.R. 2771.H.R. 2771, introduced in May by Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., and Dave Loebsack, D. Iowa, has 37 co-sponsors. H.R. 4229, introduced in 2017, had 53 original co-sponsors.“Over the next 10 days, we ask the HME community in these states to make contact with House members who co-sponsored H.R. 4229 in the last Congressional session and...
Stakeholders issue challenge on H.R. 2771
September 19, 2019HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - AAHomecare asks providers to zero in on lawmakers who have previously co-sponsored bid-relief legislation and ask them to support H.R. 2771.H.R. 2771, introduced in May by Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., and Dave Loebsack, D. Iowa, has 37 co-sponsors. H.R. 4229, introduced in 2017, had 53 original co-sponsors.“Over the next 10 days, we ask the HME community in these states to make contact with House members who co-sponsored H.R. 4229 in the last Congressional session and...
Stakeholders dig in for August recess
August 2, 2019Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON - Industry stakeholders plan to use the August congressional recess to lay the groundwork for moving forward key priorities in September.
Those priorities include H.R. 2771, which would provide relief from the bid program in rural and non-rural non-bid areas, and eliminate the budget neutrality requirement for oxygen.
“We are actively working with folks on setting up meetings in their districts—and I'm also meeting with committee staff here in D.C.—to push legislation...
Stakeholders stand their ground
July 3, 2019Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON - The bid window for Round 2021 may be opening next week, but industry stakeholders are still racking up co-sponsors for H.R. 2771 and working on a Senate companion bill.
“As we move forward (with the program) it gets more complicated, but Congress has the power and the authority to (make changes) at any time through legislation,” said Jay Witter, senior vice president of government relations for AAHomecare.
In May, Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., and Dave Loebsack,...
Competitive bidding: Stakeholders line up another campaign for relief
May 17, 2019Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON - The industry has its marching orders this week, as it heads to Capitol Hill with a long-awaited bill to address Medicare reimbursement cuts for HME.
Specifically, H.R. 2771 would make permanent a 50/50 blended reimbursement rate in rural areas and would introduce a 75/25 rate for non-rural, non-bid areas.
“We worked for the last three years with Congress and the administration to implement relief in non-bid, non-rural areas,” said Jay Witter, senior vice president of...