In compliance with certain statutory requirements, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently adjusted payment rates for rural/non-bid area providers of durable medical equipment, making them now subject to competitive bidding. This results in significant reductions impacting Medicare beneficiary access to needed equipment, especially oxygen.
AAHomecare has asked for our help in a drive to gain Senate support for a sign-on letter to Secretary Price and CMS Administrator Verma asking them to make regulatory changes to protect access to home medical equipment in these areas. Time is of the essence. Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) have begun circulating the letter and have set a deadline of Thursday, July 6 to gain co-signers.
The process is simple and is similar to our CAP Connection system. All you need do is access their site, put in your zip code, and it will bring up your Senators name(s) and a draft letter for you to send. A copy of the letter Senators Thune and Heitkamp plan to send is included on this website.
We know the deadline is tight, but we want to protect our respiratory patients who are impacted by these changes, so ask your Senator(s) now to sign-on to the letter and help make a difference.