Ask your senators and house members to support extension of the Medicare sequester moratorium
PLEASE ASK SENATORS AND HOUSE MEMBERS TO SUPPORT EXTENSION OF THE MORATORIUM ON THE 2% MEDICARE CUTS UNTIL THE END OF THE COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY (PHE).
Your message in support of H.R. 315, the Medicare Sequester COVID Moratorium Act, can be as simple as the ones shown below: (please note slightly different versions for House and Senate members). You can also add any details on the additional operational/safety requirements and costs your company is facing in serving patients during the pandemic, and how continuing to pause the Medicare sequester cuts will help you meet these challenges.
Please contact Gordon Barnes at gordonb@aahomecare.org if you need contact information for Congressional healthcare staffers.
_____________________________________
House Version:
Dear Representative ____
I am asking that you co-sponsor and support new legislation that will help healthcare providers support patients during the COVID-19. Reps. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) and David McKinley (R-W.V.) have introduced fresh legislation in the 117th Congress to further extend this much-needed relief. H.R. 315, the Medicare Sequester COVID Moratorium Act would continue a pause of 2% Medicare sequester cuts through the duration of the public health emergency.
In April, Congress halted the 2% sequester cuts as part of broad-based CARES Act relief for healthcare providers, but only through Dec. 31, 2020. Congress has since extended this relief for an additional 90 days, but a long-term solution is needed protect HME and other healthcare suppliers through the end of the PHE.
The Dept. of Health & Human Services recently signaled their intent to keep the COVID-19 PHE in effect through at least the end of 2021. Aligning the suspension of the Medicare sequester cut through the end of the PHE will give home medical equipment (HME) suppliers and other healthcare providers a stable measure of relief to help offset the higher costs and new operational challenges associated with treating patients during the pandemic.
Please co-sponsor HR 315 and urge House leadership to consider this legislation as soon as possible. Thank you for supporting the HME community and other healthcare suppliers who are working to support patients and caregivers under the extraordinary challenges presented by this pandemic.
Sincerely, etc.
Senate Version
Dear Senator _______
I am asking that you support new legislation that will help healthcare providers support patients during the COVID-19. Reps. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) and David McKinley (R-W.V.) have introduced fresh legislation in the 117th Congress to further extend this much-needed relief. H.R. 315, the Medicare Sequester COVID Moratorium Act, would continue a pause of 2% Medicare sequester cuts through the duration of the public health emergency.
In April, Congress halted the 2% sequester cuts as part of broad-based CARES Act relief for healthcare providers, but only through Dec. 31, 2020. Congress has since extended this relief for an additional 90 days, but a long-term solution is needed protect HME and other healthcare suppliers through the end of the PHE.
The Dept. of Health & Human Services recently signaled their intent to keep the COVID-19 PHE in effect through at least the end of 2021. Aligning the suspension of the Medicare sequester cut through the end of the PHE will give home medical equipment (HME) suppliers and other healthcare providers a stable measure of relief to help offset the higher costs and new operational challenges associated with treating patients during the pandemic.
In addition, more than 40 major healthcare groups have asked Congressional leaders to support this measure.
Please urge Senate leadership to support similar legislation. Thank you for supporting the HME community and other healthcare suppliers who are working to support patients and caregivers under the extraordinary challenges presented by this pandemic.
Sincerely, etc.