AAHomecare Joins Coalition Effort to Extend CARES Act Medicare Relief

Suppliers Encouraged to Reinforce Message on Capitol Hill

AAHomecare has joined a coalition of 34 major healthcare groups asking Congress to extend the moratorium on the 2% Medicare “sequestration” cuts through the duration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE).  Congress paused these cuts as part of broad-based COVID-19 relief granted in the CARES Act in March, but only through December 2020.

In their letter to Senate and House leaders, the coalition highlights the ongoing challenges faced by healthcare suppliers as COVID-19 cases continue to surge.  They contend that, “This upsurge in cases has impacted the financial health of medical professionals and facilities, including the increased cost of labor to ensure adequate staffing, procurement of personal protective equipment, significant reductions in patient volume resulting from orders to cancel non-emergent procedures, and the high cost of caring for COVID patients.”

The letter also asserts that “the moratorium on the Medicare sequester included in The CARES Act was a clear acknowledgement of the important role that Medicare reimbursement plays in the financial wellbeing of our health care system.”  

In closing, the signers ask that Congressional leaders take action to extend the relief before the end of the 116th Congress.

AAHomecare is joined on the letter by some of the nation’s most influential healthcare organizations, including The American Medical Association, America’s Essential Hospitals, the Association of American Medical Colleges, America’s Health Insurance Plans, and the Healthcare Leadership Council.  See the complete letter and full list of signers here.

Ask Your Legislators to Support Extending This Much-Needed Relief

AAHomecare urges the home medical equipment community to reach out to their Senators and Representatives and ask them to support extending this important relief.

You can send a letter reinforcing the coalition’s efforts through AAHomecare’s Action Center here.  Please feel free to edit the letter to include any relevant details on your company’s efforts to serve patients during the PHE and how continuing to pause the 2% sequestration cuts will help you meet the challenges ahead.

Contact: Gordon Barnes - 202-372-0759 - gordonb@aahomecare.org