Mulvaney on IFR: We hear you
By HME News Staff
Updated Thu April 19, 2018
WASHINGTON - Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney said this week that the agency is working to release an interim final rule that would provide relief from Medicare's competitive bidding program, but he gave no timeline for when that might happen.
“I will say this: I have probably received more calls about this than any other rule put together,” he said during a hearing for the fiscal year 2019 budget on Wednesday. “Since we're aware of the urgency to members of both parties, I'm interested in getting it out as quickly as we possibly can. That being said, it's a fairly complex rule, and it's absolutely critical that we get it right because of the scope of this rule, so I won't be able to comment.”
Mulvaney's comments were made in response to Rep. Kevin Yoder, R-Kan., who asked, “Can you share an update where the rule is in this process, and how far away from finalization that might be, and what steps is OMB taking right now to review the rule in a timely manner?”
Mulvaney stated that IFR is currently under review at the Office of Information & Regulatory Affairs and said he couldn't comment further.
The industry has kept the pressure on lawmakers, urging them to contact Mulvaney about the IFR, which has been stuck at the OMB since August. In March, they included language in the omnibus bill encouraging CMS to implement the IFR.
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