E&C Committee moves 75/25 forward
By HME News Staff
Updated 4:49 PM CST, Wed December 6, 2023
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WASHINGTON – The House Energy & Commerce Committee on Wednesday approved an amended version of H.R. 5555 that extends the 75/25 blended rate in non-competitive bidding areas through 2024.
The amended language does not, however, include the 90/10 blended rate adjustment for suppliers in former CBAs, according to a bulletin from AAHomecare.
The Senate Finance Committee included similar 75/25 language from S. 1294 in a health package in November.
“This is a very positive development for getting 75/25 blended rate relief extended for another year, but we need to keep the pressure on to make sure 75/25 relief is included in one of the upcoming appropriations bills," said Tom Ryan, president & CEO of AAHomecare. “AAHomecare will continue to engage key legislators and committee staff who will be negotiating what gets into those bills, and we’ll be letting HME advocates know when we need them to contact specific senators and representatives.”
The Energy & Commerce Committee also passed an amended version of H.R. 5371, legislation that seeks to provide Medicare coverage for wheelchairs using titanium or carbon fiber materials.
The amended version instructs CMS to establish new HCPCS codes for ultralight manual wheelchairs, including a separate code for titanium or carbon fiber.
If the legislation is passed into law, this change should open up other payers other than traditional Medicare to cover these products, says AAHomecare.
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