Industry’s post-election mindset: ‘All we can do is be prepared’ 

WASHINGTON – How the HME industry’s legislative efforts fare in a post-election Congress will depend a lot on whether president-elect Donald Trump and his supporters want to “clear the decks,” say industry stakeholders. 

From meetings on Capitol Hill last week, Jay Witter says committees in both the Senate and House of Representatives are preparing for an end-of-year package but are waiting for a signal as to whether that gets done this year or kicked to next year. 

“All we can do is be prepared,” says Witter, senior vice president of public policy for AAHomecare. “A lot depends on whether he wants to clear the decks on health care and start fresh or start in on immigration and taxes and the budget reconciliation right when they get back in January. I’m not sure if the new president wants to deal with government spending and these health care provisions that are expiring.” 

The HME industry has several pieces of legislation pending, including bills that would extend the 75/25 blended Medicare reimbursement rates in non-bid, non-rural areas, and improve access to titanium and carbon fiber ultralightweight manual wheelchairs. 

Red tide 

In addition to the new president, both chambers of Congress will have a Republican majority, something stakeholders say bodes well for the industry. 

“Republicans have been very good for us – our challenges have been a little bit more on the Democrat side – so the whole idea of a new administration and the Republican trifecta could be helpful,” said Tom Ryan, president and CEO of AAHomecare. “We'll be on top of that, and as long as (anything they do) is pro-choice and patient preferred in the home, there’s potentially some regulations that could be helpful for us. The only way we'll know is to be engaged and to be at the table.” 

The election of Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., a longtime industry champion, to Senate majority leader is also seen as a plus, stakeholders say. 

“(Thune) and other HME champions will be taking leadership roles, so I think we're in a good position,” said Ryan. “We just need to cut through the noise of all these appointments and all the issues going on and talk about our issues.” 

'Appropriate regulation'

With a Republican-controlled Congress, expect to see a push for “appropriate regulations,” including as it relates to cybersecurity – providers are still digging out from February’s Change Healthcare cyberattack – and “insane” audits, says Mike “Ike” Isaacson, senior vice president of government and regulatory relations for VGM & Associates. 

“One thing I'm sharing with legislators is just the insane number of the different kinds of audits and different kinds of compliance checks that our members have and the fact that they seem to be coming one after the other after the other right now,” he said. 

MA momentum 

One early idea being floated in Washington, D.C., in the wake of the election is increasing the use of Medicare Advantage plans. With about 52% of all Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in MA plans, there’s “no putting that Genie back in the bottle,” says Isaacson, but there’s an opportunity to push for more accountability from the plans. 

“The focus has to be on making sure that there is transparency in practice and holding those folks accountable on the intent of what those plans should be,” he said. “How do we work with the powers that be to make sure that it is done in a fair and equitable manner so that people can continue to get the services they need to live, where they want to live.”