DME and NIV Legislation Needs Additional Support

There are several moving pieces on Capitol Hill currently, and it is crucial for the home medical equipment industry to keep driving demand for urgent relief and get our legislation passed. Please take a few minutes today to reach out to your members of Congress and ask them to support both the DME and NIV legislation.  

Protecting Home Oxygen & Medical Equipment allows for increased reimbursement rates for durable medical equipment (such as walkers, wheelchairs, canes, etc.) and oxygen equipment and supplies in areas of the country where reimbursement has been slashed. This legislation would protect suppliers and those that rely on home oxygen and medical equipment to live their lives. Right now, this legislation has up to 73 cosponsors. Click here to view all cosponsors. If your member of Congress is not on this list, be sure to reach out to them today and ask for their support by clicking here. You can also view the map below to see where all the cosponsors are:

Safeguarding Medicare Access to Respiratory Therapy would delay the inclusion of ventilators from the Medicare durable medical equipment competitive bidding program for five years. The competitive bidding program has continued to push reimbursement rates to unsustainable levels, making it difficult for suppliers to provide quality care to their patients. This program has threatened access to care for patients, especially in rural America. Passage of this legislation would help keep ventilators out of the competitive bid program, which would significantly help those that rely on this equipment continue to have access. This legislation would also establish a technical expert panel (TEP) to update national coverage policies for home mechanical ventilator devices so that they reflect technological advancements and peer-reviewed science.  

Right now, this legislation has a total of 46 cosponsors. Click here to view all cosponsors. If your member of Congress is not on this list, be sure to reach out to them today and ask for their support by clicking here. You can also view the map below to see where all the cosponsors are: 

Keep in mind, there are 180 supporters for the NIV letter to CMS/HHS in 2019 asking to remove non-invasive ventilators from the competitive bid program. We need everyone that signed on to that letter to also cosponsor this legislation. Take a look at this list, and if you member of Congress is listed, be sure to remind them to support Safeguarding Medicare Access to Respiratory Therapy as well.  

The focus in Congress will shift to the presidential election in the later half of the year, so it is very important to push for support early in 2020 before this focus shifts. We ask that you continue reaching out to your members of Congress. Meet with them face to face! Call their local office or D.C. office. Speak to their health staff. Encourage your coworkers and friends to do the same. Persistence is key! 

If any other additional assistance is needed, such as scheduling meetings with your members of Congress, or if you are in need of resources for you meeting, please reach out to Emily Harken with VGM Government Relations at (866) 512-8465 or [email protected].