2026 Advocacy Reset - Help Build Cosponsor Support for these Active DME Legislative Initiatives
AAHomecare is working with our champions on Capitol Hill to build support for active legislation to provide relief on Medicare reimbursement rates and strengthen access to DME. Please reach out to your legislators and ask them to co-sponsor and support these House and Senate bills:
75/25 Relief
• H.R. 2005, DMEPOS Relief Act of 2025
• S. 2951, Competitive Bidding Relief Act
Carbon Fiber/Titanium Wheelchair Access
• H.R. 1703, Choices for Increased Mobility Act of 2025
• S. 247, Choices for Increased Mobility Act of 2025
SOAR Act
• H.R. 2902, Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform (SOAR) Act of 2025
• S. 1406, Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform (SOAR) Act of 2025
Engaging your legislators and building co-sponsor support will increase the chances for these bills to be included in an omnibus budget or healthcare legislative package this year. Congress is starting the deliberation process on heathcare legislative proposals, as evidenced by the House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing on Jan. 8 that included the House bills listed above. Your advocacy can help move these bills through the committee mark-up procees and increase their chances to be part of a larger legislative package.
Looking Ahead: Legislation on Diabetes Products and Ostomy/Incontinence Supplies
AAHomecare's policy team and industry stakeholders are working with Congressional supporters to develop legislation to delay the inclusion of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), insulin pumps, ostomy products, and incontinence products in the upcoming competititve bidding round. We will be sharing details on how you can support these legislative initiatives soon.
See resources and messaging below to help you deliver an effective message on one or more of our current priority bills.
The late-Winter/Spring season is a critical time to build co-sponsorship support. Take action now, and follow-up as needed!
Congress will be in session for 13 of the 16 weeks between mid-Janaury and the 2026 AAHomecare Washington Legislative Conference (May 13-14, 2026 – register here). This time frame gives us a tremendous opportunity to build support and add co-sponsors to these bills in the run-up to the Conference – and to secure more co-sponsors in face-to-face lobbying sessions there.
Who to Contact
If you don't already have a relationship with your legislators' healthcare staff, you can email gordonb@aahomecare.org for contact information. You can choose whatever of these bills most impact your business.
Messaging Guidance
A simple message makes the strongest impression. Please put in your own words and add your own perspectives on how these bills will positively impact your company and your patients. You don't need to cover all of these bills; focus on the one(s) that you understand the best and would make the biggest difference for you.
SOAR Act – see if your legislators are already co-sponsors: H.R. 2902 – S. 1406
• For House Members: Please co-sponsor H.R. 2902, Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform (SOAR) Act of 2025 , bipartisan legislation that would remove all oxygen
services and equipment from the DMEPOS competitive bidding program.
• For Senators: Please co-sponsor S. 1406, Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform (SOAR) Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation that would remove all oxygen services
and equipment from the DMEPOS competitive bidding program.
• The legislation will create a new reimbursement system for this benefit based on current payment rates so that people can access the appropriate oxygen delivery.
• The bill would improve access to liquid oxygen, which offers a continuous, high-liter flow of oxygen and is portable.
• The SOAR Act would also ensure patients have access to respiratory therapist services through their oxygen supplier and establish template-based national standardized documentation
requirements.
• Include any personal perspective on how your patients will benefit from wider choice for supplemental oxygen. See our Issue Brief and the Multi-stakeholder letter in support HR 2902
and its Senate companion bill for additional perspective.
75/25 Relief in Non-Rural, Non-CB Areas – see if your legislators are already co-sponsors: H.R. 2005 – S. 2951
• For House Members: Please co-sponsor H.R. 2005, the DMEPOS Relief Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation to restore 75/25 Medicare blended rates
for DMEPOS in non-rural/non-CB areas.
• For Senators: Please co-sponsor S. 2951, the Competitive Bidding Relief Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation to restore 75/25 Medicare blended
rates for DMEPOS in non-rural/non-CB areas.
• Failing to restore 75/25 blended rates for DME relief jeopardizes patient access to care and threatens the financial viability of the DMEPOS Industry in meeting our
communities’ needs.
• Cuts that went into effect on Jan. 1, 2024 average 20.1% across top product categories in non-rural areas, with many categories showing reductions of more than 25%-30%.
• Include any personal perspective on how these rates affect your business. You can also note that these rates also affect commercial payers and Medicaid programs that are tied to
non-rural rates. See the AAH Issue Brief for additional perspective.
Carbon Fiber/Titanium Wheelchair Access – see if your legislators are already co-sponsors: H.R. 1703 – S. 247
• For House Members: Please co-sponsor H.R. 1703, the Choices for Increased Mobility Act of 2025 , bipartisan legislation that would improve access to
titanium and carbon fiber wheelchairs for Medicare beneficiaries.
• For Senators: Please co-sponsor S. 247, the Choices for Increased Mobility Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation that would improve access to
titanium and carbon fiber wheelchairs for Medicare beneficiaries.
• Access to lightweight carbon fiber and titanium wheelchairs will allow individuals who require this technology the choice of wheelchair that is best suited for their
medical, functional, and lifestyle needs and preferences.
• Enacting this legislation will not increase costs for Medicare program. It streamlines the claims and payment process for these upgrades, to the benefit of patients, suppliers,
and Medicare billing staff.
• Include any personal perspective on how your patients will benefit from access to lightweight manual wheelchair options. See the AAH Issue Brief for additional perspective.
You can also attach the related issue briefs (or multi-stakeholder letter for SOAR Act) with your email.
You should keep your message simple and to-the-point. If you don't get a response within two weeks (or if you receive a generic response that does not directly address your points), please follow up with another email and/or phone call.
Is Your Senator or Representative on a Committee of Jurisdiction for Medicare Issues?
Members of the House Energy & Commerce and Ways & Means committes, as well as the Senate Finance Committee are especially influential on Medicare reimbursment and coverage policy issues. Please make an extra effort to reach out to these members and ask your colleagues and peers to engage these members, as well.
Contact Assistance
If you need assistance reaching out to your member of Congress, including messaging advice or contact information for health legislative staffers, please reach out to Gordon Barnes, gordonb@aahomecare.org.