The COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage across the United States and around the world. As noted by the Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Norris Cochran, the declared COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) is expected to continue through the end of 2021.
On December 27, 2020, The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 was signed into law, providing a three-month extension (until March 31st) of the Medicare sequester moratorium as originally enacted in The CARES Act. While the undersigned organizations are very appreciative of this short-term extension, we once again ask Congress to fully extend the Medicare sequester moratorium through the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.
The months ahead will be difficult as our nation launches an unprecedented effort to vaccinate the vast majority of Americans, while we simultaneously face the spread of new and potentially more harmful COVID-19 variants. Health care providers across the spectrum are ready to meet this challenge, but we need Congressional help now.
As Congress negotiates its next COVID-19 relief package, we urge the inclusion of H.R. 315, Medicare Sequester COVID Moratorium Act – bipartisan legislation introduced by Reps. Brad Schneider (D-IL-10) and David McKinley, P.E. (R-WV-1) that will extend the Medicare sequester moratorium through the PHE.
We need every resource at our disposal to meet the significant challenges that remain, especially as health care providers continue to endure financial strain caused by the pandemic. Now is not the time to cut Medicare reimbursements that are necessary to providing care to our communities.
Sincerely,
Alliance of Community Health Plans
Ambulatory Surgery Center Association
America’s Essential Hospitals
America’s Health Insurance Plans
America’s Physician Groups
American Academy of Dermatology Association
American Academy of Family Physicians
American Academy of Neurology
American Academy of Ophthalmology
American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
American Association for Homecare
American Association of Neurological Surgeons
American College of Cardiology
American College of Gastroenterology
American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians
American College of Physicians
American College of Surgeons
American Health Care Association
American Medical Association
American Medical Group Association
American Medical Rehabilitation Providers Association
American Nurses Association
American Occupational Therapy Association
American Optometric Association
American Physical Therapy Association
American Psychological Association
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Association of American Medical Colleges
Congress of Neurological Surgeons
Digestive Health Physicians Association
Federation of American Hospitals
Healthcare Leadership Council
Infusion Providers Alliance
Large Urology Group Practice Association
LeadingAge
National Association for Behavioral Healthcare
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization / Hospice Action Network
Outpatient Ophthalmic Surgery Society
Premier healthcare alliance
Private Practice Section of the American Physical Therapy Association
The Catholic Health Association of the United States
Visiting Nurse Associations of America
Vizient, Inc.
Click here to download the letter.
