Reps. Walden, Schwartz Introduce Legislation enabling APRN's to Order Medicare Home Health Services

Breaking News!!
Reps. Walden, Schwartz Introduce Legislation enabling APRN's to Order Medicare Home Health Services.

U.S. Representatives Greg Walden (R-OR) and Allyson Schwartz (D-PA) Tuesday (June 21) introduced H.R. 2267, the “Medicare Home Health Planning Improvement Act,” legislation that will authorize APRN's to order home health services in the Medicare program and clarify recent requirements for a face-to-face encounter between a patient and a provider prior to certification for home health services, allowing APRN's to sign the final plan of care.

A bipartisan group of 27 Representatives endorsed H.R. 2267 as original cosponsors of the legislation (cosponsors are listed below). Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Kent Conrad introduced companion legislation (S. 227) in the Senate January 31 that has the endorsement of five other cosponsors (also listed below).

This legislation removes a long-standing obstacle that prevents APRN's from fully meeting the health care needs of Medicare patients.  Independent analysts estimate that enacting this legislation would save about $275 million over the next ten years.  Federal Medicare legislation and rules often are used as model templates by states and private insurers with regard to APRN ability to order home care services, hence the importance of enacting this legislation.

UAPRN members are encouraged to contact their United States Representatives and Senators (Isakson and Chamblis) and urge them to support improving the Medicare program by cosponsoring H.R. 2267 or S. 227. Currently no Georgia Congressmen or Senators have agreed to co-sponsor this legislation.

H.R. 2267
Lead sponsor: Greg Walden (R-OR)
Allyson Schwartz (D-PA)
Lou Barletta (R-PA)
Charles Bass (R-NH)
Brian Bilbray (R-CA)
Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)
LeonardBoswell (D-IA)
Robert Brady (D-PA)
Lois Capps (D-CA)
Ben Chandler (D-KY)
David Cicilline (D-RI)
Mike Coffman (R-CO)
Keith Ellison (D-MN)
Raul Grijalva (D-AZ)
Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI)
Richard Hanna (R-NY)
Walter Jones (R-NC)
Leonard Lance (R-NJ)
Jim Langevin (D-RI)
Tom Latham (R-IA)
Steve LaTourette (R-OH)
BarbaraLee (D-CA)
Richard Neal (D-MA)
Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)
Kurt Schrader (D-OR)
Lee Terry (R-NE)
Mike Thompson (D-CA)
David Wu (D-OR)

S. 227
Lead sponsor: Susan Collins (R-ME)
Kent Conrad (D-ND)
Daniel Akaka (D-HI)
Daniel Inouye (D-HI)
Tim Johnson (D-SD)
Jack Reed (D-RI)
Ron Wyden (D-OR)