Ellmers and Butterfield Introduce Legislation to Broaden Access to Healthcare Technologies

Press Release

Congresswoman Renee Ellmers (R-NC-02) released the following statement after introducing H.R. 1018 -- The Patient Access to Disposable Medical Technology Act of 2015.

"Many of our constituents rely on disposable medical devices that provide healing in the home setting following hospital stays. While private health plans cover these innovative devices, Medicare does not -- which results in patients returning to the more-expensive hospital setting to receive the care they need."

"To ensure that Medicare beneficiaries have access to the same medical devices as privately-ensured patients, Congressman Butterfield and I introduced the Patient Access to Disposable Medical Technology Act of 2015. This bipartisan legislation provides updates to outdated Medicare policies so that beneficiaries can receive the care they need in the comfort of their own home."

Medicare's durable medical equipment (DME) provides beneficiaries with access to technologies in the home and community setting. However, the statutory definition of DME is decades old and was written at a time when most DME products were crutches, wheelchairs, oxygen tanks and iron lungs. As advances have been made over the years, many durable products have been developed for patient use outside of the hospital. More recently, a number of innovative and disposable technologies have become available to patients that are easier to use and less expensive than their durable counterparts. Unfortunately though, under current Medicare law, "disposable" cannot be considered "durable," which means Medicare patients cannot benefit from these low-cost and convenient technologies.

This legislation would incorporate disposable medical technologies (DMT) into the existing DME coverage and payment structure, ensuring that Medicare beneficiaries receive access to simpler and more affordable products in the home and community setting.

Specifically, The Patient Access to Disposable Medical Technology Act of 2015 would:

(1) Require Medicare to pay for durable medical technology (DMT) that otherwise would be covered as DME but for the fact that it is not durable;

(2) Set DMT payment at 95% of the payment amount for the analogous DME product. While this proposal is awaiting a CBO score, it will likely cost the government less when lower-cost, disposable technology supplants more expensive, traditional DME products.

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