Policy Corner: October 2, 2020

House Passes Revised Heroes Act

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a revised version of The Heroes Act, H.R. 6800, to provide assistance with regard to COVID-19. Although the $2.2 trillion bill is significantly scaled back, the legislation provides $75 billion for testing, tracing, surveillance, and containment. The House added language requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services to identify specific testing strategies to ensure access to testing for racial and ethnic minority and medically underserved populations. Also included is $2 billion in new funding for critical protective personal and work equipment for essential workers, as well as $28 billion in additional funding for a COVID-19 vaccine.

New provisions were included to address insurance companies declining to cover COVID-19 testing and to allow people to receive Affordable Care Act tax credits if they are on unemployment insurance. Additional funding is also included for state Medicaid programs and $12 billion in funding to schools and libraries for distance learning.

President Signs Stopgap Measure to Fund Federal Government

The president signed a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the federal government through Dec. 11. The measure ensured that government continued Oct. 1, the beginning of the new federal fiscal year. The CR also extended funding for several programs set to expire, including the Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration Program; Community Health Centers; Community Mental Health Services Demonstration Program; and extended protections against impoverishment for the spouses of individuals receiving home and community-based services. These extensions, which were set to expire Sept. 30, have been extended through Dec. 11, 2020.

BIAA Responds to Payment Policies Regarding Physician Fee Schedule

The Brain Injury Association of America joined members of the Coalition to Preserve Rehabilitation on a letter to Seema Verma, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), for purposes of commenting on the Proposed Rule entitled “CY 2021 Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B Payment Policies.” The letter focuses on the CMS proposal to expand certain telehealth services beyond the end of the declared COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, as well as the proposed changes to the Physician Fee Schedule conversion factor and related reimbursement rates, which could have a negative impact on patient access to physician and rehabilitation services. Access to telehealth has been particularly helpful for patients with brain injury to ensure access to care, although it should not come at the expense of in-person care once COVID-19 no longer is an issue.

BIAA gratefully acknowledges the Centre for Neuro Skills and Avanir Pharmaceuticals for their support for legislative action. Click here to read past issues of Policy Corner.