U.S. Representatives Joe Courtney (D-CT), Glenn Thompson (R-PA), and Suzan DelBene (D-WA) transmitted a letter on May 1 to the House Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees funding for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) requesting the inclusion of language in the FY25 House appropriations bill asking the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide detailed data regarding the usage of skilled nursing services during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.

The intent of the letter is to gain a better understanding of the potential impact of passing the Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act (H.R.5138 / S.4137), which would apply all days spent in the hospital toward the three-day qualifying hospital stay requirement for SNF coverage under Medicare, a policy that was waived during the COVID-19 PHE. LeadingAge strongly supports this bill and has worked closely with Rep. Courtney and his Congressional colleagues to advance this legislation in both the House and Senate.