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Beyond the Shutdown and The Proposed Rule: Key Legislative Updates for the HME Industry

Published in VGM Government Relations on November 17, 2025

While the government shutdown and uncertainty surrounding CMS’s Proposed Rule have dominated headlines, several important bills impacting HME providers continue to advance. Here’s a quick look at three focused legislative priorities:

H.R. 2005/S. 2951 – DMEPOS Relief Act of 2025 

This bipartisan legislation seeks to extend the 75/25 blended Medicare reimbursement rate for durable medical equipment in non-rural, non-competitive bidding areas through Dec. 31, 2025.  

The House bill, introduced by Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) currently has 24 co-sponsors with Rep. Mark Messmer (R-IN) signing on Nov. 12, 2025.   

Beyond the Shutdown and The Proposed Rule Key Legislative Updates for the HME Industry

Its Senate companion is led by co-sponsors Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) with Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and stakeholders continue to advocate for additional support.  

Beyond the Shutdown and The Proposed Rule Key Legislative Updates for the HME Industry

Both bills have bipartisan support and have been referred to their respective committees. We are urging providers to contact lawmakers in both chambers to support this legislation.   

H.R. 1703/S. 247 – Choices for Increased Mobility Act of 2025 

This legislation addresses access to advanced wheelchair technology under Medicare. It directs CMS to create new billing codes for ultralightweight manual wheelchairs, including those made with titanium or carbon fiber. The goal is to allow beneficiaries to upgrade without bearing the full out-of-pocket cost, improving mobility options without increasing Medicare spending.  

Introduced by Rep. John Joyce (R-PA) in the House, H.R. 1703 currently has nine co-sponsors with Rep. Laura Gillen (D-NY) being the latest on Oct. 17, 2025.  

On the Senate side, Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) have introduced the bill, and we are continuing work to garner additional co-sponsors.   

Both bills have bipartisan support and are seen as a significant step toward enhancing choice and independence for individuals with mobility challenges.  

H.R. 4206/S. 1261 – CONNECT for Health Act of 2025 

Although pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities were extended until Jan. 30, 2026, in the CR that reopened the government, the CONNECT Act seeks to make many of these provisions permanent. The bill removes geographic and originating site restrictions, expands eligible provider types, and eliminates the six-month in-person requirement for telemental health services.  

S. 1261 has strong bipartisan backing in the Senate with 66 Senate co-sponsors. Most recently, Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) and Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC) signed on Sept. 30, 2025.  

We are also seeing growing House support with 141 co-sponsors with 21 new co-sponsors in the month of November alone.  

This legislation would significantly expand access to telehealth for Medicare beneficiaries, ensuring continuity of care and modernizing healthcare delivery.  

Why It Matters: These bills represent critical efforts to improve reimbursement stability, enhance patient choice, and expand access to care. While broader policy debates such as the expected release of CMS’s Final Rule continue, these targeted pieces of legislation continue to deserve attention and advocacy from all stakeholders across the HME community.  

As always, if you have questions on how to get involved, advocate with your legislator, or have questions about any legislation that affects the HME industry, VGM Group is here to help in any way, and we will keep you up to date with any developments.  

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