ASCA is planning to introduce the Medicare Beneficiary Co-Pay Fairness Act, a new federal legislation aimed at addressing the co-pay penalty faced by Medicare beneficiaries when seeking care at ASC's. This legislative effort follows extensive discussions with congressional supporters in the 118th Congress and is backed by key sponsors, including Representatives Mike Kelly (PA-16) and Robert Menendez, Jr. (PA-18), and Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).

The upcoming bill, which draws from language used in ASCA's previous Outpatient Surgery Quality and Access Act, seeks to alleviate the financial burden of co-pays for Medicare beneficiaries. ASCA is working to build a coalition of supporting organizations to send letters of support to key committees, including the House Energy & Commerce, Ways & Means, Senate Finance, and HELP committees.

WISCA has joined the coalition and will share information with members to help reach out to your legislators to help grow support.  More details are available on the documents linked below, including a one-pager outlining the co-pay penalty issue.

Medicare Beneficiary Co-Pay Fairness Act Draft.pdf

Issue Brief Copay Cap 2024-12-11.pdf