Walking into Capitol Hill with Scott Holzberg, our VP of Sales, I could feel the weight of what we were there to do. This wasn’t just another conference or networking event — it was an urgent opportunity to represent the voices of patients, suppliers, and partners who make home-based care possible every day.
We met with the offices of Senator Andy Kim, Senator Cory Booker, and Representative Ayanna Pressley. Our message was simple: the future of healthcare depends on protecting and strengthening home medical equipment (HME) access. But as the conversations unfolded, I realized just how much is at stake — and how aligned we are with the momentum building on the Hill.
Reimbursement Reform: The Heart of the Conversation
The clearest theme running through all our meetings was the strong advocacy around H.R. 2005, the DMEPOS Relief Act of 2025. The bill proposes to extend the 75/25 blended Medicare reimbursement rate — a financial lifeline for DME suppliers across the country.
When the temporary blended rate expired in January 2024, it resulted in a staggering 20% reduction across the most-used HCPCS codes. That’s not just a spreadsheet problem. It’s a crisis that hits the frontline of care delivery.
A nationwide survey showed just how dire the situation is:
- 93.5% of HME suppliers had to make changes because of the cuts
- 53% laid off staff
- 65% reduced the types or amounts of products they could offer
- Over 1 in 10 are actively planning to shut down operations altogether
One story still sticks with me:
“I’ve personally loaned my business $30,000 to stay afloat. There’s no guarantee I’ll be able to pay myself back — but if I close, our entire county loses access to DME.”
This was on my mind during every meeting. Without sustainable reimbursement, patients will lose access, and our fragile infrastructure could collapse.
The Power of Home: A Message That Resonates
What struck me most during our visits was how much legislators understand and support the idea of care at home. Nearly every conversation reflected back a deep recognition that patients want — and benefit from — staying in their homes.
Statistics back it up. A whopping 77% of adults over 50 want to age in place. The cost savings are compelling too — with nursing home care topping out at $116,800/year, while homecare alternatives average $75,504/year. More importantly, we’re talking about improved outcomes, greater independence, and dignity for patients.
This is the kind of story their constituents understand. Everyone has a parent, a neighbor, someone who wants to stay home.
Critical Therapy Access at Risk
Beyond reimbursement, we also discussed proposed changes to CMS policies on non-invasive ventilation (NIV) therapy. Under the new guidelines, patients could be required to undergo repeat arterial blood gas (ABG) testing to maintain eligibility.
For a generally very sick population, these added hurdles are more than inconvenient — they’re dangerous.
Clinical care needs to be accessible, not a series of bureaucratic obstacles. The people we’re talking about don’t have the time — or the health — to jump through these hoops.
Synthpop’s Role: Advocacy Backed by Innovation
Being in D.C. reminded me that advocacy isn’t just about speaking up — it’s about showing up with solutions. At Synthpop, we don’t just understand these problems; we’ve built AI tools to solve them.
- Our Conversational Agent handles both patient- and payor-facing calls, automating eligibility verification, appointment scheduling, and even technical support, providing immediate customer communication, and reducing the time from diagnosis to receiving treatment.
- Our Intake Agent reduces the burden of healthcare administrative tasks related to order processing, making it easier to qualify patients for coverage and move quickly through documentation.
That’s what I shared in every conversation. We’re not waiting for the system to change — we’re building technology that helps our customers scale despite the obstacles.
And yet, we know policy matters. Without fair reimbursement, no amount of automation can save a supplier from shutting down, nor can it replace an RT or a nurse. That’s why Synthpop is committed to both innovation and advocacy.
What’s Next: Collaboration, Not Just Conferences
We didn’t meet to just discuss problems - we worked on a path forward. Advocating for policies like H.R. 2005, pushing for common-sense coverage standards, and building the digital infrastructure to support better care delivery — all of these are pieces of the same puzzle.
Here are my biggest takeaways from our time in D.C.:
- Support for H.R. 2005 is strong — but we need to keep the pressure on.
- Legislators are aligned with the value of homecare — let’s give them the data and stories to stay committed.
- Coverage criteria must reflect patient realities, not just policy ideals.
- Digital transformation, including ePrescribe, is overdue and actionable.
Final Thoughts: From the Hill to Home
As an Account Executive, I’m usually focused on how we support our customers — streamlining workflows, improving throughput, and helping them serve more patients. But this experience reminded me that behind every workflow is a human story.
Our work at Synthpop is about more than automation. It’s about making healthcare more sustainable, more humane, and more accessible. That’s true whether we’re talking to a customer or a congressional staffer.
I’m proud to have been a voice for our industry on the Hill. But more importantly, I’m energized to keep that momentum going — with our team, our partners, and our customers.
Let’s keep pushing forward.
Want to learn more about how Synthpop supports HME advocacy and innovation?
Visit www.synthpop.ai or reach out directly — we’d love to hear your story.
