Illinois Group Plans Electronic Lobby of Budget Reconciliation Bill

GLENVIEW, Ill.–The Illinois HomeCare Council (IHCC) has
scheduled a Virtual Lobby Day on Wednesday to educate legislators
about negative home care provisions in the 2006 federal budget
reconciliation bill.

S. 1932, which is currently scheduled for a House vote on Feb.
1, would cap oxygen rentals at 36 months (see HomeCare
Monday, Jan. 17) and cap rentals of most other DME,
excluding power wheelchairs, at 13 months. The measure already has
been approved by the Senate.

IHCC’s Legislative Affairs Committee is encouraging all
stakeholders in the state to contact their members of Congress
electronically on Wednesday. According to IHCC, the idea is to
contact legislators shortly before they return to Washington so the
issue will be fresh on their minds. Congress reconvenes Jan.
31.

“Our goal is 1,500 letters,” said Debbie Trueblood Witt,
government relations manager for IHCC. According to Witt, IHCC
generated more than 1,000 letters on a previous virtual lobby
day.

“Virtual Lobby Day is a way for all IHCC members to participate
in grass roots advocacy in Washington, D.C., without ever leaving
their desks,” a notice from the association reads. “Members can go
online and send form letters to their legislators advocating to
oppose the federal budget bill and the harmful provisions to both
home health and DME/HME.”

The event also is intended to encourage providers to contact
their state representatives in Springfield to support HB 4223, a
bill that would provide a phased-in rate increase under home health
Medicaid reimbursement.