Last Chance for Patient Choice Plans Congressional ‘Marathon’

WATERLOO, Iowa–Last Chance for Patient Choice will sponsor a
series of visits at congressional offices around the country this
summer.

Last Chance is working with state associations and independent
providers to set up the Meet and Greet Congressional Marathon, July
28 through Aug. 7, and is encouraging participants to bring oxygen
patients and Medicare beneficiaries with them. The organization
also will provide informational packets for elected officials and
fact sheets to be distributed to local media.

“Last Chance believes that if representatives and senators truly
understand the devastating effects the oxygen cap and selective
contracting, a.k.a. competitive bidding, will have on patients,
they will be shocked, and head back to Capitol Hill to make things
right,” said John Gallagher, vice president of Last Chance.

Last Chance was formed by The VGM Group to fight competitive
bidding and other health care legislation that affects the HME
industry. The organization’s goals for the marathon, according to
Gallagher, include:

• introducing elected officials to real users of HME;
• educating elected officials about HME;
• gaining additional support for H.R. 3559 (the Hobson-Tanner
  Bill, which would soften the blow of Medicare DME competitive
  bidding for small providers) and a Senate companion bill;
• gathering support for H.R. 5513, which would remove the oxygen
  capped rental provision from the Deficit Reduction Act; and
• raising support for Last Chance’s Oxygen Patients’ Bill of
  Rights.

For more information, contact Gallagher at (800) 642-6065 or
visit www.lastchanceforpatients.org.