Hobson-Tanner Companion Bill Introduced in Senate

WASHINGTON–Sens. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and Kent Conrad, D-N.D.,
have introduced a companion to the Hobson-Tanner bill in the
Senate.

The bill, the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment Access Act (S.
3920), would help ease the effects of Medicare DME competitive
bidding for small providers. The text of the bill is identical to
that of the Hobson-Tanner bill (H.R. 3559), which has gathered 145
co-sponsors in the House since it was introduced last summer (see
HomeCare, September 2005).

In his introductory comments, Hatch said the bill is important
to preserve access to home care in rural areas and allow small
businesses to participate in Medicare.

“Any provider not awarded a contract would be prohibited from
participating in Medicare for up to three years,” Hatch said. “This
bill would allow applicable small businesses that did not receive a
contract to continue to provide durable medical equipment in
Medicare at the competitive acquisition bid rate.”

Hatch said that conversations with home care providers in Utah,
who expressed concerns about their ability to stay in business and
continue to provide customers with a high quality of service,
helped convince him to co-sponsor the legislation. “I strongly urge
my colleagues to talk to their constituents back home who own small
durable medical equipment companies,” he said. “I urge my
colleagues to co-sponsor this legislation so that Medicare
beneficiaries will continue to receive quality care at affordable
prices for their medical supplies.”

Conrad also said he was responding to concerns he had heard from
seniors and suppliers in North Dakota. “These provisions are small
steps, but they will ensure that beneficiaries in rural areas have
access to the medical equipment they need.

“While we should pursue options for making the Medicare program
more efficient, we must also protect access to care,” he continued.
“I believe this bill achieves the appropriate balance between these
two goals.”

One of the Utah providers who worked with Hatch on the bill, Jay
Broadbent, president of Salt Lake City-based Alpine Home Medical,
said he was excited about the introduction of the companion
legislation. “Senator Hatch has always been a friend to the home
health industry,” he said. “He has a sound understanding of how
home medical equipment is part of the solution to the nation’s
health care problems.”

To read the text of the bill, visit http://thomas.loc.gov.