NRRTS, NCART Head to the Hill

WASHINTGON–The National Registry of Rehabilitation Technology
Suppliers and the National Coalition for Assistive and Rehab
Technology are headed to Capitol Hill this week to ask Congress to
exempt complex rehab from national competitive bidding.

“The message is clear,” said Simon Margolis, executive
director of NRRTS. “We need the support of every member of Congress
to assure that consumers continue to get the quality rehab products
and services they require.”

The Hill visits are part of CELA 08, a combined educational and
legislative advocacy event that will bring over 120 suppliers,
therapists, manufacturers and consumers to Washington to push for
support of H.R. 2231, which would carve out complex rehab from the
DMEPOS bidding program.

Introduced in May 2007 by Reps. Tom Allen, D-Maine, and Ron
Lewis, R-Ky., the bill is in a holding pattern with 37 cosponsors
and no Senate companion.

To kick off “Complex Rehab Carve-Out Week,” the
groups are sponsoring a Tuesday call-in directed at members of
Congress who sit on the committees that impact Medicare
legislation.

“We strongly urge all suppliers, referral sources, manufacturers
and consumers to call their senators and congresspersons on Tuesday
[April 22],” said Paul Bergantino of Assistive Technology
Group, who is coordinating the event for NCART. He noted there will
be a kick-off conference call on Tuesday morning to rally support
for the call-in.

Flanked by educational sessions on Wednesday and Friday, the
congressional meetings are scheduled on Thursday.

“We’re looking forward to a thousand or more calls during
the call-in on April 22 and already have over 120 people scheduled
for Capitol Hill visits on April 24,” Margolis said. “There
is still space available for anyone who wants to join in our
efforts to impact the future of complex rehab and competitive
bidding.”

Information about the call-in is available at www.ncart.us.

Information about CELA 08 is available at www.nrrts.org.