It’s Vegas, Baby! Medtrade Spring Opens Tomorrow

LAS VEGAS—With more than 250 exhibitors and 70 educational
sessions, Medtrade Spring organizers say this
year’s show, Tuesday through Thursday at the Las Vegas Convention
Center, includes a number of opportunities both for networking
and for gaining the latest information on the slew of changes
affecting the industry.

One of the most controversial among those changes is the
36-month cap on home oxygen and related post-cap payment rules,
which will be addressed in an expanded “Washington Update” session
from the American Association for
Homecare.

After working for the past 45 days to build consensus on an
oxygen reform plan that would eliminate the cap and exclude oxygen
from competitive bidding, the association will outline a draft
plan, including a new payment methodology, that will be proposed to
Congress. (See story this issue.)

At this important session, to be held Wednesday at 2 pm in Room
N261, you can learn more about the plan, what it could mean to
Medicare’s oxygen benefit–and give your input.

Other show highlights:

–Don’t miss the fourth annual Stand Up for Homecare reception
Tuesday from 5:30-7 pm at the Las Vegas Hilton. Hosted by
AAHomecare, the event will raise funds to maintain a public
awareness campaign promoting the mission of home care.

–Enjoy a beverage, games and network with peers at Medtrade
Madness, Wednesday afternoon on the show floor from 4-5 pm.

–Join the DME MACs on Thursday morning from 9:45-10:45 am for
an hour of Medicare updates. Staff from each of the four MACs, the
NSC (National Supplier Clearinghouse), the CEDI (Common Electronic
Data Interchange) and the CBIC (Competitive Bidding Implementation
Contractor) will also be available to provide information and
address questions during the show at Booth 932.

–Check out the industry’s latest products at the New
Product Pavilion, sponsored by HomeCare. The Pavilion will
be open during exhibition hours on the show floor from 11 am-5 pm
Wednesday and 11 am-3 pm Thursday.

While you’re at the show, stop by to see HomeCare
in Booth 635 and sign up for a free subscription.

For more information about Medtrade Spring and Medtrade 2009,
visit www.medtrade.com.

In related show news, Medtrade and AAHomecare announced
they have embarked on a new agreement to benefit the HME industry’s
support programs.

Nielsen Business Media,
producers of Medtrade and Medtrade Spring, and AAHomecare announced
Friday they have signed a new 15-year contract that enhances a
current agreement between the two entities first implemented in
1988. Effective next year, the agreement guarantees substantial
monetary support to the association’s advocacy programs.

“We worked with AAHomecare’s board of directors and
leadership team to ensure the long-term agreement … offers
continued support of the association and its critical involvement
in the home medical equipment industry,” said Joe Randall,
senior vice president, Nielsen Business Media. “We are
confident the new agreement that has been created will accomplish
these goals.”

According to AAHomecare President and CEO Tyler Wilson,
“These are challenging times for the HME sector, and this
important agreement with Medtrade will strengthen the association
financially and provide us with another source of revenue in
addition to dues from members. That means we can devote more
resources to government affairs advocacy for HME providers to
ensure better HME policies that will strengthen home care for the
millions of Americans who depend on it.”

Under the agreement, AAHomecare will take on an expanded role in
advising Nielsen on issues surrounding the industry. “Our
goal is to have more stakeholders in the HME sector participating
in the Medtrade shows as both exhibitors and attendees. Medtrade is
a great venue for manufacturers to meet with customers and for
providers to get the latest in industry education,” Wilson
said.