AMEPA Celebrates First Anniversary

>MIAMI — The Accredited Medical Equipment Providers of
America celebrated its first anniversary on Friday. It was on
April 10, 2008, that “over 150 providers, manufacturers and
industry representatives met at the Fort Lauderdale Sheraton to
work together to stop competitive bidding from beginning July 1,”
said Rob Brant, AMEPA president, in marking the association’s
birthday. A year hence, he noted, once again “the interim final
rule of competitive bidding is upon us.”

But the association has come a long way, Brant said. “Last March
at AAHomecare’s Fly-in, only five providers from Florida and Texas
were represented. Recently, 21 providers from Florida and Texas
traveled to Washington to meet legislators and inform them that the
interim final rule will still harm patients and communities.”