PAOC expiration strips HME of voice on bidding issues, says AAHomecare

The HME sector is losing its only public sounding board for discussing concerns about Medicare’s vast expansion of the Competitive Bidding Program, says the American Association for Homecare.

The Program Advisory and Oversight Committee (PAOC) expired on Dec. 31, 2011. The committee was created by the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 to provide advice on the bidding program.

Meanwhile, Round 2 of competitive bidding is now being implemented in 91 metropolitan areas, and it makes sense to keep PAOC in operation at least until bid rates are announced, says Walter Gorski, vice president of governmental affairs for AAHomecare. Gorski, a PAOC member representing the HME industry, has asked CMS to preserve the committee until then.