NFIB Endorses Competitive Bidding Rural Relief Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 19, 2016)—The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) has released a letter of support for S. 2736, the Patient Access to Durable Medical Equipment Act of 2016. NFIB is an influential advocacy group representing 325,000 small and independent business owners nationwide, and their endorsements carry significant weight on Capitol Hill.

Their letter cites the high proportion of home medical equipment providers that are small businesses, and the high level of service these companies provide to their patients:

Small businesses provide specialized services to beneficiaries and their presence is critical to ensuring that healthcare services remain accessible in their communities, especially in rural areas. According to CMS, approximately 85 percent of registered DMEPOS suppliers are small businesses. Small suppliers typically know their customers personally, are familiar with their unique needs, and often go out of their way to assure that those needs are being addressed. The next round of competitive bidding program cuts threaten the viability of these small businesses.

NFIB concludes by describing the Senate legislation as “critical to providing the certainty necessary for America’s small suppliers and providers to continue to meet the needs of the communities who depend on their services.” The full letter can be found here.

Don Jones, president of Southern Medical Equipment Corp. and director of federal affairs for the Alabama Durable Medical Equipment Dealers Association, deserves special recognition for his leadership role in securing NFIB’s support.

Spread the news on Capitol Hill—we need your help to leverage and amplify the power of this important endorsement! Use NFIB’s letter as a fresh opportunity to touch base about competitive bidding legislation with your Senators and Representative this week. In addition, if you are an NFIB member, please contact your state chapter to ask that they consider sending a similar endorsement to your state’s Congressional delegation.

Visit aahomecare.org for more information.