The Clock Is Running

With more than 10,000 registered lobbyists working the halls of Congress and federal agencies, it’s a challenge to get attention and support for the legislative aims of any business sector. And in a presidential election year, the task is even harder.

So the year will present significant challenges and opportunities. We’ll need every day, including the extra day for leap year in 2012, to advocate for policies that protect patients and providers.

Elections will be conducted for all seats in the House, one-third of the Senate and the White House.

Messages supporting the value of homecare and concerns about Medicare policy must be part of election-year debates and discussions. Candidates’ ears will be finely tuned to constituent concerns in 2012. It will be a great time to speak up at political events and conduct a facility tour to demonstrate the role HME plays in your community’s continuum of care.

In terms of legislative work that gets accomplished, it will be a short year. Election day, Nov. 6, 2012, is still months away, but the political season is in full swing, with primaries and caucuses beginning this month. The impact of the looming elections is apparent in Congress, where most serious legislative work will be shoehorned into a compressed legislative calendar.

Fortunately, the American Association for Homecare has scheduled the 2012 Washington Legislative Conference for Feb. 15-16, which gives attendees an opportunity to press our issues on Capitol Hill early in the session. This conference is the HME sector’s best opportunity to learn about legislative issues that affect your business, and to meet directly with members of Congress or key aides to advocate for policies that protect both your patients’ well-being and your company’s bottom line. While many critical HME legislative priorities are still in flux as we go to press, it’s safe to assume that our sector will still have unfinished business related to Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates, increasingly onerous Medicare audit programs, plans for more pre-authorization requirements in important product categories and other pressing issues.

As we start the new year, it’s worth reviewing a few highlights of American Association for Homecare activities: 
• With expert help, developed a Market Pricing Program as an alternative to the Medicare competitive bidding program for HME that will protect providers and patients.
• Worked with Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.) and Rep. Jason Altmire (D-Pa.) to secure introduction of H.R. 1041, the Fairness in Medicare Bidding Act, which would repeal the competitive bidding program. The legislation has more than 160 cosponsors.
• Documented more than 600 complaints from patients, providers and clinicians about Round One of the bidding program using a professional research firm. Summaries of complaints were reported to Congress, regulators and the media.
• Partnered with mobility stakeholders to propose legislation to creating a separate Medicare category for complex rehab.
• Lobbied Congress to enact key Medicare anti-fraud tools including the new predictive modeling system like that used by credit card companies.
• Engaged CMS and Congress to ease the burden of audits and ensure appropriate oversight of HME contractors.
• Communicated regularly with the media and congressional offices to ensure that journalists and Capitol Hill have accurate information about HME and our key concerns and priorities.
• Coordinated initial activities of the Healthcare at Home Campaign, a broad-based coalition advocating for public policy that supports home-based care.

AAHomecare members see regular reports about these activities. If you’re not a member, we hope you will join and help us produce more public policy gains for HME in 2012. Whether you are part of the association or not, you can help advocate for our sector at the AAHomecare 2012 Washington Legislative Conference Feb. 15 and 16 at the L’Enfant Plaza Hotel. Capitol Hill visits, scheduled by AAHomecare staff, are planned for Feb. 16. Call 202-836-6263 or visit www.aahomecare.org for more information.

HomeCare, January 2012