Budget Reconciliation Bill Vote Set for Feb. 1

WASHINGTON–Providers have until the end of the month to lobby
against legislation that would cap oxygen rentals at 36 months.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., has tentatively scheduled
a Feb. 1 vote for the 2006 federal budget reconciliation bill,
which contains capped rental provisions for oxygen as well as other
DME (see
HomeCare Monday, Jan. 9). The bill contains $39.7
billion in spending reductions, with $6.4 billion in savings from
Medicare and $4.8 billion from Medicaid over five years.

Since Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Calif., unexpectedly inserted the
oxygen capped rental provision into the bill on Dec. 18, providers
have been fighting back, using the winter recess to contact
legislators about its consequences. HME advocates point out that if
the titles for oxygen equipment are transferred to beneficiaries
after 36 months, providers will no longer have the ability to
service and maintain that equipment, and patients who may not be
able to care for their own equipment could be put in danger.

The Senate voted 51-50 to approve the budget reconciliation bill
on Dec. 21. Although the House had approved it with the capped
rental provision intact a few days prior, it must vote on the
measure again because of modifications that were made by the
Senate. According to CongressDaily, House Republicans are
expected to “narrowly approve” the bill again.

But the HME industry has not given up. Shawn M. Steffey, a
respiratory therapist with Respiratory Care Associates, Winchester,
Va., said the company sent more than 400 letters to beneficiaries
regarding the measure, the American Association for Homecare
reported. As a result, “we are receiving three to five calls per
hour from patients either asking for more information about what to
say to their congressman or to tell us that they have called,”
Steffey told AAHomecare.

“I am estimating that at least 50 to 75 of our patients have
called their congressman in the past three days. Imagine the result
if every member did the same thing. I truly believe that if we can
defeat this bill, it will only be through the voices of our
patients.”

Opposition to the budget bill also may be boosted by AARP, which
doesn’t like provisions that would make it more difficult for
seniors to transfer assets in order to be eligible for nursing home
benefits under Medicaid. In response, the 36 million-member
association is rolling out ad campaigns against the measure.

To view the text of the budget bill, also known as S. 1932,
visit http://thomas.loc.gov.

For sample letters to Congress and other tips for taking action,
visit www.aahomecare.org or
www.vgm.com.

To find your members of Congress, click here.