HME Needs You

Considering still-fresh reimbursement cuts, new mobility regs, reduced respiratory drug dispensing fees and Congress’ unexpected, last-minute action involving capped rental, it could be pretty easy to feel like Don Quixote tilting at windmills. And all of this on top of the as-yet-unknown impact of competitive bidding.

In a recent conversation, HomeCare columnist Shelly Prial said he appreciates the fear providers have about what might lie ahead. “I am not making light of the changes, the cuts or competitive bidding,” he stated, “but these are insufficient reasons to give up.”

The brave among HME’s stakeholders agree and, no matter how disheartening the circumstances, simply refuse to quit fighting.

The VGM Group has renewed its efforts to stop competitive bidding. Led by CEO Van Miller, the buying group plans to file a federal lawsuit that would strike sections of the Medicare Modernization Act, which mandates the DME bidding program. At the same time, the group is preparing a full-force appeal to all members of Congress along with a campaign in key congressional districts to educate voters about what’s happening.

VGM has formed a non-profit organization called Last Chance for Patients Choice and is working with other like-minded groups to finance the litigation. Miller acknowledges the effort is a long shot. But what seems the crazy thing is not trying to prevent the serious damage that competitive bidding could cause this industry and its patients.

The American Association for Homecare and its members are rallying behind H.R. 3559, the Hobson-Tanner bill. While it won’t stop competitive bidding, the legislation would certainly soften its blow, particularly for small HMEs, and would ensure beneficiary access to quality equipment and services. Before Christmas, the bill had picked up 55 co-sponsors in the House, but many more are needed to secure a companion bill in the Senate. Pride Mobility has put Wayne Grau, the company’s New England area senior manager, on the case full-time, and he is traveling the country to muster help from all corners.

The National Coalition for Assistive and Rehab Technology continues its diligent drive to get rehab “carved out” of competitive bidding. And many of the industry’s largest manufacturers are toiling hard behind the scenes to inform both legislators and regulators about the consequences of the impending bid program.

All of these efforts — and HME — need you. Is it worth the fight to defend your patients, your employees and your livelihood? Durn tootin’!

Here are some actions you can take to protect your business now:

• Back VGM and its campaign. Call the organization at 800/642-6065 to check out Last Chance for Patients Choice.
• Get on board with support for the Hobson-Tanner bill, and call your customers, friends and business associates about it, too. Visit AAHomecare at www.aahomecare.org for information, and contact Wayne Grau at 800/800-8586 about how you can help.
• Be prepared. Look at your own operations realistically as 2007 approaches. Will you be able to continue to serve your patients and make a reasonable profit? Read the advice from some of HME’s leading consultants about surviving the post-MMA world in this issue’s “Countdown to Change.”
• If you need a pep talk, call Shelly Prial at 321/255-3885. In our discussion, Shelly, a robust 79, told me, “If I were 30 years younger, I would show providers how successful they can be!”

Competitive bidding is slated to begin in only a matter of months. 2006 is definitely not the year to lay down your sword.