Last Chance for Patient Choice: Get on the Bus

Las Vegas

After its January protest outside Rep. Bill Thomas’ office, Last Chance for Patient Choice is planning another rally, this time in Washington, D.C. — and this time much bigger.

“We hope to get about 300 to 800 beneficiaries from the Greater D.C. area — Maryland, Virginia and the New England states — and bring them in so that they have a chance to state their case,” said LCPC’s John Gallagher, vice president of government relations. Formed by The VGM Group, Waterloo, Iowa, LCPC plans to file a lawsuit against DME competitive bidding provisions in the Medicare Modernization Act when CMS releases the 10 cities where it plans to start the program.

Now the group is gearing up for a May 24 rally in Washington to focus Congress’ attention on “the onerous HME provisions of the MMA” and “the draconian oxygen cap” in the DRA, according to a flier.

“The area we chose is right in back of the Capitol steps near the reflecting pond. More importantly, it’s right across the street from [the Department of Health and Human Services],” said Gallagher.

“We want the secretary to be able to look out of his window and see these beneficiaries out there and understand that it’s about the service that these patients receive and the fact that they are talking about taking away patient choice. They are talking about a cost shift in Medicare and Medicaid, and we’re trying to educate the members of Congress about that.”