And Gingrey Makes 150

WASHINGTON — AAHomecare’s Washington Legislative
Conference got off to a good start Monday night when, at a welcome
reception for members, Rep. Phil Gingrey, R-Ga., announced he would
be signing on to H. R. 3790 “first thing” Tuesday morning.

That brings the cosponsor count for the bill, which would repeal
the national competitive
bidding program, to 150.

On Friday, Reps. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., and Allen Boyd Jr., D-Fla,
had added their signatures to the bill.

Introduced by Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Fla., the bill
would give Congress the same savings projected from the DMEPOS
bidding program, offering instead a series of minor reimbursement
cuts and a Consumer Price Index freeze as a “pay for.”

Some 300 industry stakeholders are in the nation’s capital this
week visiting legislators to push for its support.

“We’ve got to get this done,” said provider Rob Brant of City
Medical Services, Miami, and president of the Accredited Medical
Equipment Providers of America. “CMS is going to announce the
[Round 1] pricing in June, and contract winners in September.”

View a list of cosponsors for H.R. 3790.