NEMED Speaks Out at Vermont Health Care Summit

BURLINGTON, Vt.—The New England Medical Equipment Dealers
Association earned a place in the spotlight at the second
regional health care reform summit sponsored by the Obama
administration last week.

Moderated by Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas, Massachusetts Gov. Deval
Patrick and Nancy-Ann Min DeParle, newly appointed director of the
White House Office for Health Reform, the event drew some 400
people. It is one of five being held around the country. The first
was held in Detroit and others are yet to come in Iowa (today),
North Carolina (March 31) and California (April 6).

NEMED sent a delegation of three: Karyn Estrella, executive
director, Gary Sheehan of Cape Medical Supplies in
Sandwich, Mass., and Bob Simmons from Boston Home Infusion.

Sheehan was the first person chosen to speak, Estrella said.
“He did a great job talking about the value of home care and
the challenges of being a small business. His comments were well
received,” she said, adding that both governors and DeParle
referred to Sheehan’s statements and concerns several times
during the meeting.

In additon to addressing the moderators, NEMED also drafted a
statement that Estrella delivered to DeParle. The statement called
for an “honest assement of all health care delivery models
that are available” and made a case for HME as a
cost-efficient model for health care.

“Oxygen can be provided to a chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease patient who lives at home for one full year at less than
the average Medicare cost for one day in the hospital, which is
$3,606,” the association noted. “The average Medicare
payment for stationary and portable oxygen equipment is
approximately $230 per month, or less than $8 a day.”

NEMED also asked three questions in the letter:

1) Does the administration recognize the value home care
provides?

2) What role will home medical equipment/home care and the
millions of people served by our critical services play in the
coming wave of health care reform?

3) What will the administration do to ensure that the small
businesses and community-based organizations that provide home care
services and equipment will survive and succeed?

Following a White House health summit March 5, Obama called the
regional summits to get public input on health care concerns. The
president has said he wants a health care reform package passed by
the end of the year. For more, see
“State Associations Seek a Say at Health Care
Summits,” March 16.