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.