WASHINTGON--The National Registry of Rehabilitation Technology Suppliers and the National Coalition for Assistive and Rehab Technology are headed to Capitol Hill this week to ask Congress to exempt complex rehab from national competitive bidding.
"The message is clear,” said Simon Margolis, executive director of NRRTS. "We need the support of every member of Congress to assure that consumers continue to get the quality rehab products and services they require.”
The Hill visits are part of CELA 08, a combined educational and legislative advocacy event that will bring over 120 suppliers, therapists, manufacturers and consumers to Washington to push for support of H.R. 2231, which would carve out complex rehab from the DMEPOS bidding program.
Introduced in May 2007 by Reps. Tom Allen, D-Maine, and Ron Lewis, R-Ky., the bill is in a holding pattern with 37 cosponsors and no Senate companion.
To kick off “Complex Rehab Carve-Out Week,” the groups are sponsoring a Tuesday call-in directed at members of Congress who sit on the committees that impact Medicare legislation.
"We strongly urge all suppliers, referral sources, manufacturers and consumers to call their senators and congresspersons on Tuesday [April 22],” said Paul Bergantino of Assistive Technology Group, who is coordinating the event for NCART. He noted there will be a kick-off conference call on Tuesday morning to rally support for the call-in.
Flanked by educational sessions on Wednesday and Friday, the congressional meetings are scheduled on Thursday.
“We're looking forward to a thousand or more calls during the call-in on April 22 and already have over 120 people scheduled for Capitol Hill visits on April 24,” Margolis said. "There is still space available for anyone who wants to join in our efforts to impact the future of complex rehab and competitive bidding.”
Information about the call-in is available at www.ncart.us.
Information about CELA 08 is available at www.nrrts.org.