Monday, July 29, 2013
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Earlier this year AAHomecare engaged the law firm of Hooper, Lundy & Bookman P.C. to analyze the merits of challenging CMS with respect to the national competitive bidding program for durable medical equipment. The goal of this challenge is to stop the current bidding program so that H.R. 1717, the Medicare DMEPOS Market Pricing Program Act of 2013, can be enacted.
In addition to its ongoing legislative efforts, AAHomecare decided to file a complaint seeking a preliminary injunction/temporary restraining order against CMS, found here. AAHomecare is totally committed to stopping bidding since it is convinced the program is fundamentally flawed.
On behalf of the homecare community the association is committing considerable resources to legal challenge and it is expected to cost in excess of $180,000—but it needs your help. Without support from the industry in this effort, AAHomecare’s resources face depletion, which could well jeopardize its ability to confront battles on Capitol Hill later this year and throughout 2014.
The association is asking you to make a contribution to the “STOP Competitive Bidding Fund” to help AAHomecare pay the legal costs of its litigation to challenge the bidding program. It is reaching out to every company and organization in the industry in order to spread this large burden across the entire homecare community. Your kind support and payment to the fund will allow the association to meet its current expenses and be better prepared for the next challenge. It hopes you will make a significant contribution based on the resources of your company or organization.
Every company and group that makes a contribution of $200 or more will appear, if it so chooses, on the AAHomecare List of Donors for the “STOP Competitive Bidding Fund,” which it will publicize on its website, in other communications of AAHomecare, in industry media and at industry events such as Medtrade throughout 2013. The list of donors so far includes:
• Barnes Healthcare Services, Robert Steedley
• Brown & Fortunato, P.C.
• First Choice Medical, David Warren
• Home Medical Express, Phil Kerr
• Invacare Corporation, Mal Mixon
• MK Battery, Wayne Merdinger
• PhilCare Home Medical Equipment, Inc., Philip Serratore, Jr.
• Respicare of Central Florida, Larry Thompson
• Smith & Nephew–Wound Management Division, Randall Carson
• The MED Group, Wayne Grau
• Vistacare Health Services, Inc., Tom Webb
Details about how to make a contribution and the different levels of support are provided on the contribution form. Click here for the contribution form. If you need further information, please contact either Tyler Wilson, AAHomecare president, at tylerw@aahomecare.org or Robert Steedley, AAHomecare board of directors chairman, at robert@barneshc.com. Also visit www.aahomecare.org.
