The HME industry made modest progress against competitive bidding last Wednesday at a hearing by the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health.
Witnesses presented the usual arguments for and against the program. As expected, no consensus emerged from the subcommittee on whether Medicare’s Competitive Bidding Program should be modified, replaced or expanded as is.
Alan Dupuis
ride on three other possible congressional actions, said lobbyists speaking at the April 11 AAHomecare Update at Medtrade Spring in Las Vegas.
Possible vehicles for MPP include the impending Supreme Court decision on the Affordable Care Act, expiration of the Bush tax cuts and updating the physician payment formula, or so-called “doc fix.”
By Shelly Prial
I find it exciting to look back to the very first Medtrade show. It happened about 35 years ago in Atlanta, and it still feels like yesterday.
The Supreme Court’s expected decision on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 could have a big impact on the home medical equipment industry, the American Association for Homecare reported last week.
Stand Up for Homecare, the American Association for Homecare’s signature event at Medtrade Spring, is set for Tuesday, April 10, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Venetian Hotel, Delfino Room 4005-4006, Las Vegas, Nev.
AAHomecare says the event offers industry leaders an opportunity to network and support efforts to deliver positive impressions about the HME sector in the media and on Capitol Hill.
AAHomecare widely circulated a news release Thursday citing Medicare beneficiary difficulties accessing home medical equipment because of the Competitive Bidding Program. Released through PRNewswire, the article focused on nine metropolitan areas included in Round 1 of the Medicare bidding program, and said complaints from beneficiaries were widespread. “Some patients now need to travel long distances for prescribed equipment and repairs,” the article said.
Officials from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on Wednesday, March 14, will brief staff of members of the House Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means Committees on the Competitive Bidding Program, according to the American Association for Homecare.
Julie Driver has joined the American Association for Homecare staff as senior manager of marketing and communications. She brings 10 years of experience in the private, government and academic sectors. She recently served as program manager of the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program at the Peace Corps and also managed the marketing department for Arizona Instrument.
Senate staff members are scheduled for an update next week on Medicare’s controversial Competitive Bidding Program.
Officials from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will brief U.S. Senate staffers on Rounds 1 and 2 of the program at 2 p.m., Wednesday, March 14, in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room SD-430.
The American Association for Homecare is urging HME providers to alert their senators about the importance of this briefing.
The American Association for Homecare last week urged providers to continue to push for the Market Pricing Program (MPP).
“Make sure your members of Congress are aware of the dangerous problems created by the competitive bidding program,’’ the association said in a release. “More than 30 disability and consumer groups, 244 economists, and 166 Representatives in the House oppose the bidding program.”
The HME industry suffered a setback last week when Congress reached a quick and unexpected agreement on the so-called “doc fix” bill. HME advocates had hoped to attach a replacement for competitive bidding on the measure, but it moved forward without the replacement, the Market Pricing Program (MPP).
The American Association for Homecare last week urged congressional negotiators to include the Market Pricing Program (MPP) in “doc fix” legislation.
In letters to each member of the House-Senate conference committee working on the legislation, AAHomecare President Tyler Wilson called for the measure to replace competitive bidding.
The American Association for Homecare has told members that it will eliminate the registration fee for the Feb. 15-16 Washington Legislative Conference. AAHomecare is also subsidizing registration for non-members by charging only $100.
The American Association for Homecare reported last week that an analysis of data from Round 1 of the Competitive Bidding Program showed a sharp decline in claims for HME products in bidding areas. Data also showed a significant risk of death and hospitalization among Medicare beneficiaries not getting necessary home medical equipment.
The American Association for Homecare reported late last week that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) had agreed that durable medical equipment Medicare administrative contractors (DME MACs) will change how oxygen claims are reviewed in audits.
AAHomecare said CMS addressed several concerns with the oxygen auditing process after meetings with the association and other stakeholder organizations.