Competitive bidding makes comeback
By HME News Staff
Updated Wed April 1, 2009
PITTSBURGH and CLEVELAND - Industry advocacy efforts surrounding national competitive bidding heat up this month.
With Medicare's competitive bidding rule going into effect April 18, at least two state associations have scheduled events to raise awareness among lawmakers about the flawed program.
The Pennsylvania Association of Medical Equipment Suppliers (PAMS), in conjunction with the Western Pennsylvania Home Medical Equipment Providers Council, will hold an “HME Survival Summit” on April 6. At the summit, patients, providers and members of Congress will discuss the negative impacts of competitive bidding. PAMS expects U.S. Reps. Jason Altmire, D-Pa., and Tim Murphy, D-Pa., to attend. It also expects staff from the offices of U.S. Sens. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., and Robert Casey, D-Pa. For more info, visit www.pamsonline.org.
The following week, the Ohio Association of Medical Equipment Services (OAMES) will host public forums in Cincinnati (April 15) and Cleveland (April 16). At the forums, titled “Medicare DME Competitive Bidding 'Reality Check,'” participants will discuss the effects of the program's failed first round. For more info, visit www.oames.org.
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