HOME |  LOGIN |  ADVERTISE |  CONTACT
HME Summit | Editorial Calendar | Media Kit
Back Issues | Manage my account
 
  • Markets
  • General news Blogs Editorial Smart Talk Category Development
    • Video
    • Resources
    • Digital Editions
    • Webcasts
    • Jobs
    • NEWSWIRE
      Industry makes 'incredible' push to delay competitive bidding

      WASHINGTON - --Sens. Max Baucus, D-Mont., and Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, haven't seen eye-to-eye on a Medicare package, but they came together last week to introduce a bi-partisan bill that would delay national competitive bidding.

      S. 3144 mirrors H.R. 6252, a bi-partisan bill introduced earlier this month by Reps. Pete Stark, D-Calif., and Dave Camp, R-Mich. The bills would terminate Round 1 contracts, which are scheduled to take effect July 1, and re-bid them in 18 to 24 months. They would also delay Round 2 until at least 2011.

      "The push we have on this is incredible," said Dan DeSimone, CEO of Continued Care of Long Island in Farmingdale, N.Y., and president of the New York Medical Equipment Providers Association. "A year ago, none of us would have thought this would be happening."

      Between sponsors and co-sponsors, the effort to delay competitive bidding now has support from all the chairs and ranking members in all the committees with jurisdiction over budgetary matters, industry sources pointed out. Baucus and Grassley, for example, are the chairman and ranking member of the Finance Committee.

      Industry stakeholders would like to get S. 3144 attached to a Medicare package that Congress must pass before July 1 to avoid a scheduled cut to physician rates.

      "We have momentum," said Cara Bachenheimer, senior vice president of government relations for Invacare. "Now we just need them to move on the doc-fix bill. In theory, Baucus and Grassley, who are working on the bill, aren't that far away. They went through this last year, so it's not like it's new."

      Next week, if it doesn't look like a Medicare package will get passed, Baucus and Grassley and Stark and Camp may try to get their bills passed as standalone bills, said Seth Johnson, vice president of government affairs for Pride Mobility Products.

      "Stark has enough votes in the House to bring his bill to a vote and get it passed," he said. "The real problem is getting the Baucus and Grassley bill through the Senate in a timely manner. If it doesn't happen before July 1, we don't think CMS or Congress will want to stop the program retroactively."

      There's also a rumor on Capitol Hill that Michael Leavitt, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, will use his administrative authority this week to secure a short-term delay of competitive bidding. The delay would allow disqualified bidders to resubmit information and be reconsidered for the program.

      In the days leading up to July 1, industry stakeholders planned to keep the pressure on members of Congress to delay competitive bidding.

      "We're circling back to the senators who signed the letter to delay competitive bidding to co-sponsor (S. 3144)," said Walt Gorski, AAHomecare's vice president of government affairs. "We're also working with the state associations. We're cutting things extremely close to the wire, so all efforts are aimed at the delay."

      It was still unclear late last week, industry sources said, whether Baucus still seeks to make cuts to home oxygen therapy and power wheelchairs to help prevent the cut to physician rates. Industry stakeholders continue to push Grassley's Medicare package, which doesn't contain the cuts.


      Email to editor | Comments (0)

       
      HME News Info Center
      SOURCE BOOKS
      2010 Technology Special Report
      2009 Complex Rehab Report
      Market takes a pounding p.3... Be upfront p.5...
      HME 2008 State of the Industry
      HME Sleep special report
      CALENDAR

      February 2012
      AAHomecare's upcoming Washington Legislative Conference will include Council meetings, a half day program and a Thursday, Feb. 16 lobby day.

      ACHC will offer a workshop to help HME providers prepare for accreditation Feb. 21 in Georgetown, Ky.
      More information is available here.
      Register by Feb. 15.

      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Pathophysiology: Cerebral Vascular Accident/Stroke (CVA) and Co-Morbidities," led by Barbara Crane, PhD, PT, ATP. 5-7 p.m. Pacific, Feb. 21.
      FMI click here.

      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Dynamic Seating," led by Delia Freney, OTR/L, ATP. 5-7 p.m. Eastern, Feb. 23.
      FMI click here.


      March 2012
      Richmond, VA (Omni). More details to come. www.vadmec.org.

      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Pathophysiology: Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) and Cerebral Palsy (CP)," led by Jill Sparacio, OTR/L, ATP. 5-7 p.m. Pacific, March 20.
      FMI click here.

      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Power Assist Wheels: Clinical Indicators and Documentation for Funding," led by Theresa Berner, MOT, OTR/L, ATP. 5-7 p.m. Eastern, March 22.
      FMI click here.


      April 2012
      Medtrade Spring will be at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas.
      More information is available at http://www.medtrade.com/medtrade-spring/

      At the Hyatt Regency Hotel-Crystal City. More info to come. www.nrrts.org.

      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Pathophysiology: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)," led by Mary Shea, MA, OTR/L, ATP. 5-7 p.m. Pacific, April 17.
      FMI click here.

      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Home Accessibility: From the Front Door to the Upstairs Bath," led by Cynthia Petito, OTR/L, ATP, CAPS. 5-7 p.m. Eastern, April 19.
      FMI click here.


      May 2012
      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Pathophysiology: Duchene’s Muscular Dystrophy and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)," led by Michelle L. Lange, OTR, ABDA, ATP/SMS. 5-7 p.m. Pacific, May 22.
      FMI click here.

      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Positioning vs. Restraint: Appropriate Use and Justification of Secondary Seating Components," led by Michelle L. Lange, OTR, ABDA, ATP/SMS. 5-7 p.m. Eastern, May 24.
      FMI click here.


      June 2012
      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Power Wheelchairs: Using IR Transmission to Control Devices in the Environment," led by Jill Kolczynski, ATP. 5-7 p.m. Eastern, June 21.
      FMI click here.


      July 2012
      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Power Seating Functions: Clinical Indicators for Each," led by Stephanie Tanguay, OTR. 5-7 p.m. Pacific, July 17.
      FMI click here.

      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Access to fun! Recreation for all," led by Mary Carol Peterson, OTR. 5-7 p.m. Eastern, July 19.
      FMI click here.


      August 2012
      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Medical Interventions and Their Relationship to Assistive Technology Intervention: Tone Management, Surgeries and Orthotics," led by Pamela Wilson, MD. 5-7 p.m. Pacific, Aug. 21.
      FMI click here.

      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Seating Considerations for Clients with High Tone," led by Sharon Pratt, PT. 5-7 p.m. Eastern, Aug. 23.
      FMI click here.


      September 2012
      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Power Wheelchairs: Using the Access Method to Control the Computer Mouse," led by Mike Babinec, B.A., B.S., OTR/L, ABDA, ATP. 5-7 p.m. Pacific, Sept. 18.
      FMI click here.

      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Advocacy for All! Consumer Driven Change," led by Ann Eubank, OTR, ATP. 5-7 p.m. Eastern, Sept. 20.
      FMI click here.


      October 2012
      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Getting it right the first time: Measurements," led by Robert Lindholm, ATP. 5-7 p.m. Pacific, Oct. 23.
      FMI click here.

      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Pathophysiology: Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) and Arthrogryposis," led by Michelle L. Lange, OTR, ABDA, ATP/SMS. 5-7 p.m. Eastern, Oct. 25.
      FMI click here.


      November 2012
      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Wheelchairs and Transport," led by Mary Ellen Buning, PhD, OTR/L, ATP. 5-7 p.m. Pacific, Nov. 13.
      FMI click here.

      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Funding: What’s New in the World of Reimbursement?" led by Liz Cole, PT. 5-7 p.m. Eastern, Nov. 15.
      FMI click here.


      December 2012
      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Positioning: Clinical Considerations of Molded Seating," led by Jill Sparacio, OTR/L, ATP. 5-7 p.m. Eastern, Dec. 18.
      FMI click here.

      NRRTS to offer a webinar titled, "Assisted Ambulation: Gait Trainers, Walkers, Crutches and Canes - Clinical Indicators," led by TD Schenck, ATP. 5-7 p.m. Pacific, Dec. 20.
      FMI click here.

      ADVERTISER INDEX
      Accreditation Commission for Health Care, Inc.
      American Association for Homecare
      Andonian Cryogenics
      Anodyne Medical Device Inc.
      ArkRay USA
      Brightree Inc.
      BRUNO Independent Living Aids
      Comfort Company
      Compliance Team Inc.
      Contour Products
      Definitive Homecare Solutions
      DMEtrain.com
      Dream Software Corp.
      Fastrack Healthcare Systems, Inc.
      GlobTek, Inc.
      Harmar Products
      HQAA
      IMC-Heartway, LLC
      Infopia Co., Ltd.
      Invacare Corporation
      medSage Technologies
      Merits Health Products
      MK Battery
      Nonin Medical
      Permobil
      Philips Respironics
      Pride Mobility Products Corp.
      QS/1 Data Systems
      Shoprider Mobility Products
      Sunrise Medical
      The Scooter Store
      VGM Group
      HME TV News - http://www.hmenews.com/video.php




      HOME       SUBSCRIBE       ADVERTISE       CONTACT       PRIVACY POLICY      

      United Publications, Inc.

      © 2012 United Publications Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED