NEWSWIRE |
|
Senate makes Medicare moves |
By Liz Beaulieu Managing Editor - 06.09.2008
|
|
WASHINGTON - Competing Democratic and Republican Medicare packages in the Senate could spell very different fates for the home medical equipment industry, according to industry sources. Early this week, Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., chair of the Finance Committee, could bring a Medicare package to the floor that reduces reimbursement for home oxygen therapy and eliminates the first-month purchase option for standard power wheelchairs to help prevent a cut to physician rates from going into effect July 1, sources say. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, a ranking member of the committee, could also introduce a Medicare package this week but without home medical equipment cuts, they say. As of late last week, however, nothing was a done deal, industry sources said. "The provisions included in the packages are still moving targets," said Walt Gorski, vice president of government affairs for AAHomecare. To move forward, any Medicare package will need support from both sides of the aisle, industry sources pointed out. Right now, that's something Baucus doesn't have, they say. "Baucus is still trying to figure out what permutations of provisions he can get support for from Republicans," said Cara Bachenheimer, senior vice president of government relations for Invacare. "It's very much in the negotiation stage." In addition to excluding oxygen and power wheelchair cuts from the Medicare package, the industry seeks to include a delay to national competitive bidding. Late last week, the industry was scrambling to collect signatures for a bi-partisan letter to Baucus and Grassley from Sens. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, and Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich. The letter encourages the senators to "support legislation in the next few weeks to suspend implementation of this program until outstanding issues can be resolved." The industry expects its efforts to delay competitive bidding to make progress early this week in the House of Representatives. Sources say Rep. Pete Stark, D-Calif., a member of the Ways and Means Committee, will introduce a bill that would delay Round 1 of the program for 18 months and Round 2 for one year after that. The bill would also require CMS to make improvements to the program. Nearly one-third of the House (132 members) has signed a letter that urges Ways and Means Committee leadership to delay competitive bidding. A Medicare package isn't necessarily the only vehicle for a delay, noted Seth Johnson, vice president of government affairs for Pride Mobility Products. "We can't be hung up on the method," he said. "We need to continue to push Congress and let them figure out how to get it done, based on what's moving." |
(0)
|
|
|
|
|
HME News Info Center |
|
|
|
|
CALENDAR
|
|
| 14-16 2012 Washington Legislative Conference | AAHomecare's upcoming Washington Legislative Conference will include Council meetings, a half day program and a Thursday, Feb. 16 lobby day.
| | 21 "ACHC Accreditation Working for You" DMEPOS Workshop | 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.
| | 21 Pathophysiology Webinar | 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.
| | 23 Dynamic Seating Webinar | 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.
| |
| 6-7 VADMEC Conference | Richmond, VA (Omni). More details to come. www.vadmec.org.
| | 20 Pathophysiology Webinar | 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.
| | 22 Power Assist Wheels Webinar | 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.
| |
| 10-12 Medtrade Spring |
| | 17-19 CELA | At the Hyatt Regency Hotel-Crystal City. More info to come. www.nrrts.org.
| | 17 Pathophysiology Webinar | 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.
| | 19 Home Accessibility Webinar | 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.
| |
| 22 Pathophysiology Webinar | 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.
| | 24 Seating Webinar | 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.
| |
| 21 Power Wheelchair Webinar | 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.
| |
| 17 Power Seating Webinar | 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.
| | 19 Access to fun! Recreation for all | 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.
| |
| 21 Medical Interventions Webinar | 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.
| | 23 Seating Considerations for Clients with High Tone | 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.
| |
| 18 Power Wheelchair Webinar | 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.
| | 20 Advocacy for All! Consumer Driven Change | 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.
| |
| 23 Getting it right the first time: Measurements | 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.
| | 25 Pathophysiology Webinar | 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.
| |
| 13 Wheelchairs and Transport Webinar | 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.
| | 15 Funding: What’s New in the World of Reimbursement? | 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.
| |
| 18 Positioning: Clinical Considerations of Molded Seating | 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.
| | 20 Assisted Ambulation Webinar | 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|