Industry puts collective signature on bid letter

ARLINGTON, Va. - It's down to the wire this week for HME industry stakeholders attempting to halt the national competitive bidding rule from going into effect April 18.

On Monday, AAHomecare and 27 regional and state associations sent a letter asking that the rule be rescinded and reviewed.

"This flawed regulation would wipe out small businesses across America and reduce quality and access to care for seniors and the disabled," stated AAHomecare President Tyler Wilson in a release.

The letter is addressed to Charles Johnson, acting secretary, Department of Health and Human Services; Charlene Frizzera, acting administrator, CMS; and Nancy-Ann DeParle, director, White House Office of Health Reform.

In the letter, AAHomecare points out that the average cost of home oxygen therapy, including equipment, is about $8 per day, compared to $200 per day in a nursing home and $5,000 per day in a hospital.

The letter was signed by the following associations:

Alabama Durable Medical Equipment Association

Arizona Medical Equipment Suppliers Association

Association of Indiana Home Medical Equipment Services

Big Sky Montana & Idaho Association of Home Medical Equipment Suppliers

California Association of Medical Product Suppliers

Colorado Association of Medical Equipment Services

Florida Association for Medical Equipment Services

Georgia Association of Medical Equipment Services

Illinois Association for Medical Equipment Services 

Jersey Association of Medical Equipment Services (New Jersey)

Kentucky Medical Equipment Suppliers Association

Maryland National Capital Homecare Association

Medical Equipment Suppliers Association

(Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico)

Michigan Home Health Association

Midwest Association for Medical Equipment Services

(Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota,)

Mississippi Association of Medical Equipment Suppliers

Nevada Association of Medical Products Suppliers

New England Medical Equipment Dealers Association

(Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont)

New York State Medical Equipment Providers Association

North Carolina Association for Medical Equipment Services

Ohio Association of Medical Equipment Services

Pennsylvania Association of Medical Suppliers

South Carolina Medical Equipment Services Association

Tennessee Association for Home Care

Utah Medical Equipment Dealers

Virginia Association of Durable Medical Equipment Companies