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State shorts: MAMES convenes, MESA socializes, CAMPS braces

State shorts: MAMES convenes, MESA socializes, CAMPS braces

OMAHA, Neb. - At its Spring Convention & Exhibition March 23-25 in Omaha, Nebraska, the Midwest Association for Medical Equipment Services (MAMES) honored Jerry Culver and Al Neumann with "Provider of the Year" awards.

Culver, of Central Nebraska Home Care in Nebraska, was recognized for his efforts to get a state law amended that would have required providers to hire pharmacists to dispense oxygen. Culver has been a MAMES member since 1996 and currently serves as the association's Nebraska state chairman and its secretary.

Neumann, of Corner Medical in Minnesota, was recognized for his efforts to create MAMES's Legislative Committee and to hire a dedicated lobbyist for the state. Neumann has been a MAMES member since 2005 and has served on the association's board of directors for the past two years.

MAMES also honored Judy Giel and Susan Wingert of Pediatric Home Service in Minnesota and Jackie Anderson and Sarah Anderson of Key Medical Supply in Minnesota with "Above and Beyond" awards.

MESA socializes

The Medical Equipment Suppliers Association (MESA) has launched a social networking site for the HME industry: http://mesa4dme.ning.com.

"We felt it was time to create one place where suppliers can talk about issues, ask questions and network," stated Executive Director Liz Moran in a release. "Conversation and information flow is just too fractured, and we thought the industry needed a dedicated place we all can gather online."

While the site flies under MESA's flag, it's open and free to all HME providers, as well as approved industry associations and service organizations.

CAMPS braces

The California Association of Medical Product Suppliers notified its members in March that the governor had signed a package of bills that cut state spending by $14 billion, including $1.7 billion from Medi-Cal. The Medi-Cal cuts include a 10% provider rate cut effective June 1, 2011, and the elimination of oral enteral nutrition as a program benefit except in limited diagnoses. There is still a decision pending in the U.S. Supreme Court on whether a prior 10% reduction was legal.

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