Tag: Washington Legislative Conference

WASHINGTON - AAHomecare has canceled its annual Washington Legislative Conference, scheduled for May 20-21. The Centers for Disease Control on March 16 recommended against gathering of more than 50 people for the next eight weeks—one week after the event with more than 150 attendees expected. AAHomecare is currently working to develop alternative advocacy opportunities.

WASHINGTON - The timing of AAHomecare's Washington Legislative Conference couldn't have been better, Tom Ryan told attendees on Wednesday, the day before their Capitol Hill meetings.The day before, on Tuesday, a “Dear Colleague” letter began circulating on the Hill appealing to Tom Price, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, and Seema Verma, CMS administrator, to intervene and provide relief from Medicare's competitive bidding program.“There's no score or procedure...

WASHINGTON - With the HME industry's “biggest challenge around the corner,” it's more important than ever for providers to attend next week's Washington Legislative Conference, AAHomecare officials say.That challenge: CMS's plan to roll out competitive bidding pricing nationwide on Jan. 1, 2016.“We can't get off the radar of Congress,” said Tom Ryan, president and CEO of AAHomecare. “We're a pretty good blip on their screen right now.”The industry scored a victory...

WASHINGTON - Expect a trio of HME-related bills to drop in the next few weeks as, slowly but surely, industry stakeholders make headway in their efforts to improve the competitive bidding program and the audit system.“We're here to close a lot of issues,” AAHomecare President and CEO Tom Ryan told attendees at the annual Washington Legislative Conference last week. “We can't do it without your help.”The big news going into the conference: Rep. Renee Ellmers, R-N.C., plans...

WASHINGTON - AAHomecare officials are working to get an audit reform bill introduced in the House of Representatives in time to take it to Capitol Hill during the annual Legislative Conference May 6-8.“We're seeking sponsors as we speak,” said Jay Witter, vice president of government affairs for AAHomecare. “At a minimum, we are trying to at least get co-sponsors to say they will champion the bill.”The bill is part of a multi-pronged campaign to reform Medicare's audit program....

On Saturday, I cracked open a window, cleaned out my car and stowed my winter boots in the closet. This morning, I donned mittens while I chipped snow and ice off of my car (in Maine, we keep the ice scrapers at hand year round). Ahh � spring. Last week, the industry got whacked with its own wet blanket: Two reports issued by the OIG and the GAO on the competitive bidding program. The first found that CMS generally complied with its own bidding rules and said that CMS should continue to follow its...

WASHINGTON - AAHomecare bid farewell to several directors, while welcoming others to the board during its annual membership meeting held during the association's Washington Legislative Conference May 22-23, according to a bulletin from the organization. During the meeting, in which AAHomecare and NAIMES officially merged, Robert Steedley, president of Barnes Healthcare Services in Valdosta, Ga., was appointed as chairman. In addition to Steedley, the executive officers at AAHomecare include: John...

WASHINGTON - AAHomecare has recognized two HME providers for their contributions to government affairs on behalf of the industry. Georgie Blackburn of Tarentum, Pa.-based Blackburn's, and Jackie Bolt of Greenville, S.C.-based Carolina Homecare Medical Equipment Center, have received this year's Legislative Advocate Award. Blackburn was recognized for her visits to Capitol Hill, her testimony at congressional hearings, and her support of legislators through political contributions. Bolt was recognized...

WASHINGTON - AAHomecare hopes a strong turnout for its Washington Legislative Conference May 22-23 will help drum up congressional support for H.R. 1717, a bill to replace competitive bidding with a market pricing program (MPP). In preparation for the event, the association is hosting a webinar May 7 designed as a refresher on how to conduct visits with lawmakers. Here's what Jay Witter, vice president of government affairs, had to say about the conference.HME News: What's the goal this year...