Industry ramps up campaign targeting competitive bidding

WASHINGTON - AAHomecare has budgeted more than $3 million for a campaign to address the restart of the competitive bidding program. 

The association will draw the funds for the campaign from its reserves and new fundraising efforts. Already, VGM and 21 other AAHomecare members have pledged more than $750,000. AAHomecare will expand solicitation efforts in the coming weeks. 

“If the bidding program starts up again using the flawed framework and expanded product mix from the proposed rule, the impact on our industry could be felt for a decade or more,” the association stated in a bulletin.  “We look forward to working with you to make sure the administration fully understands the stakes for our industry and the potential impacts throughout the health care infrastructure."  

AAHomecare has also ramped up outreach efforts. Earlier this week, Josh Marx, Tom Ryan and Jay Witter met with Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill to discuss industry concerns with provisions from the proposed rule and secure a follow-up meeting with other CMS staff. 

“We have engaged additional lobbying with strong connections to the administration that can enable us to reach top-level decision makers on this issue,” AAHomecare stated in the bulletin. “The campaign will be focused on delivering a powerful message to the most influential voices in the White House, CMS, the Office of Management & Budget (OMB), and other important parties in this process.”   

The comment period on the final rule closed Aug. 29. 

• See resources and information about the second phase of the CBP campaign at aahomecare.org/CBP-Advocacy. 
• Related: CMS signals potential big changes to bid program & Stakeholders react to return of competitive bidding