NCART contracts lobbyist
By HME News Staff
Updated Sat September 30, 2006
WASHINGTON - NCART has hired a well-seasoned Washington, D.C., lobbyist with healthcare experience to prevent the association's initiatives from "getting lost in the shuffle."
NCART brought Denise Henry onboard in August. Henry, head of the lobbying firm Strategic Health Solutions, has represented the pharmaceutical and O&P industries on the Hill.
"The HME manufacturers' lobbyists were doing a good job, but they have a broader view," said Simon Margolis, an NCART executive board member. "We needed someone laser-focused on rehab, so we don't get lost in the shuffle."
NCART wants Henry to focus her attention on gaining traction for the association's bill to exempt complex rehab from national competitive bidding. Henry has already played a role in getting custom orthotics exempted from NCB.
Henry will also lobby legislators to help the industry make changes to the new codes and coverage criteria for power mobility devices.
"The initial impetus (for contracting a lobbyist) was the rehab carve-out, but with the new codes, pricing and the local coverage determination--we just needed an expert," said Sharon Hildebrandt, NCART's executive director.
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