Tag: Congress
CRT efforts gain momentum with fly-in
September 16, 2022HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – A record 300-plus advocates participated in the NCART/NRRTS Virtual Congressional Fly-in on Sept. 14.
Those advocates, who included consumers, clinicians, providers, manufacturers, family members, caregivers and others, held meetings with 292 congressional offices throughout the day.
“In the weeks ahead, we will be carrying out the important task of following up with offices on the ‘congressional asks’ presented,” said Don Clayback in an...
Register now for CRT Virtual Fly-In
August 2, 2021HME News Staff
EAST AMHERST, N.Y. – Registration is open for the 2021 CRT Virtual Congressional Fly-In, which takes place Sept. 21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. Once registered, Congressional appointments will be scheduled for attendees who will also be partnered with other attendees from their state. NCART and NRRTS, who are hosting the event jointly, will offer webinars in advance to prep attendees with talking points and helpful tips, and offer an opportunity to practice with state teams. All meetings will...
ABC Healthcare hosts congressional staff
June 28, 2021HME News Staff
RICHMOND, Va. – ABC Healthcare hosted a meeting on June 23 with the staff of Rep. Donald McEachin, D-Va., a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee. During the meeting, the group discussed concerns with access to and reimbursement for home medical equipment. “A member of Rep McEachin’s staff was very engaged in the conversation, noting she had family who used oxygen, CPAP and hospital beds,” according to a press release from VGM and ACMESA. “She dealt with her own...
Stakeholders meet with CMS on bid program
January 11, 2019Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON - Industry stakeholders are focusing on CMS as they seek their footing in a bumpy start to the 116th Congress.
With Congress embroiled in shutdown negotiations, stakeholders continue to work with CMS to help shape the next round of competitive bidding, including the product categories.
“Discrete product categories and making sure like products are grouped together is really important,” said Cara Bachenheimer, chair of the government affairs practice at Brown & Fortunato,...
Missouri providers meet senator
August 19, 2015HME News Staff
PERRYVILLE, Mo. - Provider Patrick Naeger hosted a meeting with Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., Aug. 12. Naeger is executive vice president of Healthcare Equipment & Supply Co., and president of the Midwest Association of Medical Equipment Services. "This was a great opportunity to meet with Senator Blunt and to share with him industry concerns,” said Naeger in a release. “In particular, we asked for support of our efforts to curb the competitive bid national price roll-out, which is slated...
NASL joins call to delay bidding program
June 14, 2013HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - The National Association for the Support of Long Term Care (NASL) stands behind lawmakers in the House of Representatives who want to delay implementation of Round 2 of competitive bidding, according to a press release. The association applauded the leadership of Reps. Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., and Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, who crafted a “Dear Colleague” letter to garner support for the delay, saying a myriad of concerns need to be addressed. “NASL continues to voice serious...
More lawmakers hold briefings on bid program
June 13, 2013HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - Members of two House committees—Energy and Commerce; and Ways and Means—will meet today at 4 p.m. with representatives from CMS to discuss the competitive bidding program, according to a bulletin from the VGM Group. Members of the Senate met with representatives June 11 to discuss the program.
AAHomecare, PFQC launch complaint hotline
June 13, 2013HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - AAHomecare and People for Quality Care (PFQC) are partnering to offer a hotline number for Medicare beneficiaries to log complaints about their access to HME, according to a press release. The number, which will go live June 18, will be staffed 24/7 by a PFQC live operator, who, with the caller's permission, will forward grievances about competitive bidding to a Medicare ombudsman. Those complaints will then be added to a list, which will be presented to members of Congress. “Medicare...
Reps. to CMS: Reconsider delivery restrictions on diabetes supplies
May 28, 2013HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - A bipartisan group of congressmen, led by Reps. Aaron Schock, R-Ill., and Peter Welch, D-Vt., are questioning Medicare's decision to prohibit independent community pharmacies from providing same-day, home delivery of diabetes testing supplies to homebound seniors, according to an National Community Pharmacy Association (NCPA) press release. “If implemented in July 2013, this policy will cause disruption in the care provided to Medicare patients,” the letter stated. “Now...
Lawmakers back Round 2 delay
May 20, 2013HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - Two separate pairs of congressmen have penned letters aiming to push back the July 1 implementation of Round 2 of competitive bidding, according to reports from The VGM Group and FAHCS. In their "Dear Colleague" letter, Reps. Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., and Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, urge their fellow lawmakers to join them in requesting that CMS delay the start date through the end of 2013 to “allow for adequate investigation and correction of the significant problems.” Another letter...