Tag: Glenn Thompson
Reps. Thompson, Braley try to put brakes on bid expansion
March 21, 2014HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - Reps. Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., and Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, are spearheading a congressional sign-on letter urging CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner not to expand competitive bidding until the Office of Inspector General (OIG) has completed its investigation into the program, according to AAHomecare. “It's no secret that policymakers on both sides of the aisle see the controversial national bidding program as an unacceptable burden on the elderly and disabled,” stated Tom...
New bill seeks to curb fraudulent payments
September 18, 2013HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - A new bipartisan bill seeks to prevent fraudulent Medicare payments for orthotics and prosthetics (O&P).Introduced Sept. 17 by Reps. Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., and Mike Thompson, D-Calif., H.R. 3112, the Medicare Orthotics & Prosthetics Improvement Act of 2013, would require CMS to only pay for O&P services provided by accredited or licensed providers.“When unlicensed and unaccredited providers deliver prosthetic and orthotic services, both Medicare beneficiaries and the American taxpayer...
Lawmakers call on OIG to investigate competitive bidding
June 24, 2013HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - In a June 21 letter to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), Reps. Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., and Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, call on the agency to investigate the possibility that CMS deliberately overlooked its own rules when awarding contracts for competitive bidding, according to a press release.
The OIG is charged with identifying and combating waste, fraud and abuse in more than 300 programs, including Medicare.
“We have asked the Inspector General to look into...
Bills could deliver 'one-two punch' to bid program
June 21, 2013Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON - A bill that would delay the expansion of competitive bidding could get fast-tracked through the House of Representatives, say industry stakeholders.Reps. Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., and Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, introduced H.R. 2375, the “Transparency Accountability in Medicare Bidding Act of 2013,” on June 14. The bill would delay the implementation of Round 2, scheduled to go live July 1, until Dec. 31, 2013, and the Round 1 re-compete, set for Jan. 1, 2014, until six months after...
Bill calls for delay, review of bid program
June 14, 2013HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - Reps. Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., and Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, have introduced a bill to delay the implementation of Round 2 of competitive bidding, according to The VGM Group.
H.R. 2375, the “Transparency Accountability in Medicare Bidding Act of 2013,” would delay the implementation of Round 2, scheduled to go live July 1, until Dec. 31, 2013. It would also delay the Round 1 re-compete, set for Jan. 1, 2014, until six months after Round 2 starts.
During the delay, the bill...
Big Cs at Heartland: competitive bidding, change
June 14, 2013Liz Beaulieu, Editor
WATERLOO, Iowa - The tide may be turning on CMS and its competitive bidding program, industry stakeholders told attendees at The VGM Group's Heartland Conference last week.
The same week as the conference, Reps. Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., and Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, introduced a bill that would delay Round 2 of competitive bidding (see top story). Earlier in the week, they had sent a “Dear Colleague” letter signed by 227 lawmakers, a majority in the House of Representatives, to CMS.
“This...
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...
Lawmakers pressure CMS on licensure issues
June 7, 2013Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON - Amid growing concerns on Capitol Hill, CMS officials have been asked to report to Senate staff on Round 2 of competitive bidding at a briefing on Tuesday.
“The pressure's on,” said Jay Witter, vice president of government affairs for AAHomecare. “The licensure issue is one that CMS has not been able to answer.”
The Maryland Office of Healthcare Quality confirmed recently that there are more than 100 contract suppliers that don't meet licensure...
Legislative conference: Flurry of activity on competitive bidding
May 24, 2013Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON - Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., told attendees at AAHomecare's Washington Legislative Conference last week that he plans to introduce legislation seeking a delay in Round 2 of competitive bidding.The move is necessary in light of licensing issues in multiple bid areas, he said.“The awarding of bids to unlicensed suppliers is (an issue) truly in need of a subcommittee hearing and I plan to ask for that,” Thompson told attendees. “We will need people to go to the floor to...
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...