Independent Group Makes Respiratory Issues Top Priorities
The Legislative Activity Board of the Committee to Save Independent Home Medical Equipment Suppliers released on Feb. 8 a list of its legislative priorities, which reflect a focus on issues facing small, independent companies. The top two are critical to respiratory providers.
Here are excerpts from the committee’s stated priorities:
1. Seek Repeal of Competitive Bidding
The primary threat to small HME providers is the ill-conceived competitive bidding program. It will harm access to care, reduce the quality of services, reduce competition, reduce patient choice and put thousands of providers out of business and tens of thousands of Americans out of work. CSIHME aggressively supports H.R. 3790 to repeal the bidding program.
2. Seek Repeal of the Oxygen Cap
CSIHME was instrumental in getting H.R. 2373, the Home Oxygen Patient Protection Act, introduced and aggressively supports this bill to repeal the 36-month cap on oxygen payments. It is imperative to oppose to the cap on oxygen payments while working to make sensible changes to the payment policies for home oxygen. The effect on oxygen suppliers is worsening. CSIHME will continue to work with Congress to implement payment reforms including a plan to reduce stationary oxygen fees while increasing fees of portable services.
About these legislative priorities, Wayne Stanfield, president of the National Association of Independent Medical Equipment Suppliers, said: “We must strongly emphasize H.R. 2373 and promote as many co-sponsors as we can. Our push will be to tell Congress to support the end of the oxygen cap. It’s harming patients and causing untold damage to the industry. The cap must be removed if we are going to continue to take care of patients at home. H.R. 2373 is the vehicle to do this.” Stanfield said the bill has 82 co-sponsors.