Homecare Providers Get Ready to Lobby Legislators
February snowstorms shut down much of the mid-Atlantic, but home medical equipment providers will be turning up the heat as they descend on Capitol Hill for intense lobbying to stop the competitive bidding program and repeal the oxygen reimbursement cap. The American Association for Homecare Washington Legislative Conference is coming up March 1-3.
Thousands of residents have seen power outages, which means users of oxygen concentrators must switch to back-up systems. Home medical providers are on call to drive through ice and snow to get supplies to those who need them.
“The country may survive just fine as the House of Representatives postpones its business in light of the severe weather in D.C.,” said Tyler Wilson, AAHomecare president. “But those who rely on homecare equipment and services would face extreme hardship or even death if their providers were to postpone or cancel the service they offer in every type of weather.”
HME providers will emphasize this around-the-clock commitment during the conference and in lobbying meetings with House and Senate officials. Of particular concern to respiratory providers is adding sponsors to H.R. 3790, the bill introduced by Rep. Kendrick Meek that would eliminate the competitive bidding program. Michael Reinemer, AAHomecare vice president of communications and policy, said that the bill currently has 140 co-sponsors and a central goal of the event is getting more. “At the conference, we will have a groundswell of people expressing concern about their patients and their businesses and their employees,” he said.