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What: Medicare Competitive Bidding Press Teleconference on the details of the Medicare durable medical equipment bidding program and its effects on the provider community and Medicare beneficiaries.
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When: Thursday, June 12, 2008 - 2:00 p.m. EDT. To participate in the teleconference, please dial 1-866-551-3680 and use pin number 4380352#. Please RSVP by contacting Tilly Gambill at 1-703-535-1896 or email [email protected].
Who: Tyler Wilson, President and CEO of the American Association for Homecare, will provide an overview about the competitive bidding program, the law suit filed by the Association in U.S. District Court this week, and congressional support for a delay in the program. John Reed, Executive Vice President & COO of PRO2 Respiratory Services (Cincinnati, Ohio) will address the competitive bidding program from a homecare provider's perspective.
Background: The congressionally mandated Medicare competitive bidding program for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS) is scheduled to be implemented in 10 metropolitan statistical areas on July 1, 2008.
Those 10 areas include Charlotte, N.C.; Cincinnati, Ohio; Cleveland, Ohio; Dallas - Ft. Worth, Texas; Kansas City, Mo.; Miami, Fla.; Orlando, Fla.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Riverside, Calif.; and San Juan, P.R.
The American Association for Homecare and the providers they represent have serious concerns about the way the program is being implemented and the effects it will have on the providers and the patients they serve.
This competitive bidding program will put many DME providers out of business, likely causing disruption of services for many of the four million seniors and people with disabilities on Medicare in the first round areas alone. The bidding program has been fraught with procedural flaws and operational problems that call into question the fairness of the overall process.
The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) represents providers of durable medical equipment and related services and supplies as well as the manufacturers of that equipment. AAHomecare members serve the medical needs of millions of Americans who require home oxygen equipment, wheelchairs and other mobility products, hospital beds, medical supplies, inhalation drug therapy, home infusion, and other medical equipment, products, and services, delivered in the patient's home. AAHomecare's provider members operate more than 3,000 home care locations in all 50 states. See www.aahomecare.org.
CONTACT: Tilly Gambill of the American Association for Homecare, +1-703-535-1896, [email protected]
/PRNewswire-USNewswire -- June 11/
SOURCE American Association for Homecare
