The Board of AMEPA, thanks the team at AAHomecare for putting on another fantastic conference. We are pleased that so many providers outside of Round One and Round Two took the time to travel to Washington and participate.
It is imperative that HME providers continue to come to Washington to or engage legislators or in their district offices about our issues. Patrick Dorton of Rational 360, AAH's Public Relations Firm, summed up his presentation by explaining that for those who serve Medicare beneficiaries "The federal government is our largest customers".
Posted by: Rob Brant
on Feb 26, 2010
Two weeks ago AMEPA and CAMPS held the Southern California rally for HR-3790 and already efforts from that event has led to additional co-sponsors for the bill. AMEPA President Rob Brant joined local business owners Jim Leedom (Home Health Equipment and Supplies), Diana Guth (Home Respiratory Care) and Michelle Barton (Confidence First Medical Supplies) at a meeting at Congresswoman Diane Watson's district office in Los Angeles to discuss HR-3790
Posted by: Rob Brant
on Feb 26, 2010
Chicago, IL - Over 60 DME owners, employees, manufacturer representatives and Medicare Beneficiaries visited 13 legislative offices during the Illinois In-District Day for HR-3790
The Illinois Association of Medical Equipment Services coordinated their membership and arranged for constituents to attend the meetings with help from AMEPA, The Med Group, VGM Group and Medline.
Posted by: Rob Brant
on Feb 12, 2010
Buena Park, CA - Over 70 HME Providers, manufacturer's representatives, oxygen patients and other industry advocates attended the Southern California Rally for HR-3790 hosted by AMEPA and the California Association of Medical Product Suppliers (CAMPS).
Rob Brant, AMEPA President, opened the meeting by introducing a member of Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez's (D-Garden Grove, CA) district staff. The conference room erupted into applause as the announcement was made that Congresswoman Sanchez has agreed to co-sponsor HR-3790, unofficially moving the total up to 141.
Posted by: Rob Brant
on Feb 12, 2010
Everyone in our the nation has been moved by the crisis in Haiti. The photographs of death and destruction only tell part of the story. The people of Haiti are suffering. Hospitals, doctors offices, nursing homes and alike are gone; much under the rubble.
We as Medial Equipment Providers can help.
All types of equipment is needed in Haiti to help the injured. AMEPA is working with FAHCS to gather equipment to send to Haiti. The Associations are working with medical missions and other non-profit entities to collect home medical equipment and distribute it properly. We ask all providers to look in their warehouse, we know that everyone has wheelchairs and walkers, hospital beds and commodes, even oxygen concentrators and nebulizers, that work fine, but may be too beat-up or motors too loud that you will never release them to the American public again.
Posted by: Rob Brant
on Feb 12, 2010
Since snowstorms shut down Washington, DC this week, there has been no additional activity on HR-3790. The bill now has 140 co-sponsors.
Posted by: Sean Schwighammer
on Feb 02, 2010
It is time to stand-up for our industry. Home Medical Equipment providers are making
their voices heard to support HR 3790, the bill to repeal the DMEPOS bidding program.
If competitive bidding proceeds
- 90% of area Medicare providers will lose the ability to serve beneficiaries
- Hundreds of businesses will close, thousands more Californians will be unemployed
- Round 1 reimbursement cuts of over 30% can be implemented throughout California
- California insurance companies will replicate Medicare Cuts
- Most importantly, quality products and timely services will no longer exist
There will be information distributed, presentations, and lessons on how to engage
legislators for the benefit of all DME providers in California.
Posted by: Rob Brant
on Jan 27, 2010
The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), which represents the owners of more than 22,700 independent community pharmacies, has sent a letter to Congressman Meek offering their full support of HR-3790, the repeal of DMEPOS Competitive Bidding.
Posted by: Rob Brant
on Jan 22, 2010
On January 13, 2009, the Office of the Inspector General released an updated Telemarketing Alert, which described when a provider could and could not solicit a Medicare Beneficiary
The rule states that HME providers may only contact Medicare beneficiaries in three circumstances:
- The beneficiary has given written permission to the supplier to make contact by telephone; or
- The contact is regarding a covered item that the supplier has already furnished the beneficiary; or
- The supplier has furnished at least one covered item to the beneficiary during the preceding 15 months.
But the rule has been updated with a very unrealistic provision: "A physicians' preliminary written or verbal order is not a substitute for the requisite written consent of a Medicare beneficiary"
