U.S. Representative Kendrick Meek (D-FL) introduced a budget neutral, bi-partisan bill today, HR 3790, to repeal the highly criticized competitive bidding program in DMEPOS. The Florida Alliance of Home Care Services (FAHCS) and the Texas Association of Home Care Services (TAHCS) in conjunction with The Accredited Medical Equipment Providers of America and AAHomecare have been working with the Congressman's office for several months now, pushing for legislative action to repeal DMEPOS competitive bidding.

Congressman Kendrick Meek (D-FL), who sits on the House Ways and Means Committee, understands the plight of our industry and the negative situations that will occur for the entire industry if Competitive Bidding were to be fully implemented. Not only will Providers in Round 1 areas be affected by the elimination of companies, and lower reimbursements, but patients will suffer from lack of service and the availability of quality equipment and timely services. New Senate legislation will also allow HHS Secretary Sebelius to enact Round One reimbursement rates nationwide. Historically private insurance carriers match Medicare's reimbursements.

Please take a few minutes to Fax your U.S. Representative

We really need some more momentum. If your legislator is not listed below then please take a few minutes to do the following:

1. Look up your U.S. Representative at www.congress.gov
   - simply enter your zip code of your home and each office location to find your U.S. Congressman/woman
2. Fill out a fax cover page adressed to: "Health LA" for each of your representatives and note:
   
   "Please co-sponsor HR 3790, a bi-partisan budget neutral repeal of the problematic DMEPOS Bidding Program. This bill will give congress the same savings that the program was projected to give, without unnecessarily eliminating 90% of the local providers and without limiting a patient's access to quality products and timely services. The bidding is scheduled to begin next week and we need support as quickly as possible."
3. Print out the attached page and fax to their local and Washington, DC offices

Click to view HR-3790 summary page to fax.

If you have additional time, call your congressman/woman and ask for the Health Legislative Assistant and talk to them about co-sponsoring HR-3790.

If you are interested and need help reply back to this email and we will be happy to help.

Thanks in advance and let us know about your progress!!!