Posted by: Rob Brant
in News Anounces on Jun 27, 2008
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To: AMEPA Members and Industry Guests
IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED
Contact your SENATORS and REPRESENTATIVES and repectfully ask that they immediately request that Secretary Leavitt and the Administration implement an Emergency Delay of the Competitive Bidding Program of 15 Days to allow Congress to act.
We are asking for the same delay that the physicians received as described below.
Posted by: Sean Schwighammer
in News Anounces on Jun 26, 2008
On Thursday night, the United States Senate considered approving House Bill H.R. 6331, the "Doc Fix" Bill. The Senators could not agree to suspend the rules to consider the bill because of reported certainty that the excessive last minute add-ons to the House Bill would force President Bush to veto the legislation. Although this means the delay of the Competitive Bidding Program was not approved on Thursday night, it does not mean we have lost.
Posted by: Rob Brant
in News Anounces on Jun 26, 2008
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Every Association, Media Outlet, Manufacturer, Distributor, Billing Software, Billing Agency, Home Medical Equipment Provider, Physicians and anyone who cares about the Healthcare Industry needs to get this message out ASAP.
The "Doc Fix" bill S.3101 failed cloture last night by only one vote. It is likely that nothing will occur until Congress will reconvenes on July 7th. The key is that it was not directly related, nor does it indicate any opposition to do with the issue of delaying the Competitive Bidding Program in Home Medical Equipment. I think our legislators understand that the delay has a zero effect on the budget. I also believe our legislators realize that CMS made many critical mistakes in this program that if implemented in 3 days, this coming Tuesday on July 1st, will be dangerous to patients and communities. Congress also does not want the "Bid Window" to open for Round 2, which will include an additional 70 MSAs and 400 counties, using the identical standards, rules and guidelines.
Posted by: Rob Brant
in News Anounces on Jun 25, 2008
Thanks to the efforts of everyone and anyone who supports the Home Medical Equipment and Healthcare Industry, H.R. 6331, THE MEDICARE IMPROVEMENTS FOR PATIENTS AND PROVIDERS ACT passed by a Margin of 355 to 59 with 20 members not voting. It required a two-thirds (67%) vote to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. It received an overwhelming eighty-five percent (85%) of the vote.
E.H. 6331 (Enacted by the House) is believed to be voted by the Senate on Thursday, June 26th. The following is a list of Official House Actions provided by Thomas.
Posted by: Rob Brant
in News Anounces on Jun 24, 2008
A Message from The VGM Group:
We're Halfway to a Full Delay of Competitive Bidding
HR 6331 has passed the House!
355 YEA - 59 NAY!
Grassroots DOES work!
Posted by: Rob Brant
in News Anounces on Jun 24, 2008
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Home Medical Equipment Providers in the Round 1, ten Competitive Bidding Areas (CBA)s, were inundated with calls yesterday by confused patients, caregivers, guardians, doctor's offices and other healthcare providers. With just a week before the scheduled start of the program, Medicare finally released a packet with the names of the "Contract Suppliers" for the different categories of Home Medical Equipment affected by the program.
Posted by: Rob Brant
in News Anounces on Jun 23, 2008
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On Friday June 20, 2008, House Ways and Means Committee Chair Charles B. Rangel (D-NY) and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair John Dingell (D-MI) introduced a House companion to S. 3101-a bill sponsored by Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT), The Medicare Improvements to the Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (H.R. 6331).
Posted by: Rob Brant
in News Anounces on Jun 19, 2008
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Medicare held a teleconference for Bid Winners yesterday and still left Bid Winners with many questions. One question, which was not answered, was the fact that Bid Winners still have not received contracts for a program that will begin in less than 6 business days.
One Bid Winner explained to me that they received a letter to accept the bid on March 21st and was given a week to accept the contract. He signed his letter of acceptance three days later and has now waited over 80 days for the contract.
He explained that Medicare has not adjudicated the contract. In the Bid Winners words: "They sent me an offer and I accepted. Ultimately, I do not have an agreement and we do not have a relationship."
Posted by: Rob Brant
in News Anounces on Jun 18, 2008
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The following is a press release from a lawsuit filed in Washington, D.C. by a network of VGM and AMEPA Members.
PRESS RELEASE
Contact:
| Daniel Leyton, Esq. |
|
Javier Talamo Esq. |
|
Jack Marquez |
| 305-285-2000 |
|
305-558-5300 |
|
305-629-2633 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FLORIDA HME NETWORK SUES MEDICARE IN THE COURT OF CLAIMS
(Miami, June 16, 2008) - In another important and novel legal challenge to the recently conducted Round One DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program - two Miami law firms (de la O, Marko, Magolnick & Leyton and Kravitz & Talamo LLP) are filing a bid protest in the Court of Federal Claims on behalf of the All Florida Network, a network of DME providers that was wrongfully disqualified from the bidding competition in the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale-Miami Beach-FL CBA.
Posted by: Sean Schwighammer
in News Anounces on Jun 18, 2008
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Monday night and Tuesday morning AMEPA members from South Florida, Central Florida and Dallas Texas flew into Washington to meet with Representatives and Senators to urge them to approve HR #6252.
On Tuesday we visited with over 30 Congressmen and their staffs. As was previously reported the 'buzz' in Washington is regarding DME and competitive bidding. Staff members are up to date as to the newest proposed legislation and the attempts to achieve uniformity in the House and Senate versions. There were many successful meetings with Congressmen and Staff pledging support for DME.
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