Eight HME industry representatives testified before the Small Business Administration (www.sba.gov) regarding the negative impact the competitive bidding program was having on HME businesses and their patients.
Key among the industry speakers was Tom Ryan, president and CEO of the American Association for Homecare. Prior to taking the helm of the industry’s national association, Ryan was the president and CEO of New York provider Homecare Concepts Inc., and directly suffered from competitive bidding Round One.
“My company had a very difficult, but unfortunately not unique, experience with the Medicare bid process,” Ryan explained during his testimony.
Ryan encouraged the Small Business Administration to help small businesses by supporting the recently introduced H.R. 4920 (a.k.a. the “binding bids bill”), which would make all bids binding and require surety bonds for bids.
“Tom testifying presents the unique opportunity to share this concern not only from an industry advocate standpoint, but also as a business owner who has been through this experience and knows firsthand the effects it can have on small businesses,” said Jay Witter, senior vice president of public policy for AAHomecare.
The other industry speakers included:
- Danyelle Carroll, CEO of Mobility Medical (Flowood, Miss.).
- Bill Griffin, president and CEO of Griffin Home Health (Charlotte, N.C.).
- Gary Sheehan, president and CEO of Cape Medical Supply (Sandwich, Mass.).
- Jeff Knight, owner and CEO of Premier Home Care in (Louisville, Ky.).
- Kristi Sanders of Northern Pharmacy & Medical Equipment (Baltimore, Md.).
- Regina Gillespie, RRT, president of Best Home Medical (Barboursville, W.V.).
- Tyler Riddle, vice president at MRS Homecare (Albany, Ga.).
- Peggy Walker Peggy Walker, RN, billing & reimbursement advisor for the VGM Group’s US Rehab Division