NCB Repeal Bill Gains Support
Rep. Meek’s bill to end competitive bidding up to 53 co-sponsors.
- By David Kopf
- Oct 30, 2009
H.R. 3790, which calls for the repeal of CMS’s competitive bidding program for DMEPOS, is now up to 53 co-sponsors two weeks after being introduced by Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-Fla.).
Various industry groups have been calling on providers to reach out to their Representatives and urge them to co-sponsor the legislation.
“It is critical that the homecare community rally and quickly secure more Representatives in the House to back this bill,” read a statement from the American Association for Homecare. “To achieve a win in the House of Representatives, the HME community must put concerns about the program front and center for every member of Congress and attract many more co-sponsors. Providers whose legislators have signed on as a co-sponsor should publicly thank their Representatives.”
The budget-neutral bill would amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to repeal CMS’s competitive bidding program by cutting reimbursements to home medical equipment providers in order to pay for the savings the bid program had been projected to save. However, at the same time, the Meek bill would help HME providers continue to bill Medicare, rather than get outbid and potentially go out of business.
The full text of the bill can be downloaded from the AAHomecare site.
About the Author
David Kopf is the Editor of HME Business.